Poll prediction: Josh Pate projects preseason Top 25 ahead of 2026 college football season

Poll prediction: Josh Pate projects preseason Top 25 ahead of 2026 college football season focuses on an early forecast for the AP preseason Top 25. The article notes the Associated Press poll is usually released in mid-August, with limited Week 0 games beginning Aug. 29, so the prediction is tied to an expected release in the third week of August. Josh Pate, host of Josh Pate’s College Football Show on YouTube, predicts a list that would look very different from 2025, when Indiana finished No. 1 with all 66 first-place votes after going 16-0. In his projected top spot is Texas Longhorns, driven by returning star quarterback Arch Manning and new additions via the transfer portal, including WR Cam Coleman from Auburn and running backs Raleek Brown (Arizona State) and Hollywood Smothers (NC State). Pate’s No. 2 is Notre Dame, led by quarterback CJ Carr, and No. 3 is Indiana, the reigning champion led by Curt Cignetti.