The 2026 preseason coaches poll, released this Tuesday, places the Brigham Young Cougars at 15th and the Utah Utes at 21st. These two programs are the only representatives from the Mountain West Conference to crack the top 25 rankings.
BYU's 15th Spot and Utah's 21st Rank
The inclusion of the Brigham Young Cougars and the Utah Utes in the top 25 reflects a period of sustained competitiveness for these programs. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the Brigham Young Cougars enter the season at No. 15 following a 12-2 record in 2025 that saw them reach the Big 12 championship game. Meanwhile, the Utah Utes secured the 21st position, building on an 11-2 record from the previous year.
These rankings suggest that the NCAA is beginning to view these programs as national contenders rather than regional specialists. By securing these spots, both the Brigham Young Cougars and the Utah Utes have gained a level of preseason breathing room that was absent in previous cycles, potentially influencing how they are perceived during the College Football Playoff selection process .
The SEC's Nine-Team Grip and Ohio State's 38 First-Place Votes
Despite the rise of the Mountain West programs, the traditional powerhouses continue to dominate the upper echelon of the poll. The SEC has placed nine teams in the preseason top 25, including five programs within the top 13. As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, Georgia remains a fixture at No. 3, while Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Alabama occupy the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th spots, respectively.
The Big Ten also maintains a formidable presence with eight teams in the rankings.. The Ohio State Buckeyes have claimed the No. 1 spot, bolstered by 38 first-place votes. Other programs that split the remaining first-place honors include Indiana, South Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, and Notre Dame, illustrating a fragmented view among coaches regarding who the absolute favorite is for the 2026 title .
Clemson's Slide to No. 23 and the Power 4 Shift
The current rankings highlight a broader trend of volatility among former blue-bloods. A stark example is Clemson, which opens the season at No. 23—a significant drop from its peak in 2017. This shift mirrors a wider redistribution of power across the "Power 4" conferences, where traditional dominance is being challenged by emerging strategic shifts in the Big 12, which currently features four teams in the top 25: Texas Tech at No. 12, along with BYU, Utah, and Houston.
This redistribution suggests that the gap between the elite SEC programs and the rest of the country is narrowing in terms of perception,even if the SEC still holds the most top-10 spots. The movement of teams like the Brigham Young Cougars into the top 15 indicates that coaches are increasingly willing to reward consistency over historical brand name alone.
Texas Tech's Strategic Coaching Changes and the Sooner Rivalry
Several critical variables remain unverified as the season approaches , particularly regarding the impact of leadership changes. The Salt Lake Tribune notes that both Texas Tech and Texas A&M are entering the competition with "strategic coaching changes," yet it remains unclear how these specific tactical shifts will translate to on-field performance. The effectiveness of these new strategies will be a primary focal point in the renewed rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas.
Furthermore, while the poll provides a snapshot of expectations, it does not account for late-summer roster changes or injuries.. The report focuses heavily on the coaches' perspectives, but it leaves open the question of how these rankings will influence non-conference scheduling and whether the Mountain West programs can maintain their top-25 status once the actual games begin.
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