play2:26How James Franklin is a different coach since his last game at PSUVirginia Tech coach James Franklin explains how he’s a different coach now than he was in his last game at Penn State.
play0:26Avery Johnson takes it to the house for Kansas StateAvery Johnson takes it to the house for a 46-yard Kansas State touchdown vs. Texas Tech.
play5:31Texas’ Steve Sarkisian speaks on creating a more versatile offenseSarkisian discusses the new additions to the Longhorns’ roster and how they are helping the offense become more dynamic and well-rounded.
play6:32Trinidad Chambliss describes roller-coaster ride of a journey to Ole MissChambliss discusses what his journey was like moving from Division II to the SEC and recaps how he has been able to make an impact with the Rebels as he returns for another season.
play6:12Alex Golesh cites new changes he brings to Auburn footballGolesh outlines his first moves as the Tigers’ coach, including bringing back DJ Durkin as a coordinator, signing Byrum Brown and implementing an Iron Bowl segment into their practices.
Sam Acho breaks down why Darian Mensah is perfect for Miami (0:50)Sam Acho discusses why he loves Darian Mensah’s fit with the Miami Hurricanes on “College Football Live.” (0:50)
How James Franklin is a different coach since his last game at PSUVirginia Tech coach James Franklin explains how he’s a different coach now than he was in his last game at Penn State.
Virginia Tech coach James Franklin explains how he’s a different coach now than he was in his last game at Penn State.
Avery Johnson takes it to the house for Kansas StateAvery Johnson takes it to the house for a 46-yard Kansas State touchdown vs. Texas Tech.
Texas’ Steve Sarkisian speaks on creating a more versatile offenseSarkisian discusses the new additions to the Longhorns’ roster and how they are helping the offense become more dynamic and well-rounded.
Sarkisian discusses the new additions to the Longhorns’ roster and how they are helping the offense become more dynamic and well-rounded.
Trinidad Chambliss describes roller-coaster ride of a journey to Ole MissChambliss discusses what his journey was like moving from Division II to the SEC and recaps how he has been able to make an impact with the Rebels as he returns for another season.
Chambliss discusses what his journey was like moving from Division II to the SEC and recaps how he has been able to make an impact with the Rebels as he returns for another season.
Alex Golesh cites new changes he brings to Auburn footballGolesh outlines his first moves as the Tigers’ coach, including bringing back DJ Durkin as a coordinator, signing Byrum Brown and implementing an Iron Bowl segment into their practices.
Golesh outlines his first moves as the Tigers’ coach, including bringing back DJ Durkin as a coordinator, signing Byrum Brown and implementing an Iron Bowl segment into their practices.
Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam RittenbergMultiple AuthorsMay 5, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
Ahead of a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against Oregon, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti took time out of his weekend prep to secure the most impressive transfer group for the 2026 season.
As Miami got ready to face Cignetti’s Hoosiers in the national title game, news broke that the team was set to poach quarterback Darian Mensah from Duke. That all came around the same time that USC was signing the top 2026 recruiting class.
No sport has a blurrier line between its season and its offseason than college football. Even as coaches and teams prepare for the biggest games, they are always focused on what’s next. The alternative is falling behind and perhaps never catching up.
Offseasons matter more than ever, which is why schools are hiring — and paying for — more-accomplished general managers and building out NFL-style personnel departments to support their on-field coaching staffs. Rosters are reshaped almost every offseason as transfer movement hasn’t slowed down and teams replace stars bound for the NFL.
There are other factors shaping the offseason, including full-scale coaching changes and the departures and arrivals of coordinators and other assistants. Continuity still matters in college football, but not at the expense of upgrading certain positions or units. Just look at Indiana’s work after the 2025 season.
All three elements go into the overall ranking. Teams that kill it with portal additions but let several star players or coaches walk out the door don’t project as well overall. Similarly, teams that run it back with players and coaches but don’t look to improve clear deficiencies, with on-field ability and scheme, will fall short in these rankings. We’re looking at the total picture.
To be transparent, our initial offseason rankings in 2025 missed the mark in several spots, namely LSU at No. 1 overall, Penn State at No. 3 and Clemson at No. 5. But we had some foresight with No. 2 Texas Tech (Big 12 champion, first CFP appearance), No. 6 Oklahoma (first CFP appearance since 2019) and No. 8 Miami (first CFP appearance, national runner-up).
Here are our conference-by-conference rankings and team breakdowns, as well as our national list of the 10 best offseasons.
