Full Breakdown
2026 College Football Season: Anticipated Showdowns and Preseason Rankings
7/10/2026, 6:28:57 PM
Key Matchups Shaping the Early Schedule
- Sept. 6 – Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. First game for Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman; he faces former boss Luke Fickell, now leading Wisconsin.
- Sept. 5 – NIU at Iowa in Iowa City. NIU interim head coach Rob Hartley seeks a strong start against veteran Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes, who finished 9-4 in 2025.
- Sept. 19 – Northwestern vs. Colorado at Northwestern Medicine Field. Deion Sanders (“Coach Prime”) brings a transfer-heavy Colorado squad to test Northwestern’s new defensive coordinator David Braun.
- Oct. 2 – Northwestern vs. Penn State inaugurates the newly rebuilt Ryan Field, marking a symbolic “new era” for the Wildcats.
- Oct. 10 – NIU vs. Air Force (NIU’s Mountain West debut). Air Force’s 4-8 triple-option team presents a unique defensive challenge.
- Sept. 26 – Illinois at Ohio State. Early-season test for the Illini after home games against UAB, Duke and Southern Illinois.
- Oct. 17 – Northwestern at Michigan State. Pat Fitzgerald, cleared of 2023 hazing allegations, returns to East Lansing, where he now serves as head coach.
- Nov. 7 – Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL) in South Bend. The Irish’s top-ranked matchup, a chance to avenge the 2025 loss that kept them out of the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame’s Quest for a Playoff Return
After being excluded from the 2025 College Football Playoff, declining a bowl invitation, and finishing the season on a downturn, Notre Dame entered 2026 ranked No. 3 in ESPN’s preseason Football Power Index (FPI). Coach Marcus Freeman has improved the team’s record against AP-ranked opponents, surpassing Brian Kelly’s 23-23 mark. Quarterback CJ Carr, now a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and secondary anchor Leonard Moore headline a roster bolstered by key transfers. The outcomes of the September 6 game at Lambeau Field, the October BYU contest, and the November 7 showdown with Miami will determine whether the Irish can “vault … into a playoff run” or see their chances “doomed with a loss.”
Preseason Power Index Highlights
- Ohio State leads the FPI, returning quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and running back Bo Jackson. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia enters his second year, with pass-rusher Kenyatta Jackson anchoring the front line.
- Georgia sits at No. 5, retaining quarterback Gunner Stockton and defensive standouts KJ Bolden and the secondary.
- Indiana climbs into the Top 10 after Curt Cignetti’s aggressive portal acquisitions, highlighted by quarterback Josh Hoover.
- Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan, and Alabama also appear among the top-ranked programs, each featuring returning stars and notable coaching moves.
Coaching Landscape
ESPN’s preseason coach ranking places Curt Cignetti at No. 1 after guiding Indiana to a historic 27-win start in his first two seasons. Nick Saban-era veteran Kirby Smart drops to No. 5, while former Ohio State assistant Mike Whittingham assumes the Michigan job following Sherrone Moore’s departure. Other coaches highlighted include Dan Lanning (Ole Miss/LSU), Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss/LSU), and Matt Campbell (Penn State).
Implications and Stakes
The early-season matchups double as barometers for conference seeding and bowl eligibility. Northwestern’s final game at the temporary Martin Stadium and the opening of Ryan Field underscore the financial and recruiting pressures of the NIL era. Notre Dame’s high-profile games against Wisconsin, BYU and Miami serve as litmus tests for the program’s ability to re-enter the playoff conversation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources provide detailed dates and opponent contexts but lack uniform data on projected win-loss records for several matchups, leaving uncertainty about how early results will reshape the FPI hierarchy. No official statements from the schools or conferences were quoted, and no dissenting viewpoints were presented in the available material.
