Colorado and Notre Dame enter 2026 seasons with high preseason rankings

The 2026 college sports season features high preseason expectations for both Colorado volleyball and Notre Dame football.

Colorado volleyball enters the season ranked No. 5 in the Big 12 preseason poll. Head coach Jesse Mahoney is relying on a stable coaching staff that has remained intact for 11 seasons and a veteran leadership core, including seniors Lily Dwinell and Sydney Jordan. The team, which includes seven international players, will begin its campaign with the Buffs Classic on August 28 against CSUN, Central Arkansas, and Denver.

In college football, Notre Dame is ranked No. 5 in the preseason coaches poll following a 10-2 season. Analyst Josh Pate suggested that the Fighting Dame team, led by coach Marcus Freeman, possesses the capability to win the SEC if they were members of that conference. Notre Dame's upcoming schedule includes a matchup against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field and a visit from Miami in November.