SAN ANGELO, TX — The 2026 Coaches Preseason Top 25 dropped on Monday, and five Texas college football teams will start the season ranked in the top 25.
No. 4 Texas
Coming in as the highest-ranked team in the Lone Star State, the Texas Longhorns debuted at No. 4 overall. With the return of quarterback Arch Manning, the Longhorns have their sights set on an SEC and National Championship this season. The Longhorns struggled at times last year, finishing the season 10-3 and missing the College Football Playoff, but they seem confident of making the playoff this season.
No. 8 Texas A&M
Texas A&M Football
The Aggies capped off one of their most successful seasons in program history a year ago. A&M finished the season 11-2 with the Aggies' first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. However, a tough loss to the runner-up Miami Hurricanes saw A&M's season end in the first round, much to the Aggie faithful's disappointment. Coach Mike Elko has a new class ready to tackle this year with a national championship in mind.
No. 12 Texas Tech
Texas Tech Football 2025
The Red Raiders took the league by storm last season, finishing the year with a program-best 12-2 record and clinching Texas Tech's first-ever Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff appearance. Tech sported one of the most, if not the most, dangerous defenses in the NCAA in 2025 with multiple national award winners in the starting lineup. However, the dream season came crashing down in the end in the second round against Oregon thanks to some subpar QB play in crunch time.
Now, after an offseason filled with drama courtesy of would-be transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby's gambling addiction and subsequent fallout, the Red Raiders are enemy No. 1 in college football. These Red Raiders have a lot to prove with a fairly weak schedule if Texas Tech wants to make it back to the college football postseason.
No. 20 SMU
Former SMU Mustang Romello Brinson
The sole representative on the list from the DFW area, the Mustangs look to bounce back from a disappointing end to 2025. SMU finished 9-4 a season ago with several losses that should have never happened. With Kevin Jennings back under center in 2026, the Mustangs return a 3,600-passing-yard starter to the ACC. Look for the Mustangs to make waves early.
No. 24 Houston
Houston Cougars Football
The Cougars have been on a meteoric rise over the past few seasons largely thanks to head coach Willie Fritz. After finishing 4-8 in 2024 in his first year at the helm, Fritz has turned this program around. The Cougars finished 10-3 a season ago with a swagger rarely seen by Houston in years past. Several college football experts give the Cougars a chance to win the Big 12 this season, but they will still have to get through rival Texas Tech to do it.
2026 Coaches Poll Preseason Top 25
- Ohio State — 1,741 points (12-2)
- Oregon — 1,637 points (13-2)
- Georgia — 1,591 points (12-2)
- Texas — 1,544 points (10-3)
- Notre Dame — 1,522 points (10-2)
- Indiana — 1,522 points (16-0)
- Miami — 1,409 points (13-3)
- Texas A&M — 1,174 points (11-2)
- Oklahoma — 1,104 points (10-3)
- Ole Miss — 1,096 points (13-2)
- Alabama — 1,050 points (11-4)
- Texas Tech — 1,034 points (12-2)
- LSU — 951 points (7-6)
- USC — 838 points (9-4)
- BYU — 781 points (12-2)
- Michigan — 719 points (9-4)
- Penn State — 463 points (7-6)
- Tennessee — 428 points (8-5)
- Washington — 406 points (9-4)
- SMU — 378 points (9-4)
- Utah — 313 points (11-2)
- Iowa — 291 points (9-4)
- Clemson — 235 points (7-6)
- Houston — 194 points (10-3)
- Missouri — 158 points (8-5)
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