There are certain indicators that the college football season is right around the corner, and one of the biggest telltale signs is the release of the preseason polls.

Earlier this week, the USA Today Coaches Poll dropped and had plenty of fans arguing online about the rankings of certain teams as well as the merits of preseason polls in general.

While I don’t have much of an issue with how the rankings came out, outside of a few spots here and there, I would like to identify a few teams that I believe will outperform their preseason ranking.

ONE OF THESE EIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS WILL BE HOISTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY IN 2026

To be clear, the Coaches Poll isn’t the same as the College Football Playoff Rankings, but the top-12 of the preseason polls in a given year is generally indicative of who everyone thinks will be in the big dance come December.

With that in mind, here are three teams from outside the top-12 that will make the College Football Playoff in 2026.

Maybe I’m just drinking the Lane Kiffin-laced Kool-Aid, but I have a hard time seeing the LSU Tigers missing the CFP in 2026 given everything we know about them.

The hiring of Kiffin alone turned the Bayou Bengals into Playoff contenders almost overnight, but it goes beyond just the head coach.

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Both coordinators are considered some of the best in college, with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and defensive coordinator Blake Baker likely headlining preseason Broyles Award watchlists.

When you pair that coaching triumvirate with the reported $40 million roster that’s been put in place, which includes the nation’s top-ranked transfer portal class, you start to realize LSU is working with some serious firepower.

I think 13 is a little low for this iteration of the Tigers, but I also doubt they’ll be sneaking up on anyone.

Despite his public pleas for patience, Kiffin understands the elevated expectations at LSU, and I believe a Playoff appearance in 2026 is in the cards.

It’s also the bare minimum in terms of accomplishments he will need to achieve to keep the heat off his back in year one.

Just two seasons ago, the SMU Mustangs shocked the college football world by making the Playoff in their first year in the ACC.

The Ponies took a step back in 2025 in terms of record, but when you peel the layers back, you realize how close they were to repeating as ACC representatives in the CFP.

That includes a double-overtime loss to Baylor in week two, and their only two losses in conference play came by a combined five points.

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SMU ranks inside the top-25 in terms of returning production, and a big chunk of that comes in the form of veteran signal caller Kevin Jennings.

The redshirt senior comes back to Dallas with a ton of experience and even has a Playoff appearance of his own under his belt.

Both coordinators return as well, and the conference slate shapes up nicely, as the Mustangs avoid both Miami and Clemson in the regular season.

I could see SMU making a return trip to the ACC Championship Game in 2026, likely against the aforementioned Hurricanes.

Although the Canes look like the class of the conference on paper, the Mustangs defeated Miami as the less talented team just a season ago, and I trust head coach Rhett Lashlee in a one-game scenario as much as anyone in the ACC.

I wrote about these very same Houston Cougars about a month and a half ago, tabbing them as my dark horse pick to win the Big 12, so I decided to put my money where my mouth is and double down on them as CFP contenders.

Houston is 17th in the nation (and 2nd in the Big 12) in returning production overall, and top-ten when it comes to returning production on offense.

The Cougars added a lightning bug in running back Makhi Hughes from the transfer portal, and while he wasn’t super productive while at Oregon, his numbers from his previous stop at Tulane were eye-popping, and he should have similar production in Texas.

I’m particularly impressed with young up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, whose simulated pressure stylings have caused offenses headaches in recent years.

I believe the veteran experience on both sides of the ball plus a manageable Big 12 schedule will make the Cougs a tantalizing pick to win the conference.

In addition to avoiding BYU and both Arizona teams, Houston will get Texas Tech early.

The Red Raiders have been picked to win the conference by pretty much every writer with a pulse, but the Brendan Sorsby situation may have their quarterback room in flux.

It’s better to get them early before their talent has a chance to gel, and if the Cougars get the drop on Texas Tech, they could have an inside path at winning the conference outright.