The 2026 college football season is nearly here, bringing another opportunity for the sport’s biggest stars to separate themselves from the pack. Ahead of all the action, Austin Curtright and the team at USA Today ranked the Top 100 players in the country entering the new campaign, balancing past production with future projections and NFL Draft stock.
Of course, preseason lists are never an exact science. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza proved that by going from outside the Top 100 conversation last year to winning the Heisman Trophy, a national championship and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, players such as Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney have also demonstrated how quickly young stars can outperform preseason expectations.
Nevertheless, the list provides a snapshot of the players expected to define the upcoming college football season. There’s a myriad of players from star-studded groups vying for the top spot from USA Today, featuring quarterbacks, skill players and defensive standouts from across the country. Check it out below.
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Nos. 100-81
100. Evan Tengesdahl, OL, Cincinnati
99. Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
98. Wyatt Young, WR, Oklahoma State
97. Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE, Ohio State
96. Byrum Brown, QB, Auburn
95. Mario Craver, WR, Texas A&M
94. Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU
93. Andrew Marsh, WR, Michigan
92. Michael Fasusi, OL, Oklahoma
91. DeSean Bishop, RB, Tennessee
90. Hollywood Smothers, RB, Texas
89. Cooper Barkate, WR, Miami
88. Raylen Wilson, LB, Georgia
87. Will Heldt, DE, Clemson
86. Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana
85. Jamari Sharpe, DB, Indiana
84. Quincy Rhodes Jr., DL, Arkansas
83. Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
82. Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
81. Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers
Nos. 80-61
80. Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
79. Dakorien Moore, WR, Oregon
78. Eli Bowen, DB, Oklahoma
77. Drayk Bowen, LB, Notre Dame
76. Princewill Umanmielen, DE, LSU
75. Isaiah Sategna, WR, Oklahoma
74. Terry Moore, DB, Ohio State
73. Wayne Knight, RB, UCLA
72. Taylor Wein, DL, Oklahoma
71. Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia
70. Arion Carter, LB, Tennessee
69. KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers
68. A.J. Holmes, DL, Texas Tech
67. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
66. Trevor Lauck, OL, Iowa
65. Ellis Robinson IV, DB, Georgia
64. DJ Pickett, DB, LSU
63. John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
62. Damon Wilson II, DL, Miami
61. Kip Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
Nos. 60-41
60. Tae Johnson, DB, Notre Dame
59. Clev Lubin, DL, Louisville
58. Bo Jackson, RB, Ohio State
57. Amare Ferrell, DB, Indiana
56. Yhonzae Pierre, LB, Alabama
55. Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
54. Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss
53. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
52. Kelley Jones, DB, Mississippi State
51. Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech
50. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
49. Anthony Smith, DL, Minnesota
48. Rolijah Hardy, LB, Indiana
47. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
46. Teitum Tuioti, LB, Oregon
45. Brice Pollock, DB, Texas Tech
44. Iapani Laloulu, OL, Oregon
43. Caleb Hawkins, RB, Oklahoma State
42. Brandon Finney Jr., DB, Oregon
41. Ben Roberts, LB, Texas Tech
Nos. 40-11
40. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
39. Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami
38. Zabien Brown, DB, Alabama
37. Jordan Seaton, OL, LSU
36. Koi Perich, DB, Oregon
35. Tyrique Tucker, DL, Indiana
34. Matayo Uiagalelei, DL, Oregon
33. Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
32. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
31. John Henry Daley, DL, Michigan
30. Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
29. LJ Martin, RB, BYU
28. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, LB, Notre Dame
27. Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State
26. Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
25. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
24. Cayden Green, OL, Missouri
23. Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss
22. Mark Fletcher Jr., RB, Miami
21. A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon
20. Trevor Goosby, OL, Texas
19. Carter Smith, OL, Indiana
18. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
17. Xavier Atkins, LB, Auburn
16. David Stone, DL, Oklahoma
15. Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas
14. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
13. Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
12. Dylan Stewart, DL, South Carolina
11. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
Arch Manning enters his second full season as Texas’ starter with expectations once again through the roof. After some early growing pains in 2025, Manning found his footing and finished with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 399 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
The Longhorns have surrounded him with one of the country’s best supporting casts, including Cam Coleman. If Manning’s late-season development carries into 2026, a run at the Heisman Trophy could certainly follow.
