#40 Nebraska
Coming in at No. 40 to kick off our countdown is Nebraska.
I’m still not entirely sure what to make of the Cornhuskers entering the 2026 season. They were fairly mediocre last year, finishing 7-6 without many signature wins.
Heading into this season, Nebraska finished just 87th in the 2026 recruiting rankings and also lost star quarterback Dylan Raiola to Oregon. I still believe Matt Rhule is a good head coach, but if Nebraska doesn’t start bringing in more talent, the program could find itself stuck around the 7-6 mark once again.
#39 NC State
It’s a little surprising to see NC State ranked right next to Nebraska. Personally, I think the Wolfpack will be significantly better than the Cornhuskers and better than many people expect.
They landed several major additions through the transfer portal while also retaining junior quarterback CJ Bailey. I think this team has the potential to surprise a lot of people and could find itself inside the Top 25 as the season progresses.
#38 Duke
Duke is one of the more interesting teams in this part of the rankings. Other than losing Darian Mensah, there really isn’t a lot to say about the Blue Devils heading into 2026.
In my opinion, Mensah was the biggest reason Duke made the run it did last season. Now he’s gone and has been replaced by a San Jose State transfer who still has plenty to prove.
Defensively, Duke ranked 119th nationally in total defense last season, yet nearly every key contributor returns, along with the same defensive coaching staff. I’m honestly a little surprised they’re ranked this high considering how little they addressed their biggest weaknesses during the offseason.
#37 Virginia
I have pretty high hopes for Virginia this season. The Cavaliers finished 18th nationally in total defense last year and return most of their starters on that side of the ball.
Offensively, they added transfer quarterback Beau Pribula, who played much of last season at Missouri before suffering an injury. I think Pribula has the potential to make a big impact, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Virginia emerges as a dark horse in the ACC.
#36 Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is coming off one of the best seasons in program history. The Commodores have never been known as a football powerhouse, but head coach Clark Lea appears determined to change that narrative.
The biggest question surrounding Vanderbilt this season is whether last year’s success was largely due to Heisman finalist Diego Pavia, who is now gone. His expected replacement is 5-star true freshman Jared Curtis, a player I have very high hopes for. If Curtis can step in and continue the momentum, Vanderbilt could prove last season wasn’t just a one-year story.
