Surrender Cobra

College football breathes schadenfreude, and while that intro might read like some sicko fanfic, come Saturday night, most of the sport will be rooting fervently against Kiffin and the Bayou Bengals.

LSU has become the sport’s Joker.

They poached a coach who abandoned a playoff team a year ago. They handed him a $50 million roster full of high-priced mercenaries. And they have brazenly taunted the rest of the sport for daring to enforce its own regulations.

It’s Lane Kiffin’s job to build the best possible team at LSU, but days before a pivotal season opener, his program is at the center of another circus. Only this one is far more serious than his month-long December Bachelor Special with Ole Miss, LSU and Florida.

Taking the “spare no expense” mantra to its “logical” extreme, the Portal King decided he didn’t have enough transfers to satisfy Year 1. So he’s attempted to create a pipeline from the pros by luring fringe NFL free agents who could’ve been fifth-year seniors this season.

Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright — 39 catches and five touchdowns last year before a brief NFL training camp stint — and ex-Rebels defensive lineman Zxavian Harris are at the center of the fight. Both players violate two current SEC rules: a recent pro-player ban, and a ban on intraconference transfers outside of the portal window.

And yet, Kiffin has been adamant that he’s only doing what others in college football are attempting. Outwardly, he’s embraced The Joker’s worldview — aimed squarely at the rest of college football.

“Their morals. Their code. It’s a bad joke,” The Joker said in The Dark Knight. “When the chips are down, these civilized people, they’ll eat each other.”

And Kiffin isn’t alone in this thinking. Late last week, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said, bluntly: “Don’t hate the player. Hate the game.”

Well, The Joker was wrong.

Gotham didn’t eat itself. The civilized people held. And the SEC appears ready to do the same.

The Tigers are in the middle of a legal battle with the SEC, Greg Sankey and the NCAA — with Louisiana’s governor riding shotgun for LSU. And those tensions continue to escalate. Fast. In advance of a highly anticipated court hearing Thursday, Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger dropped a bombshell report that the league’s school executives are “exploring extreme measures to address LSU’s plans to add former pro players.”

We’re talking threats of boycotting competition. Probation. And even expulsion.

Let’s not be dramatic. It won’t come to that.

But damn. Is this newfound blood feud with the rest of the SEC really worth a No. 2 tight end and a backup tackle?

Obviously, no. We know it’s not.

So is Kiffin willing to call the SEC’s bluff, or is LSU’s head coach actually just wearing a villain mask that’s starting to slip?

Before all this nonsense, LSU already faced as much pressure as any team in the country not named Texas.

The Tigers have a roster with 60 new faces still trying to build chemistry. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is coming off a major injury and offseason surgery. Their Week 3 game at Ole Miss is already The Game of the Year because, well, duh.

Oh, and they’ve won just one marquee opener in the last four years and are hosting a Clemson team with nothing to lose in less than a week. So good luck doing all *this* and then starting September with a couple losses.

Even if LSU wins its court case Thursday, it’s not The Joker blowing up the hospital and walking away unscathed.

Everyone sees this. No one wants it (including Tigers fans).

“If it makes your team better, and it’s legal to do, and your players want it, I’ll take the hit publicly for it,” Kiffin said Monday.

Did The Joker just take off the mask?

Lane Kiffin likes to cosplay as a villain, but deep down, he wants to be liked. And this time, his “agent of chaos” schtick could come with real consequences.

The Joker never cared what people thought. Kiffin does. And that makes LSU very vulnerable.

Slow Mesh: Week 0 Winners and losers, and drafting the best games from Week 1

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:02:46 GMT

Slow Mesh, SZN 2 rolls on.

In the latest episode, Jesse Simonton and Jon Reed recap an insightful Week 0 slate with some winners and losers from the weekend.

Kudos to Bill Belichick and North Carolina for not throwing up on themselves in Ireland. The Tar Heels won a 15-10 slop-fest over TCU to at least hit the pause button on some bad vibes around the program entering the 2026 season — e.g., the highest-paid GM in the country was put on paid leave, their defensive coordinator (Belichick’s son Stephen) is out with an undisclosed medical issue and the roster is stuck between a duct-tape renovation and a youth movement.

Still, UNC is 1-0, and Belichick even flashed a brief grin when his team got TCU to jump offsides on a 4th-and-1 to seal the deal.

Conversely, TCU looked way too punch-drunk on Guinness in an embarrassing season-opening loss for Sonny Dykes’ team. A year after finishing 109th in penalties, the Horned Frogs kept tripping over their own feet to hand UNC a victory (11 flags for 89 yards, a turnover and a safety). They managed just 10 points and had two empty trips inside the 10-yard line.

TCU was never a legit Big 12 dark horse, but Dykes better have some answers quickly for a Jaiden Craig-led offense that looked lost without leading receiver Jordan Dwyer.

Elsewhere, Memphis’ defensive line looked awesome, Charles Huff could be positioned to make history, and by virtue of ~~sacking Jackson Arnold into oblivion~~ beating UNLV in Las Vegas, the Tigers took pole position in the G6 race to the playoff.

Also winners: Virginia, which brings back the nation’s most experienced roster coming off a 10-win season and an appearance in the ACC title game, received all of one vote in the preseason AP Top 25.

Yet the Hoos hammered NC State with a dominating performance by their offensive and defensive lines. USC’s freshmen flashed. North Dakota State won its FBS debut. And Stanford nearly lost to Hawaii for the second year in a row before a smashing down a front-door cover with a scoop-and-score touchdown in the last 30 seconds.

Finally, Florida State beat New Mexico State by 17, but it still felt like curtains on the Mike Norvell era when the Seminoles struggled to block a bad Mountain West team. We’ll certainly find out more about the Seminoles come next Monday night.

To preview a more subdued Week 1 slate (*by recent seasons’ standards), Jesse and Jon draft their favorite games and narratives for the upcoming weekend.

It didn’t go as chalky as one might think, either.

Among the games drafted:

🍿Colorado at Georgia Tech (Thursday at 8 p.m.)

🍿Baylor vs. Auburn (Saturday at 3:30 p.m.)

🍿Arkansas State at Memphis (Saturday at 7 p.m.)

🍿Clemson at LSU (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.)

🍿UCLA at Cal (Saturday at 10 p.m.)

🍿Ole Miss vs. Louisville (Sunday at 7:30 p.m.)

🍿Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Sunday at 7:30 p.m.)

🍿SMU at Florida State (Monday at 7:30 p.m.)

As always, subscribe to the new YouTube channel or download the pod on your favorite platform (Spotify, Apple, etc.). Don’t forget to please rate, review and like the pod. In the inimitable words of Bomani Jones, “Please give us 5 stars. If you give us 4 stars, I’m inclined to believe you are a hater.”

Enjoy.

The Walk-Through: Week 0

Jesse Simonton — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:06:32 GMT

Hit the link to checkout what to expect from the site for the 2026 season. Surrender Cobra remains a free space. But if you like what you read, hear and watch from me, I’d greatly appreciate any pledge of support. Your contributions make such independent media possible.

A final deep-dive into the preseason Top 25 — examining every team’s prior vs. the test for 2026.

Welcome to The Walk-Through, a new weekly column at Surrender Cobra.

Every Friday, I’ll set the stage for the weekend slate — news you might’ve missed, links, picks, and an SEC-centric show. It’s still 95 degrees in Florida, but we’re finally here.

🐍 THIS WEEK AT SURRENDER COBRA

My 2026 conference champions and College Football Playoff Picks.

The return of the podcast. Slow Mesh: Week 0 — BUY/SELL 2026 Preseason Takes

My nine most-volatile teams in 2026.

Finally, each Thursday, I’ll join Michael Bratton — aka SEC Mike — on ‘That SEC Podcast.’ Go hit the subscribe button so you can catch me weekly — on YouTube or as a listen.

This week, we previewed more than half the SEC. I delivered my final preseason thoughts on LSU, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Auburn and Florida. “Apologies to ~~Matt Damon~~ fans of Vandy, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Arkansas, we ran out of time!”

🚨NO-HUDDLE NEWS: IYCMI

🐯Lane Kiffin and LSU are still fighting for the eligibility of several former “pro” players. Late this week, the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Sun Belt and others have all “banned” players who have previously been on NFL training camp rosters.That hasn’t stopped Kiffin from desperately trying to add more depth to the Tigers’ roster. According to ESPN, the SEC has said it will suspend coaches who add pro players.

Will Greg Sankey really pull such a power move? Can he even make such a ruling legally?

This story continues to be very fluid.

My two cents: Lane Kiffin will always be a renegade. Tell him where the line is and he’s going to step just over it. That he’s the ringmaster of the latest circus involving LSU is not shocking. But, what does it say — at the 11th hour with the season days away — about LSU’s roster (which allegedly costs north of $50 million) that Kiffin is so desperate to add a backup tight end and reserve defensive lineman? Do the Tigers really need the depth that badly?

🔍THE BAYOU BUGGERS?

Elsewhere, Kiffin was at the center of another silly kerfuffle with his former program Ole Miss, after reports emerged that the Rebels brought in the FBI to sweep their building for bugs after Kiffin bolted for LSU. Walker Jones, the executive of Ole Miss’ NIL collective, said: “You don’t know Lane Kiffin like I know Lane Kiffin.” 😳

That Sept. 19 game in Oxford just gets spicier by the day.

🍊The NCAA reversed course, reducing Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter’s asinine suspension to just the season opener. It’s still a stupid decision that he’s missing any time at all. For those who missed it, Carter, among the Vols’ most important players in 2026, will miss Week 1 because he took a flight paid by his agent (valued at $427.48) while prepping for the NFL Draft. That same agent is his NIL representative, too, but the NCAA is gonna NCAA. Josh Heupel is on record calling the punishment “Bullshit.” Still, Carter will be back for a key Week 2 matchup against Georgia Tech.

✌️No. 14 USC plays San Jose State this weekend, and the Trojans released their initial depth chart and it’s chock-full of top recruits from their No. 1-rated recruiting class. Five true freshmen are set to start, headlined by 5-star tight end Mark Bowman.

🏈Several quarterback battles were decided in the last week, with Alabama (Keelon Russell), Tennessee (Faizon Brandon), Florida (Aaron Philo), Vanderbilt (Blaze Berlowitz), Arkansas (KJ Jackson) and North Carolina (Billy Edwards), among others, all named starters.

Individually, none of the decisions were overly surprising, but I have a couple thoughts on a few in particular:

🐘Russell (a former 5-star with tremendous traits) is going to help unlock Alabama’s ground-game this year. He’s a more developed passer than Jalen Milroe, but his legs are going to be a major component of the Tide’s offense — especially with continued questions about that offensive line.

🍊Brandon (a 5-star prospect and the first true freshman SEC starter since Vandy’s Ken Seals in 2020) is surrounded by a Top 5 OL, Top-5 RB room and Top-5 WR room in the SEC. He’ll show some warts at times, but he’s going to cook in Heupel’s offense. While Brandon was the hopium so many Vols fans were pining for, their 2026 ceiling still hinges on Jim Knowles’ defense.

⚓️While Alabama and Tennessee both went with upside at QB, it’s interesting that Vandy’s Clark Lea did not go with 5-star true freshman Jared Curtis — who famously flipped from Georgia to Vandy around signing day. I bet Curtis is the starter come late October, but to me, this move suggests that Lea doesn’t believe Vanderbilt is destined for a nosedive in the post-Diego Pavia era. The ‘Dores have a solid offensive line, one stud receiver and a couple nice tailbacks. By going with Berlowitz, who has been in the building and was reportedly the more consistent performer in fall camp, Vanderbilt looks willing to sacrifice some early upside + some volatility for a more trustworthy option.

Elsewhere, Iowa (Hank Brown vs. Jeremy Hecklinski) and Clemson (Christopher Vizzina vs. Tait Reynolds) have yet to name a starter, but I’d be stunned if Dabo Swinney had a freshman make his college debut in Tiger Stadium against LSU, so expect Vizzina to at least get the nod in Week 1. For the Hawkeyes, Hecklinski has been the odds-on-favorite for months.

🍻SATURDAY SIX-PACK

Throughout the fall, I’ll pick six games either against the spread or the total (over/under). I’ll log the results. This is for entertainment purposes only — you’re welcome to tail or fade all selections!

The final Week 0 slate in history (yes, all of college football has the green-light to just start in “Week 0” next fall) is more than just a typical amuse-bouche Saturday this year. We have some real games to enjoy, including a potential ACC-contender elimination matchup (NC State at Virginia) and a G6 showdown between two playoff hopefuls (Memphis at UNLV).

Oh, and Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson have made a trip across the pond for a rainy game against TCU.

🎯North Carolina vs. TCU (O/U 47.5) — in Ireland

PICK: Under 47.5

HANDICAP: Maybe Bill Belichick + Bobby Petrino is the perfect union no one is rooting for, but with weather forecasts giving off major British Open vibes, I think two offenses starting new quarterbacks are going to slog through the mud a bit to start the game.

