After an interesting week 0 slate that saw the ACC succeed and the Mountain West disappoint, it is time for the real action in week 1. Bill Belichick and North Carolina avenged their loss to TCU in Dublin by the score of 15-12, Virginia dominated NC State 34-8 Florida State struggled past New Mexico State 34-17 and Stanford avoided the upset against Hawai’i, 37-27.
The headliner of week 0 was Memphis’ defeat of UNLV 27-21 behind a tremendous pass-rush and new head coach Charles Huff. The Tigers could be in position to make their first ever College Football Playoff appearance but there is still a lot of season left, and the Rebels and head coach Dan Mullen must think about that as they continue their season.
As we move to week 1, the entire country begins to play games. First, on Thursday night a new-look Georgia Tech team heads to Boulder to face Deion Sanders’ Colorado team. Then on Friday night, reigning national runner-up Miami will head to Palo Alto to face Stanford. Once Saturday comes, new head coach Alex Golesh and Auburn will attempt to defeat Baylor in Atlanta while the Lane Kiffin era will begin against Clemson amid all of the craziness in Baton Rouge with NFL players allegedly returning to play for the Tigers.
On Sunday, Notre Dame faces Wisconsin in Green Bay and Ole Miss plays against Louisville in Nashville. The Fighting Irish want to bounce back after barely missing the College Football Playoff in December and they will have a chance to do that when they begin against the Badgers. Pete Golding will begin his tenure in the regular season as head coach of the Rebels against a tough Cardinal team. Finally, on Monday, SMU will open ACC play at Florida State, who must be better against the Mustangs if they want to move to 2-0.
AP Top 5 No. 1 Ohio State This week: Ball State (Sept. 5, 11:30 a.m., BTN) No. 2 Oregon This week: Boise State (Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m., BTN) No. 3 Georgia This week: Tennessee State (Sept. 5, 2 p.m., SECN+) No. 4 Notre Dame This week: Wisconsin (Green Bay; Shamrock Series) (Sept 6., 6:30 p.m., NBC) No. 5 Texas This week: Texas State (Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Week 1 Slate:
*All game times are at central standard time*
Thursday, Sept. 3 Colorado at Georgia Tech 7 p.m., ESPN Colorado will face off versus Georgia Tech on the road in Atlanta in a big ACC/Big 12 matchup. On Thursday, the Yellow Jackets will attempt to defeat the Buffaloes for the second consecutive season at 7 p.m. on ESPN with Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Chase Daniel (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline reporter) on the call.
Colorado struggled to a 3-9 season that included only one win. To open the 2025 season, the Buffaloes lost to Georgia Tech by a touchdown and will look to avenge that loss on Thursday night. On the other hand, Georgia Tech is coming off a season where they won nine games overall and six in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets lost veteran quarterback Haynes King to the NFL and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and King’s backup Aaron Philo to Florida.
Colorado’s offense must be solved by ex-Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion, creator of the Go-Go attack, who takes over as coordinator of the unit for Sanders’ team. The Buffaloes’ Julian Lewis earned the starting job behind center and he will be throwing the ball to returners Joseph Williams, Zach Atkins, San Jose State transfer Danny Scudero, Texas transfer DeAndre Moore Jr., Miami (OH) Kam Perry and Alabama transfer Joseph Williams. There are a lot of question marks for new Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jason Semite’s secondary following the losses of their starters at corner and at safety. Transfers Jaylen Mbakwe and Jonas Duclona while returners Tae Harris and Fenix Felton will fill the safety roles and defend against Colorado’s loaded receiving core.
Damian Henderson II and Richard Young will stand by Lewis behind center and split carries. Yellow Jacket linebackers Kyle Efford, EJ Lightsey and defensive tackle Amontrae Bradford will be in charge of shutting down Henderson and Young from getting through and around their defense and down the field for touchdowns.
Georgia Tech’s new offensive coordinator is their former quarterback and veteran NFL assistant George Godsey. Replacing King at quarterback will not be easy but Indiana transfer Alberta Mendoza will get the role after spending last season backing up his brother Fernando. The focus of the unit will be more on running the football and controlling the ball with tailback Justice Haynes, who has previously spent time at Alabama and Michigan. Mendoza will likely rely on the only returning weapon on his offense, receiver Ethan Mackenny, who is back for his junior season.
Colorado’s new defensive coordinator is Chris Marve, who served in the same role at Virginia Tech, will hope his unit can shut down the new-look Yellow Jackets offense after a complete overhaul in Boulder to his unit. Tulane transfer defensive tackle Santana Hopper and Texas transfer linebacker Liona Leafu will lead the front six against the Haynes and Georgia Tech ground attack.
In the secondary, Tennessee transfer defensive back Boo Carter and Notre Dame defensive back transfer Cree Thomas will be in charge of guarding the GTU receivers and keeping Julian Lewis from having a big night in Atlanta.
After a 27-20 Georgia Tech win in Boulder to open the 2025 season, Colorado wants to avenge their loss and get a victory in Atlanta to start the 2026 campaign. With new-look staffs and rosters on both sides, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Mendoza and Lewis will battle it out but the Yellow Jackets will outscore the Buffaloes in a low-scoring game.
Projected Score: Georgia Tech 20, Colorado 17
Friday, Sept. 4 No. 7 Miami at Stanford (1-0) 8 p.m., ESPN After falling in the national championship game last January, Miami opens the season against ACC opponent Stanford on the road. The Hurricanes and Cardinal will face off at 8 p.m. on ESPN on Friday with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Dana Boyle (sideline reporter) on the call.
Miami won 10 games during the regular season but a five-team tiebreaker kept them out of the ACC Championship game. The Hurricanes were able to make the College Football Playoff team as the last at-large but to really put fans on notice this season, Mario Cristobal’s team needs to win the conference and claim a top four seed in the playoff.
After defeating Hawaii in week 0, Stanford will look to continue by defeating last season’s national runner-up to begin ACC play. It will not be easy, but at least pre-season AP top 10 ranked team has lost during week 1 the last few seasons and this could be that upset.
Darian Mensah is expected to be in the Heisman race as he attempts to lead Miami back to the College Football Playoff and a national championship this time. Mensah will get to throw to his Duke teammate Cooper Barkate, the talented Malachi Toney and hand it off to running back Mark Fletcher. Toney and Fletcher return alongside left tackle Matthew McCoy and they will look to dominate Stanford in their 2026 opener. Cardinal linebackers Gabe Kaminski (1.5 sacks) and Matt Rose (nine tackles) will attempt to build on their performances in the victory over Hawaii last Saturday.
Davis Warren completed 22-of-34 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown against the Rainbow Warriors. Warren will want to get his passes into the end zone more with his favorite target in week 0, Jonanthony Hall, who caught two passes for 81 yards. The Hurricanes return both of their cornerbacks from last season, Romanas Frederique Jr. and Xavier Lucas, so it will be tough for Warren, Hall and the Stanford passing game to succeed at a high level.
On the other hand, Cardinal tailback Micah Ford carried the ball 25 times for 99 yards and three scores. If Ford wants to remain the focal point of their offense, he will have to run through returners Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott, who lead the Miami line at the tackle spots alongside former Missouri end Damon Wilson II.
Cristobal’s Miami team is known for losing games to teams that they should not lose to but they can prove that is not true with a strong performance against Stanford. If the Hurricane offensive line gives Mensah time to throw to his receivers and Fletcher to run and their defensive line can get to Warren, forcing errant throws and getting sacks, UM can prove they are a national title threat again this season in a dominant victory.
Projected Score: Miami 35, Stanford 10
Saturday, Sept. 5 Baylor vs. Auburn (Atlanta; Aflac Kickoff Game) 2:30 p.m., ABC Baylor and Auburn will meet in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game on Saturday afternoon. The Bears and Tigers will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on ABC with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) on the call.
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda begins a do-or-die season for his tenure. The pressure is on Aranda to deliver after a 5-7 season and it starts on Saturday afternoon against Auburn. The Tigers, who matched the Bears’ record at 5-7, will attempt to defeat Aranda’s team for the second consecutive season to open their 2026 slate.
Former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway will look to get a going at his father’s alma mater when he starts versus Auburn behind center. In addition, the Bears also replace their top four receivers, tight end, running back and four of five offensive linemen. Lagway will get to throw the football to receivers Louis Brown IV, Dre’lon Miller, Jadon Porter and tight end Matthew Klopfenstein. He will hand the ball to tailback Dawson Pendergrast, who missed most of last season with a foot injury.
DJ Durkin’s defense will rely on All-SEC linebacker Xavier Atkins to stop Lagway and the Baylor offense. Safeties Eric Winters, Sylvester Smith and AnQuon Fegans all return to the Tigers this season and they will be vital against Lagway’s passing attack. Durkin’s front, led by transfers Cody Sigler, Da’Shawn Womack and Nate Johnson will assist Atkins in shutting down Pendergrast and the BU rushing game.
Golesh’s offense is full of former South Florida Bulls, namely his quarterback Byrum Brown, center Cole Best and wide receivers Chas Nimrod, Keshaun Singleton and Jeremiah Koger. Brown will be tough to stop, especially because he has put up 3,000 passing yards in 2023 and 2025 but it will get more difficult as he enters the SEC and plays against schools like Baylor. Leading rusher Jeremiah Cobb will be the featured back next to Brown and he will be backed up by former Bear back Bryson Washington, who faces his former school in the opener.
Baylor defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman takes over play-call duties from head coach Aranda and stopping an offense with Brown behind center and Cobb alongside him will not be easy. The Bears will hope that Indiana transfer Hosea Wheeler, Marshall transfer Jamaal Whyce Jr. and returner Devonte Tezino can get to Brown and sack him. Cornerback LeVar Thornton Jr. Devin Turner and Jacob Turner will help stop pass catchers Nimrod, Singleton and Koger from catching passes down the field from Brown.
With Auburn’s and Baylor’s programs going in opposite directions, the Tigers should open the Golesh era with a win, despite a solid effort from Lagway and the Bear offense. Auburn will take care of Baylor in Atlanta by 10 points.
Projected Score: Auburn 24, Baylor 14
Clemson at No. 11 LSU 6:30 p.m., ABC Clemson will attempt to avenge their season-opening loss to LSU from last season, this time in Baton Rouge. ESPN’s College Gameday will be in town in the morning for before Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut against Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team face off. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. on NBC with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call.
After returning almost everybody from an ACC Championship team a season ago, expectations were high for Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team. However, the Tigers started the season 3-5 and they limped to a 7-6 finish, Swinney’s worst record since 2010. As Clemson begins the 2026 season, they will walk into a hornet’s nest in Baton Rouge as the Kiffin era begins. After much of the news has been focused on NFL players returning to play for the Tigers, the focus must be on the field for LSU as they return to the field.
