Three teams ranked outside the 2026 preseason AP Poll who will crash the party by season's end
Much was made about the preseason AP Poll when it dropped earlier this week, but most of that had to do with teams that actually made it onto the poll in the first place.
For those of you that don't know it, there is a small section below the actual top-25 that says "received votes," followed by a list of teams that just missed out on having that glorious number next to their name to start the season.
Fans of teams in this region of the poll shouldn't worry, though, because for every top-ten team who ends up unranked by the end of the season, there are more than a few teams in the "received votes" section who end up earning a ranking in the final poll, and that's the only one that really matters.
I've zeroed in on three teams that were left off the inaugural edition of the 2026 AP Poll who will likely be ranked come January.
Without any further ado, let's go dumpster diving for some gems.
I'll be honest with you, when I scrolled through the AP Poll after it dropped on Monday, I was expecting to see the Hokies somewhere in the 20s and was mildly shocked when I found them hanging out in the "received votes" section.
Many will point to their 3-9 record as justification for the "snubbing," but I think this Virginia Tech team is ready to compete in the ACC today and it starts with who they hired to be their next head coach.
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I haven't made it a secret how I feel about James Franklin and I think Penn State did the right thing in firing him, but he's still a damn good coach.
A national championship-caliber coach? Almost certainly not, but his floor is way higher than anything the Hokies have seen since legendary coach Frank Beamer called it quits more than a decade ago.
Franklin will get the Hokies back to where they were in the 2000s and early 2010s, and I believe it happens quicker than most will expect.
Virginia Tech is also top-five in returning production and signed a transfer portal class that, while not very flashy, addressed some key needs along both lines of scrimmage as well as at quarterback.
Former Penn State signal caller Ethan Grunkemeyer comes to Blacksburg as Franklin's hand-picked guy, and the experience he received starting in place of Drew Allar could prove invaluable for the Hokies in 2026.
The first month of the schedule sets up nicely for Virginia Tech, and outside of a stretch in late October and early November featuring trips to Clemson, SMU, and Miami, the 2026 slate is a manageable one for an experienced Power 4 head coach like Franklin.
I'm not a huge betting guy, but I would put hard-earned money on Virginia Tech being ranked by the end of the season.
Two things can be true at the same time: South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer's seat is borderline radioactive while at the same time, his Gamecocks have enough talent to finish the season in the top 25.
Beamer and the Gamecocks start the season with two layups against Kent State and Towson followed by a relatively tricky game against Mississippi State in the friendly confines of Williams-Brice Stadium.
Then, the proverbial floodgates open, beginning with a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide.
I don't see a ton of breaks on the schedule for South Carolina, but if the talent on this roster gels properly early on, they have enough firepower and returning production (top-five in the country in that category) to turn in a respectable record.
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You'll find plenty of NFL-level talent up and down the roster, including standout names like quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor, edge rusher Dylan Stewart, and offensive tackle Jaccarius Peak, to name a few.
I believe an 8-4 record is well within play for the Gamecocks in 2026, and against their gauntlet of a schedule, that would more than warrant a ranking in the final AP Poll.
I really didn't want to put them here, given the fact that I will probably be called a shameless homer, but I truly believe even when looking at them through the most objective lens, that the Florida Gators are more likely to end up ranked than not by season's end.
We will start with the fact that the Gators were a few plays away from being an 8-4 football team last year, and although that's nothing to hang your hat on in Gainesville, it does prove that even a competent coaching staff probably has Florida looking respectable.
By all accounts, that seems to be the case for the Gators, as new head coach Jon Sumrall has a penchant for winning everywhere he goes and has surrounded himself with well-respected assistants, particularly offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
The Gators rank in the top ten in returning production, and are number one in defensive returning production.
Several high-profile players litter this roster, including All-SEC running back Jadan Baugh and a trio of future NFL draft picks at receiver in Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson, and Eric Singleton Jr., the latter of whom likely could have been a late day two selection had he declared this past April.
An outsider might look at Florida's schedule and wince, given the fact that the Gators play six teams in the preseason AP Poll, but most fans of the team will tell you this schedule is a break when compared to the last several seasons.
Gone are Miami and Utah from the non conference slate, and Florida gets Playoff-hopeful teams like Ole Miss and Oklahoma at home.
Similarly to South Carolina, the path to 8-4 and a postseason ranking in the high teens doesn't look incredibly out of reach for the Gators.