Overview
- The US LBM preseason Coaches Poll was released Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, and Ohio State was voted No. 1 with 38 first‑place votes.
- Oregon is No. 2 with six first‑place votes and defending champion Indiana is No. 6 despite receiving 14 first‑place votes, reflecting mixed views on repeatability.
- Six different teams earned first‑place votes, the most in a preseason poll since 2008, showing a dispersed field shaped by transfer‑portal movement and roster turnover.
- The SEC placed nine teams in the top 25 and the Big Ten placed eight, signaling concentrated conference depth while the coaches panel was a random draw of about 72–73 FBS head coaches selected by the AFCA.
- Preseason polls are a snapshot not a forecast, historically poor at picking the eventual champion, so early games including Week 0 starting Aug. 29 will be decisive in reshaping expectations.