We look at where we expect the best teams to excel and where they have potential trouble spots.
As spring football continues, teams are able to better assess what they expect to rely on and where they need to improve by the time the season begins this fall.
Unlike recent seasons, there is no spring transfer portal to make roster adjustments that might address any shortcomings. Luke Montgomery . But this was a group that got pushed around by Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and by Miami in the playoff -- both defeats. For Ohio State to win the national championship, this group has to be better when it matters most.
--forgoing the NFL draft and returning to Eugene, but the Ducks' defensive front might actually be an even bigger strength heading into the 2026 season. Linemenall decided to come back for one more season, giving Oregon one of the best, if not the best, defensive fronts in the sport. As the last two seasons have shown, Dan Lanning has built a near complete team in Eugene, albeit one that hasn't been able to get over the final hump.
And while the linebacker room withoutwill be up for scrutiny, perhaps the biggest weakness the Ducks have going into this season is scar tissue. For the last two years, they have now been dominated and ousted in the playoffs by the team that has gone on to win the national championship. --, a projected first-round pick, moving on to the NFL draft, the Bulldogs are loaded in the linebacker room.
Returning starterwas the No. 2 outside linebacker prospect in the class of 2023 by ESPN Recruiting. He had 74 tackles with 2.5 sacks last season. Another projected starter,The Bulldogs lost four of their top five receivers from last season, and six of their top seven pass catchers when you throw in tight end were important transfer portal additions on the defensive line.
With some key veterans recovering from injuries, this unit should be one of the best in the country this fall. Under the new CFP rules that begin this season, if Notre Dame is ranked in the selection committee's final top 12, the Irish are guaranteed a playoff spot and won't get displaced, as happened in 2025. With a relatively soft schedule, though, there's not much margin for error.
The three toughest games are against BYU, Miami and SMU, the latter two of which are home games. All three of those opponents are also CFP contenders, though, and as everyone was reminded last season -- head-to-head matters. --The offensive line was a work in progress last season, but moving some pieces around helped them settle in. This year could be similar.
Two starters,A year ago, Indiana complemented holdover linemen with several smart portal moves to elevate the overall group. The Hoosiers still have tackle. , who turned down the NFL for one more year with the Hurricanes. Fletcher helped power Miami's playoff run, using his blend of speed and power to not only bulldoze over defenders but outrun them.
Of his 1,192 yards, 507 came in CFP games. Just as important was getting backupsis the only returning player with significant starting and playing experience .
, who was injured for most of last season after transferring in from NC State, will be expected to play a much larger role alongside Toure.each enjoyed spectacular sophomore seasons with the Red Raiders, producing a combined 2,882 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025. If touted former USC transfercan return to form after missing last season with a torn ACL, Tech should have one of the most dynamic running back trios in college football.
Texas Tech has few question marks along its depth chart in terms of experience and depth, but here's one spot with no returning starters and an ongoing spring battle. The Red Raiders brought in transferFew FBS teams are going to have a better offensive backfield than Ole Miss, which is bringing back star quarterbackwith the NCAA to get Chambliss another season of eligibility, after he was the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2025, throwing for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns and running for 527 yards with eight scores.
The former Ferris State starter might be even better in Year 2 at Ole Miss. Lacy was heavily pursued by LSU and others after he ran for 1,567 yards with 24 touchdowns in 2025. , who played at Ole Miss last season, will also be in the mix. At least the Rebels have three starters returning on the interior line.
--Strength: Defensive line. The Tigers have depth, size and talent across all positions on the defensive line, giving this group the potential to be among the best in the nation. But because there are so many new players, we are merely projecting this as the strength of the entire team. Ole Miss transferThis was a weak spot a year ago, and to fix it, Lane Kiffin went into the portal -- headlining the pickups with Colorado tackle.
In all, LSU returns two starters and added 11 players to try to overhaul this entire unit. On the offensive line in particular, it is important to find a group that has chemistry right away but expect mixing and matching throughout the spring to find the best rotation to improve this group. --, the Cougars have a running back who is expected to be among the national leaders in rushing yards. But the ground game is more than him.
QBalso proved to be a more than capable ball carrier as a true freshman and that tandem is where BYU's offense will be built around.also is expected to play a significant role, and in four seasons at Oregon, he made just six catches while fighting injuries. --crossed the Red River after logging 29 catches for 516 yards and six scores last fall, and fellow portal receiverAs long as Brent Venables is calling plays, Oklahoma should be plenty suffocating on defense.
However, the departures of stars such asleave the Sooners' defense light on veteran experience, especially after Oklahoma pulled just one FBS defensive starter -- UTSA'sis back after running for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry last year. Michigan added Savion Hiter, the nation's No. 2 running back recruit. Quarterbackbarely played until October as a true freshman last year and still led the Wolverines with 45 receptions and 651 yards.
