College Football Top 25 Coaches Poll With 2026 Odds And Tips

Big Ten and SEC Dominate 2026 College Football Preseason Coaches Poll

I'm back in Las Vegas after attending Big Ten football Media Days last week, and had some good conversations and coverage with coaches, media members and adding more information you can bet on as the college football season begins in the weeks ahead. That includes some college football and sports betting coverage and conversations at BetBash, the sports gambling and networking conference this week in Las Vegas at Circa Resort. 

The preseason college football Top 25 coaches poll was just released, and the AP poll will be released Aug. 17. I provide the Associated Press Top 25 poll each week during the season at OSGA, and add those weekly matchups, odds, key games and additional stats and coverage including select picks and opinions with information you can bet on.

On a recent edition of 'Full Ride' college football show on Sirius XM channel 84, host Chris Childers asked their college coach guest, "How much time does a college football coach put into the CFB Poll? 

Coach: "Probably depends on the coach." Perhaps, but not specific. 

Former college football coach and Full Ride co-host Rick Neuheisel added this comment when asked about his time as college football coach and coaches poll voter. 

"It was just not a priority. You kind of place teams where you think they fit, so you're not embarrased by your ballot," Neuheisel said. "There are too many other things to do and prepare for the season."

Reality is that many coaches rely on top college football analysts like Phil Steele and his college football preview magazine and digital editions with weekly updates. Others like pro handicapper and bettor Brad Powers provide previews and college football power ratings, which can also assist in who the top teams are and help you in identifying value as odds are posted by leading online sportsbooks.

Yet the transfer portal makes for much more player movement and impact than past seasons. It requires a greater understanding of teams strengths, weaknesses, schemes and adjusting to weekly odds, sides and totals. Adjustments need to be made in power ratings, injury impacts, scheduling and market perception as the weekly odds and matchups are posted, along with live/in-game betting as you pursue profit and more betting opportunities. 

Reality is that the coaches don't have time to evaluate all the teams, but the coaches poll, and even AP poll become nothing more than news and marketing promotion which assists networks in ratings and revenue. Remember, it's a BIG business, like the BIG Ten,, built on power and money with fans thirst for college football.

However, using that information and studying, reseaching and handicapping the teams, players, stats and matchups without getting caught up in the hype is imperative as you navigate so many parts of the process and pursuit of betting profit. Being able to interpret information is important while digging deeper into coverage from reliable sources or beat writers and utilizing key matchup stats that will assist you in betting on more winners as you gain additional experience. 

Top 25 Coaches Poll 

Last season, 11 teams that were ranked in the preseason Top 25 of the NCAA football Coaches Poll were not in the final Top 25 at season's end. Notable early top 25 teams who fell out of the poll by December ahead of bowl season were No. 3 Penn State, No. 6 Clemson and No. 9 LSU along with No. 11 Arizona State, No. 12 Illinois, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 16 SMU and No. 17 Florida plus No. 20 Kansas State and No. 21 Iowa State. Also, preseason No. 1 Texas was down to No. 14 by December, and No. 14 Michigan had fallen as their bumbling bro coach ran into off field issues and scandal in Ann Arbor. Penn State also fired their experienced coach after failing to meet expectations, and LSU fired their experienced coach by the end of October. 

Indiana was the biggest riser from No. 19 to No. 1 in winning the national title and going 16-0. Notre Dame fell from No. 5 but was still in the top 10 in December before failing to make the College Football Playoff in a controversial vote. Texas Tech was another huge riser from No. 24 to top 5 and the CFP along with Ole Miss, who was No. 15 and rose to top 5 and the CFP. Texas A&M went from No. 21 to top 7 by December, and Oklahoma No. 26 just out of the poll to top 10. BYU also rose up from No. 23 to No. 11, while Vanderbilt rose to No. 12 by December after sitting outside the top 50 to start the season.

Three other teams were not only outside the top 50 and received zero votes for the top 25 poll, but cracked the top 20 by December - Virginia, James Madison and North Texas with the latter two teams coaches parlaying their success into Power 4 head coaching jobs at UCLA and Oklahoma State. James Madison was picked to win the Sun Belt by many preseason publications, and went on to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. Yet as I saw at Big Ten Media Days and listen at other panels and BetBash, the media focus is on the top teams and power conferences, again where the money, networks, media and eyeballs are throught the college football season and also offseason with more players leaving non-power programs for greener pastures. 

So plenty to monitor as the college football season begins and progresses with plenty of surprises and letdowns ahead for teams and fans. However, handicappers and bettors who are able to make adjustments to not only point spreads and stats, but situations, scheduling, personnel, continuity and emotions will be ahead of the game and better able to profit from the experience. 

Here is the preseason Top 25 as voted by the panel of 73 head coaches for the 2026 college football season. I added season wins, conference title odds and each teams odds to win the national title. Those odds will also adjust throughout the season, and provide additional betting options if you are interested in futures, or other props offered by top online sportsbooks like BetOnline.

Teams that received first place votes in the coaches poll include Ohio State (36), Oregon (6), Georgia (7), Texas (2), Notre Dame (5), Indiana (16), and the Hoosiers went 16-0 last season on their way to winning the Big Ten and national title while not in the top 10 to start the season. 

Teams receiving votes outside the Top 25 include: Louisville 153; Florida 147; TCU 63; Illinois 62; South Carolina 50; Arizona 50; Virginia 40; Vanderbilt 37; Auburn 29; Georgia Tech 26; Boise State 24; Oklahoma State 22; UNLV 17; North Carolina State 13; Florida State 13; Virginia Tech 12; Nebraska 12; Memphis 9; Arizona State 8; James Madison 6; Duke 6; Pittsburgh 4; New Mexico 4; Western Michigan 3; Navy 3; San Diego State 2; Kansas State 1; Jacksonville State 1; Hawaii 1; California 1;

Throughout the college football season, I have posted the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 at Off Shore Gaming Association. I add key matchups and weekly odds on all Top 25 games, and select picks with stats and additional information you can bet on. 

So check back as I provide more college football coverage at OSGA with information you can bet on.

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a leading sports betting industry analyst, handicapper, content creator, golf writer, reporter and poker player based in Las Vegas. He's been covering major sports including college football and NFL from a betting perspective for more than two decades. FairwayJay is also on the scene for major sports and poker events plus industry conferences and college football media days as a credentialed media member. Follow @FairwayJay on X and OSGA for more betting insight and information you can bet on.