The college football preseason and regular season are still months away, but enough of the league’s rosters have taken shape that the pecking order is starting to materialize. Of course, unforseen circumstance can and will blow up any ranking this early. However, some rankings stand the test of time.
Some teams will beat expectations while others will trip in the first week and stay down for the rest of the year. Here’s a look at five teams that are highly likely to fall well short of expectations this season.
5 College Football Teams At High Risk of Disappointing Fans
#5 – Texas Longhorns
The amount of hype placed on the Texas Longhorns is monumental. However, with great hype comes great pressure. While Arch Manning didn’t quite struggle in 2025, fans are expecting nothing short of a run at the national championship. According to Sports Reference, it would be the first national championship appearance in the modern championship era.
Considering most offspring and relatives fall short of expectations in relation to the ones who came before, expect a similar result here, despite the sky-high hype. Manning might not faceplant, but expect a mortal campaign.
#4 – Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels got Trinidad Chambliss back for another year, but lost the coach who helped get the team to the playoffs. Don’t expect another miraculous run that can get back the momentum that was red-hot leading into the sudden coaching change. Chambliss could still have a decent year, but don’t expect the team to build on what happened in 2024.
#3 – Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies lost many players to the NFL draft. While that is good news for the players and growing the reputation of the team in the short run, it sets up problems for 2026. The team will have to figure out how to replace Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman on top of other players, which could take time.
#2 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Similarly to the Huskies, the Fighting Irish also lost perhaps its best player to the NFL draft. Without Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame could have a tough time getting turnover-free yards at will. Not only that, but the team also lost Jadarian Price, so the unit was decimated overnight. It could take time to find replacements, which could cost the team in the long run.
#1 – Indiana Hoosiers
Elijah Sarratt and Fernando Mendoza have moved on. While Curt Cignetti is still set to coach the team, expecting another national championship win without the pieces that got him there is asking too much. 2027 might be a different story, but building a championship team overnight for a second consecutive year is asking too much.
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