The College Football Playoff race for non-Power Four teams appears wide open in 2026, especially with coaching changes at Tulane and James Madison, two CFP teams from last season.
ACC champion Duke was held out of the 12-team playoff last season due to some awkward conference championship tiebreakers
, opening the door for winners of the American and Sun Belt to enter the conversation in rare fashion.While James Madison’s roster had loads of turnover this season after coach Bob Chesney left for UCLA, the Dukes emerged as one of the top non-Power Four programs in college football by taking advantage of what now-Indiana coach Curt Cignetti built during his tenure.
JMU is banking on former Florida coach Billy Napier keeping the momentum going.
Already, the Group of Six has seen some potentially telling early-season games, with former FCS power North Dakota State thrashing Jacksonville State 33-7 in its first game as an FBS team and Memphis defeating UNLV, 27-21, on the road.
Each week, USA TODAY Sports will rank the top non-Power Four programs in college football. One of them will earn the chance at a national championship, after all.
Here’s a look at our rankings entering the 2026 season:
1. Boise State (Pac-12)
- This week: at No. 2 Oregon
A perennial top non-Power Four program in college football returns a rare amount of production for a team that’s used to turning over its roster from year to year. Quarterback Maddux Madsen, who led the Broncos to the CFP in 2024, returns for his fourth season as starter after batting injuries last season. Boise State also returns 1,125-yard, 10-touchdown rusher Dylan Riley. Fourth-year coach Spencer Danielson led a down season for the Broncos' standards at 9-5, and we’ll find out a lot about their 2026 roster with nonconference games vs. Oregon and Memphis to start the season.
2. Memphis (American)
- Last week: 27-21 win vs. UNLV
- This week: vs. Arkansas State
Memphis answered a lot of questions with its Week 1 win over UNLV, going on the road and defeating one of the top projected Group of Six contenders with a balanced effort. Division II quarterback transfer Marcus Stokes shined, completing 15-of-26 passes for 223 yards with two touchdowns, along with 45 yards on the ground.
The Tigers' defense stole the show, though, sacking Jackson Arnold six times in the win and holding the Rebels to seven second-half points. It's early, but it looks like first-year coach Charles Huff has one of the best rosters in the Group of Six.
3. Navy (American)
- This week: vs. Towson
Navy lost its veteran trio of quarterback Blake Horvath, running back Alex Tecza and do-it-all weapon Eli Heidenreich, but still projects to be among the top contenders of the American Conference after going 11-2 last season. Thankfully for the Midshipmen, backup quarterback Braxton Woodson has lots of experience, with 760 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his career, along with 516 passing yards with three touchdowns to three interceptions.
4. New Mexico (MWC)
- This week: vs. Central Michigan
First-year coach Jason Eck did one of the best jobs in college football last year, leading the Lobos to a 9-4 finish with a win over UCLA in nonconference play. One obstacle in the way is quarterback Jack Layne being out for the season after undergoing surgery, and New Mexico State still hasn't named a starter. It does still return star linebacker Jaxton Eck, though, who followed his dad from Idaho and turned into one of the best players in the conference last season. If Eck can lead New Mexico to a Mountain West title contention, he’ll certainly be on the Power Four radar.
5. James Madison (Sun Belt)
- This week: vs. Liberty
There’s still a lot for Napier to figure out at James Madison, which has emerged as a Sun Belt powerhouse in recent years. The Dukes are still mulling over their quarterback battle between Camden Coleman and JC Evans, although they return running back George Pettaway, who starred at JMU in 2024 before taking a backseat to All-American Wayne Knight last season. It’s hard to bet against James Madison, though, especially with the resources compared to some other non-Power Four programs.
6. UTSA (American)
- This week: UT Rio Grande
UTSA could be an under-the-radar CFP pick this season, thanks to returning quarterback Owen McCown, one of the most-experienced signal callers in college football. The son of longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown, he has 7,461 career passing yards with 61 touchdowns to 22 interceptions, and is entering his third season as the Roadrunners’ full-time starter. Seventh-year coach Jeff Traylor, one of the most well-respected coaches in the game, has never had a losing season at UTSA. He should have his team prepared for a potential run in the American after a 7-6 finish last year.
7. North Dakota State (MWC)
- Last week: 33-7 win over Jacksonville State
- This week: vs. Fordham
FCS powerhouse North Dakota State finally made the move to FBS this season and didn't disappoint, defeating Jacksonville State 33-6 at home in Week 0. The Bison dominated in the trenches, holding the Gamecocks to 85 rushing yards on 2.7 yards per carry while allowing a single first-quarter touchdown.
NDSU is used to producing NFL talent, and it's looking to make some noise in its first FBS season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Group of Six power rankings: Which team is primed for CFP run in 2026?
