Fernando Mendoza emerged as college football's best player last season after transferring from Cal to Indiana, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading a national championship run before going No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The quarterback needed a change of scenery to alter the direction of his football career, though, passing for 30 combined touchdowns to 16 interceptions in his first two seasons at Cal before scoring 48 total touchdowns to six interceptions in his lone campaign with the Hoosiers.
That said, Mendoza didn't sniff any top-100 players lists entering the season. Neither did Jeremiah Smith or Malachi Toney before their true freshmen seasons before developing — very quickly — into two of the best players in the country. Nor will there be any true freshman on this list — otherwise, players such as Miami tackle Jackson Cantwell might have made an appearance.
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College football is full of surprises. And while a preseason top-100 ranked players list serves as an important benchmark, it's far from an exact science of how players will be rated once the season is over. Just ask Mendoza.
USA TODAY Sports' top 100-ranked players list entering the 2026 season was created based on past production, along with future projections and NFL draft stock. Here's a look:
Tengesdahl emerged as one of the best offensive guards in college football last season after not allowing a sack in pass-blocking situations while leading all Power Four guards with an 89.7 run-blocking grade by PFF.
It's rare for an offensive guard to have enough impact to land on a top-100 list, but Tengesdahl is good enough to make a huge impact for Cincinnati.
Brown was one of the best non-Power Four quarterbacks in college football last season, and followed his former coach Alex Golesh from South Florida to Auburn for 2026.
Brown passed for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season, also rushing for 1,008 yards with 14 scores. He threw for 263 yards and a touchdown in an upset win over Florida last season, but has to prove he can get it done in the SEC against a full conference slate.
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Craver caught 59 passes for 917 yards with four touchdowns last season as a sophomore, but now has the opportunity to be Marcel Reed's top target after KC Concepcion was drafted in the first round.
The former Mississippi State transfer stalled out late in the season but was on pace for a monster campaign through nonconference play, combining for 443 receiving yards and four touchdowns in Texas A&M's three wins to open the season against UTSA, Utah State and Notre Dame. The explosive 5-9 receiver could be in for a huge year with the Aggies, especially if Reed takes a step forward as a passer.
Jennings has some of the best pure arm talent in college football, as the multi-year starter is capable of throwing from multiple angles with confidence. His rushing prowess was limited last season due to injury, and he needs to cut down his turnover rate, but the third-year SMU starter has a chance to cement his place as one of the best Mustangs of all-time in 2026.
He already has a building on campus named after him, after all.
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Bishop is proof the walk-on isn't dead, as the Knoxville native attended his hometown school and blossomed into a 1,000-yard rusher in 2025.
Bishop earned a scholarship the spring before his breakout season, rushing for 1,076 yards with 16 touchdowns last year while adding 15 receptions for 135 yards. He had three games with over 100 yards rushing in conference play, and could have an even bigger 2026 after becoming a bell-cow back late in the year.
Smothers was one of the top available running backs in the transfer portal this offseason, and he ultimately landed at Texas after briefly committing to Alabama. Smothers spent his freshman season as a reserve running back at Oklahoma before he rushing for 1,510 yards with 12 touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack.
He's poised to lead Texas' backfield with Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown for an offense hoping to get its running game on track.
Hoover was one of the most prolific passers in college football at TCU, passing for 9,629 yards with 71 touchdowns to 33 interceptions in three seasons as the Horned Frogs' starter.
He has big shoes to fill at Indiana after replacing Fernando Mendoza at Indiana, but the Hoosiers' offensive system and rushing attack should help limit his turnovers .
A bright spot of a bad Arkansas team from last season, Rhodes Jr. was quietly one of the best pass rushers in the SEC last season. The 6-6 senior recorded 43 total tackles with eight sacks last season, and will likely be a Day 1 or Day 2 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
It doesn't look like it based on his 100 career receptions for 1,311 yards with nine touchdowns in two seasons at Michigan State, but Marsh is one of the best yards-after catch receivers in college football.
With a better offensive system, the transfer could be in for a huge year with the Hoosiers.
Raymond rushed for 1,241 yards with 13 touchdowns last season, also catching 18 passes for 225 yards with two scores. The Rutgers running back is one of the best rushers in the Big Ten heading into 2026, and will shoulder the load for a team that's looking to get to a bowl game after a 5-7 finish last season.
With Kenyon Sadiq and Malik Benson off to the NFL, sophomore Moore could take charge of Oregon's passing game in 2026. The former five-star recruit caught 34 passes for 497 yards with three touchdowns last season as a true freshman, and will be catching passes from a likely improved version of Dante Moore.
Umanmielen followed Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU this offseason after a breakout season in which the edge rusher recorded a team-high nine sacks and earned third-team All-SEC honors.
