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Revisiting 2026 preseason college football predictions: 10 things we were dead wrong about

The 2026 college football season has thrown more curveballs than anticipated, leaving even the most seasoned analysts scrambling to adjust their preseason forecasts. One of the most glaring misjudgments came from Michigan, where the Wolverines’ offense has struggled mightily under new leadership.

Projections had the team averaging over 35 points per game, a bold target inspired by their 2023 scoring surge of 37.3 points under Sherrone Moore. Instead, Michigan has managed just 22.7 points per game—ranking 105th nationally—and has already changed quarterbacks, signaling deeper offensive instability than anyone expected.

Meanwhile, other preseason narratives, like Oregon’s national title hopes and Utah’s undefeated run, have also taken unexpected turns, with five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 suffering losses in a single week. The volatility of the season underscores how quickly college football can upend even the most carefully crafted predictions, leaving analysts and fans alike recalibrating their expectations midway through the year.

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