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Ohio State, Alabama top USA TODAY's college football programs rankings

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 20, 2026, 9:13 AM

Last updated Jul 20, 2026

Ohio State, Alabama top USA TODAY's college football programs rankings

Summary

USA TODAY Sports has released its annual ranking of the top 25 college football programs, led by Ohio State and Alabama. Ohio State continues its dominance with a record of 165-21 since 2012 and won the national championship in 2024 under coach Ryan Day. Alabama maintains its status as a powerhouse with 13 national championships, further cementing its tradition of excellence. The rankings saw Indiana, now national champions, make their debut while Clemson and Nebraska experienced declines. Other notable programs include Georgia at third and Notre Dame at fourth, both enjoying recent success under their current coaches.

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By the Numbers

•Ohio State ranks first with a 165-21 record since 2012
•Alabama remains second with 13 national championships
•Indiana enters the top 25 as national champions
•Clemson and Nebraska fall from the rankings
•Georgia and Notre Dame round out the top five

Latest Updates

9:13 AMYahoo Sports — What are the top 25 college football programs? Ohio State, Alabama lead rankings

What they're saying

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Debates about the best college football programs can often get heated. USA TODAY Sports experts collaborated to produce a ranking of the best 25.
— Yahoo Sports

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