Joel Klatt ranks Oregon No. 1 in 2026 preseason college football Top 25

Analyst Joel Klatt released his preseason Top 25 rankings for the 2026 college football season, naming Oregon the No. 1 team. Klatt noted that Oregon returns an experienced quarterback, a strong offensive line, and a highly regarded defensive front, giving the Ducks a clear advantage over most programs.

Notre Dame follows closely in Klatt’s list, with 15 returning starters and a solid defensive unit, though the team lost two first-round running back selections. Klatt highlighted the Fighting Irish’s quarterback CJ Carr and cornerback Leonard Moore as key contributors.

Other programs mentioned in the rankings include Oklahoma State under new head coach Eric Morris, Arizona with quarterback Noah Fafita, Tennessee, Iowa, Houston, Washington, Louisville, SMU, Penn State, Ole Miss, Alabama, BYU, Texas A&M, USC, Texas Tech, Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU, Indiana, Miami, Ohio State, and Texas. Klatt discussed each team’s coaching changes, transfer activity, and schedule challenges, but did not assign them specific positions in the top-25 list beyond the top two spots.

Klatt’s analysis emphasizes roster continuity, coaching stability, and the impact of transfer portal additions as primary factors shaping the preseason outlook.