Swinney rehired Chad Morris as his offensive coordinator this off-season. His new starting quarterback will be Christopher Vizzina, who spent time as Cade Klubnik’s backup. Gideon Davidson and SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr. step in at running back next to Vizzina. Linebacker Whit Weeks and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss, should be guys you see get in the backfield to shut down Vizzina, Davidson and Johnson.
If Vizzina can avoid Weeks and Umanmielen in the pocket, he can get the ball to returning wide receivers, Bryant Wesco Jr., TJ Moore and tight end Olsen Patt-Henry, who all returned to the Tigers for their third collegiate season. Cornerback DJ Pickett, who should be the heir apparent to Mansoor Delane, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the NFL Draft, will lead the secondary alongside safety Tamarcus Cooley against the Tigers’ group of offensive weapons.
Kiffin’s quarterback Sam Leavitt stepped into his and Charlie Weiss’ offense for the first time as he continues to deal with effects from getting foot surgery from an injury he suffered while he was still at Arizona State last season. Leavitt should succeed in Weiss’ scheme with Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton protecting him at left tackle and with Florida transfer wide receiver Eugene Wilson III and returning tight end Trey’Dez Green to throw to. On the other hand, the Tiger ground game must improve with returners Harlem Berry and Caden Durham splitting time at running back.
Clemson will have a difficult offense to defend against on Saturday night. Seven transfers, including former Penn State corner Elliott Washington II, former Colorado end London Merritt, former Southern Miss safety Corey Myrick and former Old Dominion safety Jerome Carter III join three returning starters. End Will Heldt, middle linebacker Sammy Brown and corner Ashton Hampton will lead the Tigers against Kiffin’s attack that will lean on their passing game, especially the Leavitt to Wilson and Green down the field. If LSU can be successful, that should open up the ground game but Tom Allen’s defense must be able to stop it because if they can’t they could drop the season opener in back-to-back seasons to the Bayou Bengals.
LSU and Clemson should go back-and-forth to begin the game in the first half, but it will be the LSU defense that shuts down Vizzina and Morris’ offense. Leavitt will lead the LSU offense to success in the second half and the Kiffin era will begin on a high note amid the NFL craziness going on in Baton Rouge.
Projected Score: LSU 27, Clemson 17
Sunday, Sept. 6 No. 6 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Green Bay; Shamrock Series) 6:30 p.m., NBC After barely missing out on the College Football Playoff in 2025, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame will want this season to start off with a bang as they open up with Wisconsin in Green Bay. The Fighting Irish square off with the Badgers on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on NBC with Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst) and Caroline Pineda (sideline reporter) on the call.
After a 10-2 record was not enough to continue their season to the playoff, Freeman’s team must focus on starting well so they do not have a repeat of last December. The Fighting Irish have a strong roster back and it should be enough to defeat Wisconsin. The Badgers’ 4-8 overall record that only included two wins in the Big Ten must improve for Luke Fickell to continue building his program in Madison. The new-look roster for Wisconsin will have an uphill battle against Notre Dame but they must start the season strong if they want to contend in the Big Ten.
Without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in the backfield, all eyes will be on Heisman hopeful quarterback CJ Carr. All three of Carr’s starting receivers, Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse and Micah Gilbert were on the roster last season so the Fighting Irish’s passing offense should be even better than it was a season ago. Wisconsin senior strong safety Matthew Jung will lead the Badger secondary against Notre Dame’s strong aerial attack.
Junior Aneyas Williams and freshman Nolan James Jr. will do the impossible job of replacing Love and Price at tailback. The good news for Williams and James is that they will get to run behind an offensive line with returning starters Ashton Craig, left guard Anthonie Knapp and right tackle Guerby Lambert. Wisconsin inside linebacker duo, Cooper Cataland and Mason Posa, two sophomores, will want to shut down the Fighting Irish rushing game to prevent Williams and James from setting up the passing game for Carr.
The Notre Dame defense has eight starters returning for coordinator Chris Ash’s second season in charge. On the line, tackle end Boubacar Traore, tackle Jason Diye and inside linebacker Drayk Bowen will attempt to get in the backfield and tackle running backs Abu Sama III and Darrion Dupree.
The Fighting Irish return one of the best secondaries in the country and that is because safeties Adon Shuler, Brauntae Johnson and nickleback Christian Gray are all back for Ash’s defense for another season. Shuler, Johnson and Gray will look to shut down the Badger passing game, led by Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph, who will want to get the ball to receivers Chris Brooks Jr., Jaylon Domingeaux, Tyrell Henry and tight end Emmett Bork.
Following the Notre Dame game, the schedule breaks favorably for Wisconsin. But even if the Fighting Irish don’t play their best game, the Badgers are not going to win this game, even if it is not in South Bend. Notre Dame may start slow but they will dominate Wisconsin in the second half to move to 1-0.
Projected Score: Notre Dame 35, Wisconsin 14
No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville (Nashville; Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff Game) 6:30 p.m., ABC Ole Miss takes on Louisville in a major ACC/SEC battle in Nashville’s inaugural Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff Game. The Rebels will take on the Cardinals at 6:30 p.m. on ABC with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline reporter) on the call.
Ole Miss’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinals was entertaining but can they continue it under head coach Pete Golding in his first regular season game and beyond? The Rebels won a program-record 13 games in 2025 and are capable of reaching similar heights this season. Louisville went 9-4 and won four games in the ACC in 2025. The Cardinals are capable of making the playoff under head coach Jeff Brohm, who enters his fourth season as head coach.
Trinidad Chambliss has been ranked by many as the top quarterback in college football entering the season but many believe that is because he played in Charlie Weiss’ offense. Chambliss’ tailback Kewan Lacy also succeeded in Weiss’ offense a season ago and the tandem led Ole Miss to their best season in program history. In John David Baker’s offense, Chambliss, Lacy and a new group of receivers have to prove they can succeed at the same or a similar level against a Louisville defense that they cannot overlook.
All-ACC selection Clev Lubin and North Carolina transfer Tyler Thompson will be important on the edges of the Louisville defensive line against Chambliss and Lacy. Linebackers TJ Capers, Stanquan Clark and Anton Watts will assist Lubin and Thompson up front against the Rebel ground attack and help cornerback Tayon Holloway against Chambliss, who will be throwing the football to an almost all new receiving core.
Despite Kiffin’s exit, Golding was able to retain five players that started on his defense during the 2025 season. Both corners, Jaylon Braxton and Antonio Kite return. Ohio State transfer Lincoln Keinholz will start his first game for Louisville against Ole Miss. Keinholz had limited opportunities in Columbus but his athletic ability and arm should help Louisville get points, especially when he passes the ball to returners Treyshun Hurry, Lawayne McCoy and Vanderbilt transfer Tre Richardson, who shined catching passes from Diego Pavia last season.
Linebacker Suntarine Perkins, tackle Will Scholes and end Kam Franklin will lead a front that is coordinated by both Bryan Brown, Marcus Woodson with Golding’s fingerprints still all over it. Louisville running game. Cardinal running back Isaac Brown is one of the nation’s best so it will not be easy for Perkins, Scholes, Franklin and others to stop him from getting down the field.
The Ole Miss-Louisville game should go back and forth for much of the 60 minutes of regulation and maybe even go to overtime as the best matchup of week 1. The battle between the Chambliss/Lacy and Keinholz/Brown backfield should be phenomenal. But because Chambliss and Lacy have already been together for a season, the Rebels should have the edge over the Cardinals in Nashville.
Projected Score: Ole Miss 34, Louisville 27
Monday, Sept. 6 No. 19 SMU at Florida State (1-0) 6:30 p.m., ESPN An important ACC battle between nationally ranked SMU and Florida State will conclude week 1 of college football on Labor Day. The Mustangs collide with the Seminoles at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) on the call .
SMU had a strong 2025 season that included nine wins overall and six in the ACC. The Mustangs will have to play Florida State on the road but their roster, led by six returning starters, should be capable of going into Doak S. Campbell Stadium and getting a victory. Florida State, who opened the 2026 season last Saturday by defeating New Mexico State, must start ACC play on a high note with a win against SMU if they want their head coach, Mike Norvell, to remain in Tallahassee beyond this fall.
SMU returns Kevin Jennings at quarterback but not much else on its offense. Left tackle PJ Williams and right guard Addison Nichols are the only players that returns as starters next to Jennings so the new additions that will be playmakers for the Mustangs will have to step up, especially with expectations that they could make it to the ACC Championship game. Jennings options at receiver will be Jalen Cooper, Yamir Knight, who both step into a starting roles, and transfer Jalen Hale. Florida State linebacker Mike Gbayor, who led the Seminoles with one sack against New Mexico State last weekend, will hope for a similar performance against the Mustangs.
California transfer Kendrick Raphael and returner Dramekco Green form a solid duo at tailback for SMU behind an offensive line full of veterans. FSU defensive back Ashlynd Barker led his team in tackles against the Aggies with eight. If he can get similar production against Raphael and Green when they make plays and stop Jennings from getting the ball down the field to his receivers, the Seminoles can upset the Mustangs.
The SMU defense needs to be better after up and down play last season cost them a shot at the ACC Championship game and another College Football Playoff appearance. The strength of the unit should be returning linebackers Alexander Kilgore, Brandon Booker and Brandon Miyazono. If someone can step up on the pass rush, the Mustang front should be able to get to Florida State signal-caller Ashton Daniels, who went 17-for-27, threw one touchdown and one interception in the Seminoles’ victory against New Mexico State.
While the SMU front attempts to stop Seminole running back Ousmane Kromah from another fantastic performance, after carrying it 14 times for 115 yards and a score against the Aggies last Saturday, the Mustang defensive backs, led by returning corners William Nettles and Marcellus Barnes Jr., will look to stop Daniels from moving the ball down the field. A wide receiver has not emerged for the Seminoles yet this season and the Mustangs will look to keep it that way.
Tallahassee should be buzzing for a big Labor Day showdown for Florida State to open ACC play against nationally ranked SMU. If the Seminoles show up like they did last Saturday against New Mexico State, the Mustangs may make the necessary plays to easily move past them. Norvell has to have his team ready against SMU if they want to win this game. The Seminoles may start out the game well but the Mustangs will outlast the Seminoles and start 1-0.
University of Arkansas red-white spring scrimmage. Game was played at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville Arkansas. April 25, 2026 .Ted McClenning photographer.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas faces North Alabama for the first time in program history at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to begin the Ryan Silverfield era.
Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the Lions is set for 3:15 p.m. Saturday, September 5 on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline reporter) on the call. As Arkansas begins its 133rd football season, Ryan Silverfield begins his tenure in Fayetteville as the Razorbacks’ 34th head coach in program history. Next up is a trip to Salt Lake City for their first ever matchup against Utah on September 13.
