ESPN’s 2026 college football rankings: Oregon leads with eight players
A panel of experts has identified the top 100 players for the upcoming season, with Oregon, Indiana and Texas dominating the list as the sport navigates significant roster turnover.
ESPN has released its annual preseason ranking of the top 100 players in college football for the 2026 season, a process the network describes as increasingly difficult due to extreme roster turnover. The list, compiled by a panel of five experts including Max Olson, Bill Connelly, David Hale, Adam Rittenberg and Paolo Uggetti, attempts to balance past production with expectations for the upcoming year.
Oregon leads all teams with eight players included in the top 100, a testament to the program’s success in convincing key athletes to forgo the NFL draft to chase a national title. Defending national champions Indiana and Texas followed closely, with seven players from each squad making the cut. The rankings highlight a mix of established stars and high-potential athletes poised to impact the season.
Notable inclusions reflect the depth of talent across the sport. Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State is highlighted as a mega-talent aiming for a second national title and the Biletnikoff Award. Dante Moore, Oregon’s starting quarterback, is noted for his potential to have been the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, while Leonard Moore of Indiana becomes the first player from his program to win Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The panel acknowledged the unpredictability of the sport, noting that last year’s preseason list failed to include several players who would go on to star, such as Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss. Chambliss, who took the SEC by storm in his first season, is now a key figure in the rankings, alongside Lacy, who aims to become the SEC’s first 2,000-yard rusher since Derrick Henry in 2015.
Other players featured in the top tier include Malachi Toney of Miami, who recorded an FBS-best 109 receptions in his freshman season, and Arvell Reese of Indiana, who was notably absent from last year’s preseason top 100 but is now considered a key defensive figure. The list serves as a baseline for the 2026 season, though experts expect the final rankings to be reshaped by rising transfers and freshmen.