Umanmielen spent the first two seasons of his career at Nebraska, and is the second Umanmielen to play for Kiffin, as his older brother, Princely, was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss.
Sategna was a bright spot for an Oklahoma offense that struggled to score points for large portions of the 2025 season, catching 67 passes for 965 yards with eight touchdowns as a first-year starter.
Sategna scored touchdowns from 87, 76 and 58 yards out thanks to his track speed, a sport he competed in at Arkansas before transferring to the Sooners. If Oklahoma's offense takes a step, Sategna could be in for a monster season.
Knight followed new UCLA coach Bob Chesney from James Madison over the offseason after an All-American-caliber campaign for the Dukes.
Knight, while undersized at 5-7, 193 pounds, still rushed for 1,373 yards (seventh nationally) with nine touchdowns last season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He also had success against top-level opponents, rushing 17 times for 110 yards in JMU's College Football Playoff loss to Oregon.
Knight will also have a big role in UCLA's passing game this season after catching 40 passes for 397 yards in 2025.
Carter withdrew from the NFL draft in January after suffering an injury during training, giving back the Vols a veteran presence in the middle of their defense.
Carter tallied 76 total tackles, a forced fumble and an interception last season, earning All-SEC second-team honors. He'll miss Tennessee's first two games game due to suspension , but otherwise will be one of the team's best players in 2026.
Rutgers might not be very good in 2026, but that doesn't mean Duff isn't one of the best receivers in college football.
The 6-6 target caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns last season while emerging as one of the best contested-catch artists in the country. His size and speed make him one of the toughest receivers to guard in the sport heading into 2026, even if it won't equate to many wins.
Johnson caught 32 passes for 510 yards with three touchdowns last season, although he played second fiddle to first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq. The former Louisville transfer stands 6-5, 257 pounds, and has good speed to match his prototypical frame.
Johnson could be in for a huge year with the added responsibility with Sadiq having moved on.
Oklahoma is expecting an improved version of Mateer in 2026. One of the top-rated transfers of last year's cycle, Mateer was limited to 2,885 passing yards with 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions last season after suffering a thumb injury early in the year.
The 6-1 quarterback is one of the most dynamic players in college football outside of the pocket, but needs to fix some of his decision-making from a year ago.
Lewis will anchor a Brent Venables defense expected to be among the best in college football this season. The fourth-year starter had 76 total tackles and four sacks last season, and has a knack for making big plays in key moments.
Lewis had an important sack late in Oklahoma's regular-season upset over Alabama last season, and also had a pick-six against Auburn and Alabama, the Sooners' only two SEC wins in 2024. He'll be one of the best defenders in the conference as a fifth-year senior.
Lubin broke out in a huge way for Louisville in 2025 after taking the road less traveled to the Power Four level. The fifth-year senior redshirted as a true freshman in 2022 at Army before transferring to Iowa Western at the JUCO level in 2023 and then Coastal Carolina in 2024.
Lubin cemented his place as an NFL draft prospect with the Cardinals last season, with PFF College crediting him with 64 quarterback pressures , which ranked sixth nationally. He also had 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, showing development is never linear.
Indiana lost leading receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt to the first few rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, but it was actually Becker who led the team in receiving down the stretch.
Becker emerged as Indiana's go-to downfield target late in the year last season, with 404 of his 679 receiving yards coming in the Hoosiers' final six games. The 6-4 receiver doesn't drop the ball and is in for a bigger role this season, along with incoming transfer Nick Marsh.
Stockton brings a veteran presence to Georgia's backfield, even if he's only entering his second season as the starter.
Stockton passed for 2,894 yards with 24 touchdowns to five interceptions last season, completing 69.7% of his passes while limiting mistakes offensively. He's also an underrated runner as well, rushing for 462 yards with 10 scores last season.
Stockton likely won't win a Heisman Trophy, but he's certainly one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
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Smith returns to Minnesota for a fifth season in 2026 after leading the conference with 12.5 sacks in 2025.
The first-team All-Big Ten selection stands 6-6, 285 pounds, and looks to replicate his breakout 2025 season while improving his NFL draft stock in a year where Minnesota returns numerous starters from its 8-4 team last season.
Mestemaker passed for a nation-leading 4,379 yards last season at North Texas, along with 34 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The former walk-on and redshirt freshman will score some points at Oklahoma State, no doubt. But can he be as prolific as he was at North Texas?
If he is, he'll likely be one of the top NFL draft prospects thanks to his 6-3 stature and arm strength.
Pollock could have left for the NFL draft after last season, but opted to return to Texas Tech, where he enters the 2026 season as one of the best returning corners in college football.
Pollock was a first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2025 after making 48 total tackles with five interceptions (tied-for seventh nationally) and seven pass deflections. The former Mississippi State transfer is hoping to improve his NFL draft stock in 2026.
Hawkins had one reported FBS offer from North Texas as a high school recruit, where as a true freshman last season he rushed for 1,434 yards (fifth nationally) with 25 rushing touchdowns and four receiving (an NCAA FBS freshman record).
The 6-foot, 219-pound running back followed coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, where he'll look to emerge as one of the top runners in Power Four following a prolific freshman season.
Roberts has big shoes to fill after Jacob Rodriguez departs the program following an all-time linebacker season. Roberts is no slouch himself, though, with 90 total tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles last season for the Big 12's best defense.
Roberts has three consecutive seasons with at least 80 total tackles, and could be in for a huge season following Rodriguez's departure from the middle of the Red Raiders' defense.
Brown enters his third season as starter at Alabama after achieving one of the best seasons by a ball-hawking cornerback in college football last season. Brown finished the year with a game-changing pick-six against Tennessee and Oklahoma — the latter in the College Football Playoff — along with 39 total tackles and five pass deflections.
Dillon Thieneman transferred to Oregon from Purdue last season and turned into a first-round pick. Perich is hoping to do the same after transferring from Minnesota .
Perich's playmaking ability went a bit unnoticed nationally at times, but he has six career interceptions with two forced fumbles and a sack in two seasons, and was also one of the best kick returners in the Big Ten at Minnesota. Perich was used sparingly on offense, too, for Minnesota, showcasing his dynamic ability.
Uiagalelei can get to the quarterback. The senior defensive end has 18.5 career sacks with four forced fumbles in three seasons at Oregon, and is a top prospect of the 2027 NFL Draft.
His sacks total was down to six last season from 10.5 in 2024, but his ability to create pressures remains one of the best in college football.
Coleman-Williams is still among the most-talented receivers in college football, even after a disappointing season in 2025.
He caught 49 passes for 689 yards with four touchdowns last season, although his 13% drop rate left a lot of production off his final stats. The junior receiver entered last season as a preseason All-American after leading Alabama with 865 receiving yards in 2024 as a true freshman, and he's looking to get back to that form in 2026, a potential NFL draft year for the former five-star recruit.
Maiava returns to USC for his second season as the starter under Lincoln Riley after ranking second in college football with an 89.9 QBR in 2025. Maiava lost his top two receivers to the NFL in Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane, but the Trojans' offense shouldn't take much — if any — step back in 2026.
The former UNLV transfer passed for 3,711 yards (fifth nationally) with 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions last season, also rushing for six scores.
The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Martin rushed for 1,305 yards with 12 touchdowns at BYU last season, also catching 36 passes for 255 yards. The 6-2, 225-pound back will lead BYU's run-heavy attack, along with returning quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Viliamu-Asa only has three career starts thanks to Notre Dame's unmatched depth at linebacker, but he's still one of the best playmakers in the sport.
Viliamu-Asa made 48 total tackles last season with three sacks, an interception and three pass deflections, and is equally capable of dropping into coverage and filling run gaps. The 2026 preseason All-American by multiple outlets is poised for a huge year for the Fighting Irish.
Was there a more valuable player to their team's point spread last season than Robinson at Florida State? Robinson was a lone bright spot for one of the worst Power Four teams in college football last season, catching 56 passes for 1,081 yards with six touchdowns after transferring from USC.
The 6-6 receiver will be highly involved in the Seminoles' offense led by Auburn transfer quarterback Ashton Daniels.
Darian Mensah was the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year last season as a first-year Duke quarterback, passing for 3,973 yards (second nationally) with 34 touchdowns to six interceptions.
Mensah transferred to national championship runner-up Miami this offseason, receiving an upgrade in offensive weapons after the move. Barkate followed him from Duke, and he gets to throw to returning stars Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. as well.
Fletcher found a new gear in the postseason for Miami in 2025, rushing for 507 combined yards with three total touchdowns in four College Football Playoff games. He went for over 100 yards in three CFP games, all of which came against strong run defenses in Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Indiana.
Fletcher became a bell-cow back late in 2025, and could be in for a huge season with that workload for an entire year.
Smith returns to Indiana for his fifth season in 2026 as the most-accomplished offensive lineman in college football.
Smith has 41 career starts and is coming off a consensus All-American season with the Hoosiers. He was also named the Big Ten's Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2025, and bolstered an offensive line that paved the way to six 300-yard rushing games last season, a program record.
Carr enters 2026 on the Heisman Trophy shortlist by oddsmakers after passing for 2,741 yards with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions last season as a first-year starter and redshirt freshman.
With running back Jeremiyah Love off to the NFL, Carr could be asked to shoulder even more of the offensive load for the Fighting Irish this season. If he's ready for that responsibility, he could emerge as one of the best signal-callers in college football.
Lacy returns to Ole Miss with Trinidad Chambliss to form perhaps the best backfield in college football this season.