🎯NC State at Virginia (-4.5)

PICK: NC State +4.5

HANDICAP: UVA is among the most experienced teams in the country, but give me the points with the best player in the game, Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey.

🎯New Mexico State at Florida State (-30.5)

PICK: FSU -30.5

HANDICAP: No coach in America needs to hang a 50-burger more than Mike Norvell. This might be the last time he gets to do so at FSU, too.

🎯Memphis at UNLV (-4.5)

PICK: UNLV -4.5

HANDICAP: While I like Charles Huff, and he’s no stranger to coaching a new team to start the season (third different school in three years!), I have the Rebels winning the Mountain West and making the CFP. So, Dan Mullen can’t afford a loss here.

🎯San Jose State at USC (-38.5)

PICK: USC -38.5

HANDICAP: Jayden Maiava gets to make the first statement in the long race for the Heisman Trophy. Lincoln Riley has a history of hammering G6 teams in the first couple weeks of the season.

🎯Hawaii at Stanford (-4)

PICK: Hawaii +4

HANDICAP: The last time we saw Davis Warren, now the starting QB for the Cardinal, he was among the worst P4 quarterbacks in the country at Michigan in 2024. Conversely, Micah Alejado is one of the top returning G6 gunslingers. Give me the Rainbow Warriors and the points — even away from the Big Island.

Time to spot the ball.

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Mr. Ranges Neighborhood 🏘️: The Most Volatile Teams in College Football in 2026

Jesse Simonton — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:52:26 GMT

The preseason polls have delivered a consensus S-Tier at the top of college football in 2026.

Choose your favorite order, but the Top 7 teams to kick off the season are Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas, Indiana and Miami.

They’re all capable of winning a national championship. Programs like Mississippi State, UCLA and West Virginia won’t compete for titles this year, but all three qualify as frisky — they’re going to spoil a team’s Saturday or two.

We also have a strong inkling of who the worst teams are this fall. Apologies to fans of Boston College, Purdue, Iowa State, Rutgers and — maybe the NFL’s 33rd team — North Carolina.

But what about the teams with the most volatile outcomes?

Welcome to Mr. Ranges Neighborhood 🏘️.

Your team could be living in a mansion with a pool, or a fixer-upper with real potential. It also might be evicted in three months.

In 2026, you can no longer hoard talent, meaning every roster is flawed. Some programs can mask their weaknesses better than others (e.g., UGA’s lack of explosiveness last season or Ohio State’s leaky OL), but for many, there’s a wide delta on their possible outcomes because of so much change. Whether transfer-heavy rosters, massive coaching turnover or quarterback transitions — some teams are dealing with all three variables at once.

For a host of programs this fall, anything looks possible.

A path to the CFP✅

A 5+ win jump ✅

A ho-hum 7-5, 8-4 season✅

A ‘yikes’ 6-6 season✅

A disastrous ‘we didn’t even make a bowl game’ season✅

Nowhere is this truer than in the SEC. Nearly a dozen teams have playoff expectations this year, but somebodies have to take some losses.

LSU

No program in America has a higher boom-or-bust potential than the Tigers in 2026 — and that was before the program went completely renegade this week by actively recruiting and signing players who were recently on NFL training camp rosters. But love’em or hate’em, Lane Kiffin’s team — with a $50 million roster — has a true national championship ceiling. They’re loaded. And yet, is the depth really there? Is the collection of talent a true team or just 60 talented mercenary newcomers? Considering its schedule, LSU might be the lone program in the country with real 12-0 vs. 6-6 variance. It can win every game, but can it actually string together a dozen straight good performances?

Ole Miss

Kiffin’s former team has a house in the same neighborhood, too. Pete Golding won a pair of playoff games last season, but that was with the infrastructure (and notably, playbook and play-caller) that Kiffin took to Baton Rouge. Maybe Golding is a good ol’ sumbitch head coach, and the Rebels remain among the SEC’s best teams. Or reality could bite hard, and the program rediscovers its true level without Kiffin in charge.

Oklahoma

The Sooner Schooner has become a rollercoaster ride under Brent Venables. 6-7. 10-3. 6-7. 10-3. When you can’t run the ball and you’re reliant on a one-man band at quarterback, consistency is an issue. And yet, there’s faith that Venables (and much credit to GM Jim Nagy) has stabilized the program back to having annual playoff expectations. John Mateer is a wild card at quarterback. If he can stay healthy, and if he replicates his play from 2024, then OU (with one of the Top 5 defenses in the country) could make a run to the SEC Championship. If Mateer falters again, the Sooners could be that preseason Top 10 team that finishes unranked — and then the recent contract extension handed out to Venables would look even dumber than it already does.

Florida

Under Billy Napier, the Gators had a record problem (4-8 in 2025) but not a roster one. Jon Sumrall retained the bones of that roster, and then brought in upgrades all across the staff — including offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. Florida beat Texas last season and also lost to USF in the Swamp. Sumrall has talked a big game, so could UF (with all that playmaking talent + a defense littered with young stars) be a team that goes from preseason unranked to clinching a CFP spot come December? Or are the Gators merely a fringe bowl team that will chomp down one marquee opponent again?

South Carolina

I’m down on the Gamecocks this fall, but the lane is there for South Carolina to have a major turnaround season. It ranks 5th nationally in returning production. LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart and Nyck Harbor all landed in the Top 35 of Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘Freaks List.’ The offensive line can’t be worse than last season, and Kendal Briles is an upgrade at offensive coordinator. And yet, much of the same “game-changing talent” won a single SEC game a year ago. Stewart (back injury) is also set to miss the start of the season, while centerpiece transfer tackle Jacarrius Peak is still recovering from an offseason knee injury. Under Shane Beamer, inconsistency has been the program’s trademark. Perhaps they flirt with a playoff spot like they did in 2024. Or Beamer could be canned come Thanksgiving.

Thanks for reading Surrender Cobra! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In the ACC, two programs just moved into Mr. Ranges Neighborhood this fall.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies are undergoing a truly unusual transition where James Franklin is taking over the program from Brent Pry, whom he then retained on staff as his defensive coordinator. That connection allowed Franklin to keep a lot of quality players in Blacksburg, while also adding a bunch of key pieces from Penn State and elsewhere. The days of going 3-9 seem over, but are the Hokies closer to many of Franklin’s 8-or-9 win teams of the past or is that asking too much from a program that’s had five losing seasons in the last six years?

Cal

The Golden Bears were 7-6 in 2025, but they finally pulled the plug on longtime embattled head coach Justin Wilcox. Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi made headlines when he bolted his introductory press conference early to fly to Hawaii to convince potential star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to stay at Cal. The former 5-star did, and that gives the Bears an interesting ceiling in the ACC. JKS could be the best QB in the league not named Darian Mensah, and his raw talent could carry Cal to lots of wins against a schedule that does not include the Canes or the Louisville Cardinals. So could a Cinderella run to Charlotte be in the cards? Maybe, but Sagapolutele is still rather inexperienced, and Cal is banking on a host of defensive transfers on a roster that ranks 92nd in returning production. Ultimately, the Bears might be a “year away” team.

Rounding out the block in Mr. Ranges Neighborhood are a couple teams from the Big Ten and Big 12.

USC

Lincoln Riley spent five years at Oklahoma, with three CFP appearances. Now it’s Year 5 at USC, and Riley hasn’t sniffed the playoff since 2022. So time to put up or shut up. Riley has exuded some real confidence this offseason, and the Trojans do have a Top 10 QB (Jayden Maiava), a veteran OL (even with the unfortunate season-ending injury to center Kilian O’Connor) and a deep set of playmakers (especially at tailback). But what about the defense? Former longtime TCU head coach Gary Patterson takes over, and he inherits a unit that returns seven starters and looks to incorporate several pieces from USC’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class. So the good news is this looks like Riley’s most complete team at USC. The bad news is the schedule, even with the canceled Notre Dame series, is a bitch (Oregon, Washington and Ohio State at home, at Penn State and Indiana).

Oklahoma State

The Pokes took a Neuralyzer to their program this offseason, wiping clean any remnants of the Mike Gundy era. The Cowboys haven’t won a Big 12 game in the last two seasons, and 2025 was their program’s worst season in over 60 years. So in steps new head coach Eric Morris, who brought in a staggering 85 newcomers. Former North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker is the headliner from the nation’s No. 1 offense in 2025, and another 17 Mean Green playmakers and defensive pieces followed Morris to Stillwater, too. The Pokes are a Top-40 team according to most metrics, so a rebound should come quickly — the question is how high up the Big 12 standings can they climb in 2026. Is a leap from 1-11 to, say, 9-3 possible? Or will the jump from the G6 to a P4 league prove too steep for so many newcomers, making a bowl game more realistic?

Other programs (maybe a West Virginia, Wisconsin or an Auburn) could hold residency in Mr. Ranges Neighborhood this year, too. Some teams could have ‘For Sale’ signs by Halloween. We’ll find out soon enough. Stay tuned.

Pencil, Pen, Sharpie: 2026 Conference Champions, CFP Bracket Predictions ✏️✍️🖊️

Jesse Simonton — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:05:37 GMT

Week 0 is just days away, so it’s past time to roll out my official predictions for the 2026 season. For accountability purposes, I like to give each prediction a confidence ranking. Pencil✏️ (Not very confident). Pen ✍️ (More confident). Or Sharpie 🖊️ (Very confident).

This is college football. We don’t *really* know all that much. So some picks are written with an eraser attached. Some are as bold as a black Sharpie. Either way, the receipts are here.

Last season, I whiffed on all four power conference champions (thanks a lot Penn State and Clemson), but I did correctly nail Tulane as the G6 champ/CFP representative and had six of the 12 teams (including Alabama, Texas A&M and Ole Miss) in the 12-team field.

ACC Champ

Miami — The streak finally ends. After more than 20 years, the Canes win the ACC. Quarterback Darian Mensah, who led the ACC with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 34 touchdowns last season at Duke, is my top choice to win the Heisman Trophy, too. He’s going to put up Cam Ward 2.0 numbers with perhaps the best supporting cast of playmakers in the nation this year. 🖊️

Big 12 Champ

Texas Tech — The gulf between the Red Raiders and the rest of the Big 12 isn’t as vast with QB Brendan Sorsby ruled ineligible, but that roster is still so much better than even the BYUs and Houstons of the conference. 🖊️

Big Ten Champ

Oregon — Strong cases can be made for Ohio State and Indiana, who absolutely could make another championship run à la the 2024 Buckeyes. But this is the most talented Oregon team ever. Dan Lanning finally gets over the hump with a marquee win in Indy. ✍️

SEC Champ

Georgia — Texas owns the offseason, but UGA has owned Mercedes-Benz Stadium when it matters most over the last several seasons. ✍️

G6 Champ

UNLV — Dan Mullen makes his long-awaited CFP debut. The G6 spot could go to a number of candidates this year (Navy, Boise State, James Madison are all real contenders) but I think the Rebels win the Mountain West and have a chance for two solid non-conference wins (Memphis in the opener and Cal in early October) to help boost their resume. ✏️

2026 Surrender Cobra CFB Bracketology

Notre Dame ✍️
Oregon (Big Ten Champion) ✍️
Georgia (SEC Champion) ✍️
Miami (ACC Champion)🖊️
Texas Tech (Big 12 Champion) 🖊️
Indiana 🖊️
Texas ✍️
Ohio State 🖊️
Oklahoma ✏️
Alabama ✍️
USC ✏️
UNLV ✏️

Under this year’s CFP rules, the Irish are now eligible for a Top-4 seed. Is Notre Dame actually the best team in the country this season? I’m skeptical. My local farmers market has fewer cupcakes than Notre Dame’s schedule. But with that defense and CJ Carr throwing the rock, the Irish have a clear path to 12-0. If they exact revenge on Miami and go undefeated to grab the No. 1 overall seed, then head coach Marcus Freeman will sweep the Coach of the Year hardware. Freeman has turned down multiple NFL opportunities but may not be able to say no come next offseason.

The remaining at large spots go to Indiana, which loses to Oregon in the Big Ten title game. Same for Texas in the SEC. Ohio State, Oklahoma, Alabama and USC round out the field — with the Trojans becoming the first 9-3 at-large team in the CFP era.

So how will the bracket play out?

First Round:

No. 5 Texas Tech over No. 12 UNLV

No. 8 Ohio State over No. 9 Oklahoma

No. 7 Texas over No. 10 Alabama

No. 6 Indiana over No. 11 USC

Quarterfinals:

No. 8 Ohio State over No. 1 Notre Dame

No. 4 Miami over No. 5 Texas Tech

No. 2 Oregon over No. 7 Texas

No. 3 Georgia over No. 6 Indiana

Semifinals:

No. 4 Miami over No. 8 Ohio State

No. 2 Oregon over No. 3 Georgia

National Championship:

No. 2 Oregon over No. 4 Miami

That’s right, I have the Ducks, which have never won a national title, taking home the crown this fall. Like Bill Simmons with the Red Sox, Phil Knight can finally die in peace. ✍️

So you have the receipts. Screenshot them, mock them, save them for January. We’ll circle back then. For now, Week 0 is here.

