College Football Thread - 2026

[Willmark]

It’s that time of year for us to dog fight about who’s college team is better.

Best way to start it out IMO is with the preseason coaches poll that just dropped:

Preseason Coaches Poll
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
11.Alabama
12.Texas Tech
13.LSU
14.USC
15.BYU
16.Michigan
17.Penn State
18.Tennessee
19.Washington
20.SMU
21.Utah
22.Iowa
23.Clemson
24.Houston
25.Missouri

We all know who are backing after that last few years but the 2026 season is almost upon us.

For my own part, this year is special I’m attending my first home game ever at ND on 9/12.

[Reno Hightower]

Irish at #3 with 5 first place votes in the AP Poll. Texas Tech in the top 10. UCLA at 4.

[Willmark]

And it’s official: 24 team playoffs



I’m sure ESPN will be fair and impartial in all this.

[DeathStar24]

And it’s official: 24 team playoffs



I’m sure ESPN will be fair and impartial in all this.

What a nightmare.

[Willmark]

Odd we had to hear for years “join a conference”; conferences became irrelevant last year with the malarkey of the SEC “championship” game.

Turns out ND didn’t have to change after all:

[Willmark]

Second Rankings Up:
https://collegefootballplayoff.com/news ... 0/rankings

[Reno Hightower]

I don't see Notre Dame ever affiliating with a P4 conference. Why would they want to?

[Willmark]

I don't see Notre Dame ever affiliating with a P4 conference. Why would they want to?

They don't have to, they don't want to and no conference can make them.

Add to this? What is the point of conferences now? The sham of their "championship" games dies this year in the SEC and after that with the 24 team playoff next year?

[Attyla]

They don't have to, they don't want to and no conference can make them.

Add to this? What is the point of conferences now? The sham of their "championship" games dies this year in the SEC and after that with the 24 team playoff next year?

You seem obsessed with the SEC but the preseason rankings had very few SEC teams ranked high with Georgia being the top ranked in the conference. And as we get closer to the end of the regular season, the SEC's top ranked team is....Georgia.

Maybe the perception is not the reality?

[Willmark]

You seem obsessed with the SEC but the preseason rankings had very few SEC teams ranked high with Georgia being the top ranked in the conference. And as we get closer to the end of the regular season, the SEC's top ranked team is....Georgia.

Maybe the perception is not the reality?

It’s self perpetuating and ignorant just this year ask FSU when they got screwed a few yaes back

Because right now certain teams with two loses getting ranked as high as they are? Should they lose a third they in no way shape or form be dropped as far as they should.

Utah? UCLA? The SEC benefits from “quality loses” as well a quality wins. It’s absurd. If Utah or UCLA loses they are getting dropped incredibly fast. Alabama loses and they get into the CFP regardless.

I’m not the only one that has noticed the bias. Go to social media, it’s awash in fans noticing the same thing. Normally, it’s noise but when there is that much volume?

Then there is sports writers also starting to notice the conflict of interest nature of the SEC, ESPN and the CFP.

And funnily enough everyone else starts paying players and a SEC hasn’t won the national championship in three years.

The entire “run” from about 2010 to 2022 is now highly suspect.

YMMV

[haji81872]

I am with the Missouri coach. Just rid of the conferences. They are of no importance. Every year because of the scheduling you are going to have three way ties at the tops of conferences for conference "champions." It will also make for smarter scheduling with UCLA not traveling to Rutgers and Maryland for games and instead play a Texas school or Utah/BYU or Boise State. Not limiting who a team must play because of conference affiliation would be a step in the right direction.

[DeathStar24]

I can't wait until I see how they seed this 24 team nonsense. Probably have some 4 loss big 10 team ranked 24th going up against some SEC powerhouse in the 1st round. NCAA can't get out of its own way.

[Willmark]

I can't wait until I see how they seed this 24 team nonsense. Probably have some 4 loss big 10 team ranked 24th going up against some SEC powerhouse in the 1st round. NCAA can't get out of its own way.

It’s been a mess since it was limited to four. Now they are compounding the problems.

[FLORIDARAYDAH]

You seem obsessed with the SEC but the preseason rankings had very few SEC teams ranked high with Georgia being the top ranked in the conference. And as we get closer to the end of the regular season, the SEC's top ranked team is....Georgia.

Maybe the perception is not the reality?

I dont know if obsessed is strong enough. Its like a kid who got their ass beat for 20 years by another kid. He is probably blaming the SEC for gas prices

[pfish57]

I dont know if obsessed is strong enough. Its like a kid who got their ass beat for 20 years by another kid. He is probably blaming the SEC for gas prices

Touche...yea it's way beyond obsession lol

[DeathStar24]

It’s been a mess since it was limited to four. Now they are compounding the problems.

4 was absolutely dumb. 12 I understood. 24 is lunacy.