Week Zero officially kicked off the 2026 college football season, giving fans their first real look at several teams across the country. While every team on this list walked away with a victory, some performances stood out more than others.
Based on the strength and overall quality of each team’s Week Zero showing, Virginia takes the No. 1 spot, followed by Memphis and North Dakota State.
1. Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia takes the top spot after putting together the most impressive overall performance of the weekend. The Cavaliers looked sharp from the start and handled their opening test without much trouble.
It was the type of performance Virginia needed to begin the season. Rather than simply escaping Week Zero with a win, the Cavaliers made an early statement and earned the No. 1 position in our rankings.
2. Memphis Tigers
Memphis comes in just behind Virginia at No. 2.
The Tigers entered the season with expectations of being one of the better Group of Five programs in the country, and their Week Zero showing did little to change that outlook. Memphis took care of business and gave fans an encouraging first look at what the Tigers could accomplish this season.
3. North Dakota State Bison
North Dakota State continues to prove that it belongs in conversations with some of the best programs outside college football’s traditional power structure.
The Bison land at No. 3 following another strong performance. NDSU has built its reputation on being physical, disciplined and difficult to beat, and those qualities were once again on display in Week Zero.
4. USC Trojans
USC starts the year at No. 4 on our list.
The Trojans got the result they wanted and showed flashes of the talent that could make them dangerous this season. There are still areas USC will need to improve as the competition gets tougher, but opening the year with a convincing enough performance to land inside the top four is a positive start.
5. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford rounds out the top five after beginning its season with a win.
The Cardinal’s performance might not have generated as much attention nationally as some of the teams above them, but getting the job done in Week Zero earns Stanford a spot in the middle of the rankings.
6. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina comes in at No. 6.
The Tar Heels got their season started with a victory, but there is still room for improvement moving forward. With tougher tests ahead, North Carolina will need to build off its Week Zero performance rather than become satisfied with simply starting 1-0.
7. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Eastern Michigan’s 28-17 victory over Sacramento State earns the Eagles the No. 7 spot.
Quarterback Noah Kim was one of the biggest positives for EMU, completing 27 of 38 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns while also scoring on the ground. The Eagles weren’t perfect, but Kim’s performance and a defense that held Sacramento State to 17 points were enough to secure the win.
Eastern Michigan has plenty it can clean up, but starting the season 1-0 gives the Eagles something to build on.
8. Florida State Seminoles
Florida State closes out the rankings at No. 8.
The Seminoles ultimately accomplished the most important goal of opening weekend by earning a victory, but compared to the other winners on the list, their overall performance leaves more questions to answer.
Week Zero is only the beginning, and Florida State will have plenty of opportunities to climb as the season progresses.
Week Zero Sets the Stage
It’s important not to overreact to one game, but Week Zero provided the first real evidence of what these teams could look like in 2026.
Virginia, Memphis and North Dakota State separated themselves enough to claim the top three spots, while USC and Stanford round out the top five. Eastern Michigan also deserves credit for a solid opening victory behind Kim, while North Carolina and Florida State have room to move up as their schedules continue.
With Week One bringing significantly more teams into action, these rankings could look much different very soon.