Slow Mesh, Week 0: BUY/SELL 2026 Takes

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:30:47 GMT

🚨🚨🚨 Slow Mesh is back.🚨🚨🚨

After an offseason hiatus, the podcast returns with a new logo and YouTube channel.

Typically, throughout the season you’ll be able access to the pod/video on Sunday evenings or first thing Monday morning.

So subscribe to the new channel or download the pod on your favorite platform (Spotify, Apple, etc.). Don’t forget to please rate, review and like the pod. In the inimitable words of Bomani Jones, “Please give us 5-stars. If you give us 4-stars, I’m inclined to believe you are a hater.”

With Week 0 upon us, Jon Reed and I did a BUY/SELL exercise as a way to preview the 2026 season.

We each battered around five narratives/takes for the other to BUY or SELL.

📌 This is the Year of the Quarterback?

📌 Texas (or Steve Sarkisian) has run out of excuses?

📌 The Heisman Trophy winner is at least a 25-1 longshot?

📌 The Big Ten wins a fourth-straight national title?

📌 The SEC has the most teams in the playoff … but the league’s title drought continues?

📌 Arch Manning fails to meet expectations?

📌 LSU and USC are the two most fascinating teams in 2026?

📌 Tennessee goes at least 9-3?

📌 Two of Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Oklahoma (all Top 10 preseason teams) finish the season unranked?

📌 Indiana can win back-to-back national titles?

Enjoy.

Our Priors Are About to Be Tested: A Top-25 Reality Check Before Week 0

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:03:39 GMT

Now, onto testing some priors.

This time a year ago, Indiana was ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Poll Top 25. Most voters (and national pundits) assumed that Curt Cignetti’s program was a one-hit wonder.

There was no way that Indy-Freaking-Ana would be a playoff team again — much less an undefeated national champion. Yet by late October, both Penn State and LSU had fired their coaches. Clemson was in the dumpster. And little ol’ Indiana was cruising toward an unprecedented 16-0 season.

College football’s season is a sprint, so eight months of offseason fodder — built on very little actual knowledge — creates narratives that shape how we view the sport’s landscape.

Mario Cristobal couldn’t coach his way around poor clock management. Until he did. Surely the SEC would end its drought without a representative in the national championship. Nope.

And on, and on.

Our priors are tested every fall. The real question is the gap between what we think we know and what still needs to be proven. With Week 0 on the horizon, here’s one last chance to challenge our assumptions before reality takes over.

Using the preseason AP Poll Top 25, what is the conventional wisdom around each team, and what will the test — which I’ll circle back to at the end of the regular season and again after the playoffs — teach us about each program in 2026?

1. Ohio State

Our prior: The Buckeyes are the safest bet in college football

The test: Ohio State had four Top 10 picks drafted off last year’s team, and they were bullied up front by Indiana and Miami to end the season. Can they overcome the losses, including eight new starters on defense, to win 10-11 regular-season games again? It’s Ryan Day’s offense, though the introduction of Arthur Smith at OC looks like a strange fit. Then again, the same was said about Matt Patricia at DC last year. And OSU’s biggest variable: Can Julian Sayin emerge as a superstar at quarterback?

Oregon

Our prior: Dan Lanning is primed to bust through the door and win a national championship

The test:Under Lanning, Oregon has become one of the most consistent programs in the country. But the Ducks, who must replace both key coordinators in 2026, have been blown out in the final two playoff games the last two seasons. Lanning has just eight losses in Eugene — half of which have come to the eventual national champs. With Dante Moore back at QB and maybe the best defensive line in college football, is this the year Lanning nets Oregon its long-awaited national championship?

3. Georgia

Our prior: Georgia’s championship window has closed

The test: ESPN recently ranked the Bulldogs among the Tier 2 teams (with “trust issues”) for the 2026 season. Kirby Smart’s program received zero first-place votes in the preseason AP Poll Top 25, yet the talent (particularly on defense with 13 returning players with over 200 snaps last season) is there. Can the much-maligned Mike Bobo and quarterback Gunner Stockton raise UGA’s title-ceiling — the way Todd Monken and Stetson Bennett once did — and generate the explosive plays necessary to push the Bulldogs back among the favorites to win the natty?

Notre Dame

Our prior: Notre Dame can’t win the national title because of its easy schedule

The test: Outside of a revenge spot against Miami and a date with BYU, Marcus Freeman’s program might not be challenged the rest of the season. But what if we’ve actually underrated (*gasp*) Notre Dame this fall? If they cruise to 12-0 with wins over the Canes and Cougars, then the notion they can’t win the championship just because they beat up on the Boston Colleges and Michigan States will look silly.

Texas

Our prior: The Longhorns have run out of excuses in 2026

The test: Led by Arch Manning and a star-studded supporting cast, they have among the best rosters in the country. Texas brought in Will Muschamp to upgrade the defense. But how do we factor in the Steve Sarkisian equation here? Can we just assume the coach who’s done less with more will finally get the program over the mountaintop? Is Arch Manning truly the prince who was promised?

6. Indiana

Our prior: Curt Cignetti has turned Indiana into a 21st Century CFB power

The test: Was 2025 the beginning of something generational? Or was last season the greatest outlier in college football history? Cignetti is a Tier 1 coach, and a master at roster management. With a ton of super-seniors, Indiana has the top collection of linemen (offensive and defensive) in the country. If Josh Hoover can hold his hands at 10-2 and just drive the bus, then the Hoosiers should make the playoffs again.

Miami

Our prior: The Canes are now perennially elite because Mario Cristobal has overcome his history of poor in-game coaching

The test: After delegating some responsibilities to other staff last year, Cristobal led one of the most buttoned-up teams in the country. The Canes pushed Indiana in the national title game and now boast the best QB-RB-WR unit in the country. So can Miami avoid stepping on the rake and play with the week-to-week consistency its talent says it should?

Texas A&M

Our prior: The Aggies’ 2026 backslide feels inevitable

The test: After collecting wins as a schedule merchant in 2025, the Aggies are seen as one of the most overrated teams in 2026. Most think they’re the likeliest Top 10 candidate to finish the season unranked. But what if Marcel Reed is actually good, and Texas A&M can beat some top-tier SEC teams? We know Mike Elko is a good coach, so was last season actually a breakthrough for the program, or is 10 wins too much to ask again?

Oklahoma

Our prior: The Sooners are different now after making the CFP and winning 10 games in 2025

The test: Can Brent Venables sustain OU’s success from last season with a more difficult schedule? There’s continued uncertainty around the Sooners’ ability to run the football, but a healthy John Mateer at quarterback certainly should provide more offensive firepower. Oklahoma fans were aghast that I criticized the program for bidding against itself with Venables’ recent extension and raise, but Year 5 is going to tell us whether such a pricy decision was warranted.

Ole Miss

Our prior: Lane Kiffin changed the narrative around Ole Miss’ program, but Pete Golding, who actually won two playoff games last season, won’t be able to keep the train rolling

The test: Golding has the filthiest QB-RB tandem in the nation with Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, but will that dynamic duo produce the same offensive fireworks with John David Baker calling the plays — and not Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr.? Even if they can, how much of a drop-off will Ole Miss’ defense have now that several key pieces are at LSU and Golding is juggling two hats?

Alabama

Our prior: The Crimson Tide are no longer ass-kickers

The test: Alabama made the CFP last season under Kalen DeBoer, but after getting waxed by Georgia in the SEC Championship and then suffocated by Indiana in the quarterfinals, the program no longer looks fundamentally different from other elite programs. DeBoer will never be Nick Saban, but can he make Alabama dominant again — and if he can’t, how long does he last in Tuscaloosa?

Texas Tech

Our prior: The Red Raiders are the Big 12’s undisputed heavyweight

The test: Texas Tech’s 2026 ceiling changed once quarterback Brendan Sorsby was ruled ineligible, but Joey McGuire’s team remains the overwhelming favorite to win its conference. So has McGuire built a great program, or did he simply assemble one really, really good roster?

LSU

Our prior: The Tigers’ $50 million roster + Lane Kiffin at head coach = biggest Rorschach test of the 2026 season

The test: Can Kiffin turn all of LSU’s resources into a championship operation as soon as Year 1? We know he can coach offense, but can Kiffin produce an even greater product — as a whole — than what he did at Ole Miss?

USC

Our prior: Lincoln Riley can’t build a complete program

The test: It’s Year 5 for Riley at USC, and the Trojans have failed to make the college football playoff — almost explicitly because of the program’s poor defense, roster construction and overall lack of toughness. Is this the year USC breaks through? D’Anton Lynn helped stem some of the program’s issues, but now he’s the defensive coordinator at Penn State. So how much longer can we separate Lincoln Riley’s results from Lincoln Riley, the former offensive wunderkind?

BYU

Our prior: Kalani Sitake has the Cougars entrenched as a Top 20 team

The test: After going 23-4 the last two seasons, how does BYU handle greater expectations? Can it compete with Notre Dame in a marquee non-conference spot? Can it beat Texas Tech, who handed them two losses in 2025, for the Big 12 title?

Michigan

Our prior: Kyle Whittingham is the much-needed adult in the room, and will be the stabilizing force Michigan needs to reestablish itself as a title contender

The test: The Wolverines went 9-3 last season with a coach who later resigned in disgrace and a freshman quarterback who struggled mightily. So can Whittingham button up the organization and unlock Bryce Underwood’s potential? What happens if Whittingham struggles to connect with a blue-chip roster unlike any he’s ever had? Can he handle a new level of scrutiny, pressure or NIL culture?

Penn State

Our prior: With Matt Campbell at head coach, the Nittany Lions will bounce-back from last season’s disaster thanks to a schedule that doesn’t include Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana

The test: By dumb luck, Penn State’s terrible 2025 season and ensuing comedy of a coaching search had a happy ending once former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell wound up in Happy Valley. But can quarterback Rocco Becht — along with another two dozen transfers from a team that finished 7th in the Big 12 last season — produce better results in the Big Ten? Is Penn State closer to Tier 1 of the league, or Tier 3?

Tennessee

Our prior: Much like his tenure at UCF, Josh Heupel’s best days at Tennessee are behind him

The test: The Vols went 8-5 last season, failing to beat a team with a winning record all year. Most believe they’re around the 8-9th-best team in the SEC in 2026. Heupel brought in Jim Knowles to fix the defense, and 5-star freshman Faizon Brandon is likely to start at quarterback. So can they exceed expectations and emerge as a playoff sleeper, or will Heupel enter 2027 with a playoff mandate?

Washington

Our prior: The Huskies are a program on the ascent

The test: Despite some major portal flirtation with LSU, Jedd Fisch was able to retain quarterback Desmond Williams, which gives Washington the upside to knock on the doorstep of the CFP. But Williams, who struggled in big games last season, must deliver against the likes of USC, Indiana and Oregon to get them there. If he can’t, what does that actually mean for the Huskies’ future with Williams very likely headed to the NFL after the year?

SMU

Our prior: In a pedestrian conference, the Mustangs are the ACC’s sleeping giant

The test: In two seasons, Rhett Lashlee is 14-2 against ACC competition, and SMU has the money, recruiting and aggressive roster construction to remain a sustainable contender in a top-heavy league. Can it become a better road team, though — losses at TCU, Wake Forest and Cal — to seriously climb the national hierarchy?

Utah

Our prior: Utah is no longer Utah under Morgan Scalley at head coach

The test: The Utes made a program-altering decision last offseason to push out Kyle Whittingham (now at Michigan) for his defensive lieutenant. Scalley has been groomed for the top role, but he’s dealing with major staff turnover and a lack of continuity on the roster. Will it be a smooth transition in Year 1, or will Utah recede to the pack in the Big 12 while Scalley learns on the job?

Iowa

Our prior: The Hawkeyes’ offensive limitations hard-cap the program’s playoff potential

The test: The days of Iowa’s infamous ‘Drive to 325’ are in the rearview mirror, but even the program’s more modernized offense still ranked 15th in the Big Ten last year — and that was with elite red zone efficiency and a battering ram at QB. Now, former Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski is the likely starter, and while he’s drawn rave reviews during fall camp, he has zero experience and is all of 5-11, 185 pounds. Will he be a true floor-raiser — and what would that look like at Iowa? Or, is Kirk Ferentz’s program still “good, but hardly dangerous?”

Houston

Our prior: Willie Fritz has done his typical turnaround job and made Houston a frisky program again

The test: After back-to-back 4-8 seasons, the Cougs went 10-3 in 2025. And yet, they went 6-1 in one-score games. So how sustainable was their success, or were they merely benefiting from major turnover luck (their four fumbles lost were the fewest in the Big 12) and one of the easiest schedules in the league?