Georgia has produced no shortage of elite defensive backs under Kirby Smart, and KJ Bolden appears to be next in line. The dynamic safety became a full-time starter in 2025 and responded with 76 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
His range stands out most, with Bolden possessing the speed to impact plays from sideline to sideline. Now entering another season in Georgia’s defense, he also projects as one of the premier defensive back prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Bray Hubbard has developed into one of the most productive defensive playmakers in the country for Alabama. The former high school quarterback was everywhere for the Crimson Tide last season, recording 79 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks from his safety position.
His ability to consistently find the football has made him a centerpiece of Alabama’s defense. With plenty of experience already under his belt, Hubbard enters 2026 carrying preseason All-American expectations.
Dante Moore could have been preparing for his rookie NFL season right now. Instead, the Oregon quarterback elected to return to Eugene after emerging as a potential top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions last season, helping Oregon reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.
At 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, Moore possesses the physical tools NFL evaluators covet. Another year of development could make him even more dangerous in 2026. USA Today thinks he could be special.
Julian Sayin already established himself among the country’s elite quarterbacks during his first season starting for Ohio State. Sayin finished third in Heisman Trophy voting after throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
Most impressively, he completed an eye-popping 77% of his passes, showcasing the accuracy that makes him such a difficult matchup. Now he gets another season throwing to Jeremiah Smith. After what Sayin accomplished in Year 1, his ceiling could be even higher in 2026.
Malachi Toney wasn’t even supposed to be playing college football last season. After reclassifying and skipping his senior year of high school, Toney spent most of his freshman campaign at just 17 years old and still immediately became one of the sport’s most electric weapons.
He caught 109 passes for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns, rushed for another 113 yards and even threw two touchdown passes. With his role expanding throughout Miami’s run to the national championship game, Toney could be even better in 2026.
Leonard Moore enters the season as USA Today’s highest-ranked defensive back after a dominant 2025 campaign for Notre Dame. Opposing quarterbacks rarely wanted to challenge him, yet Moore still finished with five interceptions, five pass breakups, 48 tackles and a forced fumble.
His performance earned unanimous All-American honors while making him a finalist for both the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Moore now enters 2026 as the top cornerback prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft class.
Few defenders can wreck an opposing offense quite like Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons. The former five-star prospect led the SEC with 12 sacks in 2025, including five during the Longhorns’ final five games of the season. Simmons already owns 21 career sacks and six forced fumbles through only two seasons of college football.
He’s littered across preseason All-American teams and award watchlists entering Year 3. For a Texas team with national championship aspirations, Simmons will be the centerpiece of the defense.
Trinidad Chambliss entered 2025 as a Division II transfer and Ole Miss’ backup quarterback. He enters 2026 as one of the faces of college football. After Austin Simmons went down with an injury, Chambliss seized the starting job and never relinquished it, throwing for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
He added 527 rushing yards and eight scores while leading Ole Miss to the CFP semifinals. With his improvisational ability and experience, Chambliss now has legitimate Heisman Trophy aspirations.
Jeremiah Smith has somehow managed to live up to the enormous expectations that followed him to Ohio State, and perhaps even surpass them. The former five-star prospect has recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, won a national championship in 2024 and earned consensus All-American honors in 2025.
At 6-foot-3, Smith possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism and receiving ability that has made him a generational NFL prospect. With Sayin back at quarterback, USA Today believes no player enters 2026 better than Smith.
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