Three teams ranked outside the 2026 preseason AP Poll who will crash the party by season's end

Much was made about the preseason AP Poll when it dropped earlier this week, but most of that had to do with teams that actually made it onto the poll in the first place.

For those of you that don't know it, there is a small section below the actual top-25 that says "received votes," followed by a list of teams that just missed out on having that glorious number next to their name to start the season.

Fans of teams in this region of the poll shouldn't worry, though, because for every top-ten team who ends up unranked by the end of the season, there are more than a few teams in the "received votes" section who end up earning a ranking in the final poll , and that's the only one that really matters.

I've zeroed in on three teams that were left off the inaugural edition of the 2026 AP Poll who will likely be ranked come January.

Without any further ado, let's go dumpster diving for some gems.

I'll be honest with you, when I scrolled through the AP Poll after it dropped on Monday, I was expecting to see the Hokies somewhere in the 20s and was mildly shocked when I found them hanging out in the "received votes" section.

Many will point to their 3-9 record as justification for the "snubbing," but I think this Virginia Tech team is ready to compete in the ACC today and it starts with who they hired to be their next head coach.

HOW MUCH LONGER DOES CLEMSON HEAD COACH DABO SWINNEY REALISTICALLY HAVE IN DEATH VALLEY? I haven't made it a secret how I feel about James Franklin and I think Penn State did the right thing in firing him, but he's still a damn good coach.

A national championship-caliber coach? Almost certainly not, but his floor is way higher than anything the Hokies have seen since legendary coach Frank Beamer called it quits more than a decade ago.

Franklin will get the Hokies back to where they were in the 2000s and early 2010s, and I believe it happens quicker than most will expect.

Virginia Tech is also top-five in returning production and signed a transfer portal class that, while not very flashy, addressed some key needs along both lines of scrimmage as well as at quarterback.

Former Penn State signal caller Ethan Grunkemeyer comes to Blacksburg as Franklin's hand-picked guy, and the experience he received starting in place of Drew Allar could prove invaluable for the Hokies in 2026.

The first month of the schedule sets up nicely for Virginia Tech, and outside of a stretch in late October and early November featuring trips to Clemson, SMU, and Miami, the 2026 slate is a manageable one for an experienced Power 4 head coach like Franklin.

I'm not a huge betting guy, but I would put hard-earned money on Virginia Tech being ranked by the end of the season.