The Best of the Rest: CFN Preseason College Football Rankings 26-50
· Yahoo Sports
Not all big seasons come from the teams ranked high in the preseason rankings. The mid-level of the CFN preseason college football rankings represents something more important overall.
Power.
Oh sure, everyone circles the games against Ohio State, and Alabama, and Notre Dame, Michigan, and Georgia. But what makes a power conference so strong? It's that nasty midsection of games that make the body blows add up.
Great, you got by Clemson. Now beat SMU, and then Florida State, and then a Wake Forest team that few will pay attention to, but has the stuff to win nine games like last year's version did.
These teams might be just outside of our preseason top 25, but you'd better take them all seriously.
The Best of the Rest: CFN Preseason College Football Rankings 26-50
CFN's 2026 Preseason Rankings
The Elite of the Elite: Top 10 | 11 to 25
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50. Northwestern Wildcats
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 7-6
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 67
2025 CFN Final Rank: 31
Week 1: South Dakota State
Swing Game: Penn State, Oct. 2
With a shiny new stadium, a whale of a coaching staff - including offensive coordinator Chip Kelly - and real talent, there’s a lot to like. The schedule, though, will crush the excitement.
Northwestern 2026 Team Preview
49. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 65
2025 CFN Final Rank: 36
Week 1:Akron
Swing Game: at NC State, Oct. 10
The five tough ACC road games, along with a home game against Miami, will make it hard, but the veterans are there to put together another sneaky-great run.
Wake Forest 2026 Team Preview
48. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 7-6
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 32
2025 CFN Final Rank: 43
Week 1: Ohio
Swing Game: Washington, Oct. 31
The Huskers will play hard and give everyone fits, but they don’t have the playmakers to get past Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State - they’re all on the slate. The struggle continues.
Nebraska 2026 Team Preview
47. Virginia Tech Hokies
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 3-9
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 49
2025 CFN Final Rank: 83
Week 1: VMI
Swing Game:Georgia Tech, Oct. 17
Temper the expectations a wee bit with a nasty ACC road slate, but James Franklin is putting together a killer. This will be the team no one wants to face over the second half of the season.
Virginia Tech 2026 Team Preview
© Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
46. Florida State Seminoles
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 5-7
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 40
2025 CFN Final Rank: 69
Week 0: New Mexico State
Swing Game: at Louisville, Oct. 9
Where’s the high-end Florida State-level talent? There should be enough to be stronger, but there are way too many landmines to sidestep in the schedule to get back among the elite.
Florida State 2026 Team Preview
45. Pitt Panthers
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 8-5
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 46
2025 CFN Final Rank: 47
Week 1: Miami University
Swing Game: Georgia Tech, Oct. 31
Consistency will be everything after what should be a roaring start. The schedule is hardly a barrier to a big season, and, as always, the pass rush and passing attack will be great.
Pitt 2026 Team Preview
44. NC State Wolfpack
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 8-5
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 39
2025 CFN Final Rank: 33
Week 0: at Virginia
Swing Game: at Stanford, Oct. 24
It's yet another rock-solid Wolfpack team under Dave Doeren, and there’s plenty to like about its schedule. But can it finally put it all together to be a true player in the ACC title chase?
NC State 2026 Team Preview
43. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Predicted Record: 5-7
2025 Final Record: 1-11
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 57
2025 CFN Final Rank: 113
Week 1: at Tulsa
Swing Game: at Iowa State, Oct. 31
Good luck finding any team that will be more fun. Every game will be a wild firefight with Eric Morris bringing his loaded offense over from North Texas, but the defense will be optional.
Oklahoma State 2026 Team Preview
42. Baylor Bears
Predicted Record: 5-7
2025 Final Record: 5-7
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 37
2025 CFN Final Rank: 70
Week 1:Auburn (in Atlanta)
Swing Game: TCU, Oct. 17
Can the passing game be enough to win more high-scoring firefights? Four road games in the final six will be too much to overcome, but the Bears will be dangerous every time out.
Baylor 2026 Team Preview
41. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Predicted Record: 4-8
2025 Final Record: 5-8
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 64
2025 CFN Final Rank: 57
Week 1: ULM
Swing Game: at Minnesota, Sept. 12
Among the hot teams on the underground college football pundit circuit, the offense will be outstanding - remember the name of QB Kamario Taylor - but the schedule didn’t get the memo.
Mississippi State 2026 Team Preview
40. Wisconsin Badgers
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 4-8
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 42
2025 CFN Final Rank: 64
Week 1: Notre Dame (in Green Bay)
Swing Game: at UCLA, Oct. 17
Wisconsin is the underground hipster team playing the small club scene. The defense will once again be a force, and this year, the other side of the ball will not only run well; it’ll finally score.
Wisconsin 2026 Team Preview
39. Cal Golden Bears
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 7-6
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 59
2025 CFN Final Rank: 55
Week 1: UCLA
Swing Game: Clemson, Sept. 26
New head coach Tosh Lopoi has a sneaky-loaded team led by QB Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele - a name you must know. The defense will be among the toughest in the ACC.
