College football 2026: Virginia falls out of top 25 as Florida enters

FOX Sports analyst RJ Young has released a comparative analysis of his end-of-season 2025 top 25 college football rankings against his 2026 Ultimate 138 preseason lists. The report highlights the volatility of the sport, identifying teams that have risen or fallen in status between the two periods. Notably, Virginia dropped out of the top 25, while Florida entered the rankings. Despite these movements, the No. 1 position remained unchanged between the 2025 final and 2026 preseason lists.

The analysis details significant roster and coaching updates for several high-profile teams. At USC, head coach Lincoln Riley enters his sixth year with starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, but the program faces challenges with the departure of defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to Penn State and the NFL Draft declaration of Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon. Candidates such as Wink Martindale and Pete Kwiatkowski are being considered to replace Lynn, as USC aims for its first College Football Playoff appearance.

In the Big 12, Arizona head coach Brent Brennan returns senior quarterback Noah Fifita after the Wildcats notched their second nine-win season in three years. The team is now targeting a serious run at the Big 12 championship. Meanwhile, Utah is set to have Morgan Scalley take over as head coach after years as defensive coordinator. Utah’s 2025 campaign saw only two losses, both against teams that advanced to the Big 12 championship game.

Tennessee’s situation remains uncertain under head coach Josh Heupel, who is looking to develop redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or true freshman Faizon Brandon into a legitimate starter. The Vols finished 2025 with an 8-5 record despite their starting quarterback not throwing a meaningful pass until August. In the ACC, Virginia head coach Tony Elliott added former Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula and former Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein, aiming to return the Cavaliers to the conference title game.

Other notable shifts include SMU, where head coach Rhett Lashlee is likely in his final year with starting quarterback Kevin Jennings, one of the top passers in the sport. Alabama enters its first season without a starting quarterback recruited by Nick Saban, with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell competing for the starting role under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Young’s rankings underscore the impact of the transfer portal and coaching changes on team performance. The stability of the No. 1 team contrasts with the significant turnover in the broader field, highlighting the competitive nature of the 2026 season.