Way-Too-Early Top Players For the 2026 College Football season

The 2026 college football season is still months away, but each offseason we release our lists of who we believe will be the top players at various positions. Now that all NFL Draft declarations have been finalized and the remaining eligibility rulings have been resolved, we can turn our attention to the year ahead. Below are the athletes we project to be the best of the best in the upcoming season.

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Top College Football Quarterbacks for 2026

1. Dante Moore - Oregon

2. Julian Sayin - Ohio State

3. Arch Manning - Texas

4. Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss

5. Darian Mensah - Miami

6. Marcel Reed - Texas A&M

7. Josh Hoover - Indiana

8. Jayden Maiava - USC

9. LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina

10. CJ Carr - Notre Dame

    
    

11. Brendan Sorsby / Sam Leavitt

12. Gunner Stockton

13. Bryce Underwood

14. Bear Bachmeier

15. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

16.  John Mateer

17. Drew Mestemaker

18. CJ Bailey

19. Demond Williams Jr.

20. Anthony Colandrea

Notables: Malik Washington, Noah Fifita, Nico Iamaleava, Avery Johnson, Rocco Becht, Byrum Brown, Kevin Jennings, Beau Pribula, Drake Lindsey, Mason Heintschel, DJ Lagway, Jaylen Raynor, and Aidan Chiles

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Top College Football Receivers for 2026

1. Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State

2. Malachi Toney - Miami

3. Duce Robinson - Florida State

4. KJ Duff- Rutgers

5. Mario Craver - Texas A&M

6. Ryan Wingo - Texas

7. Cooper Barkate - Miami

8. Cam Coleman - Texas

9. Ryan Williams - Alabama

10. Charlie Becker - Indiana

    
    

11. Nyck Harbor

12. Amare Thomas

13. Danny Scudero

14. Trell Harris

15. Chase Hendricks

16. Tre Richardson

17. Omarion Miller

18. Tre Brown

19. Wyatt Young

20. Jackson Harris

Notables: Ian Strong, T.J. Moore, Jayce Brown, Evan Stewart, Shazz Preston, Kenny Johnson, Parker Livingstone, Bryant Wesco Jr., Eric Singleton, Darrell Gill, and Terrell Anderson

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Top College Football Offensive Linemen for 2026:

1. Jordan Seaton - LSU

2. Iapani Laloulu - Oregon

3. Kade Pieper - Iowa

4. Evan Tengesdahl - Cincinnati

5. Anthony Donkoh - Penn State

6. Trevor Goosby - Texas

7. Wes King - West Virginia

8. Jacarrius Peak - South Carolina

9. Michael Carroll - Alabama

10. Joe Cotton - Cincinnati

    
    

11. Dontrell Glover

12. Sheridan Wilson

13. Drew Bobo

14. John Mills

15. Coleton Price

16. Luke Montgomery

17. Ashton Beers

18. Joe Brunner

19. Malachi Breland

20. Tegra Tshabola

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Top College Football Running backs for 2026:

1. Kewan Lacy - Ole Miss

2. Ahmad Hardy - Missouri

3. LJ Martin - BYU

4. Isaac Brown - Louisville

5. Antwan Raymond - Rutgers

6. L.J. Phillips Jr. - Iowa

7. Caleb Hawkins - Oklahoma State

8. Jadan Baugh - Florida

9. Mark Fletcher Jr. - Miami

10. Bo Jackson - Ohio State

    
    

11. Daylan Smothers

12. Cam Cook

13. Justice Haynes

14. Raleek Brown

15. Jordan Marshall

16. Evan Dickens

17. Wayne Knight

18. Bryson Washington

19. Darius Taylor

20.  Makhi Hughes

    
    

Notables:  Kam Perry and Quintrevion Wisner

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Top College Football Tight Ends for 2026:

1. Terrance Carter Jr. - Texas Tech

2. Trey'Dez Green - LSU

3. Dorian Thomas - California

4. Benjamin Brahmer - Penn State

5. Brody Foley - Louisville

6. DJ Vonnahme - Iowa

7. Randy Pittman Jr. - SMU

8. Dylan Wade - UCF

9. Gavin Harris - Georgia Tech

10. Hunter Welcing - Ohio State

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Top College Football Defensive backs (CBs and Safeties) for 2026:

1. Leonard Moore - Notre Dame

2. Brandon Finney Jr. - Oregon

3. DJ Pickett - LSU

4. KJ Bolden - Georgia

5. Bryce Fitzgerald - Miami

6. Koi Perish - Oregon

7. Bo Mascoe - Texas

8. Bray Hubbard - Alabama

9. O.J Frederique Jr. - Miami

10. Amare Ferrell - Indiana

    
    

11. Jontez Williams

12. Ellis Robinson

13. Adrian Wilson

14. Brice Pollack

15. Carson Williams

16. Koen Entringer

17. Earl Little Jr.

18. AJ Harris

19. Marcus Neal Jr. and Ty Beneafield

20. Therrian Alexander and Zabien Brown

    
    

Notables: Nehemiah Chandler, Justin Eaglin, Chris Graves Jr., DJ McKinney, Jermaine Mathews, Boo Carter, Terry Moore, Xavier Lucas, Christian Harrison, Omar Thronton Jr., Tyler Brown, Ja'Bril Rawls, and Emory Floyd.

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Top College Football Defensive Tackles for 2026:

1. Ahmad Moten Sr. - Miami

2. A.J. Holmes Jr. - Texas Tech

3. Tyrique Tucker - Indiana

4. Will Echoles - Ole Miss

5. Devan Thompkins - Alabama

6. A’Mauri Washington - Oregon

7. Mateen Ibirogba - Texas Tech

8. Bryce Butler - Texas Tech

9. Francis Brewu - Notre Dame

10.  Saadiq Clements - Oklahoma State

    
    

Notables: Joe Hjelle, James Smith, David Stone, Stephiylan Green, Jamaal Jarrett, Ian Geffrard, and Jahkeem Stewart

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Top College Football Pass Rushers for 2026

1. Colin Simmons - Texas

2. John Henry Daley - Michigan

3. Damon Wilson II - Miami

4.  Quincy Rhodes - Arkansas

5. Princewill Umanmielen - LSU

6. Clev Lubin - Louisville

7. Dylan Stewart - South Carolina

8. Adam Trick - Texas Tech

9. Sidney Stewart - Maryland

10. Trey White - Texas Tech

    
    

11. Tyler Thompson

12. Emmanuel Oyebadejo

13. Matayo Uiagalelei

14. Karter Menz

15. Wendell Gregory

16. Sahir West

17. Boubacar Traore

18. Braylan Shelby

19. Mohamed Toure

20. Jamond Mathis

    
    

Notables: Armando Blount, Aiden Gobaira, Jayden Woods, and Williams Nwaneri