Preseason JP Poll: Josh Pate releases debut power ratings ahead of 2026 college football season

With the 2026 college football season quickly approaching, Josh Pate has revealed his first JP Poll of the season. He debuted this year’s power rankings on Thursday night, just over two weeks before Week 0. As usual, it’s important to note the JP Poll is not a ranking. Instead, it’s power ratings based on “The Model” and the order is decided by which team would win on a neutral field, rather than ranking the best teams. $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage That means the JP Poll is different from Pate’s Top 25 rankings, which also dropped this week. Ahead of the 2026 season, here is the preseason edition of the JP Poll power ratings, as revealed Thursday on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. 1. Ohio State The No. 1-ranked team in the USA Today preseason coaches poll, Ohio State finds itself atop the preseason JP Poll in Thursday night’s debut. The Buckeyes are facing high expectations once again in 2026 with a number of new faces on defense and returning stars on offense this season. With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith coming in, Ohio State’s offense will have familiar names back on the field this year. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin are both back in the fold, as is running back Bo Jackson after a breakout freshman season. The defense, however, will feature some changes. Top playmakers such as Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are off to the NFL. While Kenyatta Jackson is back to anchor the pass rush, Matt Patricia will have some new players at his disposal during his second season as defensive coordinator. 2. Georgia Fresh off an SEC title a season ago, Georgia finds itself at No. 2 in the preseason JP Poll. The Bulldogs will look to stay atop the conference and in the national championship race this year, and plenty of eyes will be on the offense. Gunner Stockton is running it back in Athens after a Top-10 finish in the Heisman Trophy last year while Nate Frazier is also returning after leading UGA in rushing last year. The wide receiver room is sure to be a big storyline this year with leader in receiving yards, Zachariah Branch, is in the NFL. On the other side of the ball, though, the Georgia defense is looking like it could be a force once again. Safety KJ Bolden is among the headliners this year as part of a consistent group under Kirby Smart’s leadership. 3. Oregon Oregon has Big Ten and national title aspirations this year after falling in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals a year ago. The Ducks will have experience under center, as well, with Dante Moore turning down the NFL to return to Eugene in 2026. Moore’s top receivers are also back in the fold. Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart returned this season, though Oregon will have a new offensive coordinator calling the shots. Drew Mehringer took the role after Will Stein left to become the Kentucky head coach, but the promotion from within could provide continuity. The defense will also have a new focal point after Dillon Thieneman became a first-round pick in the draft. Oregon turned to the portal and landed former Minnesota safety Koi Perich to fill that void as part of a group that will also have a new coordinator in Chris Hampton, who was also promoted. 4. Notre Dame At Notre Dame, the mantra for 2026 is to “leave no doubt” after last year’s College Football Playoff absence. The Fighting Irish came in at No. 4 in the preseason JP Poll on Thursday as they look to turn the page. Quarterback CJ Carr headlines the group of returning talent on offense for Marcus Freeman’s group, although both running baks from last year became first-round picks. But Notre Dame has a new-look wide receiver corps which includes Ohio State transfer receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham, while Aneyas Williams is among the names to watch at running back. On defense, Leonard Moore is the top returner and considered one of the top defenders in college football. Other stars such as Boubacar Traore and Drayk Bowen are also back as Notre Dame enters Year 2 under coordinator Chris Ash. 5. Indiana When Indiana begins its national title defense, it will have some new faces. Still, the Hoosiers come in as a Top-5 team in the country in the preseason JP Poll as they get ready for Year 3 under head coach Curt Cignetti. IU turned to the transfer portal again at quarterback after losing Fernando Mendoza to the NFL. Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover will now be the heir apparent under center, and his arrival is an important storyline for the Hoosiers as they look to repeat. The defensive side of the ball also got welcome news this month following a judge’s ruling in an eligibility lawsuit in Colorado. Pass-rushers Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt are both being integrated back in to the program, giving Bryant Haines’ defense a potentially significant boost. 6. Texas After progressing throughout his first year as the starter, the hope is Arch Manning will take a leap forward in 2026. With the season opener on the way, Texas comes in at No. 6 in the preseason JP Poll, as well. Manning will have even more weapons on offense this year alongside returning wide receiver Ryan Wingo. Former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman committed to Texas this offseason and has already added to the excitement during training camp with multiple highlight-reel plays. Steve Sarkisian also took a big swing with the coaching staff, as well, and brought Will Muschamp back to the Forty Acres as defensive coordinator. He will inherit a unit headlined by Colin Simmons, who has cemented himself as one of the premier pass-rushers in the country. 7. Miami Looking to follow up last year’s national title game run, Miami is in line to be one of the top teams in the ACC in 2026. The Hurricanes also blend returning star power with fresh faces as they come in at No. 7 in the preseason JP Poll. Miami’s biggest addition came at quarterback with former Duke star Darian Mensah arriving after Carson Beck headed to the NFL. He will join his fellow former Blue Devils star, Cooper Barkate, as well as returning playmakers Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney. The defense will also undergo an overhaul after pass-rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor went pro. Miami turned to the transfer portal to help offset those losses, landing former Missouri EDGE Damon Wilson. 8. Ole Miss The 2026 season will mark Pete Golding’s first full season as Ole Miss head coach after his tenure officially began on the big stage. He led the Rebels to a 2-1 record during the College Football Playoff following Lane Kiffin’s high-profile departure for LSU, and they check in at No. 8 in the preseason JP Poll. Although Ole Miss will have a new offensive coordinator in John David Baker, the Rebels will have returning production leading the way. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss continues to generate buzz as one of the nation’s top players at the position while running back Kewan Lacy is also returning, as well. The defense saw some key departures, but also did a solid job retaining production. Top tackler William Echoles headlines the group of returners on that side of the football as the Golding Era enters its first full chapter in Oxford. 9. LSU This year, LSU will step squarely into the spotlight as Lane Kiffin officially takes over. His exit from Ole Miss dominated the headlines early in the offseason, and the Tigers sit at No. 9 in the preseason JP Poll ahead of his debut campaign. Kiffin overhauled the LSU roster this year and has a talented new quarterback coming in under center. Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt will take over in Baton Rouge, and although he’s fresh off a foot injury, he sounds ready to roll after becoming the No. 1 transfer on the market. Princewill Umanmielen and Ty Benefield are also the top additions on defense this season as coordinator Blake Baker returns – one of Kiffin’s biggest staff moves. All told, there are 41 transfers on the roster as a new era begins at LSU. 10. Alabama At Alabama this season, it’s shaping up to be an important year for Kalen DeBoer in Year 3. The Tide enters as the No. 10-ranked team in the preseason JP Poll as the storylines continue to grow ahead of the season opener. Of course, the attention is on the quarterback battle. On3’s Pete Nakos has fresh intel about where things stand after Alabama’s first scrimmage on Friday. Keelon Russell and Austin Mack continue to battle it out for the starting job with Ty Simpson now with the Los Angeles Rams in what might be the most-watched competition in the country. The defensive side of the ball has some continuity this year, particularly in the secondary with Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb both coming back at safety. Yhonzae Pierre will also anchor the pass rush after a breakout 2024 season in Kane Wommack’s scheme. Preseason JP Poll: 11-25 11. Texas A&M12. Texas Tech13. USC14. Oklahoma15. Michigan16. Missouri17. Louisville18. Tennessee19. BYU20. Clemson21. Penn State22. Florida23. Illinois24. Auburn25. Washington Of course, once the players take the field for the 2026 season, the JP Poll is going to see some changes as “The Model” gets more data. But in the meantime, the preseason Top 25 provides a baseline for what things could look like.