Ranking college football's best secondaries for 2026
Here are our five best secondaries in college football heading into the 2026 season, led by Alabama and Notre Dame.
Ranking college football's best secondaries for 2026, as compiled by USA TODAY Sports, highlights teams with top-tier talent and depth. Alabama stands out with five returning starters, including quarterback-turned-defensive back Leonard Moore, cornerback KJ Bolden, and projected nickelback Red Morgan. Notre Dame features consensus best cornerback in America, Leonard Moore, and a strong defensive back unit with safeties Tae Johnson and DJ McKinney.
Georgia boasts a highly talented secondary with running back-turned-safety A.J. Bolden, who is projected as a top safety prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, and cornerback Ellis Robinson IV. Oregon's secondary includes lockdown cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., and safety Koi Perich, who played at Minnesota before transferring. Finally, Miami's secondary is led by projected cornerback prospect Romanas "OJ" Frederique Jr., joined by safeties Xavier Lucas and Ethan O'Connor, and projected nickelback Carl Williams IV.
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