Cal 2026 Team Preview
38. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 31
2025 CFN Final Rank: 23
Week 1:Colorado
Swing Game: at Virginia Tech, Oct. 17
Yeah, we’re probably underappreciating this bunch. The offensive backfield is loaded, the coaching is elite, and … 11 Power Four teams on the schedule. It’ll be another fun season.
Georgia Tech 2026 Team Preview
37. Arizona Wildcats
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 55
2025 CFN Final Rank: 22
Week 1: Northern Arizona
Swing Game: at West Virginia, Oct. 10
Can the Wildcats win the games they’re supposed to? That’s a must with road games at BYU and Texas Tech. QB Noah Fifita and the offense will be good, and the defense will be better.
Arizona 2026 Team Preview
36. TCU Horned Frogs
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 34
2025 CFN Final Rank: 30
Week 0: North Carolina (in Dublin)
Swing Game: at Arizona, Nov. 7
There's a lot to love about a TCU team with few flaws, a more controlled attack, and a slate with just four road games spread out after the opener in Ireland against North Carolina.
TCU 2026 Team Preview
35. Kentucky Wildcats
Predicted Record: 4-8
2025 Final Record: 5-7
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 47
2025 CFN Final Rank: 50
Week 1: Youngstown State
Swing Game: at South Carolina, Oct. 3
Will Stein made a bold splash at SEC media days, and the transfer portal talent is there to back it up - to a point. The record won’t be great, thanks to a nightmare schedule.
Kentucky 2026 Team Preview
34. Houston Cougars
Predicted Record: 9-3
2025 Final Record: 10-3
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 61
2025 CFN Final Rank: 26
Week 1: Oregon State
Swing Game: at Kansas State, Oct. 10
You want a College Football Playoff sleeper? Road games at Texas Tech and Utah will make it tough, but the loaded Cougars built to get to this point, and now they’re really good.
Houston 2026 Team Preview
33. UCLA Bruins
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 3-9
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 53
2025 CFN Final Rank: 60
Week 1: at Cal
Swing Game: Wisconsin, Oct. 17
It’s one of our big calls of the season - the Bruins will rise fast under new head coach Bob Chesney. The starting 22 is talented, but the consistency will take a bit to come together.
UCLA 2026 Team Preview
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
32. SMU Mustangs
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 33
2025 CFN Final Rank: 21
Week 1: at Florida State
Swing Game: at Stanford, Nov. 28
The conference schedule is insanely favorable, and for a third straight ACC season, the Mustangs will be deep in the title hunt up until the end behind a loaded offense.
SMU 2026 Team Preview
31. Illinois Fighting Illini
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 23
2025 CFN Final Rank: 19
Week 1: UAB
Swing Game: at Michigan State, Oct. 10
There are big replacements in key spots, but the Illini reloaded. Solid lines and a favorable schedule are good, but the key is a confident Bret Bielema who has made Illinois his program.
Illinois 2026 Team Preview
30. Missouri Tigers
Predicted Record: 7-5
2025 Final Record: 8-5
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 19
2025 CFN Final Rank: 28
Week 1: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Swing Game: Florida, Oct. 3
Peak Missouri, it’ll get off to a rip-roaring start with a favorable slate, and then reality and good opponents will kick in. It’s a very good team, but it doesn’t have enough to be among the elite.
Missouri 2026 Team Preview
29. Clemson Tigers
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 7-6
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 9
2025 CFN Final Rank: 44
Week 1: at LSU
Swing Game: at Florida State, Oct. 31
Can the Tigers get back to their old selves? Not quite, but the defense will be great as the season goes on, and there’s a desperation across the board to put together a strong season.
Clemson 2026 Team Preview
28. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Predicted Record: 6-6
2025 Final Record: 8-5
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 26
2025 CFN Final Rank: 38
Week 1: Eastern Illinois
Swing Game: Michigan, Oct. 3
One of the Big Ten’s most interesting teams, there’s shock-the-world potential here. It has an NFL quarterback in Drake Lindsey, a nasty defense, and … way too many tough road games.
Minnesota 2026 Team Preview
27. Arizona State Sun Devils
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 8-5
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 20
2025 CFN Final Rank: 29
Week 1: Morgan State
Swing Game:Kansas State, Oct. 24
The Sun Devils are better, but the BRUTAL set of road games will keep them from dreaming big. However, the lines are tremendous, and the receiving corps is dynamic.
Arizona State 2026 Team Preview
26. Florida Gators
Predicted Record: 8-4
2025 Final Record: 4-8
2025 CFN Preview Rank: 17
2025 CFN Final Rank: 49
Week 1:Florida Atlantic
Swing Game: South Carolina, Oct. 10
Jon Sumrall is changing up the vibe and style of the program. He has the offensive backfield, linebacking corps, and schedule to make Florida among the SEC’s breakthrough teams.
Florida 2026 Team Preview