Ohio State Takes Over the Top Spot and the Big Ten Is Absolutely Running College Football Right Now
The balance of power in college football has completely flipped, and the numbers don't lie. The SEC dominated for years, winning four straight national titles from 2019 to 2022. But starting in 2023? It's been all Big Ten. Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana have won the last three national championships, and Indiana's perfect 16-0 season in 2025, capped off with a 27-21 victory over Miami in the College Football National Championship game, proved that the right coach and budget can turn even a struggling program into a powerhouse.
Ohio State Is the New King
The Buckeyes have jumped to number one in the updated Way-Too-Early Top 25, up from sixth in the previous rankings. They finished 2025 at 12-2 with a perfect 9-0 Big Ten record, but lost some serious talent in the offseason. Still, this team has the pieces to be dangerous again. Quarterback Julian Sayin is back. Tailback Bo Jackson is returning. And all-world receiver Jeremiah Smith is sticking around. That's a loaded offensive skill group that should be nearly impossible to stop.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiCoach Ryan Day made a huge move on the coaching staff, hiring former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to replace Brian Hartline at OC. On defense, Matt Patricia, who ran defenses in the NFL, has already transformed Ohio State's unit into one of the best in the sport. The only problem? The Buckeyes have to run a gauntlet of a schedule, with road games at Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and USC on the docket.
The Big Ten Owns the Top 10
Oregon sits at number two after going 13-2 last season in Big Ten play. The Ducks got an unexpected gift when quarterback Dante Moore, who could've gone in the first round of the NFL draft, decided to return for another year. They've got new coordinators running the show after Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi left for head coaching gigs at Kentucky and Cal. Drew Mehringer took over as offensive coordinator while Chris Hampton moved into the defensive coordinator role.
The Big Ten and SEC have seven of the top ten teams in these updated rankings. The question heading into 2026 is clear: can the SEC stop the bleeding and climb back into contention, or does the Big Ten just keep rolling? We'll have answers by the time the final CFP game kicks off in January 2027.
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