College Football 26 - Final Regular Season Top 25 Poll

WHAT IS THE TOP 25 POLL?

Despite only a handful of teams in action during conference championship weekend, our final regular season rankings saw some notable movement. Indiana secured a championship win over Ohio State and claimed the No. 1 spot heading into the playoffs and several other conference champions also climbed the rankings. Let’s jump in!

BIGGEST MOVERS

Indiana Hoosiers | #1

Heading into the Big Ten Championship, the Hoosiers were still viewed as Ohio State’s “little brother,” despite their undefeated record. Much of that perception stemmed from OSU also being unbeaten and entering as the defending national champions. The showdown between the conference’s top programs was tight from start to finish, with Heisman frontrunner Fernando Mendoza making clutch plays to lead Indiana down the stretch and a resilient Hoosiers defense holding Ohio State to just 10 points.

JMU Dukes | #18

James Madison faced a relatively light schedule for most of the season, but even with less challenging opponents, the Dukes consistently impressed, averaging 37 points per game. The dynamic pairing of Alonza Barnett and Wayne Knight powered through Troy to claim the conference championship and strengthen their playoff resume. Their dominant victory bumped them up slightly in our rankings, and they could climb even higher with a strong showing against Oregon in the postseason.

Tulane Green Wave  | #19

The Green Wave are headed toward their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Their win over ranked North Texas showcased their ability to compete with — and defeat — top Group of 5 opponents. They also rose slightly in our rankings, but now must demonstrate that they can stack up against Power 4 competition as they turn their attention to Ole Miss in a rematch from earlier this season.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON POLL