How James Franklin is a different coach since his last game at PSU
Biggest coaching move: Tony Elliott’s staff stayed largely intact after the team’s run to the ACC title game. He filled two vacancies with promotions as Joey Orck, an analyst throughout Elliott’s tenure, is taking over the offensive line, while ShaDon Brown will coach cornerbacks with Curome Cox now focused on safeties. Brown has coached defensive backs at West Virginia, Louisville and Colorado, among other stops.
Biggest coaching move: Dave Doeren kept coordinators DJ Eliot (defense) and Kurt Roper (offense) in place after an improved 2025 season. Veteran assistant Charley Wiles, the team’s defensive line coach the past six seasons, moved into an off-field role, and the D-line responsibilities will now be split. Former NC State three-time captain Isaiah Moore was promoted from a quality control position to oversee the inside linebackers.
Biggest coaching move: Manny Diaz retained his primary coordinators following Duke’s surprise ACC title run and brought in Trent Harris, who played defensive end for Diaz at Miami, to coach the ends. Harris spent the past two years coaching outside linebackers at Illinois, which beat Duke last year in Durham. Diaz looked more regionally for running backs coach Rodney Freeman II, who comes from East Carolina to replace Chris Foster.
Avery Johnson takes it to the house for Kansas State
Avery Johnson takes it to the house for a 46-yard Kansas State touchdown vs. Texas Tech.
What went wrong: The Cougars do have major contributors and All-Big 12 performers to replace entering 2026 with leaders such as Kelly, Roberts and Wall graduating. They dealt with minimal portal attrition, with 11 scholarship players departing in January and only one (linebacker Max Alford to Michigan) landing at another Power 4 program. Their leading receiver, Parker Kingston, left the school in February after he was arrested on a first-degree felony rape charge.
Biggest coaching move: Willie Fritz kept his core staff intact after a 10-win season. Primary coordinators Slade Nagle (offense), Austin Armstrong (defense) and Chris Crouch (special teams) are back. Houston adjusted responsibilities in the secondary, moving PJ Hall from safeties to cornerbacks, and hiring Marcus Trice from Stephen F. Austin to oversee the corners. Trice came up as a high school coach in Texas before coaching SFA’s defensive backs the past four seasons.
Texas’ Steve Sarkisian speaks on creating a more versatile offense
Biggest coaching move: Andy Kotelnicki is back in Lawrence. Kotelnicki, who served as Lance Leipold’s offensive coordinator at three programs before spending the past two seasons at Penn State, returned to the staff and will call offensive plays. His title is associate head coach and he’ll work closely with Jim Zebrowski, last year’s OC, who returns as passing game coordinator. Kansas ranked 18th nationally in scoring during Kotelnicki’s final two years as offensive coordinator.
Biggest coaching move: Dan Lanning, not surprisingly, looked within the staff to replace coordinators Tosh Lupoi and Will Stein, elevating Chris Hampton to the primary defensive role and Drew Mehringer, who had overseen tight ends, to OC. Hampton and Mehringer have previous primary coordinator experience. Lanning also elevated Koa Ka’ai to quarterbacks coach and Kamran Araghi to edge rushers coach, and brought back veteran offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, a Ducks analyst in 2023 and 2024.
Biggest coaching move: Gary Patterson is back on a college sideline as a defensive coordinator for the first time since 2000, the year before he embarked on a Hall of Fame career leading TCU. Patterson is a fascinating hire for coach Lincoln Riley ahead of a pivotal season. USC also hired safeties coach Paul Gonzales, who worked under Patterson at TCU, and brought in Nebraska’s Mike Ekeler as special teams coordinator. Ekeler has also overseen special teams at Tennessee, Kansas and elsewhere.
Biggest coaching move: After Michigan fired Sherrone Moore, the program hired future Hall of Famer Kyle Whittingham, who is viewed as a likely upgrade at the top. Whittingham, 66, wants to chase a national title, and built a Utah-rooted staff that includes offensive coordinator Jason Beck, defensive coordinator Jay Hill, offensive line coach Jim Harding and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer. Whittingham retained running backs coach Tony Alford, among others, from the previous Michigan staff.
Trinidad Chambliss describes roller-coaster ride of a journey to Ole Miss
Biggest coaching move: Coach Kirby Smart’s staff remains remarkably consistent, as defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and others are back for 2026. Smart had to replace two position coaches, bringing in offensive line coach Phil Rauscher and outside linebackers coach Larry Knight. Rauscher was an analyst at Georgia last season after a decade in the NFL. Knight has made stops at Arkansas State, Temple, Georgia Tech and Georgia State.