Louisville

Our prior: The Cards are Miami’s stiffest ACC competition this fall

The test: Not Clemson. Not SMU. Definitely not Florida State. Louisville, with a portal-heavy roster and stars like all-conference tailback Isaac Brown and pass rusher Clev Lubin, is the program positioned to push the Canes. But that notion is relying heavily on the play from Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, who has barely played. If he has similar stats to Miller Moss from last season, then Louisville will just be another fringe Top 25 team again.

Missouri

Our prior: Eli Drinkwitz’s program is the stand-in 25th-best team in the country — in the preseason, at midseason and in the postseason

The test: The Tigers are always decent, but they’re not a real playoff contender. After not beating a team with a winning record in 2025, does that change this fall? Can they rise up the rankings and flirt with playoff contention, or are they actually closer to the 35th-40th best team in football this fall?

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Relaunch Week: Surrender Cobra

Jesse Simonton — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 22:01:43 GMT

Hey, Jesse here.

You may have noticed a brief hiatus from posting at Surrender Cobra. After taking much of August to reorganize the blog/newsletter/whatever we’re calling these things*, it’s time to spot the ball.

Last year was Week 0 for me here. With the first weekend of college football coming Saturday, it’s officially Relaunch Week at Surrender Cobra.

If you’re new here, welcome! If you’re an OG, welcome back. I started this independent Substack last August, and frankly, had no idea what I was doing. My vision was clear, but venturing solo in a space with so many competing voices was challenging — and remains so. But after also juggling a newborn little girl through it all, I no longer feel like the Black Knight in Monty Python.

I still have two hands to type with and a mouth that works just fine, so I’m attacking the 2026 season with renewed vigor.

This is Surrender Cobra — an independent college football content space for the junkies. Weekly, I’ll produce columns, posts, podcasts and videos about the best sport in the world.

If you’re already subscribed, nothing changes — you’ll just be receiving more content. More college football. Straight to your inbox. If you’re not subscribed, please do so, and tell a friend (or many).

Surrender Cobra is still a weed in 100 yards of grass, so how can you help it grow?

Surrender Cobra remains a free space. But if you like what you read, hear and watch from me, I’d greatly appreciate any pledge of support. Your contributions make Surrender Cobra possible.

Beyond that — follow me on social media. Leave comments on my posts and videos and don’t hesitate to email me with potential mailbag questions, topics you wanted covered and more.

Let’s watch some college football.

From 'What If?' to 'Who Is': Why Michigan's 2026 Ceiling Runs Through Bryce Underwood

Jesse Simonton — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:04:11 GMT

At the end of the 2023 season, Michigan was the king of college football. Jim Harbaugh had beaten Ohio State for the third-straight season, and he capped the year by leading his alma mater to its first national title since 1997.

Three years later, the Wolverines have been a program embroiled in scandal — from the ripple effects of the sign-stealing controversy to multiple ex-coaches, including Moore, getting arrested. Now they aren’t even among the Big Ten’s ‘Big Three’ anymore. Sherrone Moore is out. And Athletic director Warde Manuel, the guy who promoted Moore to head coach when Harbaugh beat the posse —the NCAA sanctions — out of Ann Arbor to the NFL, is also on his way out at the end of the year. Former longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is now in charge, which even typing it, seems strange.

The program has hit the reset button, and despite all the dysfunction surrounding Michigan, the Wolverines still went 9-4 last season starting a true freshman quarterback. The bones of the roster remain quite strong, too.

So with an adult in charge and a more seasoned Bryce Underwood — the former No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class — they can’t do any worse this fall, right?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What do we make of Michigan in 2026? Is it a true playoff contender? A dangerous team? And does Underwood have the greatest variance between floor and ceiling of any young quarterback in the country this fall?

At minimum, the Wolverines should be a more buttoned-up organization.

Kyle Whittingham is the poster-child for the blue-collar, overachiever head coach. He spent 20 years shepherding Utah from G5 hipster to Pac-12 champion to Big 12 contender, winning with mostly unheralded recruits from out West. He brought accomplished offensive coordinator Jason Beck with him to Ann Arbor, and poached BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill.

But there’s uncertainty with how he’ll manage all of this now. Whittingham, who is 66 years old, is now in charge of one of the blueest of blue-bloods, and inherits a roster stocked with blue-chip talent. He’s never faced this level of scrutiny, pressure or NIL culture.

Can he connect with a guy like Bryce Underwood — who’s making more money (reportedly north of $3 million annually) than any player Whittingham has previously coached?

It’s still fishy why Utah felt so pressured to push Whittingham into retirement, but it is notable he was set to head to the mountains — he’s a notorious workout fiend and black diamond skier — before Michigan suddenly became open. He clearly doesn’t lack gas in the tank, but there’s no room — or time — for a transition season. At long last, he finally has his opportunity to coach at a program with elite resources, and he didn’t sign up for a rebuild — nor did he inherit one given Michigan’s expectations and roster investment.

But Michigan’s ceiling — and Whittingham’s potential to spearhead a CFP contender — hinges on the production and play it gets from Bryce Underwood in 2026.

(Credit: AP/Ryan Sun)

Last season, Michigan paired a quality defense (15th in SP+) with a middling offense (49th) and awful special teams (111th nationally). That was good enough for 7-2 in the Big Ten. Only, the Maize & Blue got bullied by any opponent with real dudes up front (losses to SEC foes Oklahoma and Texas, and Ohio State and USC in conference play). Underwood was underwhelming in his first season as a starter, as the former 5-star had a completion rate of just 60% and threw 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He had only two games all year over 251 yards passing and ranked 67th nationally in yards per attempt.

Billed as a Cam Newton-esque athlete at quarterback, the 6-4, 230-pound battering ram — at least on paper — wasn’t an overly effective runner, either — the exception being a 100-yard game in a 63-3 thrashing of Central Michigan.

Raw talent is not the issue with Underwood, though. The quarterback’s special ability is impossible to miss.

But whether it was partly his own doing, or the environment he was in, Underwood’s game lacked both polish and basic fundamentals. Whittingham has been complimentary of all “attributes” in Underwood’s “toolbox.” He praised Underwood’s work ethic. Still, he acknowledged there was a lot of work to do this offseason for the quarterback to reach his true potential.

“Physically, he’s got everything you want,” Whittingham said last week at Big Ten Media Days.

“He’s 6-4, 230 pounds. Runs about a 4.6 40, has a cannon for an arm, throws well on the move. He’s got a very high ceiling. I firmly believe that he’s going to turn out to be a very successful quarterback at Michigan.”

But…

“He had a lot of catching up to do. Fundamentally, he was not nearly as fundamentally sound as he needed to be.”

That’s where Beck stepped in. The ex-Utes’ OC squeezed the most out of Devon Dampier last season (over 3,200 total yards and 34 touchdowns to just five interceptions), and his RPO-heavy scheme looks like a great fit for Underwood’s talent. Notably, Underwood did not have an individual QB coach as a freshman. Chip Lindsay, who struggled as Michigan’s OC, pulled double-duty as both the team’s primary play-caller and quarterbacks coach, and the rest of the program’s chaotic nature did Underwood few favors. Whittingham addressed that issue immediately, bringing in both Beck and quarterbacks coach Roy Detmer Jr. to make sure Underwood would receive plenty of 1-on-1 instruction.

Since arriving in Ann Arbor, the focus has been on Underwood’s footwork and pocket presence. They’ve challenged the quarterback’s attitude, too. While embracing Underwood’s brash confidence, the staff has worked to make him more accountable at the same time.

The former top recruit has already said he would win multiple Heisman Trophies and go undefeated against rival Ohio State. Last week, he doubled down on his comments and is on record that he “doesn’t regret anything” he’s uttered since becoming Michigan’s quarterback.

Underwood can talk his talk, but he’s 0-1 against the Buckeyes, and thus far, his biggest claim to fame is a monster NIL deal.

And yet, this summer he boldly proclaimed he “wants to prove I am what I think.”

Which is?

“The best player to ever come out of Michigan.”

Ok, Icarus.

Thanks for reading Surrender Cobra! This post is public so feel free to share it.

The Wolverines are fully cognizant that every comment Underwood makes will be scrutinized if the production doesn’t match the bravado, so Whittingham has made sure Michigan has built the best possible foundation to help their young quarterback succeed in 2026.

The Wolverines beefed up the offensive line in the portal, and their tailback tandem of junior Jordan Marshall (6.2 yards per carry, 10 touchdowns) and 5-star freshman Savion Hiter could be among the best in the country. Wideout Andrew Marsh is a budding star, while transfers JJ Buchanan (Utah) and Jamie Ffrench Jr. (Texas) are intriguing pass-catching options. Michigan’s defense, buoyed by transfers like John Henry Dailey (who was second in the Big 12 with 11.5 sacks), should be a Top-15 unit again this fall.

“A strong running game is a quarterback’s best friend,” Whittingham said.

“If he can turn and hand the ball and get chunks of yardage up the field, that takes a lot of pressure off of him.”

That strategy might only be good enough to win 8-9 games, though — especially with a schedule that includes Top-11 (ish) opponents in Oklahoma, Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State. We’ve likely seen the floor with Underwood — a fringe Top 25 team with a nice defense carrying an inconsistent offense. But if the Wolverines want to win “The Game,” and with it, seriously compete for a Big Ten title and a college football playoff spot, they need Underwood to go from a ‘What if?’ to a ‘Who is.’

Can he?

“Talk to me at the end of fall camp,” Whittingham said, candidly.

“Then I’ll have a lot better assessment.”

SEC Bold Predictions for 2026

Jesse Simonton — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:41:46 GMT

Earlier this week, I joined Chris Phillips, the founder of SEC Unfiltered, for a chat about the league heading into the 2026 season.

We chopped it up for about a half hour, covering more than a dozen teams. We talked about my column on Shane Beamer and why South Carolina’s head coach is almost certainly headed for a bad ending in Columbia.

We also touched on how not every team in the league can be a “sleeper.” So who’s taking some losses? Which surprise program (or two) do we see possibly regressing?

Also:

🔮My thoughts on the futures at Florida and Tennessee

🐘Should we be talking about Alabama more?

📈Why I’m buying stock in Oklahoma

🐯Lane Kiffin expectations in Year 1

🐶Why Georgia is the safer bet to win the SEC … but Texas has the higher national title ceiling

Give it a watch. Enjoy.

The SEC Media Poll Doesn't Predict Much — But It Still Reveals a Lot

Jesse Simonton — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:58:51 GMT

The SEC released its annual media poll Friday afternoon, and back-to-back league champion Georgia was picked to win the conference for the third season in a row.

That’s not exactly the bulletin-board material Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs’ locker room so readily cherish, but alas.

The media poll is full of outlier voters and performative takes — e.g., eight teams were picked to win the SEC, including Kentucky — and historically, it’s not all that great at predicting who will actually win the league. Two years ago, Georgia was correctly tabbed as the preseason champ, but Texas was the favorite last season and didn’t make the title game or College Football Playoff. In the 33 years the SEC has held a championship game, the preseason favorite has gone on to win the conference just 10 times.

And yet, the predictive order of finish remains an interesting preseason snapshot of how a large swath of media members view the conference. Here are 10 noteworthy takeaways.

1. An indictment of Steve Sarkisian?

Most agree that Texas has the best roster in the SEC, and perhaps the best nationally. Yet the Longhorns were not the favorite to win the league despite the star-power of Arch Manning, Colin Simmons, Rasheem Biles and Cam Coleman. This is an indictment of Sark, who is 0-3 against Georgia since Texas joined the SEC. The Longhorns were the preseason No. 1 team in the country last season, only to lose to a bad Florida team and needed to survive one-score thrillers against Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. This reeks of a “we’ve got to see it before we believe it” vote.

2. There’s a lot of confidence in the Pete Golding + Trinidad Chambliss pairing at Ole Miss

The Rebels were picked No. 3 in the league, ahead of Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama. Golding won a pair of playoff games, but he’s entering his first full season as a head coach. Chambliss is among the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites and was named QB1 for the All-SEC Team. At minimum, the voters are implying they don’t believe Lane Kiffin was the principal reason for the Rebels’ recent success. Still, No. 3 in the SEC is higher than where the Rebels land in advanced metrics among other SEC teams (5th in FEI, 7th in FPI and 7th in SP+).

3. The Kalen DeBoer skepticism is real

It’s wild to see Alabama picked 6th in the SEC, and there’s hardly a peep of controversy about it. The Tide made the CFP a year ago, but getting bullied by Georgia in the SEC title game and then curb-stomped by Indiana several weeks later clearly impacted how the masses view DeBoer’s program entering 2026. The guy has won a lot of important football games, though. This ain’t NICK SABAN’S CRIMSON TIDE, but I think Alabama is fully capable of making it to Atlanta. The metrics agree, but most other media voters do not.

4. In Elko We Trust

Writ large, the SEC’s media does not seem concerned with Texas A&M’s losses on its roster (top wideout KC Concepcion and pass rusher Cashius Howell) or coaching staff (OC Collin Klein is now the HC at Kansas State). A season removed from going 11-1 and hosting a home playoff game, Texas A&M finished No. 4 in the SEC. To me, this is a statement of faith that the program will have staying power under Mike Elko, who has quickly established a strong culture in College Station. The Aggies haven’t had consecutive 10-win seasons in three decades, so is this the year?