Schedule: North Alabama at Arkansas – 3:15 p.m. – SEC Network
Tune In: Saturday afternoon’s matchup between Arkansas and North Alabama will stream on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline reporter) in the broadcast booth. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play), Quinn Grovey (analyst) and Geno Bell (sideline reporter) on the call from inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Notes: Ryan Silverfield, one of the nation’s winningest coaches over the last three seasons, was named the 35th head coach of the Razorbacks on Nov. 30, 2025. Silverfield arrives in Fayetteville after spending a decade at Memphis, where he led the Tigers to a 50-25 overall record as head coach from 2020-2025. In 2023 and 2024, his team won double-digit games and they reached bowl games in all six seasons as head coach.
QB KJ Jackson will lead the Arkansas offense into the 2026 season after winning the starting quarterback job in fall camp. The Montgomery, Ala., native appeared in five games last year and completed 33-of-54 passes (61.1%) for 441 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions). Jackson made the first start of his collegiate career in last season’s finale against Missouri where he completed 11-of-17 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also saw action against Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Texas A&M and Texas. He will become the first left-handed Razorback quarterback to start a season opener since Barry Lunney Jr. in 1995.
RB Sutton Smith, a transfer that followed Silverfield from Memphis, is expected to pace the Razorbacks’ rushing attack alongside Braylen Russell. The Marietta, Ga. native will attempt to build upon his breakout 2025 campaign, in which he carried the ball 102 times for 669 yards and seven touchdowns with the Tigers.
WR Chris Marshall, a Boise State Transfer, is expected to have a great season in the receiving game. The Missouri City, Texas, native is expected to be the Razorbacks’ top pass catcher after he had 30 receptions for 574 yards and two scores with the Broncos last year.
DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. enters the 2026 seasons on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award after leading Arkansas in both tackles for loss and (15.5) and sacks (8.0) last season. The North Little Rock native’s 15.5 tackles for loss, which was the third most among SEC defenders last year, were the most by an Arkansas defender in a season since DL Trey Flowers (15.5) in 2015.
Brent Dearmon, the North Alabama head coach, will lead the Lions into Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon. Dearmon’s career record as a head coach is 19-28 in five seasons and 9-27 as the head coach at UNA over four seasons. Dearmon’s team defeated Samford to open the season, 22-10, helping North Alabama to a 1-0 record entering their week 1 matchup against Arkansas.
QB Destin Wade, the signal-caller for North Alabama, played previously at two Power 4 institutions, first at Kentucky in 2023 and at Colorado in 2024. Wade redshirted for the Wildcats and led the practice squad. Then, the Spring Hill, Tenn. native saw action in one game for the Buffaloes against Arizona. Wade completed 13-of-19 passes of 229 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ victory against Samford last Saturday.
RB Jalen Fletcher is the top running back for North Alabama. After winning UAC Freshman of the Week three times, playing in all 12 games and starting one against Central Arkansas in 2024, Fletcher redshirted in sophomore season in 2025. Before deciding to redshirt, the Trinity, Ala. native rushed 20 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.8 yards a carry. He also had one reception for three yards. Fletcher carried the ball 11 times for 79 yards against Samford to open the 2026 season.
WR Xavier Johnson leads the Lions at wide receiver. Johnson began his career for Memphis, redshirting for Ryan Silverfield’s team a season ago before deciding to transfer to North Alabama. The Fort Worth, Texas native was a consensus three-star recruit who caught 58 passes for 1,349 yards and 15 touchdowns during his senior season at Richland High School. Johnson caught five passes for 129 yards and a score against Samford last weekend.
DL Cayden Adkins is a big part of the North Alabama defense on the line. Adkins began his college career at Georgia State in 2025 where he saw action in 11 games. The Elba, Ala. native recorded five tackles with one tackle for loss for Panthers. He transferred to North Alabama in the off-season. Adkins got five tackles and two sacks to lead the Lions defense against Samford.
The 2026 college football season is here with an interesting Week 0 slate that includes two Power 4 games, one in Dublin between North Carolina and TCU and another all ACC matchup between North Carolina State and Virginia in Charlottesville.
In addition, San José State goes to Memorial Coliseum to face USC, North Dakota State and Sacramento State make their FBS debuts against Jacksonville State and Eastern Michigan respectively and Hawai’i travels to Stanford to open the 2026 season how they did a year ago in 2025.
Florida State opens an important season against New Mexico State while Memphis will face off against UNLV in a game with huge College Football Playoff implications for non-automatic qualifier schools.
AP Top 5 No. 1 Ohio State 0-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Off No. 2 Oregon 0-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Off No. 3 Georgia 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Off No. 4 Notre Dame 0-0 Independents This week: Off No. 5 Texas 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Off
The Week 0 Slate:
*All game times are at central standard time*
Saturday, Aug. 29 North Carolina vs. TCU (Dublin; Aer Lingus College Football Classic) 11 a.m., ABC North Carolina meets TCU overseas in Dublin to kick off the 2026 college football season at 11 a.m. on ABC with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rogers (analyst) and Dana Boyle (sideline reporter) on the call.
The Tar Heels are attempting to bounce back from a 4-8 season where they won only 2 ACC games in Bill Belichick’s first season at the helm. After a crazy-offseason that included the hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and the paid leave of general manager Michael Lombardi. The Horned Frogs enjoyed a much better 2025 season, going 9-4 and finishing their season with an exciting 30-27 victory over USC.
The success of the UNC offense will depend on Wisconsin transfer quarterback Billy Edwards and their rebuilt offensive line. Edwards will have to rely on the team’s returning running back Demon June and wide receiver Jordan Shipp to get the ball down the field and score points against the TCU defense. After losing All-Big 12 safety Bud Clark and linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, their defensive line will be important against opposing offenses in 2026. Stud Zach Chapman, tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh and Markis Deal all return to lead the Horned Frog defense this season, starting against the Tar Heels.
Coordinator Steve Belichick’s defense is led by end Melkart About Jaoud, tackle Leroy Jackson and nickleback Kaleb Cost for North Carolina. They will face a brand new TCU offense, led by coordinator Gordon Sammis and Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig. Craig has come into replace Josh Hoover, and he will look to get the ball to receivers Jordan Dwyer, Terry Shelton, Ed Small and tight end Ka’Morreun Pimton against Cost and the Tar Heel secondary. About Joud, Jackson and the UNC front will be in charge of shutting down tailback Jeremy Payne.
Despite the newness of the TCU offense, North Carolina will not be able to overcome the Horned Frogs again in 2026. The Tar Heels will keep it closer than last fall’s matchup but it will not be enough. TCU will start the season 1-0 again.
Projected Score: TCU 35, North Carolina 17
San José State at No. 14 USC 2 p.m., NBC Nationally ranked USC welcomes instate foe San José State ahead of what should be an exciting season under head coach Lincoln Riley. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. on NBC with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call.
After three consecutive bowl wins, the Spartans won only three games in 2025. If things don’t get better in year three under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, it may not be good. Similarly, 2026 will be an important season for the Trojans and Riley. USC won nine games last fall but anything without a run to the College Football Playoff could mean that he will be fired at the end of the season.
There will be a relatively new look offense for San Jose State this season. Freshman quarterback Robert McDaniel steps in next to senior running back Jabari Bates. Four new starting receivers will catch passes from McDaniel including Malachi Riley, Tama Amisone and transfers Anthony Ivey and Jerry McClure. Former Horned Frog head coach Gary Patterson takes over as the Trojans’ defensive coordinator. Tackle Jide Abasiri and end Karmeryn Crawford are the two key cogs in a line room full of depth to stop the Spartans’ ground attack, led by Bates. Corner Marcelles Williams and safety Christian Pierce will be important in shutting down the passing game, where the Spartans’ four wide receiver look could be interest.
It will be tough for a San José State defense with many new starters to handle the USC offense returns eight starters, including its entire backfield, quarterback Jayden Maiava and tailback Waymond Jordan. In addition, Maiava gets to throw to Tanook Hines and he will get to play behind all five offensive linemen that return for 2026. End Justin Stearns will lead the Spartans defense against the high-scoring Trojan offense.
USC’s electric offense and rebuilt defense will be too much for San José State to handle. Maiava will lead the Trojan offense down the field for multiple scoring drives and Patterson’s defense will make enough stops to help them finish the Spartans off and start the season out with a victory.
Projected Score: USC 42, San José State 13
NC State at Virginia 2:30 p.m., ABC NC State will be in Charlottesville to face Virginia in a big-time ACC duel to begin the season. The Wolfpack and Cavaliers will begin at 2:30 p.m. on ABC with Wes Durham (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Madison Fitzpatrick (sideline reporter) on the call.
NC State has yet to make it out of the pack in the ACC, winning eight games overall and four in the ACC during Dave Doeren’s 13th season at the helm. The Wolfpack want 10-wins, an ACC championship and a College Football Playoff appearance and starting the season with a win against last season’s runner-up would be perfect way to start. The team that made the ACC Championship game last season, Virginia lost to Duke in that game but still won 11 games in 2025. It will be important for Tony Elliott’s team to continue to build off that foundation in his fifth season as head coach.
Former Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is a capable runner but he must improve as a passer if Virginia wants to return to the ACC Championship game in 2026. Pribula’s backfield is loaded with Tennessee transfer Peyton Lewis and Jekail Middlebrook headlining the group. Sophomore nose tackle Josiah Victor, linebackers Popo Aguirre and Da’Karri Nelson will be in charge of shutting the Cavalier running game. Nickleback Jackson Vick and strong safety Asaad Brown Jr. will lead the secondary against the receiving group of Rico Flores Jr., Dillon Newton-Short, Kameron Courtney and Dakota Twitty.
NC State quarterback CJ Bailey will rely on transfer wide receivers Davion Dozier and Joshisa Trader after losing all five contributors at the position last year. Returning cornerback Donavon Platt and safety Ethan Minter will attempt to shut down the Wolfpack passing game. Josh Scott will be the running back after replacing Hollywood Smothers, who transferred from the program in the off-season. Linebacker Kam Robinson is the leader of the Cavalier defense and with the help of tackles Jason Hammond and Anthony Britton, they will look to shut down Scott.
In what could be the best game of the day in week 0, NC State and Virginia will go back-and-forth for all 60 minutes, and a winner will not be decided until the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers will protect home field against the Wolfpack and begin the season on a high note.
Projected Score: Virginia 24, NC State 21
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State 4:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network Jacksonville State has traveled to face longtime FCS power North Dakota State for their FBS debut. The Gamecocks and Bison will face off at 4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst), Brian Kelly (analyst) and Jordan Giorgio (sideline reporter) on the call.
Jacksonville State fell in the Conference USA Championship game last season before defeating Troy in the Salute to Veteran’s Bowl. Second year head coach Charles Kelly and the Gamecocks are primed for another solid season and they will look to start it out with a victory over North Dakota State. The Bison went 12-1 in their final season in the FCS before losing to Illinois State in the second round of the playoff. Tim Polasek’s team has a chance to compete to win the Mountain West and they can start it off with a win over a quality Conference USA program, Jacksonville State.
