The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football cornerbacks heading into the 2026 season.
Note: There is some projection in these rankings for the upcoming season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
25. Dijon Lee, Alabama Crimson Tide
Lee had a good freshman season that saw him tally two interceptions and five passes defended. He will be part of one of the best secondaries in college football this season at Alabama.
24. Dezz Ricks, Texas A&M Aggies
Ricks started his career at Alabama, but transferred to Texas A&M, where he had six passes defended last season. He is expected to take a big step this season and could help the Aggies return to the CFP.
23. Bo Mascoe, Texas Longhorns
Over the last two seasons for Texas, Mascoe has nine passes defended and two interceptions. The Longhorns will be relying on Mascoe to lead a defense that had some impact players leave for the NFL.
22. Simeon Harris, Fresno State Bulldogs
Harris has bounced around from Colorado to Utah State and Fresno State. With Fresno last season, he registered five interceptions and six passes defended. He will be one of the better group of six players in the sport.
21. Jermaine Matthews, Ohio State Buckeyes
Matthews has played a lot of football for the Buckeyes over the last three seasons, even helping them win a national championship. He can work on making more plays on the ball, as he has just three interceptions and six passes defended in his career, but he is a good cover corner.
20. Christian Gray, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The first of three Notre Dame corners on this list, Gray had 11 passes defended and two interceptions last season. He will help create the best cornerback group in the country.
19. Will James, Houston Cougars
James transferred from Southern Mississippi to Houston last season, delivering eight passes defended and three interceptions. He will be one of the best secondary players in the Big 12.
18. Xavier Scott, Illinois Fighting Illini
Scott only played three games last season due to injury, but has been great playing the nickel spot for Illinois. In 2024, he had six passes defended and four interceptions, which was the last time he was healthy.
17. DJ Pickett, LSU Tigers
Pickett is a bigger corner who got some run as a freshman. He had three interceptions and three passes defended last year and is expected to be a lot better this season.
16. Ashton Hampton, Clemson Tigers
Although the results weren’t there for Clemson, Hampton had a solid year. He finished the season with nine passes defended and one interception, but now will be one of the more experienced players on the team.
15. OJ Frederique, Miami Hurricanes
Frederique made some good plays down the stretch during Miami’s run in the CFP. He had seven passes defended and will be looking to build on that.
14. AJ Harris, Indiana Hoosiers
Although he could’ve gone pro or returned to Penn State, Harris chose to make the move to Indiana. In two seasons at Penn State, he had six passes defended and one interception.
13. DJ McKinney, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In two seasons at Colorado, McKinney had four interceptions and 14 passes defended. At Notre Dame, he will play inside and allow Gray and Leonard Moore to play outside.
12. Eli Bowen, Oklahoma Sooners
Over the last two seasons, Bowen has eight passes defended and three interceptions. He will be a big part of an Oklahoma defense that figures to be one of the best in the country.
11. Evan Johnson, BYU Cougars
Johnson showed the ability to make plays on the ball last season, tallying eight passes defended and five interceptions. BYU will need him to provide similar production to get them over the top and into the CFP.
10. Jamari Sharpe, Indiana Hoosiers
Sharpe played on the outside for Indiana, totaling six passes defended and one interception. He will bring a lot of experience to a team that will be looking to go back-to-back.
9. Chris Peal, Syracuse Orange
Peal began his college journey at Georgia, but found success at Syracuse last season. He had seven passes defended last season and could help Syracuse improve this season.
8. Brandon Finney, Oregon Ducks
Finney had a great freshman season for the Ducks with eight passes defended and three interceptions. He can help Oregon have one of the best defenses in the country this season.
7. Jyaire Hill, Michigan Wolverines
In the last two seasons, Hill has 13 passes defended and two interceptions. He will be asked to match up with some great receivers in the Big Ten this season.
6. Jontez Williams, USC Trojans
Williams could’ve gone pro, but decided to go for another year of college football at USC. In his first three seasons at Iowa State, Williams racked up 11 passes defended and five interceptions.
5. Ellis Robinson, Georgia Bulldogs
Robinson had four interceptions and seven passes defended last season, living up to his great potential. He will be one of the better corners Georgia has had in the last couple of seasons.
4. Kelley Jones, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Jones is a lanky corner, but also makes plays on the ball. He had 11 passes defended and two interceptions last season, as a bright spot for Mississippi State.
3. Brice Pollock, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Pollock transferred from Mississippi State to Texas Tech last season. He was an impactful player with eight passes defended and five interceptions for the Red Raiders.
2. Zabien Brown, Alabama Crimson Tide
Brown has played a lot in his first two seasons for Alabama. With eight passes defended and five interceptions in his career, Brown will be a part of one of the best secondaries in the sport.
1. Leonard Moore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Moore has shown up in Notre Dame’s biggest moments over the last two years. He has seven interceptions and 18 passes defended in his career and looks to be the top corner in the 2027 NFL Draft class.
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