Lacy led the country with 306 carries last season, rushing for 1,567 yards (third nationally) with 24 rushing touchdowns (second nationally). He carried the load for an Ole Miss offense that was one of the best in college football, and projects to be once again in 2026.
A consensus All-American last season, Hardy ranked second nationally with 1,649 rushing yards as a sophomore in the SEC. He also averaged 6.4 yards per carry with 16 touchdowns.
Hardy was shot in the offseason and was medically cleared in July , but is still being eased back into rejoining the team. He'll likely miss a large portion of the season, and hopes to be himself once he's back on the field.
Stewart is entering his third season, one where many expect the former five-star recruit to marry his talent and production for a monster campaign.
Stewart has 11 career sacks and six forced fumbles through two seasons, but battled injuries as a sophomore in 2025 for a disappointing Gamecocks team. It's obvious Stewart is one of the best players in college football, and he has a chance to prove he's ranked too low at No. 12 heading into the year.
Texas went out and grabbed one of the best players available in the transfer portal with Coleman, a former five-star recruit who starred at Auburn the past two seasons.
Coleman has 93 receptions for 1,306 yards with 13 touchdowns in his career, although he played in some Tigers offenses under Hugh Freeze that suffered from bad quarterback play. He gets a big upgrade in Arch Manning, and will be a problem for opposing defenses this season.
Manning showed some growing pains early in the season as a first-year starter in 2025, but progressed as a true playmaker everyone expected from the five-star quarterback down the stretch.
The latest quarterback from the Manning family passed for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season, also rushing for 399 yards with 10 scores. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Manning hoist the Heisman Trophy this season, especially with one of the best supporting casts in college football around him.
Another safety from the SEC, Bolden boasts unmatched boundary-to-boundary speed for Georgia. The top-tier NFL draft prospect emerged as a full-time starter last season and finished with 76 total tackles, two interceptions and seven pass deflections.
A bulldog in Alabama's secondary, Hubbard has a nose for the football. The former high school quarterback was all over the field in 2025, making 79 total tackles with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks at safety for the Crimson Tide.
The preseason All-American by numerous outlets is one of the most experienced and best defensive playmakers in the sport.
Moore was widely expected to go No. 2 overall to the New York Jets after last season, but opted to return to Oregon for his second season as the starter. Moore has elite measurables at 6-3, 206 pounds, and passed for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns to 10 interceptions last season.
The talent is undeniable, and another year of college football could be huge for his development.
Sayin returns for his second season as Ohio State's starting quarterback after finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting. The 6-1 passer boasts elite accuracy, completing a ridiculous 77% of his passes last season.
With another year under his belt, Sayin could be even more prolific than he was a year ago, when he passed for 3,610 yards with 32 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Toney played nearly his entire freshman season at 17 years old after reclassifying up a year, skipping his senior season of high school football. He didn't look inexperienced, either: He was one of the most electric players in the country.
Toney caught 109 passes for 1,211 yards with 10 touchdowns last season, also rushing for 113 yards and a score while passing for two more touchdowns. The do-it-all weapon also earned a larger role as the season progressed, suggesting there's even more in store for the Miami star in 2026, which is supposed to be his true freshman season.
Moore was a lockdown cornerback for Notre Dame last season, and is among the best returning defenders in college football after a unanimous All-American nod in 2025.
He made 48 total tackles with a team-leading five interceptions, a forced fumble and five pass breakups last season. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2025, which is given to the best defensive back and defensive player in the country, respectively. Moore is the top cornerback prospect of the 2027 NFL Draft class.
Simmons enters 2026 as the most-feared pass-rusher in college football after leading the SEC with 12 sacks, five of which came in Texas' final five games.
Through two seasons, Simmons already has 21 career sacks with six forced fumbles. The former five-star recruit is a top 2027 NFL Draft prospect and enters his third college season littered across preseason All-American teams and award watchlists.
Simmons will be the linchpin of Texas' defense this season.
Chambliss was a complete unknown entering last season before being thrust into the Ole Miss starting quarterback job due to an injury to Austin Simmons. He never gave the role back, eventually leading the Rebels to the CFP semifinals after passing for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns to three interceptions, along with 527 rushing yards and eight scores.
The preseason All-American was Houdini in the backfield last season, and is a huge reason for Ole Miss' high hopes in 2026.A
What more is there to say about Smith? The third-year receiver has been one of the best players in college football since enrolling at Ohio State before the 2024 season, if not the best.
The 6-3 former five-star receiver is a generational prospect coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard-plus seasons, a national championship in 2024 and a consensus All-American nod in 2025. It'd be a surprise if Smith doesn't win the Biletnikoff Award this season, especially with Sayin back at quarterback.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA TODAY Sports' Top 100 College Football Players for 2026: Who's too high, too low?