The Gamecocks’ defense will have to shut down the new-look North Dakota State offense. Senior linebacker Walker O’Steen, junior defensive tackle Jawaun Campbell and sophomore linebacker Mac Sanders will look to stop the Bison ground game, headed by tailbacks DJ Scott and Myles Mitchell. Senior safety Caleb Nix will have the job of leading the young JSU secondary against new NDSU quarterback Nathan Hayes, who was the backup on last season’s team. Hayes will look to get the ball down the field to tight end Reis Kessel, after averaging 22.3 yards per catch last season and a new starting group of wide receivers.
On the other side, North Dakota State lost the leader of their defense, Nathaniel Staehling on the final day of the portal period to Michigan, weakening a strong group that still has juniors Donovan Woolen and Keith Williams. Woolen and Williams will get to deal with Jacksonville State’s dual-threat quarterback Caden Creel. Creel won’t have last season’s Conference USA MVP Cam Cook at running back anymore but that room has plenty of depth. Creel’s leading receiver from last season, Deondre Johnson will likely be his top option down the field in Saturday’s game.
North Dakota State will want to defend Fargo as they open their time as an FBS program but Jacksonville State will come in and make sure that does not happen. The Gamecocks will edge the Bison out in the fourth quarter with a successful two minute drill.
Projected Score: Jacksonville State 27, North Dakota State 24
Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan 5:30 p.m., ESPN+ Sacramento State will begin their time in FBS football in their MAC debut at Eastern Michigan. The Hornets and Eagles will match up at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN+ with Mick Tedrow (play-by-play) and Je’rod Cherry (analyst) on the call.
Sacramento State went 7-5 in their final season of FCS football, meaning that they failed to make the playoffs. The Hornets will have an uphill battle as they begin their stay in the MAC. Eastern Michigan will welcome SSU to the conference after a 4-8 2025 campaign. If the Eagles want to make the postseason, they have to start the season with a win and then move onto the rest of their schedule.
Sacramento State quarterback Carson Conklin is back after a season at Fresno State, where he is joined by running back Jamar Curtis. Eastern Michigan defensive end Carter Evans and linebacker Barry Manning will look to shut down the Hornet’s running game. The lone returning starting on the Hornet offense is Jordan Williams, who will likely be in direct contact of Eagle safety Bryce Llewellyn, the leader of the secondary.
The linebacking core is the strength of the Sacramento State defense and Derek Houston and Alex Rocha want to prove that against Eastern Michigan. Houston and Rocha want to make sure the Eagle ground game does not get going with transfers Braydon Bennett and Malachi James taking carries from returning signal-caller Noah Kim. The lone returning starter for the Hornet defense, however, is defensive tackle Xavier Williams, who will want to help Houston and Rocha shut down both the ground and passing attack from Kim to Nick Devereaux, Benson Prosper and Antonio Floyd, all of whom also return for another season.
Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State should play a close game for a half or three quarters but the Eagles should overwhelm the Hornets in the second half, who have first time head coach and have a roster built to be an FCS Independent at best.
Projected Score: Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 10
Hawai’i at Stanford 6 p.m., ACC Network Week 0 usual Hawai’i will be in northern California for a showdown with Stanford on Saturday night. The Rainbow Warriors will face the Cardinals at 6 p.m. on the ACC Network with Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst) and Kendra Douglas (sideline reporter) on the call.
Hawai’i has a chance to defeat Stanford for a second consecutive season after doing the same a season ago. The Rainbow Warriors’ win against the Cardinal was the first of nine, including a Hawai’i Bowl victory over California on Christmas Eve. On the other hand, Stanford wants to avoid another sluggish season, especially after winning only four contests in 2025. The Cardinal will have a tough game in week 1 against Miami but they will have to focus on Hawai’i if they want to open the season with a win.
Reigning Mountain West Freshman of Year Micah Alejado, who returns after he averaged 282.4 passing yards per game and completed 66% of his passes in head coach Timmy Chang’s four-wide, spread offense. His quick decision-making is vital in a unit that includes two slot receivers, Pofele Ashlock and Washington transfer Audric Harris. Alejado’s new tailback is Cam Barfield after serving as the backup in 2025 behind an offensive line with two returning starters.
Stanford middle linebacker Matt Rose is the leader of the Cardinal defense so he will be the man in charge of shutting down the Alejado-led offense. Alongside Rose, the safety room is also strong with Jay Green, Scotty Edwards, Charlie Eckhardt and Darrius Davis. Green, Edwards, Eckhard and Davis will be in charge of shutting down the Alejado to Ashlock and Harris passes down the field.
The Rainbow Warrior defense only has three starters back from a unit that ranked sixth in the conference in total defense last season. They lost two All-league players on the defensive line. With little talent left on the line, the Cardinal offense will want to rely heavily on running back Michael Ford.
If Ford can get the ground game going, he will make it easier for quarterback Davis Warren to get the ball to his favorite targets, wide receiver Caden High and tight end Benji Blackburn. Honorable mention All-MWC nickleback Elijah Palmer will lead the Hawai’i secondary against the Stanford passing attack.
Similar to last season’s Rainbow Warrior win to begin the season, this game should be back-and-forth until the final whistle. The Hawai’i offense will be hard to stop with Alejado leading the way, but the Cardinal offense will have a chance to succeed against a new-look defense on the other side. However, Hawai’i has a chance to win the Mountain West this season while Stanford is trying to build on a 4-8 record from last fall. The Rainbow Warriors will edge the Cardinal again to open the 2026 season.
Projected Score: Hawai’i 24, Stanford 21
New Mexico State at Florida State 6 p.m., The CW Florida State will host New Mexico State on Saturday night as they begin a crucial season in 2026. The Seminoles will square off with the Aggies at 6 p.m. on The CW with Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Jason Cabinda (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline reporter) on the call.
New Mexico State went 4-8 in 2025 but will hope to return to a bowl game in 2026 with a lot of new faces via the transfer portal. The Aggies will have to walk in to Doak Campbell Stadium, a tough environment, but Florida State has not been safe from upsets in the past. The Seminoles must start out the season with a win if head coach Mike Norvell wants to keep his job beyond this fall. FSU won only five games in 2025 and if they lose a game to New Mexico State would put Norvell in an even worse position than he is already in.
New Mexico State will struggle to succeed offensively if they can’t be better than 113th nationally in yards per game, which is where they finished last season. The Aggies will rely on many transfers, including signal-caller Trey Hedden, running back James Jones. They return only two starters on the unit, including wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson and tight end Jeron Akrien.
The revamped Florida State defense will rely on Southern transfer Chris Jones to head the defense as the middle linebacker after finishing the 2025 season as a top-10 tackler in the FBS. The NMSU offense will want to run the ball with Jones because the Seminoles have questions in the trenches with only one returning starter back, nose tackle Daniel Lyons.
New Mexico State linebacker Jared Lloyd, edge rushers Kellen Lindstrom and Caden Wiest will play a huge factor in stopping the Florida State offense. Former Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels will be the third new starting quarterback for Florida State in a row. His inconsistent career could be good for the Aggies’ defense in the season-opener.
Daniels will get to throw to Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy, both of whom are retiring starters. Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner, Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. will form one of the top tailback trios in the country. If FSU’s offense can have success early and often in this game, NMSU will not be able to have the success they want to.
Florida State should win this game fairly easily against New Mexico State. The Seminoles need to take care of business against the Aggies if Mike Norvell wants to keep his job as head coach beyond his seventh season. Things may start slowly for FSU, but they will beat NMSU and move to 1-0 to start the 2026 season.
Projected Score: Florida State 34, New Mexico State 14
Memphis at UNLV 9 p.m., FOX Memphis will be in Las Vegas for a huge Group of Six battle against UNLV with College Football Playoff implications to end Week 0. The Tigers will meet with the Rebels at 9 p.m. on FOX with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst) and Josh Sims (sideline reporter) on the call.
With Charles Huff taking over for Ryan Silverfield as head coach, there is hope Memphis can make a run to the American Championship game and the College Football Playoff. Tigers’ fans think Huff can turn eight wins into 10 or more. Last season, UNLV reached that 10 win mark but they failed to win the Mountain West championship game against Boise State and the Frisco Bowl against Ohio. With the Broncos in the new Pac-12, the Rebels can win the conference and make a run similar to the Tigers, especially if they start out with a win on Saturday night.
New Memphis offensive coordinator Kevin Decker will lead his unit with a fast, spread-style attack that succeeded at his previous stop, Old Dominion. West Florida transfer quarterback Marcus Stokes should succeed in Decker’s offense after beating out South Carolina transfer Air Noland for the job. Stokes will attempt to get the ball to speedsters Alante Brown and Tychaun Chapman. UNLV safety Jake Pope will lead his secondary against Stokes’ passing game.
Southern Miss transfer tailback Jaylin Carter followed Huff to his new job and he will lead a room that features two other backs, Manny Covey and Dallan Hayden. Rebel defensive tackle Lucas Conti and linebacker Belsyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu are the only two returning starters in the front six for their defense, so they will have to stop Carter, Covey and Hayden throughout Saturday night’s battle against the Tigers if they want to come out with a victory.
Auburn transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold will look to get his career on the right track as the new quarterback for UNLV. His main challenge on Saturday night will be getting the ball past linebacker Mike Montgomery and safety Ian Foster, both of whom followed Huff from USM. Foster will play a big part in stopping wide Rebel receivers Kayden McGee, Taeshaun Lyons, DeAngelo Irvin Jr. and tight end Keyan Burnett. Montgomery will lead the Memphis front against Arnold’s running back, Jai’den Thomas, who returned to Las Vegas for his senior season.
In another game that could be considered the best of Week 0, Memphis and UNLV will go back-and-forth. In a game that could potentially eliminate either team from the College Football Playoff in December, the Tigers will edge the Rebels for the victory on the road.
After years of awful football in Bloomington, former Alabama assistant Curt Cignetti brought Indiana on an impressive two-year run that will continue into the 2026 season, making the College Football Playoff in 2024 before winning the national championship a year later behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a group of impressive veteran transfers.
Over the last two decades, college football was ruled by Southeastern Conference powers Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida and Georgia. However, the Hoosiers winning it all proves just about anything can happen in college football, as the age of name, image, and likeness and the transfer portal lives on.
Now, the SEC has not won a national championship since the 2022 season and the Big Ten has won three in a row, including IU’s dominant run last fall. The power struggle will continue on the field now between the sport’s top two conferences after months of discussions in board rooms arguing about College Football Playoff formats.
The Atlantic Coast Conference got a team in the national championship game with Miami finally breaking through in January. The ACC and Big 12 must hope that their teams can get to the Playoff and succeed to remain at the top of the sport.
Two Group of Six teams made the Playoff in 2025, with Tulane and James Madison representing the American and Sun Belt conferences. Both schools bowed out after the opening round and with both of their head coaches, Jon Sumrall (Florida) and Bob Chesney (UCLA), at new institutions, D1 FBS football’s lower-level will look for new representatives for the Group of Six to make the Playoff for the second consecutive season.
