Clemson and 3 other unranked CFB teams that could finish in the top-10

The AP Top 25 poll came out on Monday and there were certainly teams that we viewed as both underrated and overrated heading into the 2026 college football season. But what about the unranked teams? Typically, every single season, there is at least one unranked program that finishes high at the end of the season. Here are four candidates for teams that start unranked but could finish in the AP Top 10. MORE: This SEC top-10 contender will fall out of AP Top 25 by season’s end Kansas State Wildcats Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Joe Jackson (4) takes the handoff from quarterback Avery Johnson (2) during the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) It was a disappointing season last year for Kansas State, but luckily for the Wildcats, playing in the Big 12 is fairly wide open. And after leaving Kansas State for two seasons as the Texas A&M OC, Collin Klein returns to his alma mater to take over as the head coach. Offensively, Kansas State has some playmakers. Avery Johnson is back at QB and Joe Jackson is back at RB, who almost ran for 1,000 yards last season. Klein will need to get Johnson playing like he’s capable of, and if he does, the schedule is nice to Kansas State. The Wildcats don’t play BYU, Utah, or Texas Tech this season. The toughest test comes at home against Houston in the middle of the season. Cal Golden Bears Dec 24, 2025; Honolulu, HI, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) reacts after making a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Hawaii Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) California’s schedule is also very fitting for Tosh Lupoi’s first season as its head coach. Lupoi knows all about winning defenses, as he comes from a strong Oregon program, and he won’t need to worry about getting the Bears’ offense rolling. Sensational freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is back for his sophomore year, and Cal brought in three transfers to help him at WR. Rutgers’ Ian Strong is prolific and will be his go-to man. Cal has an experienced offensive line and the Bears don’t play Miami this season. If its young QB continues to progress, Cal has a chance to really impress in 2026. Clemson Tigers Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Quinton Martin (25) is tackled by Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Vic Burley (45) during the second half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) For the first time since 2011, Clemson found itself unranked at the start of the college football season. That doesn’t happen under Dabo Swinney, but he has some questions to answer in 2026, which is why the Tigers are unranked. Along with a disappointing 2025 season, Clemson lost Cade Klubnik at QB, along with some key defensive playmakers. However, Vic Burley and Sammy Brown are back at linebacker, and the Tigers have Gideon Davidson at RB, along with a few experienced WRs. The key here is how QB Christopher Vizzinia does, as he has little experience. Clemson plays both LSU and Miami this season, and if it’s going to be ranked in the top-10, the Tigers will have to at least split those two games. Nebraska Cornhuskers Nov 8, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule watches game action against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Matt Rhule has really done nothing but disappoint since he arrived in Lincoln, but expectations have been really high on Nebraska. This feels like the first season that those expectations aren’t that high. Losing former five-star QB Dyaln Raiola to Oregon didn’t help matters. Maybe since expectations aren’t high, Rhule can produce? He brought in savvy dual-threat gunslinger Anthony Colandrea from UNLV, where he was elite. But we have to see if he can do the same in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska has an experienced offensive line, but the Huskers will play the Big Ten’s Big 3 in Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State. Two of them are at home, and Nebraska would have a chance to really impress if it can get a couple of wins. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —