Notre Dame started the 2026 campaign as a highly favored contender to make a deep playoff run, or perhaps capture the national championship.
Boasting ten returning starters and their primary six tacklers from last season’s formidable defensive unit, the Fighting Irish feature an experienced and skilled quarterback in CJ Carr. Furthermore, despite the departure of two elite running backs, they retain a wealth of explosive offensive weapons.
Confirmed.
Confirmed.
Confirmed.
Notre Dame dominated Wisconsin with a 41-13 victory at Lambeau Field on Sunday evening, in a high-profile matchup that turned into a blowout by the conclusion of the third quarter. Marcus Freeman’s squad transformed a slim 13-10 lead at halftime into a second-half rout using several methods: an interception returned for a touchdown, a 28-yard scoring pass, and a pair of rushing touchdowns from newly minted lead running back Aneyas Williams.
Following the matchup, Freeman remarked to NBC that he and his players felt they were “pressing” during a slow opening half.
“Our offensive unit remained focused because of some highly productive run plays,” Freeman noted. “Establishing our ground attack truly paved the way for us.”
This stellar showing propelled Notre Dame to the second spot in our inaugural Top 10 rankings, trailing only Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers, who secured the most striking win of the weekend.
Notre Dame athletes celebrated with a Lambeau Leap following their triumph against Wisconsin on Sunday. (Michael Caterina-Imagn Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
Prior to revealing the standings, there is a crucial element to note regarding our Top 10. This is an entirely Opinion-Free and Judgment-Free Zone! In evaluating these squads, we disregard all preseason rankings as well as previous season outcomes. What transpired in the past is firmly left behind.
Consequently, you won’t observe teams like Georgia (which took on Tennessee State!) or Ohio State (which faced off against Ball State!) on this list. This methodology typically favors programs that schedule challenging early opponents, though it does produce a rather unconventional lineup during the initial weeks. By the middle of the season, our Top 10 will likely align more closely with traditional polls.
Yet for the moment …
1. LSU Tigers
Recent game: defeated Clemson, 51-10
Upcoming matchup: vs. Louisiana Tech
LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin dismantled Clemson so thoroughly that national conversations shifted from Kiffin’s exciting debut to the highly debated future of Dabo Swinney (who would require a buyout of roughly $50 million for Clemson to dismiss him). Shifting focus back to the Tigers in Baton Rouge: they are quick, physical, and aggressive, and they have finally established a reliable ground game in Red Stick, an element that has been lacking for several seasons. LSU accumulated over 300 yards on the ground, largely thanks to Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones, a redshirt sophomore who registered 5 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns. LSU narrowly edged out Notre Dame for the most commanding victory against a Power Conference opponent in Week 1, earning them the top spot in our rankings.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Recent game: defeated Wisconsin, 41-13
Upcoming matchup: vs. Rice
That highly anticipated defensive unit that dominated offseason discussions delivered an extraordinary performance against the Badgers. Five out of Wisconsin’s eight offensive drives concluded in punts, and the Badgers were held to a mere 284 total yards. Linebacker Drayk Bowen and his teammates dominated a sluggish Wisconsin offense. The Fighting Irish did not yield a single run play exceeding seven yards. Shifting the spotlight to the offense, Carr—the second-year starting quarterback and grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr—completed a poised 19 of 29 attempts for 239 yards and two touchdowns. It is quite evident that Notre Dame is heavily investing in its football program, and those efforts are yielding results.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Recent game: defeated Stanford, 45-6
Upcoming matchup: vs. Florida A&M (Thursday)
Making his starting debut under center, Darian Mensah—now playing for his third university in three seasons—shredded the Cardinal defense with substantial support from Malachi Toney. The elusive wide receiver racked up 234 receiving yards and three touchdowns, instantly inserting himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation after only one game. This performance should not be overlooked. Miami made a cross-country journey (arriving two days early to adjust to the local time zone) to play in a quiet Friday night environment. It carried all the warning signs of a sluggish outing that occasionally troubled Mario Cristobal’s past teams. However, the reigning national runners-up settled the outcome early, building a 28-3 advantage by the middle of the second quarter.
Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney put on a stellar performance on Friday evening. (Stan Szeto-Imagn Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
4. Ole Miss Rebels
Recent game: defeated Louisville, 41-38
Upcoming matchup: vs. Charlotte
Recall that legal battle in Mississippi back in February concerning Trinidad Chambliss’ tonsils? As it turns out, that struggle was completely justified. Chambliss, currently among the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy, threw for 336 yards and three scores, while also contributing 60 rushing yards. He directed the Rebels down the field on a clutch 44-yard drive that culminated in a 48-yard game-winning field goal by Lucas Carneiro as time ran out. During that critical possession, Chambliss converted a third-and-six with an 18-yard pass and made several key runs. Following a matchup against Charlotte next week, the Rebels will welcome their former head coach back to Oxford for a game against LSU.