College football will return next Saturday with Week 0 to begin the 2026 season before a full 13-week season to follow with complete slates every Saturday in the fall. Enjoy it because it won’t last forever.
Below, are my projected conference standings, top games in each conference, awards, who is winning each conference championship game, my College Football Playoff projections and who is winning the national championship game.
Projected Order of Finish Miami 11-1 (8-0) SMU 10-2 (8-1) Louisville 9-3 (7-2) Virginia 10-2 (6-2) Pittsburgh 9-3 (6-3) North Carolina State 8-4 (5-3) Clemson 7-5 (5-3) Virginia Tech 8-4 (5-4) California 8-4 (4-4) Georgia Tech 6-6 (4-4) Duke 5-7 (3-6) Syracuse 5-7 (3-6) Florida State 4-8 (2-7) Wake Forest 4-8 (1-8) North Carolina 3-9 (1-8) Stanford 3-9 (1-8) Boston College 2-10 (0-8)
Last season, a 9-5 Duke team won the ACC after a six-way tie for second place helped them appear in the conference’s championship game against Virginia. On the arm of quarterback Darian Mensah, the Blue Devils defeated the Cavaliers 27-20 in overtime.
After a crazy 42-39 victory over Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl where Mensah threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, he earned MVP honors. Following their victory over the Sun Devils, Durham awaited head coach Manny Diaz’s fourth season as head coach with excitement.
A two-loss Miami team, despite being on the wrong end of the tiebreaker in the ACC, made their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. Quarterback Carson Beck, wide receiver Malachi Toney and pass-rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor led the way as they made it all the way to the national championship game.
The Hurricanes defeated Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss on their way to the national championship game where they lost to Miami native Fernando Mendoza and Indiana, 27-21 in their home stadium.
Now, as the 2026 season begins, Mario Cristobal’s team is the favorite to win the ACC and make another playoff run. They gave Duke quarterback Darian Mensah a handsome paycheck, in addition to his Blue Devil receiver Cooper Barkate, who caught 72 passes for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns from Mensah to get both players to leave Durham and come play for the Hurricanes.
With the additions of Mensah and Barkate, the Miami offense is in position for another big season, especially with talented wideout Malachi Toney and tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. Senior left tackle Matthew McCoy is the only one of five offensive linemen returning so that question must be answered if this team wants to make a similar run to the one they made in January.
The losses of Bain and Mesidor will sting, Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II joins returners Ahmad Moten Sr., Justin Scott and Marquise Lightfoot on what should be another defensive line that should make a lot of plays. Behind them, inside linebacker Mohamed Toure, cornerbacks Romanas Frederique Jr., Xavier Lucas and safety Zechariah Poyser return as leaders of the unit.
After making the College Football Playoff in their first season in the ACC back in 2024, SMU followed it up with another solid season, going 9-4 and 6-2 in conference play. The same quarterback that led them to the playoff, Kevin Jennings, has reached his senior year and can lead his team there again with three other returning starters, left tackle PJ Williams, center Joshua Bates and right guard Addison Nichols. Jennings’ offensive weapons are all new, including California transfer tailback Jaden Raphael, Alabama transfer receiver Jalen Hale and Texas A&M transfer tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom.
Four returning starters including linebackers Alexander Kilgore, Brandon Booker and cornerback William Nettles and Marcellus Barnes Jr. Eight transfers join them, headlined by three defensive linemen, Christian Davis, Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Tavion Atkinson, that will look to get a pass rush going for Rhett Lashlee’s team.
Led by alumnus Jeff Brohm, Louisville has succeeded, winning nine games last season. Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz is the next quarterback to play for Brohm after leaving another school. Kienholz’s running ability will complement All-ACC tailback Isaac Brown. Returning wide receivers Treyshaun Hurry and Lawayne McCoy joins transfers Tre Richardson and Brody Foley as weapons for Kienholz down the field.
The Cardinals return three linebackers including seniors Stanquan Clark, Antonio Watts and junior TJ Capers. Tackles Demeco Kennedy and Joshua Donald join the UL defensive line alongside ends returning starter Clev Lubins and AJ Green, who will start for the first time this season. Cornerback Tayon Holloway leads the secondary that also includes three transfers, DJ Waller Jr. next to Holloway next to Waller, safeties Koen Entringer and Kaleb Beasley.
After appearing in the ACC Championship game back in December, Virginia will look to do the same thing this season. Former Clemson assistant Tony Elliott has only gone 22-26 over four seasons but he has gotten the Cavaliers on the right track. Their main focus in the off-season was retaining their veteran offensive line, that includes left tackle McKale Boley, Noah Josey and center Drake Metcalf. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula will step in behind center, after a solid season in Columbia. Elliott has to replace All-ACC running back J’Mari Taylor but they have five options that make sense, including projected starter Peyton Lewis.
Linebacker Kam Robinson and tackle Jason Hammond lead the UVA defense up the middle. End Fisher Camac and safety Ethan Minter join Robinson and Hammond as returners. Matthew Fobbs-White will play on the other end of the line from Camac and Brandyn Hillman will play across from Minter at safety. Transfer Jacobie Henderson joins Maddox Marcellus and Corey Costner, who will step into linebacker roles.
Pittsburgh started 2-2 in 2025 but thanks to quarterback Mason Heintschel, who came in off the bench and led the Panthers to 6-3 finish (8-5 record)and six wins in the ACC. Three of five starting offensive linemen return, including right tackle BJ Williams, right guard BJ Williams and center Ryan Carretta. Cataurus Hicks and Bryce Yates return at receiver while tight end Carson Kent will step in as the starter.
Senior Braylan Lovelace has a chance to be Pittsburgh’s next great linebacker. After an 80-tackle season in 2025, he will pair with Cameron Lindsey at the position. Returners Isaiah Neal, Nick James, Sean FitzSimmons and Jimmy Scott headline the line while free safety Cruce Brookins will lead a secondary with new starters Josh Guerrier, Shawn Lee Jr. and Shedarian Harrison.
North Carolina State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, California and Georgia Tech are all teams that can contend in an ACC without a true favorite except for Miami. Duke, Syracuse, Florida State and Wake Forest are in the next tier, with the potential to get into the above tier but an upset of a team above them is more likely.
North Carolina, Stanford and Boston College will make up the bottom of the ACC.
Top Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Miami at Notre Dame (Nov. 7) No. 2 Ole Miss vs. Louisville (Sept. 12; Nashville) No. 3 Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5) No. 4 Florida State at Alabama (Sept. 19) No. 5 SMU at Notre Dame (Nov. 21)
Top Conference Games: No. 1 SMU at Louisville (Sept. 19) No. 2 Miami at Clemson (Oct. 3) No. 3 Virginia at Virginia Tech (Nov. 28) No. 4 Virginia Tech at Miami (Nov. 20) No. 5 Duke at Miami (Nov. 14)
Conference Awards: Offensive Player of the Year: Malachi Toney, Wide Receiver, Miami 2025 Statistics: 109 receptions, 1,211 yards, 23 rushes, 113 yards, 1 touchdown Defensive Player of the Year: Sammy Brown, Linebacker, Clemson 2025 Statistics: 51 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble Special Teams Player of the Year: Aidan Birr, Kicker, Georgia Tech 2025 Statistics: 45-45 on extra points, 25-29 on field goals, 120 points Freshman of the Year: Jackson Cantwell, Right Tackle, Miami 2025 Statistics: N/A (Freshman) Newcomer of the Year: Damon Wilson, Defensive Lineman, Miami 2025 Statistics: 9 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery (at Missouri) Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashley, SMU
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 5 in Charlotte): Miami (12-1) over SMU (10-3)
Texas Tech won the Big 12 after an undefeated regular season, dominating BYU 34-7. Butkus Award winner Jacob Rodriguez and the Red Raider defense helped TTU win the conference title and make the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Texas Tech fell to Oregon in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl after their successful regular season. To build on their success, Joey McGuire and his staff added Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
After he moved on from the Red Raiders following speaking up about his betting addiction, they will have to refocus on having another successful season, leaving the Sorsby situation in the past. Thus, there is some uncertainty at quarterback. After last year’s backup Will Hammond tore his ACL last season, Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis has emerged as the favorite for the job. Six returning starters join Francis on the offense, including tailback Cameron Dickey, wide receiver Coy Eakin, tight end Terrance Carter Jr., left tackle Howard Sampson and right tackle Jacob Ponton.
Replacing several NFL Draft picks, including, pass-rusher David Bailey, will be difficult for the Texas Tech defense in 2026. Transfers Trey White, who totaled 19.5 sacks in his last two seasons at San Diego State and Adam Trick, who had 12.5 sacks last season at Miami (Ohio), will attempt to replace the production of Bailey. Kansas State transfer Austin Romain will pair up next to Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player Ben Roberts at inside linebacker. All-Big 12 cornerback Ben Pollack, who collected five interceptions last season, returns to lead the secondary.
Bear Bachmeier returns at quarterback and LJ Martin returns next to him at running back, forming a great duo that could potentially lead BYU back to the Big 12 Championship game and the College Football Playoff for the first time. Returners Jojo Phillips, Cody Hagen join transfers Kyler Kasper and Walker Lyons as pass catchers. Center Bruce Mitchell and right tackle Andrew Gentry will lead the offensive line to get their offense down the field.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham’s departure to Michigan caused a problem for Cougars’ defensive. Coordinator Jay Hill has joined his former coach in Ann Arbor so to replace him, head coach Kalani Sitake put special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga in the role. Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa and former Cal linebacker Cade Uluave will head the front seven while safety Faletau Satuala will help the new secondary coaches get settled in.
Utah’s Whittingham’s retirement and then exit to Michigan caused uproar in Salt Lake City, and as a result, veteran defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has taken over the program as the new head coach. Also, the offense is changing as a result of coordinator’s Jason Beck’s departure to follow his boss to Ann Arbor.
Utah State’s Kevin McGiven arrives to replace Beck as offensive coordinator, where they will look to establish a quality passing game while continuing with a strong running game. Dynamic quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin play an impressive two quarterback system next to returning tailback Wayshawn Parker. No other starters return for the Utes’ following Whittingham/s departure.
Arizona returns reigning first team All-Big 12 quarterback Noah Fifita, who needs 829 yards to pass Nick Foles for the most passing yards in program history. Seth Doege is the first offensive coordinator to return for a second season next to Fifita, who also gets wide receiver Tre Spivey, right guard Alexander Doost and right tackle Tristan Bounds. Senior running backs Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig will form a duo together while receivers Chris Hunter and Giovanni Richardson will step into starting roles next to transfer tight end Cole Rusk.
Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales signed a contract extension this off-season after he was named a Broyles Award semifinalist. The success of the Wildcat defense will be reliant on four returning starters, including end Tre Smith, tackle Leroy Palu and linebackers Chase Kennedy and Taye Brown. Incoming transfers fill the secondary after the departures of Treydan Stukes, Gensis Smith and Dalton Johnson.