5. All eyes on the Bayou Bengals

Again, it’s a media poll full of bias and potential spite, so wherever Lane Kiffin’s program landed was going to be interesting. How many Ole Miss or Tennessee voters “penalized” LSU a spot or two — which resulted in a narrow vote with the Rebels and Aggies for the No. 3 spot? Or are folks fairly reticent about rubber-stamping a program that’s had wild swings the last few seasons + is incorporating a whole new coaching staff and 60-some new faces? Sam Leavitt’s health status was clarified, which perhaps buoyed some votes for the Bayou Bengals.

6. The wrong CFP sleeper?

Just last week, I wrote a piece How to Spot a College Football Sleeper, and landed on Tennessee. The Vols were picked 8th in the media poll, and so the bones of my column remain strong. But in the framework of the rest of the league’s predicted order of finish, the SEC’s true preseason CFP sleeper is Oklahoma, which was picked 7th by the media. That is definitely lower than I expected, particularly since John Mateer is healthy and the offensive line should be improved. Whether the Sooners can run the ball remains in question. Still, that front-seven is going to put opposing offenses through the wood-chipper and OU is positioned to make another playoff run this fall.

7. The Jon Sumrall Q-rating keeps going up, and with it, faith in Florida

Florida came in 9th in the poll, ahead of the likes of Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, and still, Sumrall was among the stars of SEC Media Days. The phone podium joke got too much oxygen, yet most of what Sumrall said (and the energy he delivered it with) had plenty of people buying in on the Gators. Sumrall definitely inherited a talented team, and while there’s a lack of clarity at the QB position, voters clearly believe he can do more with this roster than Billy Napier (A reminder: UF went 4-8 a year ago despite beating Texas).

8. No Diego Pavia = same old Vanderbilt?

That’s sure what this poll suggests. A year after a historic 10-3 season, the Commodores were picked 11th in the league. Life without Diego Pavia was always going to be a challenge, but this portends a major regression. Clark Lea is still Vandy’s head coach, and the Las Cruces mafia of Jerry Kill and Tim Beck remain on staff. The ‘Dores are set to start 5-star true freshman Jared Curtis at quarterback. I have more faith that Lea will keep Vandy semi-competitive (they always play great special teams and their offensive system is a tricky prep) — though I understand the vacuum that Pavia left behind.

9. The Will Stein endorsement will have to wait

Are the Wildcats truly the 14th-best team in the SEC? UK’s first-year head coach doesn’t believe that, and he’s on record that he’s the guy to take the program to uncharted territory. Many think that’s true ... just not in 2026. Former Notre Dame backup quarterback Kenny Minchey is a total wild card, and Jay Bateman hasn’t been a play-calling DC since 2021. UK’s schedule is also brutal, with the ‘Cats potentially favored in just one P4 game (vs. Vandy) all season.

10. So South Carolina is not a stealth turnaround team?

If you check social media, you’d think the Gamecocks were among the buzziest offseason teams, among media and fans alike. But looky there, social media isn’t real life, huh. Shane Beamer’s team was picked 11th, closely edging out Auburn. I’m on record that Beamer has a cloudy future in Columbia, and while you’d never know it if you just read my X replies, I’m not the only one.

Shane Beamer's South Carolina Future Is Almost Certainly Going to End Badly

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:33:22 GMT

Shane Beamer has some real “love it or hate it” quirks.

He’s polarizing. South Carolina’s head coach has a personality that isn’t for everyone. I find Beamer wholesomely corny, but he means well. If you’re into rah-rah energy and bad dad jokes, he’s just the coach for you.

But it’s more than fair to wonder if Beamer’s act is wearing thin at South Carolina following another seesaw season, including eight losses in their final 10 games?

Beamer is set to enter Year 6 in Columbia. Only Kirby Smart, who has more SEC Championships (4) than Beamer has winning seasons (3), has been tenured longer among SEC coaches. Since taking over the program in 2021, Beamer has called South Carolina his “dream job” and despite a disastrous 2025 season, he didn’t chase the golden parachute that was the Virginia Tech opening.

And make no mistake, last year was a nightmare.

On the heels of a surprising 9-4 season in 2024, where the Gamecocks were in the playoff mix with ranked wins over Texas A&M, Missouri and Clemson, South Carolina handed Beamer an unnecessary raise and extension.

Shane Beamer was a fine SEC head coach, but no school was pining to poach him. Yet South Carolina tacked on a few years and bumped his salary north of $8 million annually — this for a head coach who’s won more than eight games exactly once. So with the hype at full-tilt, the Gamecocks entered last fall ranked in the Top 15 and were considered a dark-horse playoff contender. They brought back quarterback LaNorris Sellers and star pass rusher Dylan Stewart. Speed demon wideout Nyck Harbor was finally ready to break out.

Then the games started.

South Carolina ended September with a blowout win over Kentucky. It wouldn’t beat another Power 4 team the rest of the season.

The nadir was a 31-30 loss at No. 3 Texas A&M. Up 30-0 going into halftime against a Top 5 team on the road, Beamer peacocked his way to the locker room — mind you, the Gamecocks had lost six of their last seven games — only for South Carolina to completely implode in the second half to hand the Aggies a historic comeback.

At 3-7, it was surprising to some that South Carolina didn’t fire Beamer the next day — particularly since AD Jeremiah Donati did not hire Shane Beamer.

But they didn’t, and now Beamer is on his fourth offensive coordinator, this time with Kendal Briles. And while the Gamecocks paid real money to retain Sellers and Stewart + rebuild a horrible OL with eight transfers, South Carolina employs a head coach who every outlet on the internet has near the top of their hot seat rankings.

“I’ve said it in 2020, and I’ll say it today: There’s no ceiling on the football program here at South Carolina, and there never will be,” Beamer said at SEC Media Days last week.

“We had high expectations going into last season, and we fell woefully short, and that’s on me, but we have high expectations going into this season, too.”

Beamer can’t say anything else but that, and yet, he knows history is not on his side. South Carolina has one conference championship ever — winning the ACC in 1969. The Gamecocks have never had a head coach voluntarily leave for a better job. You coach at South Carolina to get fired.

Beamer acknowledged this ruthless reality back in 2024 during the Netflix’s SEC documentary series. After the Gamecocks started the season 2-3, he spoke openly to his wife that he could lose his job. Only South Carolina had a crazy ‘Cocktober and eventually won seven straight.

So is Shane Beamer’s South Carolina coaching tenure cooked no matter what happens this fall?

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer.Butch Dill-Imagn Images

Conceivably, South Carolina *could* recapture its 2024 Sandstorm magic. Maybe they do bounce-back big and “surprise people.” This is an even-numbered year (17-9 combined in 2022 and 2024 vs. 9-15 in 2023 and 2025), after all. David Pollack is among several analysts — and I respect his opinion quite a bit — pushing such narratives.

“They got DUDES,” Pollack said recently.

If you buy into the idea that Beamer-Ball will go on a run in 2026, some positive signs are there.

The Gamecocks do rank 5th nationally in returning production. Sellers is among the most talented (under-developed, but great raw upside) quarterbacks in the league. Stewart is a potential Top 10 pick. There are other really good, less heralded players, too, like corner Vicari Swain and transfer wideout Nitro Tuggle. The offensive line can’t be worse, and if tackle Jarcarrius Peak (bad offseason knee injury) is able to play, the unit might actually be decent. The Gamecocks have paid elsewhere to beef up the roster along the defensive line and tailback, as well. I’m not the biggest Kendal Briles believer, but he’s absolutely an upgrade over Mike Shula, who hadn’t been a primary play-caller for years before last season.

The best-case scenario is Sellers takes a Year 3 leap, the line is passable, and the Gamecocks steal a game or two to go 8-4. That’s the best-case scenario, though.

South Carolina’s preseason win total sits at 6.5 for a reason.

The “turnaround” narrative feels more like wish-casting than a certainty — particularly considering the volatility of Beamer’s tenure.

Much of this same “game-changing talent” won a single SEC game a year ago. Sellers, Stewart and Harbor — and Beamer himself — have been defined by their maddening inconsistencies.

South Carolina’s schedule, come October, is a gauntlet again, too. The reality is Beamer needs to start 4-1 to have any hope of seeing Christmas in Columbia. The Gamecocks host Tennessee, Texas A&M and Georgia in the back-half of the year, with trips to Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Clemson sandwiched between. They also play at Alabama to end September, a team they’ve blown fourth-quarter leads against in 2024 and 2025.

No one expects South Carolina to contend for a playoff spot this fall. But even getting to bowl eligibility is a coin-flip. The Gamecocks were picked to finish 11th in the SEC. Media polls only mean so much, but it still frames how many see their season going.

The Gamecocks would owe Beamer around $22 million in buyout funds, but considering LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn and Kentucky all had openings this past offseason, South Carolina stands as the only SEC job available next cycle.

Ultimately, you have to really squint to see a way Beamer coaches his way off the hot seat. Whether South Carolina bounces back in 2026, history — both the school’s and Beamer’s — suggests the job won’t be his much longer no matter what.

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How to Spot a CFP Sleeper Team (and the Top 2026 candidate)

Jesse Simonton — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:04:14 GMT

We’re deep into #TalkinSZN, which means fans and media alike are busy dissecting their favorite teams, storylines and fall matchups. We’ve spent months arguing whether Notre Dame, Texas or Ohio State should start the year at No. 1, so as the 2026 season inches closer, everyone’s favorite exercise is to pinpoint the top darkhorse candidates this year.

The “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” sleeper teams.

They won’t win the national championship. But what if they crash the playoff? What if they upset their way to a conference title game?

WHO ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT ENOUGH?!

I’ve been doing this a while, and though there’s not an *exact* formula to determine such candidates, I can spot a prime cut sleeper team with the best of them.

Here’s what it takes:

A fringe Top 25 team

A history of recent success … but last season was a “down-year”

A coach who is well-liked but not considered “elite”

A tantalizing quarterback battle that features former blue-chip recruits with all potential, no résumé

A OL with lots of continuity and returning starters

A collection of standout skill-talent

A key offseason “upgrade” on the coaching staff

A favorable schedule that includes lots of marquee home games

A collection of media pundits hyping up said team

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the 2026 Tennessee Vols.

A Top-25 team but not a team considered among the Top 10 ✅

Tennessee is ranked anywhere from 20-25 in most preseason polls. The Vols are a fixture at No. 8 in more than half a dozen SEC power rankings, which points to the league’s depth this fall.

A history of recent success … but last season was a “down-year” ✅

The Vols were a disappointing 8-5 in 2025, stumbling out of playoff contention by Halloween. They lost to Vandy and Illinois to end the year, and finished with zero wins over teams with a winning record.

A coach who is well-liked but not considered “elite” ✅

Josh Heupel never offers up anything interesting, but he doesn’t say anything stupid, either. He’s navigated UT out of the NCAA’s crosshairs and has been the program’s most successful coach since Phillip Fulmer.

A tantalizing quarterback battle featuring former blue-chip recruits with all potential, no résumé ✅

Faizon Brandon vs. George MacIntyre. Two former Top-50 prospects. If Josh Heupel can lead the SEC in scoring with Joey Aguilar at QB, what sort of fireworks can he produce with Brandon — the most likely starter — engineering an offense that already produces 40-point games with regularity?

A OL with lots of continuity and returning starters ✅

Tennessee returns four starters up front, including former 5-star David Sanders at left tackle.

A collection of standout skill-talent ✅

DeSean Bishop is a 1,000-yard rusher, while Braylon Stayley was one of the SEC’s top breakout receivers last season. Mikey Matthews, a former 5-star recruit, had 800 receiving yards, too. Folks in Knoxville are also excited about true freshman Tristen Keys.

A newsy offseason “upgrade” on the coaching staff ✅

Heupel fired longtime DC Tim Banks after the Vols tanked from 6th in SP+ to 63rd last year. He made a splashy (and expensive) hire in former Ohio State/Penn State DC Jim Knowles, who brought several former players with him to town. Typically, Knowles’ hyper-aggressive defense takes a season or two to marinate. Whether he can make the instant impact many UT fans expect remains this team’s biggest question mark outside quarterback.

A schedule that includes several marquee home games ✅

The Vols get Texas, Auburn, Alabama and LSU all at Neyland Stadium. Outside of a trip to Texas A&M, their SEC road games are at Arkansas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Pretty much every other team in the league would sign up for that road slate. The home schedule is stacked, but it also includes several spotlight upset opportunities (e.g. winning the Third Saturday in October, or dousing Lane Kiffin with more mustard and golf balls).

