Each week, the Sports editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams.
The Post Sports will break down its ballot each week. Here is a breakdown of the top five and the best teams looking to represent the Group of Six in this year's playoff heading into the 2026 season.
Top 5
1. Oregon (0-0)
After the conclusion of the 2025 college football season, the rumblings this offseason in Eugene were the expected departure of the Ducks quarterback Dante Moore to the NFL. However, Moore returned to Oregon, and one of the best retained rosters in the nation with hopes of one final shot at winning a title. But one question always circulates when talking about title aspirations at Oregon: can Dan Lanning get the job done?
Key Matchups
Oregon may start at the top this year, but to stay there, they will have to handle a few tough tests, including games against Boise State, Michigan and rival Washington, plus huge clashes at USC and Ohio State.
2. Georgia (0-0)
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs were the class of the SEC since their back-to-back National Championships in 2021 and 2022. Since the installation of the expanded 12-team playoff, Georgia has gone no further than the quarterfinals.
Gunner Stockton returns to lead Georgia again in 2026 alongside junior Nate Frazier to help bolster the offensive attack. Once again, the team will be led by a dominant defense that has eight returning starters.
Key Matchups
The Bulldogs will look to start the year strong before the SEC gauntlet begins. They have big matchups against Oklahoma, Florida, Missouri and on the road at Alabama, Ole Miss and rival Georgia Tech.
3.Indiana (0-0)
The defending national champions are coming into the new campaign on the highest of highs, but a national title victory does not come without blemishes. Curt Cignetti’s squad put a plethora of players on the map in 2025, including Heisman winner and first overall pick in this year's NFL draft Fernando Mendoza.
Cignetti’s reputation helped the Hoosiers make a quick turnaround this offseason, bringing in quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU.
Key Matchups
Oct. 10 will start a tough stretch in the Hoosiers’ repeat efforts against Nebraska followed by games at home against Ohio State, in Ann Arbor against Michigan and home against Minnesota and USC, before finishing with a road test at Washington to end the brutal stretch of tough Big 10 contests.
4. Ohio State (0-0)
The Buckeyes lost to Indiana in the Big 10 Championship Game and Miami (FL) in the Cotton Bowl to conclude their 2025 season with back-to-back losses, similarly to how their 2023 season finished against Michigan and Missouri. Ohio State responded to its previous late-season slump by walking out of 2024 with a national championship.
Key Matchups
If Ohio State wants to win its 10th title, it may have to battle all year long starting with a huge clash with another title foe in Austin, against Texas. The Buckeyes' Big 10 slate will not be easy either, with a three-game stretch at Indiana, USC and home against Oregon. If Ohio State gets out of those games unscathed, it still has to come home to finish the year with the biggest rivalry in the nation, 'The Game', against Michigan.
5. Miami (FL) (0-0)
Darian Mensah is a name that every college football fan needs to know heading into 2026. The Duke transfer looks to make his mark with some help from star wide receiver Malachi Toney. Toney will make this offense go, but it will be Mensah who will be the difference between wins and losses this season for the Hurricanes.
Key Matchups
Miami was a key player in the ACC the past handful of years and will look to take advantage of the weak conference this season. The Hurricanes will have a couple of tests, including hosting Clemson and Pittsburgh, plus a rematch against Notre Dame, who will be looking to avenge last season's loss in Hard Rock Stadium.
The Rest of the Top 25
6. Notre Dame (0-0)
7. Alabama (0-0)
8. Oklahoma (0-0)
9. Texas (0-0)
10. Texas Tech (0-0)
11. BYU (0-0)
12. LSU (0-0)
13. USC (1-0)
14. Ole Miss (0-0)
15. Michigan (0-0)
16. Texas A&M (0-0)
17. SMU (0-0)
18. Penn State (0-0)
19. Houston (0-0)
20. Washington (0-0)
21. Missouri (0-0)
22. Utah (0-0)
23. Florida (0-0)
24. Tennessee (0-0)
25. Georgia Tech (0-0)
Best of the Group of Six: 34 Boise State, 37 New Mexico, 45 South Florida, 50 San Diego State and 51 Memphis
Conference realignment within the Group of Six has brought life back to the PAC-12, but it's the former Mountain West-dominating Boise State Broncos who still look to be the favorite to make a second CFP appearance since the expansion to 12 teams.
Boise State leaving the Mountain West has now opened the door for a handful of teams with strong returning classes in New Mexico and San Diego State. They are both talented, but may take each other out and make way for the Broncos. Brian Hartline and Charles Huff take control of a pair of aspiring programs in USF and Memphis, respectively, that are ready to battle their way to an American Conference title and CFP appearance in 2026.