Former Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman is coming off a career-best season where he threw for 2,705 yards, 25 touchdowns and rushed for 700 yards and 11 touchdowns for Houston. All-Big 12 receiver Amare Thomas, who had 12 touchdowns and nearly missed 1,000 yards last season, running back Makhi Hughes, who rushed for almost 3,000 yards at Tulane and UTSA transfer tight end Tanner Koziol are the weapons that returned for Weigman. Right guard McKenzie Agnello is the only one of five offensive linemen that returns, this time for his senior season.
Second-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong lost most of his talent to graduation after last season. The strength of the unit is the secondary with All-Big 12 cornerback Will James, free safety Kentrell Webb and strong safety Jordan Allen all returning after starting 13 games last season. The Cougars’ top tackler last season, Carlos Allen, must be replaced up front with returners Khalil Laufau, Brandon Mack II and transfers Ashton Porter and De’Marion Thomas set to play on the line. Sione Fotu is back at middle linebacker after starting 12 games at the position last season next to weakside backer Carmycah Glass.
Experienced quarterback Avery Johnson is back for his senior season at Kansas State. He is the single-season leader and career co-leader for touchdown passes in program history. His tailback Joe Jackson, wide receiver Jaron Tibbs, tight end Garrett Oakley and left tackle John Pastore are back alongside two transfers on the offensive line, two transfers at receiver and a right tackle expected to step in as a starter.
After losing almost all of their defensive starters from 2025, the Wildcats relied on the transfer portal to fill the depth chart. The defensive end needed the most attention, with end Wendell Gregory coming over from Oklahoma State. Jordan Allen and Elijah Hill will compete to play at the other end. Returning cornerbacks Zashon Rich and Donovan McIntosh are the only two players back for the Kansas State defense so they will be trusted as leaders next to a transfer nickleback and safety.
West Virginia, Arizona State, Oklahoma State are all capable of getting to the top of the Big 12 but are in the second tier of the conference in 2026. The Mountaineers begin the second season of Rich Rodriguez’s tenure, the Sun Devils attempt to return to the Big 12 Championship game and the College Football Playoff with a new-look roster under head coach Kenny Dillingham and the Cowboys begin a new era under former North Texas head coach Eric Morris and his quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
TCU, Baylor, Cincinnati are next up in the Big 12. Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs won nine games last season so a run to the Big 12 Championship is not out of the question, especially with returning new starters. Baylor must start the season fast if head coach Dave Aranda wants to remain on staff beyond 2026. It will be interesting to see if Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway can have a positive impact on the Bears’ season this fall. Cincinnati, after losing Sorsby, and all of their offensive weapons from last season, Scott Satterfield will hope his team can give him similar results to what he got last season or better.
Kansas, Colorado, UCF and Iowa State represent the bottom of the Big 12. The Jayhawks look to return back to a bowl game after a 5-7 mark in 2025 while Deion Sanders hopes his Buffaloes back to where his son Shedeur and teammate Travis Hunter had them a few years ago. The Knights’ fans must hope that the second tenure of head coach Scott Frost must turn around for them to have success. Iowa State is entrusting former Washington State head coach Jimmy Rogers to replace Matt Campbell in the same role after he left for Penn State and took most of his starting roster with him.
Top Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Notre Dame at BYU (Oct. 17) No. 2 Arizona State at Texas A&M (Sept. 12) No. 3 Oregon at Oklahoma State (Sept. 12) No. 4 Missouri at Kansas (Sept. 11) No. 5 Baylor vs. Auburn (Sept. 5; Atlanta)
Top Conference Games: No. 1 BYU at Utah (Nov. 7) No. 2 Houston at Texas Tech (Sept. 25) No. 3 Houston at Kansas State (Oct. 10) No. 4 Arizona State at Texas Tech (Oct. 17) No. 5 Arizona State at Arizona (Nov. 28)
Conference Awards: Offensive Player of the Year: LJ Martin, Running Back, BYU 2025 Statistics: 236 rushes, 1,305 yards, 12 touchdowns, 36 receptions, 255 yards Defensive Player of the Year: AJ Holmes, Defensive Lineman, Texas Tech 2025 Statistics: 19 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, 4 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery Special Teams Player of the Year: Stone Harrington, Kicker, Texas Tech 2025 Statistics: 41-42 on extra points, 22-28 on field goals, 107 points Freshman of the Year: Kelvin Obot, Offensive Tackle, Utah 2025 Statistics: N/A (Freshman) Newcomer of the Year: Drew Mestemaker, Quarterback, Oklahoma State 2025 Statistics: 319-463, 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 57 rushes, 89 yards, 5 touchdowns (at North Texas) Coach of the Year: Kalani Sitake, BYU
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 4 in Arlington): Texas Tech (12-1) over BYU (10-3)
Indiana continued the Big Ten’s streak of three consecutive College Football Playoff National Championships after defeating Miami at Hard Rock Stadium back in January. The Hoosiers continued the conference’s streak after Michigan (2023) and Ohio State (2024) won it all the previous two seasons.
Now, as a new season is about to begin, the Hoosiers, Buckeyes and Oregon are three of the favorites to win it this season. All Midwesterners want the Big Ten’s dominance to continue on the gridiron, especially over the SEC but I worry the conference’s depth is not up to par if the league’s three best teams, at least on paper, don’t match their pre-season projection.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin can be a Heisman contender again this season, especially with one of the nation’s top receivers, Jeremiah Smith returning. Receiver Brandon Innis and running back Bo Jackson should also make a great impact this season. Sayin will also get the help of playing behind four returning offensive line, meaning he should have a lot of time in the pocket to get the ball down the field this season.
The Buckeyes’ lost three important contributors from the nation’s top defense in 2025, pass-rusher Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs. Larry Johnson, James Laurinaitis and Tim Walton are all elite and should develop to replace their production sometime this season. The line will feature Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Alabama transfer James Smith while the linebacking core will need to learn on the fly. Jermaine Matthews Jr. steps into the top corner role where he will play alongside Terry Moore, who will play at free safety.
Indiana will rely on former TCU signal-caller Josh Hoover to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza behind center. Sophomore Khobie Martin will step in at running back alongside returners Charlie Becker, Tyler Morris and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh at wide receiver. Hoover should be set up to succeed in this offense after his time in Fort Worth.
The Hoosier defense returns six starters in addition to two top transfer adds, defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi and cornerback AJ Harris. Of the six returners, tackles Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino and linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones should make the most impact. As such, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines should be able to create similar havoc that he did a year ago.
It is now or never for Oregon. Dan Lanning and the Ducks can win a national championship this season. Dante Moore is one of the nation’s top returning quarterbacks alongside a duo of tailbacks Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., who both served as backups last season. Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan return at wide receiver for their second seasons in Eugene alongside UAB transfer Iverson Hooks. Jamari Johnson returns at tight end and he should be an impactful piece for Moore as well.
Oregon’s entire defensive front from 2025 is back for another season, including end Mateo Uiagalelei, tackle Bear Alexander, tackle A’Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti. Veterans Jerry Mixon and Devon Jackson are the inside linebackers for Chris Hampton’s defense while both Brandon Finney Jr. and Ify Obidegwu both return as starters at the corner positions. Aaron Flowers leads the safety group, where he will play alongside Minnesota transfer Koi Perich.
If new starting quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski pans out and defensive coordinator Phil Parker continues to succeed at Iowa, the Hawkeyes could be in for a good season. Bret Bielema’s Illinois team is always one step away from making the College Football Playoff, with a program record 19 wins over the last two seasons. If that continues in 2026, watch out for the Fighting Illini.
Can quarterback Bryce Underwood take the next step under new head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck? Michigan went 9-4 in 2025 with an easy schedule but a much more difficult grind awaits the new coaching staff but familiar roster in 2026. Penn State was lucky Matt Campbell was available in December and left Iowa State. With 24 of the 40 incoming transfers for the Nittany Lions coming from the Cyclones, the success of PSU will rely heavily on them
Much of the media in the pre-season are picking USC to make a run to the College Football Playoff this season thanks to returning quarterback Jayden Maiava and the hiring of new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. Head coach Lincoln Riley enters his fourth season in Los Angeles and if they don’t meet the pre-season expectations, things might go south. Similarly, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule must have a successful season after back-to-back bowl appearances. An eight or nine win season is what the fans in Lincoln should expect.
Washington needs quarterback Demond Williams to take the next step if they want a quality season in 2026. This is especially true with road trips to USC, Nebraska and Oregon coming this season. Similarly for Minnesota, the Golden Gophers need their signal-caller, Drake Lindsey to take a leap to be successful. If that happens, Minnesota can continue to be a top half team in the Big Ten, despite not having as much NIL money as other programs in the conference.
UCLA should begin to have success from former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins looked to what Indiana did, going to the Dukes’ program and hiring Curt Cignetti and two years later, they have won a national championship. It may take longer than it did in Bloomington, but it is coming for UCLA, who will be led again by former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Wisconsin is not far from the bottom of the Big Ten but the way the schedule breaks up for them, they should have success. Head coach Luke Fickell is only 17-21 in three seasons in Madison so a better season should be required for him if he wants to remain as the Badgers’ head coach.
Beyond Wisconsin, there are five teams in the Big Ten that should finish near the bottom of the standings. Northwestern, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, Purdue are all teams that don’t have the monetary resources to keep their programs atop of the league.
Top Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12) No. 2 Oklahoma at Michigan (Sept. 12) No. 3 Oregon at Oklahoma State (Sept. 12) No. 4 Iowa at Iowa State (Sept. 12; Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) No. 5 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Sept. 6; Green Bay; Shamrock Series)
Top Conference Games: No. 1 Ohio State at Indiana (Oct. 17) No. 2 Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 28) No. 3 Oregon at Ohio State (Nov. 7) No. 4 Oregon at USC (Sept. 26) No. 5 Indiana at Michigan (Oct. 24)
Conference Awards: Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver, Ohio State 2025 Statistics: 87 receptions, 1,243 yards, 12 touchdowns, 3 rushes, 21 yards, 1 touchdowns Defensive Player of the Year: Rolijah Hardy, Linebacker, Indiana 2025 Statistics: 48 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 5 passes defended Special Teams Player of the Year: Nico Raidcic, Kicker, Indiana 2025 Statistics: 87-87 on extra points, 18-19 on field goals, 141 total points Freshman of the Year: Luke Wafle, Edge, USC 2025 Statistics: N/A (Freshman) Newcomer of the Year: Josh Hoover, Quarterback, Indiana 2025 Statistics: 272-413, 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 55 rushes, 4 yards, 2 touchdowns Coach of the Year: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 5 in Indianapolis): Ohio State (12-1) over Indiana (11-2)
Top Games: No. 1 Miami at Notre Dame (Nov. 7) No. 2 Notre Dame at BYU (Oct. 17) No. 3 SMU at Notre Dame (Nov. 21) No. 4 Navy at Notre Dame (Oct. 24) No. 5 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Sept. 6; Green Bay; Shamrock Series)
Notre Dame missed the College Football Playoff in 2025 despite a 10-2 record. Back-to-back losses to open the season against Miami and Texas A&M, two teams that made the playoff, ended up being the crucial blows that kept them out of the event.