A collection of media pundits hyping up said team ✅

Just this week, On3’s JD Pickell told Paul Finebaum — both friends of Surrender Cobra — that Tennessee is “a bunch of hippos” — meaning they’re “unassuming” but they’re a team that’s “dangerous and going to sneak up on you if you don’t take them seriously.” Fox Sports radio host Aaron Torres dubbed the Vols a team “people are sleeping on this year.” Several SEC Network analysts have the Vols among their playoff contenders.

So there you have it. Your Grade-A sleeper team resides on Rocky Top.

Are there other quality darkhorse candidates? Undoubtedly.

Florida. Virginia Tech. Even USC checks a lot of boxes.

But Tennessee checks all my boxes.

The Vols have enough question marks to merit concern about their ceiling. Still, they have the right cocktail of talent, schedule and buzz to be a real sleeper team. Now we wait. If Tennessee shocks Texas in Week 4, then the Vols will go from offseason sleeper to SEC Team du jour. With haste.

Clemson is cooked as a championship contender

Jesse Simonton — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:13:39 GMT

Dabo Swinney is one of four active coaches with a national championship to his name. Two in fact. The Pentecostal, Bama-bred ~~preacher~~ Clemson head coach will someday retire with a Mount Rushmore-esque legacy — a man who turned a second-class ACC program into a national powerhouse for more than a decade thanks to a unique philosophical approach to roster construction, elite QB play and a staff of loyal, local lieutenants.

But Coughlin’s Law exists for a reason.Fairy-tale endings are a myth. Typically, “things end badly, otherwise it would’t end.”

Clemson has lost at least four games for three straight seasons — something the program hadn’t done since 2009-2011. The Tigers have just one playoff appearance since 2019, and they’ve gone 15-9 against ACC foes since 2023. They’ve never recruited at an elite, elite level (Again: credit to Swinney for squeezing the most out of Clemson’s talent), but they’re barely inked Top 25 classes in the last two cycles.

So as Swinney enters Year 18, Clemson is at a crossroads. The program looks cooked as a championship contender, and yet, Swinney continues to insist the sun will shine brightly in the future.

“What I do know is that we’re taking Clemson back to the top. That’s right, ‘TCBTTT,’” Swinney told On3’s Chris Low last month.

“When I got hired (in 2009) and I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to win the national championship,’ everybody laughed at me. I’m sure they’re laughing now. But, again, it ain’t about what everybody says about you. It ain’t about what ESPN thinketh. It ain’t about what Paul Finebaum sayeth. It’s about what you see. A lot of people have always seen me as a (D-plus), but it’s about what we see. It’s about how we think.

“That’s the only thing that ever matters.”

Swinney’s latest motivational acronym might fit on a T-shirt, but it doesn’t change a Tiger’s stripes. Clemson looks a lot more like “lil ol’ Clemson” than it does CLEMSON.

Swinney, who oscillates between overly optimistic and defiantly defensive, dubbed last year’s team capable of going 16-0, and then they had their worst season since 2010.

The offense ranked 11th in the ACC in scoring. The defense was shredded by any passing attacks with a pulse (120th nationally). Now nine NFL Draft picks, including three Top-50 defensive pieces, are gone, and a roster that was already top-heavy is dealing with a total reset.

The Tigers did ink 11 transfers this offseason — a record under Swinney — and recruiting is ticking back upward for the 2027 class, but none of that guarantees future titles.

There are at least seven new starters on offense, including at quarterback where the Tigers are set to roll with Christopher Vizzina, a fourth-year junior who never push ed the inconsistent Cade Klubnik, or true freshman Tait Reynolds. Swinney also is bringing the band back together by replacing Garrett Riley with Chad Morris at offensive coordinator. While Morris is credited with jumpstarting Clemson’s offensive renaissance back in 2011, he hasn’t had success as a play-caller since 2017. Tom Allen’s defense does have star end Will Heldt and linebacker duo Sammy Brown and Kobe McCloud, but the rest of the defense looks heavily reliant on a bunch of newcomers (9 of the 11 transfers were on defense) from the portal.

ESPN’s SP+ metrics see Clemson as a fringe Top 25 team, averaging just short of eight wins this fall. That would place them right back in a crowded middle of the ACC.

Is that “TCBTTT?”

Whenever these Clemson debates spark up, they’re often accompanied by a litany of defensive quotes from Swinney reciting his resume. No one leans on his past plaudits like Dabo. The Tigers’ prior success should be acknowledged when peering toward the future, but the sport has dramatically changed, and Swinney, at best, has been resistant, and at worst, outright indignant, to accept such adaptations.

In the era of free-flowing transfers, NIL and an expanded playoff, Clemson has started the season in the Top 15 (the Top 9 two times) three times in the last three seasons. The Tigers have finished unranked twice and just inside the Top 25 once. This offseason’s blast-from-the-past decision to rehire Morris (who has been a high school head coach more recently than a play-calling OC) doesn’t assuage concerns that Swinney refuses to embrace progress, either.

The rub in all this is Dabo Swinney is just 56 years old and has no plans of “going to the beach” anytime soon.

He’d be owed more than $57 million — all guaranteed — if he were fired at season’s end. Clemson has a new school president, but the athletic director has long had Swinney’s backing. But if Swinney keeps preaching that the past predicts promising future results, then Clemson’s faith will be tested if the Tigers sputter again this fall.

They open at LSU, and have one of the tougher ACC schedules (albeit with plenty of home games) with dates against Cal, Virginia Tech, Miami, Florida State and Georgia Tech, among others. The season finale is again versus South Carolina. 2016 Clemson could cruise to 11-1 or 12-0 against such a slate.

2026 Clemson might be fortunate to win 7-8 games.

Again, is that “TCBTTT?”

Certainly not if you’re Tyler from Spartanburg.

So how long will the Tigers allow Swinney to keep pushing the Gospel of Dabo if the results don’t meet the message of “taking Clemson back to the top?”

The trickiest part about Dabo Swinney’s future is what happens if Clemson does sour on the Swinney marriage. Just last offseason, marquee jobs like Florida, Michigan, LSU, Auburn and Penn State all opened, and not a single fan base or administration showed any interest in giving Swinney a fresh start elsewhere. Swinney’s brand “fits” at very few schools, and unless Baylor opens up next year, there’s no obvious spot for Dabo to take his show on the road and spark a revival elsewhere.

All we know right now is that Dabo Swinney has no plans to hang up the whistle anytime soon. Whether that’s his call or not just might depend on what happens with Clemson this fall.

“Hell no. I mean, I’m just getting going,” Swinney told Low in that same interview.

“I’m right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I’m just getting going, man. I love a challenge, and again, all we’ve done is win. Sometimes, people want me to be like this guy or that guy, and I’m like, ‘What’s that guy done? How many championships has that guy won?’ I’ve got 11 championships. The next closest is Kirby, who’s got six. …

“But you don’t hear that from inside Clemson. People are happy here, and we ain’t close to being finished.”

We sure about that?

If Swinney’s latest evangelizing doesn’t become gospel, then there’s guaranteed to be more Tylers from Spartanburg making noise all across South Carolina this holiday season.

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Can Anyone Catch Miami in the ACC? Start With SMU

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:02:22 GMT

Miami has never won the ACC Championship, but more than two decades after joining the conference, the Canes look like the class of the league after playing in the national title game a year ago. The ACC Media Days start later this week, so let’s survey the coast-to-coast conference that makes absolutely no sense geographically but suddenly has a clear pecking order.

Mario Cristobal has re-established Miami’s recruiting prowess, building the best roster in the league before poaching Duke duo Darian Mensah (a potential Top 5 quarterback nationally) and Cooper Barkate (a 1,000-yard receiver). The Canes are explosive at tailback (led by Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown), wideout, edge (Marquise Lightfoot + Mizzou transfer Damon Wilson form an excellent 1-2 punch) and in the secondary (four returning starters including corner Bryan Fitzgerald, who had six picks as a freshman).

So can anyone in the ACC stop the Canes in 2026?

Probably not, but this is a watered-down league with still-broken tiebreaker rules that resulted in a five-loss Duke being crowned ACC Champions just last fall. The ACC stands to be deeper this year, but that assumption hinges on the potential turnarounds at Virginia Tech, Florida State and Syracuse. Cal is a wild card with the “Is he awesome or just wild?” Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at quarterback, while former league-power Clemson has lost nine ACC games in the last three seasons — more than Dabo Swinney’s program lost in the prior 11 seasons COMBINED. Then the rest of the league (like Pitt, Georgia Tech, Duke, NC State and North Carolina) are all projected to go 6-6.

So can anyone push Miami this fall? It might depend on the winner of a Week 3 matchup in the Commonwealth.

Both Louisville and SMU have the right concoction of good coach, solid rosters and friendly schedules (neither play Miami or Clemson in the regular season) to seriously compete for a spot in Charlotte. They both beat a (now we know) very strong Miami team last season, too.

The Cards bring back dynamic tailback Isaac Brown, who was limited to just 101 carries in 2025 but averaged a league-best 8.75 per rush, as well as backup Keyjuan Brown, who had 704 yards at 7.3 yards per carry. Jeff Brohm is looking to pair the law firm of Brown & Brown with Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholtz, hoping to give Louisville a more balanced attack. The Cards brought in a monster portal class (38 transfers), but Kienholtz is the key to Louisville unlocking that next step as a program. Louisville has the pieces elsewhere (edge Clev Lubin is an All-ACC performer, the interior OL was boosted by a couple of veteran transfers), but that was a similar case a year ago and the Cards went 4-4 in ACC play after Brohm whiffed on the QB market (Miller Moss was a dud).

In 2026, Brohm better be right on Kienholtz’s upside and talent — particularly since the Buckeyes’ transfer has thrown just 36 passes in three seasons in Columbus. While optimism is high around the transfer QB, last offseason’s “fierce battle” with Julian Sayin is carrying a lot of weight for Kienholtz’s national perception as a bona-fide GUY — despite a near-total lack of game tape.

That’s why SMU, despite playing Louisville in ~~The House that Papa John’s built~~ L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, might be the team best positioned to challenge Miami this fall.

Rhett Lashlee has his guy at quarterback. Kevin Jennings is back as a third-year starter, and he’s fully healthy again after battling nagging injuries throughout 2025. Pairing Jennings’s development as a passer — he was Top 10 nationally in passing yards last season — with his QB-run ability should make the Mustangs more dynamic offensively. This was already a unit that ranked Top 25 nationally in yards per play. The Mustangs also return one of the top OL units in the ACC, and while the receiver corps has been remade, it has a nice mixture of youth, upside and experience.

Defensively, SMU was way too inconsistent in 2025 — with game-changing blunders in one-score losses to Baylor, Wake Forest and Cal. Still, the unit’s overall metrics were good (Top 25 nationally) and their linebacking corps, led by Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore, returns intact. The rest of the defense, though, including the co-coordinators, features all new faces. The secondary and defensive line have been replenished via the portal, and the Mustangs are banking on some recent strong high school classes to supplement the depth chart. Notably, SMU also shored up one of its major weaknesses from 2025: placekicking. The Mustangs were last in the ACC in field goal percentage (62%), missing a league-high nine kicks. So they nabbed FCS All-American Nick Reed out of New Hampshire.

On paper, SMU and Louisville are fairly even, but in terms of who can challenge Miami, the edge goes to the Mustangs. They have the proven horsepower at QB in Jennings, and they’ve been the much more consistent ACC program (14-2 vs. 9-7) the last two years. Lashlee has been an unheralded portal whisperer, too. If guys like Cal tailback Kendrick Raphael and Texas A&M corner Jayvon Thomas hit, then SMU could legitimately be a playoff team for the second time in three seasons.

The gap between Miami and SMU still looks wide, but what do we really know as we sit here in early July? Who had FSU upsetting Alabama and then going 2-6 in ACC play just last season? No one picked Duke to lose to Tulane and UConn and still win the league. So maybe SMU can truly threaten the Canes’ supposed new supremacy atop the ACC.

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Hard to find? Deion Sanders has his swagger back but Colorado is running out of time to prove it matters

Jesse Simonton — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:01:03 GMT

Deion Sanders was back in the spotlight this week, holding court at Big 12 Media Days.

Sanders was happier. Healthier. And full of that classic Primetime bravado again.

“I’ve got that thing back,” Sanders told reporters in Frisco, Texas.

“I’ve got that dawg back. I got that charisma back.”

But is Colorado still a program that “ain’t hard to find?” Can Sanders get the Buffs back to relevancy again this fall?

A year ago, Sanders was 15-20 pounds lighter, battling bladder cancer in advance of Colorado’s miserable 3-9 year. He missed most of the offseason and the start of training camp, taking the Buffs’ head coach away from a team that was already dealing with replacing quarterback Sheddeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter.

Then Colorado lost seven of its final eight games, rolling out an offense that was highly inefficient (103rd in SP+) and a defense glued together with papier-mâché pieces (nation’s second-worst rush defense). Transfer Kaidon Salter was not the answer at quarterback, and freshman Julian Lewis was thrown to the wolves when the season was already over.

