Samwise College Football Newsletter
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Ohio State Claims No. 1 Spot in 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll
College football is back — at least in the polls. USA Today released the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday, and Ohio State claimed the top spot, the program’s first preseason No. 1 ranking since 2015. Oregon sits at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3, Texas at No. 4, and Notre Dame at No. 5. Defending national champion Indiana landed at No. 6. Miami, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss round out the top 10. Six teams received first-place votes — the most since 2008 — with the SEC placing nine teams in the top 25 and the Big Ten claiming the top two spots.
Sources: CBS Sports
Six Teams Shared First-Place Votes — Coaches Poll Reflects a Wide-Open Field
The 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll tells a story beyond the rankings themselves. Six programs received at least one first-place vote — signaling how genuinely unsettled this season’s national title race truly is. The Big Ten placed two teams in the top two spots with Ohio State and Oregon, while the SEC landed nine in the top 25. Defending champion Indiana checks in at No. 6 amid significant roster turnover. Georgia Tech and Auburn both received votes outside the top 25, while Ole Miss at No. 10 and Oklahoma at No. 9 add further intrigue to what promises to be a compelling 2026 campaign.
Sources: On3, CBS Sports
Court Ruling Grants Indiana Star DL Stephen Daley a Fifth Season
A recent court ruling granting athletes from the 2022 high school class an extra year of eligibility is paying immediate dividends for defending national champion Indiana. Defensive lineman Stephen Daley, one of the Hoosiers’ most disruptive pass-rushers in 2025, will return for a fifth season, according to On3. Daley posted 38 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks before suffering an injury after the Big Ten Championship Game that kept him out of the playoff. Other Indiana players who could benefit include wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Jonathan Brady, tight end Holden Staes, defensive end Kellan Wyatt, linebacker Aiden Fisher, and punter Mitch McCarthy.
DeAndre Hopkins Hired as Georgia Tech Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Georgia Tech made one of the most eye-catching hires of the offseason, bringing in NFL receiver DeAndre Hopkins as an assistant wide receivers coach. Head coach Brent Key said Hopkins is “a top-10 all-time NFL receiver” who developed a long relationship with offensive coordinator George Godsey during their shared time with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. Georgia Tech enters fall camp with an inexperienced receiver corps, making Hopkins’s mentorship especially valuable. On the injury front, offensive tackle Josh Petty is expected to return around mid-October, while quarterback Alberto Mendoza is stepping up in his development.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
Auburn’s Golesh Checks Tigers Into Hotel for 13-Day Fall Camp Immersion
New Auburn head coach Alex Golesh is making an immediate cultural statement: all Tigers players will spend the first 13 days of fall camp living in a local hotel. Golesh cited the need to “eliminate every single bit of possible distraction” as the team builds chemistry heading into 2026. The hotel stay runs through August 17, when Auburn classes begin. The Tigers received votes in the Preseason Coaches Poll but did not crack the top 25. Auburn opens their season against Baylor on September 5. Golesh’s all-in approach signals a total reset in his debut season on the Plains.
Sources: Saturday Down South
2026 Preseason Coaches Poll Top 10
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Ole Miss
Season Preview
Preseason
Fall camp underway — season opens late August
Notable Openers
Auburn vs. Baylor — Sept. 5
Miami at Stanford — Sept. 4
Poll Facts
Ohio State: first No. 1 preseason since 2015
6 teams received first-place votes (most since 2008)
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency