One thing to love, hate about about every post-spring top 25 team heading into 2026 - CBS Sports

CBS Sports analyzes the post-spring top 25 through a critical lens, arguing there is no flawless preseason ranking and every top program carries strengths and vulnerabilities. The piece emphasizes that gaps between teams just outside the top five and those inside the top 20 are razor-thin, making early results pivotal for playoff hopes. It uses the CBS Sports 136 as a guide to preview the 2026 landscape and notes how injuries, transfers, and depth can reshape expectations. The discussion then highlights two frontrunners, underscoring the fragile, ever-changing nature of the college football hierarchy.

Ohio State sits at No. 1 with a powerhouse receiving corps led by Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry Jr. and a reigning Heisman finalist at quarterback, but their offensive line is a noted concern due to injuries and limited portal gains. The listed starting five — Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels — reflects a unit struggling for continuity. Defensively, optimism centers on the front seven after multiple NFL departures. Texas is No. 2, boasting a talent-laden roster that includes Cam Coleman at wide receiver and Colin Simmons on the edge, yet a brutal schedule could hinder a high CFP seed; the report notes the roster’s caliber and its implications, even as the text ends midstream.