5. Oregon Ducks
Recent game: defeated Boise State, 34-27
Upcoming matchup: at Oklahoma State
To be fair, this was far from a dominant display by the Ducks. In fact, the Broncos held the lead at halftime, and Oregon relied on Dakorien Moore turning a short 10-yard reception into an explosive 62-yard touchdown in the final moments to break the deadlock and seal the win. Still, one must recognize that this Boise State squad is a genuine playoff threat and stands as one of the premier programs in the Group of Six. The Ducks had to replace three starters on their offensive line from last season, and those growing pains were visible. That unit must make quick strides before facing a grueling Big Ten slate that features matchups against USC, Ohio State, and Michigan.
6. Virginia Cavaliers
Recent game: defeated NC State, 34-8
Upcoming matchup: vs. Norfolk State (Friday)
The Cavaliers picked up exactly where they left off following last year’s impressive 11-3 campaign. Transitioning to a new quarterback didn’t seem to slow them down. Former Penn State and Missouri dual-threat signal-caller Beau Pribula recorded 110 yards on the ground and another 155 yards in the air, accounting for two scores. Defensively, coordinator John Rudzinski’s group completely stifled the Wolfpack. NC State was kept off the scoreboard until just under six minutes remained in the third quarter. With Clemson and Florida State searching for answers, could Virginia be the second-best team in the ACC behind Miami? Notably, these two teams do not face each other during the regular season this year.
7. Colorado Buffaloes
Recent game: defeated Georgia Tech, 14-13
Upcoming matchup: vs. Weber State
The Buffaloes struggled to generate much offense, finishing with just 307 total yards, but quarterback Julian Lewis engineered a crucial eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 20-yard strike to Charlie Williams for the decisive score. While it wasn’t the most polished showing from Deion Sanders’ team, it was sufficient to secure a spot in our Top 10. They successfully traveled across the country for their season opener and won the battle at the line of scrimmage against a highly regarded ACC opponent. On the defensive side, Georgia Tech was limited to only 51 rushing yards, showcasing the stellar preparation of coordinator Chris Marve’s defensive unit.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders exits the field alongside his son Shedeur after the Buffaloes secured a victory against Georgia Tech. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
8. Auburn Tigers
Recent game: defeated Baylor, 17-16
Upcoming matchup: vs. Southern Miss
It might be best not to mention our Top 10 ranking to head coach Alex Golesh. He was thoroughly dissatisfied with how his Tigers performed against Baylor. For the majority of the contest, Auburn was arguably outplayed. Had Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway delivered a slightly better throw to his target on a crucial two-point conversion attempt, the Bears would have spoiled Golesh’s program debut. Quarterback Byrum Brown and the Auburn offensive line clearly have room for improvement; Brown was brought down for five sacks and yielded three interceptions. Fortunately, the Tigers’ defense stepped up by forcing multiple turnovers and making critical stops on key third downs.
9. Boise State Broncos
Recent game: lost to Oregon, 34-27
Upcoming matchup: vs. Memphis
It is highly unusual for a Group of Six team to secure a spot in our Top 10 immediately following a loss. However, the Broncos proved their caliber in a highly challenging road environment. The G6 playoff picture will become much clearer this coming weekend when Boise State plays host to Memphis. Furthermore, the Broncos are scheduled for a road test later in September against Western Michigan, another strong contender for the G6 postseason berth. Looking at the team, quarterback Maddux Madsen—who has started 27 games—delivered three touchdown passes and played with composure in a hostile venue. Most impressively, Boise State’s offensive and defensive lines stood out as the most dominant groups on the field.
10. UCLA Bruins
Recent game: defeated Cal, 45-24
Upcoming matchup: vs. San Diego State
Surprised to see the Bruins cracking the No. 10 spot? We share that sentiment, but the season’s opening week featured very few matchups between power conference opponents to evaluate. First-year head coach Bob Chesney enjoyed a highly successful debut. Under his offensive scheme, quarterback Nico Iamaleava appeared completely revitalized. Although his stat line wasn’t overwhelming—recording 184 passing yards on 14-of-22 completions—he avoided critical errors. Additionally, the Bruins received a strong ground game from Anthony Woods, who rushed for over 100 yards. While UCLA may not remain in our Top 10 for long, Chesney’s squad has the potential to catch several opponents off guard.