Following the Fighting Irish’s exclusion from the playoff, they will now be assured of making the event if it is ranked in the top 12, starting this season, athletics director Pete Bevacqua said to multiple sources. That more than upset fanbases around the country, and it will continue to happen because Notre Dame’s only tough games should be against BYU (Oct. 17), Miami (Nov. 7) and SMU (Nov. 21).
Returning quarterback CJ Carr will be the focus of the Fighting Irish offense that lost running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who were both selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Carr threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns to only six interceptions.
Carr will throw to returners Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse in addition to first time starter Micah Gilbert on the outside at receiver. Tight ends Cooper Flanagan and Ty Washington form a solid duo at tight end. Tailbacks Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. don’t have the same explosiveness as Love or Price but both can break tackles at an impressive level.
Notre Dame returns seven starters on defense for second year coordinator Chris Ashby. Linebackers Drayk Bown, Kingston Viliamu-Asa, cornerback Leonard Moore and safeties Adon Shuleer and Brauntae Johnson helped the Irish to the nation’s No. 10 scoring defense (17.6 points per game) in 2025.
Pittsburgh transfer Francis Brewu and Oregon transfer Tionne Gray join returners Jason Onye and Elijah Hughes along the line at tackle. Boubacar Traore will be a guy to watch nationally as a pass-rusher, while Bryce Young should be ready to start as a junior. Former Purdue standout Spencer Porath will look to stabilize the Notre Dame special teams unit after converting 15-of-17 field goals in 2025.
Jim Mora’s final season as head coach at UConn in 2025 ended in a 9-4 season. It was a historic year for the Husky offense, a 3,000-yard passer Joe Fagnano, a 1,000-yard receiver Skyler Bell and a 1,00-yard rusher Cam Edwards. Mora’s team won their last four games of the regular season before a blowout loss to Army in the Fenway Bowl.
Now, former Toledo head coach Jason Candle takes over the same position in Storrs with only one returning starter on the roster. Quarterback Kalieb Osborne and running back Kenji Christian, two former Rockets, followed their head coach but the expectation is that Jake Merklinger and Trey Cornist will start at those positions, respectively.
Youngstown State transfer Ky Wilson and Toledo transfers Jediyah Willoughby and Ryder Treadway will be options down the field at receiver for Merklinger or Osborne while Matt Ragan and Alex Godavitarne will compete for snaps at tight end. Right guard Ty Chan is the only returning starter on the offensive line, next to four incoming transfers expected to start alongside him.
Under new defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac, the strength of the unit should be at linebacker with Toledo transfer K’Von Sherman, Penn transfer John List and Coast Carolina transfer Luke Murphy. Esean Carter, another former Rocket, headlines the defensive line next to fellow tackle Tahjae Mullix and ends Avery Dunn and Anas Luqman.
The defensive backfield is less experienced with multiple players competing for their first starting roles as college football players. Jayden Davis and Tyler McKinstry form a duo at cornerback while Braedyn Moore and Jayden Price do the same at safety.
Notre Dame should be a national championship contender with a top five roster in the sport based on their talent. If the Fighting Irish don’t get there, questions need to be asked about head coach Marcus Freeman, who is labeled as one of the top coaches in the sport.
UConn may not win nine games for the third consecutive season but under Candle, they are in position to remain competitive with the foundation he has in place. It may take a season, but he should have the Huskies ready to compete nationally if he can get the same affect he had at Toledo.
A team from the SEC has not won a College Football Playoff National Championship since 2022, when Georgia won back-to-back titles. Five teams from the league made the playoff in 2025, including Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas A&M.
Despite Lane Kiffin’s exit from the Rebels, Ole Miss made it the farthest of any SEC school in the playoff, defeating the back-to-back conference champion Bulldogs 39-34 in an exhilarating College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Rebels bowed out a round later to eventual national-runner up Miami in the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl.
The Aggies lost their opening round game against Miami, 10-3 at home. Alabama won a rematch versus Oklahoma in the opening round of the playoff before Indiana dominated the Crimson Tide in the quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.
Now, the SEC focuses on regaining its dominance on the sport it held from the 2000s with Georgia and Texas as the betting favorites. Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M all are competing to prove they can reach that level and return to the playoff as well.
After winning back-to-back SEC titles, more will be expected of Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs in the playoff. Despite their success in the SEC, they have lost in the quarterfinal round of the 12-team playoff in back-to-back seasons. Veteran quarterback Gunnar Stockton is back behind center next to All-SEC tailback Nate Frazier and his backup, All-SEC freshman teamer Chauncey Bowens.
The question for the Bulldog offense is their wide receivers. Georgia Tech transfer Isiah Cannon headlines the room next to returners London Humphreys and Sacovie White. Three of five offensive lineman starters return for Mike Bobo’s unit as well. Safety KJ Bolden and linebacker Raylen Wilson lead a group of six returning starters for a Georgia defense Kirby Smart is confident has depth.
If Texas does not return to the College Football Playoff in 2026, questions will be asked about head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian’s team dropped many players to the transfer portal to upgrade their roster around quarterback Arch Manning, pass-rusher Colin Simmons and safety Jelani McDonald. Headlining the group of transfers on offense is former Auburn receiver Cam Coleman, former NC State running back Hollywood Smothers and former Arizona State running back Raleek Brown.
Pitt linebacker transfer Rasheem Biles and Rutgers cornerback transfer Bo Mascoe will play for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who returns to Austin to replace Pete Kwiatowski and fill the same role he had under Mack Brown in the late 2000s. Hero Kanu and Alex January return along the defensive line next to Simmons. Graceson Littleton will start next to McDonald after doing the same in 2025.
After an early playoff exit, Oklahoma has a better offensive roster and a defense that still may be one of college football’s top units in 2026. Brent Venables’ team won 10 games last season, only six in 2024, and 10 again in 2023. Consistency is going to be big for him and his Sooners’ program as they enter a critical season.
After dealing with injuries last season, John Mateer comes off of a season where he threw only 14 touchdowns compare to 11 interceptions. Assuming Mateer is fully healthy for most of if not all of the season, he has more weapons to throw to, including returning All-SEC receiver Isaiah Sategna, Texas transfer Parker Livingstone, and Virginia transfer Trell Harris and Florida transfer Hayden Hansen.
Even after losing multiple pieces to the NFL, the Oklahoma defense returns five starters, including its leader, mike linebacker Kip Lewis. Lewis joins end Taylor Wein, All-SEC freshman team cornerback Courtland Guillory, cornerback Eli Bowen and safety Peyton Bowen to form one of the top defenses in the country. Venables and coordinator Todd Bates added only three transfers to their unit but they will only serve as depth pieces.
Excitement is all around Oxford as the first full season of Pete Golding’s tenure begins following Kiffin’s loud exit. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and tailback Kewan Lacy are the two most important pieces to Ole Miss’ success in 2026 after they helped lead the Rebels to the national semifinals in January. Deuce Alexander is the lone receiver that started last season for Chambliss alongside two Syracuse transfers, Johntay Cook and Darrell Gill and returning backup Luke Hasz slated to start for new offensive coordinator John David Baker after an injury riddled 2025 following his transfer from SEC rival Arkansas. Three of five starters are back for the Ole Miss offensive line, with Terez Davis stepping up at left tackle after spending time on the bench in 2025 and former Miami Hurricane Tommy Kinsler stepping in at right tackle.
In Golding’s first season as head coach, Bryan Brown and Marcus Woodson will coordinate the defense he spent years doing the same under Kiffin. The Rebel defense will rely on 11 transfers, with six expected to start. Five returning starters join the 11 incoming transfers, including Kam Franklin, Will Echoles and Suntarine Perkins along the defensive front while Jaylon Braxton and Antonio Kite return to form a solid cornerback duo.
Kiffin became LSU’s third head coach of the 2020s, looking to lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff and actually coach in the event for the first time during his first season coaching at Tiger Stadium. His roster is full of transfers, including former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who will be expected to exceed in Charlie Weiss’ offense after dealing with injuries last fall in Tempe, behind Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton, who is slated to start at left guard. Returner Trey’Dez Green should emerge as one of the top tight ends in the country and one of Leavitt’s favorite targets in Weiss’ offense. Three transfer wideouts will join Green as options for Leavitt down the field alongside returning running back Caden Durham.
Five of the seven defensive transfers are slated to start for Blake Baker’s defense in 2026, who was retained following Kiffin’s hiring last December. Former Ole Miss end Princewill Unmanmielen highlights the group of starters that joined Kiffin, including Jordan Ross and Malik Blocton on the line, TJ Dottery at weakside linebacker and Ty Benefield at safety. Middle linebacker Whit Weeks and safety Tamarcus Cooley return as starters to form one of the better defenses in the SEC this fall.
After an 8-5 season in 2025, Josh Heupel must hope the changes he made to his staff can get them back to the College Football Playoff in 2026. Heupel hired Jim Knowles to be his new defensive coordinator after stops at Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Penn State and Derek Owings to be his new strength and conditioning coach after helping Indiana win the national championship game in January.
DeSean Bishop is one of the SEC’s top tailbacks and he will continue to have success behind an offensive line that returns four of its five starters. LSU transfer Ory Williams will step in at right tackle, the only spot that is not filled by a returner for Tennessee. SEC Freshman of the Year Braylon Staley, Mike Matthews, Radarious Jackson and Ethan Davis will catch passes from the winner of the quarterback competition, between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre.
Nine transfers and four returning starters headline Knowles’ defense in the first season of his tenure. Weakside linebacker Arion Carter, middle linebacker Jeremiah Telander, cornerback Ty Redmond and safety Edges Farooq are the returning starters from last season. The two Nittany Lions that are joining Knowles in Knoxville are nose tackle Xavier Gilliam and middle linebacker Amare Campbell.In the secondary Kayin Lee and nickelback Qua Moss came over via the transfer portal and are also slated to start.
Alabama must now get used to not being the favorite anymore on the football field after seasons of dominance under Nick Saban. Now, under Kalen DeBoer the Crimson Tide have not advanced past the quarterfinals in the College Football Playoff since Saban exited Tuscaloosa. Ryan Coleman-Williams headlines the UA offense entering his junior season, two years removed from being called the best 17-year-old receiver in the country following his reclassification to enroll in college a year early. Coleman-Williams and new starters Rico Scott and Lotzeir Brooks will catch passes from the winner of the quarterback competition, Keelon Russell or Austin Mack.
The Crimson Tide defense lost multiple pieces to the NFL, so a lot will be put on the four returning starters. Yhonzae Pierce will fill the WOLF position while Zabien Brown, Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb form a great defensive backfield. The questions are for the defensive front, which will have three transfers expected to start. Assuming those three work out, the other two players that have been in the program, London Simmons and QB Pierce must step up as well.