Keeping the promising Marsh in Ann Arbor was a big win for new coach Kyle Whittingham. But otherwise, the Wolverines will be relying heavily on transfersMatt Campbell brought 25 transfers with him from Iowa State, which will make the transition easier, especially with veteran quarterbackleading the offense. Becht started all 12 games for the Cyclones last year and completed 205 of 339 passes for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 116 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Yes, Penn State has to replace four starting offensive linemen, but the receiver room has been underwhelming for three straight seasons, including zero catches in the 2024 CFP semifinal against Notre Dame. New wide receivers coach Noah Pauley also left for the Green Bay Packers before he could even unpack his bags. If his replacement, Kashif Moore, can develop a mix of transfers and returning talent, this group could wind up ending the season as a strength.
--The 11 guys Kalen DeBoer puts out there to defend should have the Tide feeling confident every Saturday. The defensive backfield should be one of the best in college football. A disclaimer: I believe this gets fixed this season. But after last season, when Alabama's run game was abysmal, the biggest question going into 2026 is whether this problem gets resolved.
DeBoer overhauled the offensive line and brought in Adrian Klemm to coach them . The running backs room features a veteran in, and EJ Crowell, another exciting freshman. Trae'shawn Brown, another freshman, could very well be part of the solution as well.
There's plenty of reason for optimism. --. : He's a difference-maker. Williams has a chance to be among the best quarterbacks in college football this season, which, of course, is the best possible strength any team can have.handled the duties, averaging 34.59 net yards per punt, which ranked No. 138 among the 141 FBS punters with at least 15 punts last season.
The assumption is-- a transfer from San Diego State, where he was second-team All-Mountain West last season -- will win the job, but this will remain a concern until proven otherwise. --'s arrival in Salt Lake City represented the return of a functioning offense for the Utes. This year, Dampier will have to prove he can do it with a new playcaller, but there is no denying the talent.
Plus, electric backupThe early buzz out of spring practice is that Utah expects its receiving corps to be much deeper than usual, but until optimism translates into production, this is a spot where Utah's prolonged lack of standout receiver play remains a concern. , who led the team with 878 rushing yards in 2025, and add South Dakota transfer Lendon Phillips Jr., an FCS All-America selection who led the nation with 1,921 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns last season.
's return to USC for a third year and a second straight full season should give the Trojans' offense the potential to once again be one of the top units in the country. Maiava is coming off his best and most efficient season yet and could be a sleeper Heisman Trophy contender.
Much like the offense continues to be a strength for the Trojans, the defensive questions remain going into Riley's fifth season in Los Angeles. Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson will be the third different defensive coordinator USC has had in Riley's tenure and while his approach and experience projects promise for the Trojans, they'll still have to deal with questions, such as their linebacker talent and depth with, it's possible the Cardinals will have yet another added dimension to their rushing attack.
Head coach Jeff Brohm hasn't had a true dual-threat QB, so this is uncharted territory -- and it could make the Cards one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. This should be a well-rounded Louisville team, which means the drive for the playoff will be won or lost in the margins -- particularly when it comes to third downs.
The Cardinals' offense ranked 14th in the ACC in third-down conversion rate last year, a number made worse when one considers three of Louisville's four losses came by three points or less. Keeping drives going will be critical in 2026. --has won 18 games over the past two seasons. Only four other returning QBs have more.
He has been the backbone of SMU's offense through two straight impressive seasons since the Mustangs moved into the ACC. But 2026 should be Jennings' best season yet. He has learned from mistakes, but he has proven repeatedly that he's among the most dynamic QBs in the country.figure to step into bigger roles to help solidify the safety position.
It's a big transition, and SMU needs to make it a smooth one with Florida State and Louisville up early in the schedule. --The Horned Frogs bring back nearly all of their starters on the defensive line, which feels especially important considering all the departures elsewhere on the TCU defense. Defensive tacklesfor a reason. But question marks throughout the supporting cast surrounding the Harvard transfer could cap the ceiling of what Craig and first-year offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis can achieve.
The Horned Frogs are missing three of their top four pass catchers from a year ago, includingand Joseph Manjack IV, and must replace three starters on the offensive line. After signing the Big 12's second-smallest portal class, TCU is relying heavily on its internal development to plug holes around Craig. --will have a chance to earn more targets and will face plenty of competition.
Houston brought in a proven two-year starter in Oregon State'sis coming off a great year, but it'll be interesting to see who locks in starting roles around him. , as well as freshmen in Gabriel Osenda and Kamari Blair. Whoever winds up playing quarterback should feel good about the abundance of talent in front of him.
With plenty of talent and continuity on the offensive line, along with skill players, there's reason to be confident that whoever ultimately wins the starting job will have success. Especially under Heupel. Butlosing his injunction for an extra season of eligibility provides a level of uncertainty at the position, with redshirt freshman
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