In a flash, the Buffs were no longer college football’s media darlings. Or even an interesting story. They were just a run-of-the-mill bad team. Poorly coached. Not overly talented. Colorado finished 1-8 in Big 12 play, and there was real wonder whether Sanders would retire amid all his health issues.

But he didn’t, and the most famous cornerback in football history says he’s ready to press his luck again on another reboot in Boulder.

It’s the offseason, where every team is 0-0, so optimism is akin to the Florida heat: It’s ever-present.

After a disastrous Year 3, Sanders changed both coordinators, including bringing in Brennan Marion and his Go-Go offense as a way to potentially mitigate Colorado’s ongoing OL issues. Some 66 new faces are on the roster, with key transfers like Bowling Green linebacker Gideon Lampron (123 tackles, 18.5 TFLs), James Madison corner Justin Eaglin (five INTs) in to help prop up a defense. Colorado also took a flyer on former Tennessee standout linebacker Boo Carter, who was dismissed from the program. Offensively, the Buffs added three linemen with serious starting experience, as well as wideouts Miami (OH)’s Cam Perry (22.7 yards per catch on 43 receptions) and San Jose State’s Danny Scudero (88 catches, 10 touchdowns).

Meanwhile, Lewis, a former blue-chip prospect who just turned 18, is set to be the team’s full-time starter.

You don’t have to squint to see the pieces are there for potential improvement for the Buffs — especially considering Marion’s just-add-water track record of bettering offenses wherever he goes. The OL (38 sacks allowed) and run defense (5.25 yards per carry allowed) will be hard-pressed to be worse. Notably, Sanders has traded in his “Louis luggage” for less flashy Samsonite — opting for production over potential out of the transfer portal. Instead of chasing former top recruits who flamed out at Power Conference programs, Colorado prioritized high-floor, lower ceiling starters at the G6 and FCS level (some 24 transfers from that bunch). The Buffs stand to start 11 new players on defense — and that’s probably not a bad thing.

Still, this much change is another massive makeover for a program that’s already had multiple facelifts in a short amount of time.

In three seasons under Sanders, Colorado has gone from a woebegone program with a storied history, to the story of college football to start the 2023 season after upsets over TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State. Then the team dropped seven of eight to deflate CU’s mile-high balloon. But a year later, Sanders’ “we told you we coming” bravado was backed up by a 9-win season and a Heisman Trophy winner. The seesaw swung back wildly last fall though, as the Buffs were back as a Big 12 cellar-dweller.

So will 2026 be the final act of the circus run, or will Sanders prove to be the star of the show long-term in Boulder?

Lewis (and the partnership with Marion) looks like the key to unlocking Colorado’s potential this fall. But while Sanders has his swagger back, folks outside the program aren’t as optimistic about CU’s future. This is still a team that was picked to finish 15th (i.e., next-to-last) in the Big 12 this fall. Zero players were named to any preseason all-conference teams.

So while Sanders said, “We have the team to win,” another soundbite from his media session Tuesday is probably more apt for Colorado’s staying power (and Sanders’ luster) as a relevant program moving forward: “We better win. That’s going to be the surprise. That’s the surprise. We better win. We’re going to win. I love what I got. I love what I see.”

Well, if Coach Prime’s team doesn’t deliver, then he and the Buffs will be “hard to find” because no one will be paying attention anymore.

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Texas has no more excuses in 2026

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:04:11 GMT

We’ve reached peak college football summer list szn, with outlets everywhere releasing their top coaches, quarterbacks and other positional rankings.

It’s no surprise, but these lists are tinged with burnt orange.

According to ESPN, Texas has the sport’s third-best future. Its present is bright, too.

How about for 2026:

A Tier 1A quarterback (Arch Manning)

Two Top 10 running backs (Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown)

Two Top 10 wide receivers (Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo)

Two Top 10 defenders (DE Colin Simmons and LB Rasheed Biles)

ESPN hasn’t released its offensive line rankings yet, but assuredly, left tackle Trevor Goosby, who allowed just a single sack in 2025, will be ranked somewhere in the Top 5 as well.

No outlet is going so granular as to rank special teams players, but if they did, Ryan Niblett (a popular preseason All-American pick) would rank as the nation’s top punt returner.

So to recap: No other team comes close to matching Texas’ high-end talent in 2026 — at least on paper.

Oregon has the quarterback (Dante Moore), wideouts (Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart) and blue-chip defenders (DT A’Mauri Washington and CB Brandon Finney Jr.) but not the tailbacks.

Notre Dame lacks the elite wideouts and running backs, while Ohio State must reload on defense after seeing three players selected in the Top 11 picks of April’s NFL Draft.

So the Longhorns are primed to win the SEC and *really* compete for a national title in 2026, right?

They better be.

Texas was the preseason No. 1-ranked team a year ago, but even with one of the most expensive rosters in the country, the Longhorns flopped out of playoff contention by mid-November.

They played Ohio State valiantly in the opener, but lost to a bad Florida team and needed second-half rallies to beat the likes of Kentucky and Mississippi State. By season’s end, Steve Sarkisian’s program wasn’t even the best team in the Longhorn State in 2025 (hello, Texas Tech) — much less the best team in the country.

Arch Manning found his footing — literally, his legs were key to his second-half renaissance — late in the fall, but his first season as a starter still included more growing pains than anticipated. The supporting cast around Manning didn’t do him many favors, either.

Texas was once again maddening in the red zone (10th in the SEC). It struggled to run the ball consistently (just 4.1 yards per carry), and a receiver room stacked with former 4-and 5-star talent lacked a contested-catch artist. The Longhorns’ defense finished with respectable production, but against SEC offenses with a pulse, they wilted in the spotlight (UF, Vandy, UGA and Arkansas all averaged over 5.6 yards per play).

While the collapses at Penn State and Clemson overshadowed Texas’ disappointing season, missing the 12-team playoff with that roster was not the season the folks on Forty Acres expected (or paid for).

Steve Sarkisian has wins over No. 3 Alabama, No. 10 Michigan and two playoff teams (Clemson and Arizona State), but to date, the biggest victory on his Texas ledger is convincing college football’s royal family to send their latest heir to Austin instead of Alabama or Georgia.

It’s time for that recruiting win to pay real dividends.

Texas will always have a bright future because it’s Texas, so while the 2026 season won’t be some Cortés burn the boats campaign, the Longhorns are going to look a lot different in 2027.

Sarkisian made waves recently when he said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Arch Manning returned to school again next season. I’m skeptical that happens, but let’s say that is true. You know who won’t be back at Texas next fall?

Cam Coleman. Trevor Goosby. Colin Simmons. Rasheed Biles. Countless others.

And you could add Steve Sarkisian to that list if 2026 goes south.

Sarkisian isn’t on any hot seat, but he knows there’s genuine pressure to deliver real results — particularly considering the resources he’s been handed.

How do we know this?

Because Texas’ head coach has made moves this offseason that he’s never made before.

For years, Sarkisian emphasized staff continuity, but in a bold move, he fired longtime defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and lured Will Muschamp out of semi-retirement. Muschamp, the former Longhorns head-coach-in-waiting, is reportedly the highest-paid DC in the country — this despite not serving as a primary coordinator since 2015. Texas then poached Georgia Tech DC Blake Gideon (who was previously on staff with the Longhorns) back to Forty Acres to serve as one of Muschamp’s top assistants.

The Longhorns also attacked the transfer portal with the type of vigor we haven’t seen under Sark. Texas inked 23 transfers — a record in Sark’s six seasons. Coleman, Smothers and Biles were among the headliners, but guys like Bo Mascoe (former Rutgers corner), Dylan Sikorski (former Oregon State guard) and Melvin Siani (former Wake Forest tackle) were key additions, too.

The pieces are all in place. The schedule provides a runway for a fast start (one game outside the state of Texas until November). The talent is undeniable. Sark is banking on Muschamp elevating Texas’ defense from good to elite. Manning’s late-season surge — 15 total touchdowns to just one interception over the final five games — suggests the quarterback mostly figured it out. Now the question is whether the program around him has, too.

So will 2026 be a coronation — for Sarkisian, for Manning, for a program that’s continually done less with more?

Again, it better be.

Texas has run out of reasons not to win big this season — and if the Longhorns don’t in 2026, Sarkisian may run out of time.

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The Brendan Sorsby Ruling Is Indefensible. Stop Whatabouting It.

Jesse Simonton — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:07:35 GMT

Brendan Sorsby committed the cardinal sin of sports.

The Texas Tech quarterback bet on his own team (while at Indiana). He was later caught. And on Monday, a Texas county judge granted Sorsby an injunction against the NCAA that will allow the transfer to play in the 2026 season — for now.

Initially, the decision was almost universally loathed.

Americans can’t agree on anything, yet folks of all creeds, races and politics united in their objection to a truly Rubicon-crossing ruling. Sorsby is the first major American athlete to admit to gambling on his own team, and then still be allowed to play.

That he used “mental health problems” as a crutch for his actions was gross. A judge then ruling that no punishment was required because Sorsby’s actions made him sad was galling.

Yet here we are.

This whole deal is black and white, though.

The veracity of Sorsby’s mental health condition doesn’t have to be in question here. It can be real, serious and discussed as part of how to help others with gambling addictions.

But until Monday, betting on your own team was the ultimate no-no.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a backup. A starter. In the NFL, NBA or college football. It’s posted inside every locker room. Pete Rose is dead and still isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Players at Iowa and Iowa State recently lost their careers over this very same issue.

For all the fear-mongering and hysteria around the changes in college sports, gambling was where the slippery slope stopped.

Until Monday.

The integrity of the games has to matter. It’s the foundation of what real sports are about. The games. Real competition. Undetermined outcomes.

If that equation changes, then nothing else matters.

And yet, as Monday unfolded, that near 99 percent approval rating against the judge’s decision (minus Texas Tech fans) slowly morphed into an echo chamber of moral whataboutism from folks decrying the errors of the NCAA’s past.

These are just a handful of many examples.

What happened at Baylor, Michigan State, Penn State and elsewhere is deplorable. The fact that the NCAA intentionally mismanaged (or totally looked away) those situations was a disgrace. Just as with Sorsby, many administrators, coaches and players skirted deserved punishment. It was wrong then, and it remains horrible today.

But those situations — as well as Georgia’s ridiculous reckless driving issues or other teams’ various arrests elsewhere around the country — were actual crimes.

We don’t have to create an unnecessary gray in this situation.

Sorsby committed the ultimate sports crime.

The NCAA has turned a blind eye to plenty — player compensation, unionization, and far worse. But none of that makes the Sorsby fallout less ridiculous. Sure, the NCAA may be reaping what its sown here, but Monday’s latest court defeat matters. Significantly.

No one is rooting for the NCAA. Everyone understands the toothless, corrupt organization is nothing more than four letters now. But as cringy as it might be for some to admit, the NCAA actually had a leg to stand on for once … and a judge still said, “Nope.”

The one obvious path forward to correct such an absurd decision is for the sport to finally embrace collective bargaining. So let’s save all the hand-wringing for how to get there. Let’s skip all the moral whatabout examples over the NCAA’s latest nadir.

It’s rather simple: A collectively bargained sport agreement would establish actual enforceable rules — ones that could also include eligibility, tampering, contracts, etc. — with real penalties and consequences no county judge could wave away.

Let’s focus on how we get to that.

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Forget college football's endless offseason doom-scroll. Why I can't wait for September

Jesse Simonton — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:18:33 GMT

Between Super League threats, SEC teasing secession (not the first time!), 12-, 16- and 24-team playoff debates, Congressional hearings, lawsuits, media rights fights, conference commissioner spats and more, college football’s offseason has been dominated by an endless doom-scroll of industry news.

The sport’s future will be determined by all that, and it’s all important, but it’s not what makes college football fun.

College football is the best because of its wackiness and absurdity. It’s never made any sense. College football bathes in identity, tribalism and schadenfreude! It’s great because of upsets, fat guy touchdowns and silly sideline celebrations.

While the powers that be try to make the sport more like the NFL, college football’s anthropological experiment is the fabric of what makes it unique.

That’s what “~~Christmas~~ College football is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Two seasons ago, James Franklin was a drive away from taking Penn State to the national championship. Now he’s coaching at Virginia Tech … replacing his former DC Brent Pry with the Nittany Lions, who then boomeranged back to Blacksburg to serve as Franklin’s DC for the Hokies after being fired last September. Talk about absurd.

So as we turn the calendar to early June, the offseason endgame is near. Screw all the other nonsense for now. Let’s turn the page to the 2026 season.

What am I excited about?

How about 75(ish) Teams. Players. Games. Coaches. Schemes. Storylines. More.

I’m excited to … Find out what Act III of the Indiana show looks like? After a come-up season in 2024, the Hoosiers had the perfect team (JMU transfers + impact transfers + No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza at QB) to run the table last season. Is Curt Cignetti truly the greatest portal whisperer. He will be if he gets similar results from Josh Hoover at quarterback.

