College Football 26: Full Top 25 Rankings Released for EA Sports Game

Notre Dame understandably ranks among the nation's elite again

(EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

It's that time of year when college football preview magazines are coming out and preseason top 25 rankings are being released. Add to that list, after its triumphant return last summer, the rankings from EA Sports' College Football video game.

College Football '26 is set to be released in mid-July, but rankings from the game have been released. This week, we found out how the top 25 teams rank in the game, and it's a list I'm certain nobody will have any problems with whatsoever.

Without further ado, the top 25 for College Football '26:

25-21:

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze greets fans during Tiger Walk before Auburn Tigers A-Day football practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 12, 2025. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

25. Illinois
24. South Carolina
23. Duke
22. Auburn
21. Missouri

Auburn is a name, I get it, but a top 25 spot for the team that found several different ways to lose last year on way to a 5-7 finish. That seems more than generous.

20-16:

Nov 30, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium. | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

20. Tennessee
19. SMU
18. Indiana
17. Oklahoma
16. Ole Miss

Much of the same that applies to Auburn above applies to Oklahoma, but at least Oklahoma did sneak out with a victory at Auburn last year. As for Indiana: do the Hoosiers have the same magic from a year ago or was it a flash in the pan?

15-11:

Apr 12, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks to throw before the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

15. Michigan
14. Arizona State
13. Texas Tech
12. Florida
11. Miami

Will Michigan get anything out of the quarterback position this year and return to a College Football Playoff caliber team? Arizona State and Texas Tech are the only two Big 12 teams on the list, while a pair of Florida teams are looking to build off last season and be playing meaningful games come December.

10-6:

Nov 23, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly reacts to a play against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Tiger Stadium. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

10. LSU
9. Oregon
8. Texas A&M
7. Clemson
6. Georgia

LSU and Clemson battle in Week One in South Carolina this year, with the winner having a leg up in the race for the College Football Playoff. That begs the question: if Clemson wins, how hot will Brian Kelly's seat be the rest of the season?

5-1:

5. Notre Dame
4. Penn State
3. Ohio State
2. Texas
1. Alabama

When it comes to talent on the roster, the case for Alabama can still be made - and since this is for a video game, it's easier to understand. I've gone over the Notre Dame-Penn State thing endlessly this off-season, perhaps Penn State gets the nod because of experience at starting quarterback.

Like I say with all posts regarding the College Football '26 video game, can we please just fast-forward to late August already and get the ball in the air?