2026 PRESEASON · MFF POWER INDEX

TOP 25

Built only from information available before Week 1: recency-weighted opponent-adjusted performance, recruiting and quarterback continuity. No polls, SP+, FPI or betting lines are model inputs.

Ohio StatePOWER 55.1

OregonPOWER 53.9

Notre DamePOWER 52.2

BACKTESTED MODELFrozen before Week 1 and walk-forward tested on the 2018-2025 seasons: 12.5-point margin MAE and 77.9% winner accuracy. No polls or betting lines are model inputs.

NATIONAL POWER RANKINGS

MFF PRESEASON POWER INDEX · HIGHER IS BETTER

RK	TEAM	POWER	OFFENSE	DEFENSE	RECRUITING	QB
1	Ohio StateBig Ten	55.1	+11.7	+21.5	296	RETURNING
2	OregonBig Ten	53.9	+17.2	+14.0	298	RETURNING
3	Notre DameFBS Independents	52.2	+18.5	+12.7	282	RETURNING
4	GeorgiaSEC	51.7	+10.0	+13.1	305	RETURNING
5	TexasSEC	49.1	+7.4	+9.6	297	RETURNING
6	AlabamaSEC	46.5	+10.3	+10.8	304	NEW
7	USCBig Ten	46.4	+13.9	+7.8	274	RETURNING
8	Texas A&MSEC	45.8	+12.7	+8.8	270	RETURNING
9	MichiganBig Ten	45.2	+8.1	+8.6	274	RETURNING
10	MiamiACC	44.7	+10.4	+18.2	278	NEW
11	Ole MissSEC	43.9	+16.2	+6.2	243	RETURNING
12	OklahomaSEC	43.7	+4.7	+14.8	259	RETURNING
13	WashingtonBig Ten	40.5	+10.4	+9.8	233	RETURNING
14	TennesseeSEC	40.3	+13.7	-0.2	279	NEW
15	IndianaBig Ten	40.1	+21.7	+19.2	203	NEW
16	South CarolinaSEC	39.0	+0.8	+8.4	247	RETURNING
17	LSUSEC	38.9	-1.3	+11.3	278	NEW
18	Texas TechBig 12	38.3	+13.5	+16.7	229	NEW
19	UtahBig 12	38.3	+16.4	+9.0	207	RETURNING
20	Penn StateBig Ten	37.9	+9.1	+9.2	238	NEW
21	BYUBig 12	36.8	+7.7	+9.9	212	RETURNING
22	FloridaSEC	36.2	-0.7	+8.5	269	NEW
23	AuburnSEC	35.9	+1.0	+10.3	263	NEW
24	IowaBig Ten	35.0	+7.6	+15.2	217	NEW
25	MissouriSEC	34.9	+4.2	+10.0	237	NEW

Power is the model's preseason index. Differences between team ratings, combined with the model's home-field adjustment, feed projected game margins; the absolute score is not a literal expected margin versus an average team. Offense and defense are 2025 opponent-adjusted components, where positive means above average. Recruiting is the 3-year class average. Full backtest methodology and results are available on the methodology page.