I’m excited to … See if Arch Manning makes a Year 2 leap. The back-half of 2025 was really promising. Toughness and arm talent aren’t a question, and his dual-threat talent is real. But is his processing better? Will Texas stopping dropping passes!? With some major portal pieces (Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers) to boost his supporting cast, this season has all the making of Manning becoming the true undisputed QB1 he was billed to be four years ago.

I’m excited to … Watch Notre Dame do a delicate dance with a preseason Top 5 ranking but a schedule that is a rich puff pastry (9 cupcakes + 3 actual contenders) where a 10-2 record again in 2026 could have the Irish outside of the playoff for the second year in a row.

I’m excited to … Witness the Year 1 circus at LSU with Lane Kiffin. When (not if!) will the folks from Baton Rouge sour on the act? Has it already happened? No, but it would behoove Kiffin to not come out the gate slowly in 2026 (Sept. games against Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas A&M).

I’m excited to … Find out what does a James Franklin Revenge Tour SZN even look like? Fresh off $75 million anonymous donation to Virginia Tech athletics, Franklin is flush with “Eff you” money in restart with the Hokies. But can Va. Tech be competitive in the ACC in Year 1? Is quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer one of the biggest (all upside, minimal experience) wild cards of the 2026 season?

I’m excited to … Find out how crazy the coaching carousel spins in 2026. Florida State, Wisconsin and Baylor are solid bets to be open, but what about North Carolina (Bill Belichick Retirement Tour?), South Carolina or even USC? The real galaxy-brained possibility: What if Will Muschamp is positioned to be this year’s Bobby Petrino? It’s not going to happen, but say Texas stumbles badly in the first month of the season with losses to Ohio State, at Tennessee and Red River vs. Oklahoma. Could Longhorns boosters push Sark out in favor of Boom? Only in college football.

I’m excited to … Watch Ohio State navigate its hardest schedule in at least two decades. The Buckeyes have road games at Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC. Marquee home games include Oregon and Michigan. It’s a gauntlet that could produce three losses for a legitimately good team — or it could produce the kind of résumé that makes the Buckeyes an undeniable No. 1 seed come the playoff. How will Buckeyes fans handle it?

I’m excited to … See if Dan Lanning can win a game he’s not supposed to. The Ducks keep hitting their head on the ceiling, but this might be the year — Dante Moore back at QB + great WR corps + stacked front-seven — all the pieces finally come together. The Ducks’ front-seven should maul teams. But can they beat a Top 5 opponent when it matters most: Deep in the playoffs?

I’m excited to … See if Miami can produce a Top 10 offense with Darian Mensah at quarterback, Mark Fletcher and CharMar Brown at tailback and Malachi Toney, Van Jacobs, Joshua Moore and Cooper Barkate at wideout. Mario Cristobal erased a lot of doubts last season, but now he has to do it again — just with a different team. The Canes’ schedule is mostly chalk, but a stacked offense is going to need to carry the load while a Miami defense — still talented but green — adjusts to key losses at all three levels (Bain, Mesidor, Toure and Scott).

I’m excited to …Finally put an end to the Lincoln Riley-USC debate. Either he wins big in 2026, and he’s there for the future, or he gags after an offseason of talking a big game and the Trojans are in the market for a new head coach.

I’m excited to … See how Georgia utilizes the deepest TE room in the country. With Lawson Luckie, Elyis Williams, Ethan Barbour, Jaden Reddell and Kaiden Prothro all vying for snaps, can we please see some 14 personnel formations.

I’m excited to … Find out how Texas Tech handles its quarterback situation with the Brendan Sorsby era likely over before it even started. Forget about health for a minute, is Will Hammond really good enough to lead the Red Raiders on a deep playoff run?

I’m excited to … See some quarterbacks whose shine isn’t quite what it used to be: Will John Mateer look like 2024 John Mateer? Can Colin Klein fix Avery Johnson? Will the real LaNorris Sellers please stand up? Was Aidan Chiles just a major tease? Is DJ Lagway broken forever? All these quarterbacks were on preseason Heisman Trophy lists this time last year. Now? Question marks abound, for every one of them.

I’m excited to … Learn something from Cole Cubelic. Watch Sean McDonough lose his shit. See how Charles Davis sounds calling games on CBS. Sip coffee on Saturday mornings and watch how many kids can drill a life-changing field goal on Pat McAfee’s dime. And unlike some, I’m also going to miss the dulcet tones of Gary Danielson.

I’m excited to … Find out if Missouri will continue to be the SEC’s Switzerland, or if the Tigers’ days riding the middle are over? Can Eli Drinkwitz unlock transfer quarterback Austin Simmons and field a Top 50 offense for just the second time (2023) since before COVID? Will Charles Huff parlay Memphis’ talent and resources into a P4 job (say Maryland????) for a fourth move in four years? Does Deion Sanders have any of his “Louis luggage” hidden away at Colorado, or are the Buffs destined to roam in the wilderness again after a brief respite in 2024?

I’m excited to … Watch lots of games, but especially geeked to dive in to Week 2, Week 7, Week 10, and always, Rivalry Weekend. For individual, marquee matchups: The 10 games that look the spiciest are Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12), LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19), Miami at Notre Dame (Nov. 7), Houston at Texas Tech (Sept. 19), BYU at Utah (Nov. 7), Oklahoma at Michigan (Sept. 12), Texas at Texas A&M (Nov. 27), Oregon at Ohio State (Nov. 7), Ohio State at Indiana (Oct. 17), Georgia at Alabama (Oct. 10).

I’m (less) excited to … Watch North Carolina and TCU play a rematch in Ireland. Why do we have to keep scheduling these Week 0 games across the pond? I’m not thrilled about a lackluster Week 1 slate, either. I’m less excited to be totally confused come Week 3 on what teams are in the Pac-12 now? Who left the Sun Belt again? I do know that New Mexico is still in the Mountain West because Jason Eck, quarterback Jack Lane and the Lobos from Albuquerque were my team in NCAA 26.

And yet, mostly …

I’m excited to … Find out which blue-chip freshmen have the biggest impact on the 2026 season? I have my eyes on USC tight end Mark Bowman, Ohio State wideout Chris Henry Jr., Michigan tailback Savion Hiter, LSU edge Lamar Brown, Alabama tailback Ezavier Crowell, Miami tackle Jackson Cantwell and Georgia guard Zykie Helton.

I’m excited to … Witness Dabo Swinney promising a “second coming” at Clemson, only for the Tigers to slide further into the pack of the ACC. Perhaps Swinney proves doubters wrong again. But if Clemson went 7-6 with nine NFL Draft picks (including a multi-year starter at QB) last season, what are the Tigers going to do with a less talented roster and a newcomer behind center?

I’m excited to … See how offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner deploys tailback Jaden Baugh as the focal point of Florida’s offense. If Faulkner can get 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns from Jamal Haynes, what can he do with one of the most underrated tailbacks in the country?

I’m excited to … Find out if Iowa State can win 9+ games in the Big Ten. But really, Matt Campbell’s Year 1 at Penn State looks ripe for a quick start with a very manageable schedule. Can Alabama can actually run the ball with any efficiency? Has Texas finally solved its red zone woes, or is it still Steve Sarkisian’s biggest bugaboo?

I’m excited to … Learn whether Michigan’s Bryce Underwood is truly a fighter pilot QB or just a JAG? Year 1 did not provide a ton of optimism. But was it the situation (poor offensive scheme, a head coach clearly distracted and a lack of perimeter playmakers), or is Underwood more of an idea than an actual complete QB (think Anthony Richardson, with even less tape so far).

I’m excited to … See which true freshman quarterback makes the most of his opportunity? Will it be Vandy’s Jared Curtis or Tennessee’s Faizon Brandon? Will 5-star Keisean Henderson be too good to keep off the field at Houston?

I’m excited to … Watch North Dakota State run roughshod on the Mountain West in its first season in FBS football, only for stupid NCAA bylaws denying the former FCS power of postseason eligibility for two more years.

I’m excited to … Discover if what’s in the water at James Madison travels West. Curt Cignetti proved it flows to Bloomington, so what’s in store for Bob Chesney at UCLA? The early returns on the recruiting trail have certainly been quite promising, though the Bruins’ current roster still lags behind most in the Big Ten. At least we think so. Chesney brought in 45 transfers this year, with another 20 high school commits. It’s a totally new team.

I’m excited to … See Cam Coleman unleashed at Texas. Nick Marsh play in a good offense at Indiana. Makahi Hughes reunite with Willie Fritz at Houston. Koi Perich surrounded by other good defenders at Oregon. Oh, and whatever Will Stein is doing at Kentucky. It’s at least interesting. I’m excited to watch Notre Dame’s secondary suffocate passing offenses. Kamari Moulton single handedly carry Iowa’s offense. Also, Trinidad Chambliss continue his best Johnny Manziel impersonation (on the field only).

I’m excited to … Find out if Josh Heupel still has the Midas touch and can get competitive production from a first-year starter at QB (be it freshman Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre), or if can’t, what does that mean for the Vols in 2026? Gulp.

I’m excited to … Watch which former AAC head coach catches his first big SEC skin. Will it be Auburn’s Alex Golesh vs. Florida’s Jon Sumrall in Week 3? What about Ryan Silverfield and Arkansas in early October vs. Tennessee?

I’m excited to … See if Pete Golding is really the guy as head coach, or if we’re looking at a Peter principle deal here.

I’m excited to … Find out how competitive North Texas (Eric Morris + star QB/RB duo Drew Mestermaker and Caleb Hawkins + 17 other transfers now at Oklahoma State) is in the Big 12 this fall.

I’m excited to …Watch Notre Dame tailback Aneyas Williams, Georgia defensive tackle Elijah Griffin, USC tailback King Miller, Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles and Texas Tech end Trey White all become household names by season’s end.

I’m excited to … Bask in it. All of it. The sleepy nooners. The 3:30 kickoffs. Even some Tuesday night MACtion (who’s in that conference again, though?).

While the sport keeps changing off the field, the reason we still watch, debate and love the thing remains as good as ever. I’ll take it.

Help us, Greg Sankey. You're our only hope.

Jesse Simonton — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:14:09 GMT

Greg Sankey is no hero.

The SEC’s Commissioner is among the chief principals who led us into college football’s current crossroads.

A checklist of transgressions has brought to this moment: Nonstop conference expansion. Refusing to pay the players until forced to do so, and then creating a system with no structure or enforceable guidelines. Bloated coaching contracts. A 4-team playoff that reduced every season to a binary conclusion — you’re in, or your season was meaningless. Endless lawsuits over eligibility. College football is now set to test the theory that it’s too big to fail.

So unadulterated greed, for bigger media rights deals, more playoff spots and $50 million rosters, has created a financial canyon of haves and have-nots where the solution isn’t to adequately reckon the sins of the past, but to justify all the changes by praying for a bit more $$$ from the CFB Gods with an expanded playoff.

Again.

In the last month, commissioners from the ACC and Big 12 have suddenly moved to the dark side in favor of the Big Ten’s push for a 24-team playoff. Naturally, FOX wants in on the playoff inventory. Notre Dame is firmly in the ‘YES’ camp for expansion to 24, too.

Which is why it is wholly ironic that Greg Sankey, a man at the center of many of the root issues in the sport, may be the only guy to save the rebellion.

We’ve come to the moment where the average college football fan is Princess Leia sending a hologram to Greg Sankey to, “Help us.”

Is Greg Sankey our only hope?

On Tuesday, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti offered up some rare public comments at the league’s spring meetings in California, drawing a line in the sand on playoff expansion.

Either the Big Ten gets what it wants: A 24-team field with split media rights.

Or we stay at 12.

“There’s a deep commitment to 24,” Petitti said.

“If we have to wait, it’s OK. We’ll wait.”

What was that, James Earl Jones?

In an atypical move, Petitti spent more than an hour with national reporters in a PR blitz, stumping for his 24-team playoff in the most tone-deaf fashion imaginable. He claimed the bloated playoff wouldn’t devalue the regular season. No, quite the opposite!

“When I was at Major League Baseball, we never had to convince anybody that keeping more teams in the race is better for everybody and the fans, like we never had to do that,” Petitti said.

“I feel like in this space, like we’re kind of being asked to do that. It’s almost counterintuitive. I think that more teams alive as late as possible is a fundamental way that I thought about it when we’re changing the playoff schedule.”

Comparing MLB, which I love as a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan, to college football is proof-positive that those in charge don’t really like college football. Or at minimum, they sure as hell don’t understand why most everyone else does.

One of the Big Ten’s key talking points Tuesday was that 80 teams would have made the 24-team field during the CFP era (starting in 2014), and buddy, let me say that is not the flex they think it is.

Tony Petitti is willing to sully the sport’s top rivalry — THE GAME, Ohio State vs. Michigan — because he values extra inventory (“Hey look at how important 8-4 Iowa versus 7-5 Minnesota is now!”) over the actual stakes of individual marquee games.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines will always care about The Game no matter the CFP format, but no one with a straight-face can pretend that the game would carry nearly the weight of the past in a 24-team format.