What happened
ESPN writers Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg published offseason rankings for every Power 4 college football program heading into the 2026 season. The package evaluates how each team retooled rosters through the transfer portal, recruiting, and coaching changes. Reaction posts highlighted Ole Miss, Texas and Oregon as among the most aggressive revamps.
Why it matters
Offseason roster construction now drives preseason expectations as much as returning production, with the portal reshaping depth charts across the Power 4. Programs that win the offseason often translate that into playoff contention under the expanded College Football Playoff format. The rankings set an early narrative baseline for media, betting markets and fan bases before fall camps open.
What to watch
Watch for individual team reactions, transfer portal late additions, and how these rankings shift once spring practice evaluations and summer depth charts are finalized.