Texas A&M made its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history under head coach Mike Elko in 2025, only to have a short run, falling at Kyle Field in the first round. With Collin Klein back at Kansas State, Elko promoted wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins to be the Aggies’ next offensive coordinator, and the hire did not meet a great applause. The good news is that quarterback Marcel Reed and wide receiver Mario Craver are back in the fold to lead the A&M offense that also has Ashton Bethel-Roman and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton in the receiving room. Reed does not have the comfort of all of the options at running back but Rueben Owens and Jamarion Morrow will be solid options.
Only four defensive starters return for Texas A&M, including weakside linebacker Daymion Sanford, cornerback Dezz Ricks, safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe. Six transfers join the Aggie defense, with four slated to be starters including end Anto Sacka, tackle CJ Mims, mike linebacker Ray Coney and cornerback Rickey Gibson. The defense will have to be as good if not better than their defense a year ago if they want to return to the playoff.
After tremendous success in stints at Troy and Tulane, including a College Football Playoff appearance last fall in New Orleans, Jon Sumrall takes over at Florida. The Kentucky alumnus and former Wildcat defensive coordinator brings in a quality staff with SEC experience, including offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and defensive coordinator Brad White. The roster is headlined by tailback Jadan Baugh, who ran for over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns, and leads a group of six other returners from Billy Napier’s last team in Gainesville.
Three of the ten transfers being added to the Gator offense are coming over from Georgia Tech with Faulkner, who experienced a great deal of success under head coach Brent Key. Quarterback Aaron Philo , tight end Luke Harping and center Harrison Moore are all expected to start for Faulkner’s offense. Along with returning starters Baugh, wide receiver Vernell Brown, and left guard Knijeah Harris, highly touted redshirt freshman Dallas Wilson and Auburn transfer Eric Singleton could form one of the best receiving groups in the SEC.
White’s unit is made up of three returning starters and three incoming transfers. Linebackers Myles Graham and Jaden Robinson both started every game for Florida while cornerback Cormani McClain made an interception and defended two passes and safety Bryce Thornton defended seven passes last season. Enter Baylor transfer DJ Coleman to play next to Thornton at safety and Jacksonville State transfer Emmanuel Oyebadejo at backup defensive end and TJ Bullard at backup strong side linebacker for a d defense that will expect a lot of pieces that have been with the program to step up into starting roles.
Shane Beamer is on the hot seat after South Carolina won only four games last season. A year after going 9-4 and barely missing the College Football Playoff in 2024, the offensive line struggled to protect dynamic quarterback LaNorris Sellers and the front seven failed to get to the quarterback consistently, and as a result they were only able to beat Kentucky in conference play last season. Now, enter offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, and expectations for the Gamecock offense should be higher than they were at any point last season.
Briles’ who had a good amount of success with Arkansas’ offense led by quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders, should experience a similar amount with Sellers behind center, especially if the pass protection and run game improve. Seven transfers came over to improve the South Carolina offensive line, and Beamer should hope that injuries don’t implode his offense again. Sophomores Matt Fuller and Texas transfer Christian Clark will spend time alongside Sellers at tailback. Sellers’ brother Jayden, returning starters Nyck Harbor and Brady Hunt, and Purdue transfer Nitro Truggle will be trusted upon to get down the field and make the offense more dynamic in Briles’ first season on campus.
Returning defensive end Dylan Stewart is the Gamecocks’ top defensive piece with Tennessee transfer Caleb Herring rushing the passer on the other side. Linebackers Fred Johnson, Justin Okonkwo, cornerback Judge Collier and safety Peyton Williams join Stewart as the returners. Three of four transfers coming over on defense are expected to start while three defenders that have been in Beamer’s program will be expected to step up and start. Tackle Tamiwa Durajaiye joins Herring on the line while Quay’sheed Scott will be expected to start at nickel and Kelby Collins will back up one of the tackles.
Jeff Lebby’s tenure at Mississippi State has not gone well, with the Bulldogs’ only SEC wins in the last four seasons coming against Arkansas. There is hope that MSU could be better this season, especially with the electric Kamario Taylor stepping in at quarterback, who threw for 629 yards and five scores in limited action. Slot receiver Anthony Evans and center Canon Boone are the only two starters returning for Taylor, so the ten incoming transfers will make a big impact on the Bulldog offense that will also feature some players that have been with the program to step up.
Five starters return for Mississippi State’s defense under new coordinator Zach Arnett, who was previously the Bulldogs’ head coach following the passing of Mike Leach. With Arnett calling the defense under Lebby, the defense should be better. End Trevion Williams, tackle Kalvin Dinkins, mike linebacker Zakari Tillman, cornerback Kelley Jones and nickel Isaac Smith return for Arnett while seven transfers come over to Starkville to play for him. Dealyn Evans and Amare Williams will play along the front, Quentin Taylor and Kaylib Singleton will play at corner, while Marcus Gilbert and Jardin Gilbert are both expected to start at safety.
Eliah Drinkwitz’s tenure at Missouri started slow before multiple seasons of 8 or more wins in a row. After defeating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in 2023, the Tigers have failed to win more than 10 games in a season. With star running back Ahmad Hardy healing from a gun shot wound, Jamal Roberts will be expected to step up and be the lead back, something he is definitely capable of. Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons needs to be the guy that can get the ball to receivers deep down the field after Beau Pribula, who has transferred out, failed to do a season ago.
Simmons’ former teammate in Oxford, receiver Cayden Lee, former Cincinnati target Caleb Goodie and former Mississippi State left guard Zach Owens are all expected to start for Chip Lindsey, who comes over to coordinate the Missouri offense after some time at Missouri.
Ten incoming transfers will impact the Missouri defense in 2026, including former Auburn weakside linebacker Robert Woodyard, former Ole Miss cornerback Chirs Graves and former Michigan nickel Elijah Dotson. Five players will have to emerge along the defensive front, a front known for its success under former coordinator Blake Baker and Corey Batoon.
Alex Golesh takes over the Auburn job after years of struggling under Hugh Freeze, who previously had success in the same role at Ole Miss. Tiger fans thought Freeze’s offenses would be the high-scoring units they would watch over his tenure however, due to their lack of success, Auburn has not had a winning record since the 2019 season, Gus Malzahn’s final season as head coach.
After a successful run at South Florida, Golesh brought many players over to Auburn, including quarterback Byrum Brown, who accounted for 4,101 yards and 37 touchdowns during his years in Tampa Bay. All three receivers join Golesh and Brown, including Jeremiah Koger, Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod. Veteran tight end Jake Johnson left UNC, joining an offensive line that is full of transfers as well. Golesh retained DJ Durkin as defensive coordinator, and Tiger fans should be happy about that, because the unit was the bright spot in 2025. All-SEC First Team linebacker Xavier Adkins returns alongside two players in the secondary, nickel Sylvester Smith at nickel and Kaleb Harris at safety. Ole Miss transfer Da’Shawn Womack and Arkansas State transfer Cody Sigler fill roles on the line along with six others that have been with the program expected to step up along the rest of the defense.
Kentucky fans believe Will Stein’s offensive acumen will change their football program for the better. After Stein’s impressive SEC Media Day debut over a month ago, that belief only improved for Wildcat fans who will will get to watch a different program than the one they have watched the many years before with Mark Stoops now gone. Notre Dame backup quarterback Kenny Minchey is slated to come in and start behind center for UK next to Texas transfer tailback CJ Baxter. Former LSU receiver Nic Anderson, South Utah receiver Shane Carr and returners DJ Miller and Malachi Wood will catch passes from Minchey.
With former Oregon offensive coordinator Stein as head coach, Jay Bateman will be trusted to lead his unit as defensive coordinator made up of nine transfers, with five slated to start. Purdue transfer defensive tackle Jamarion Harkless, Texas transfer weakside linebacker Elijah Barnes, Florida transfer star Aaron Gates, Western Carolina cornerback Hasaan Sykes and Florida transfer safety Jordan Castell are all expected to start. Ends Mi’Quise Humphrey-Gray, Sam Greene, cornerback Terhyon Nichols and safety Ty Bryant are returning starters that will be crucial for Bateman’s unit.
After five and a half seasons of Sam Pittman as head coach, Arkansas moved on with Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield, who led Memphis to many successful seasons as head coach but was unable to reach the American Conference championship game. That is probably why most of the media thinks Silverfield will pan out the worst of the three coaches coming over from the conference (Sumrall and Golesh) to the SEC. The quarterback competition between returner KJ Jackson and Memphis transfer AJ Hill has made the most headlines this off-season.
Questions about whether either of the quarterbacks can consistently pass the ball down the field after years of stability at the position under Pittman. Whoever the competition, Jackson or Brown, will pass the ball to returning tight end Jaden Platt, receivers CJ Brown, Ismael Cisse and Boise State Chris Marshall. Memphis transfer Sutton Smith, who helped the Tigers upset the Razorbacks last season, and Braylen Russell will split carries for Tim Cramsey’s offense behind what should be a solid offensive line, led by center Caden Kitler and right guard Kobe Branham. Last season, Arkansas’ defense was one of the worst in the country and as such only returns two starters, star end Quincy Rhodes and linebacker Bradley Shaw. Kentucky transfer JACK Steven Soles and Tulane transfer cornerback Jahiem Johnson are two new players for veteran defensive coordinator Ron Roberts that can make an impact on a Razorback defense that needs to be better.
Clark Lea’s tenure at his alma mater, Vanderbilt, started out slow before leading the Commodores to 17 wins over the last two seasons combined and the program’s first 10-win season in 2025. Quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers are off to the pros but the offensive staff, led by Tim Beck, is still in Nashville ready to prove they won’t take as big of a step back they could take in 2026.
Without Pavia, it will be either senior Blaze Berlowitz or five-star freshman Jared Curtis, who Lea flipped from Georgia, starting behind center. Receiver Junior Sherrill, right guard Cade McConnell, tight end Cole Spence and tailback Sedrick Alexander return as starters. With the limited production returning for the Commodores on the offense, it will be up to the veterans returning on their defense, tackle Glenn Seabrooks II, end Miles Capers, inside linebacker Bryan Longwell and Martel Hight to lead the unit positively into 2026.
Top Non-Conference games: 1.Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12) 2.Oklahoma at Michigan (Sept. 12) 3.Ole Miss vs. Louisville (Sept. 6; Nashville) 4.Clemson at LSU (Sept. 6) 5.Florida State at Alabama (Sept. 19)
Top Conference Games: 1.LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19) 2.Georgia at Alabama (Oct. 10) 3.Georgia at Ole Miss (Nov. 7) 4.Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 10; Dallas) 5.Texas at LSU (Nov. 14)
Conference Awards: Offensive Player of the Year: Trinidad Chambliss, Quarterback, Ole Miss 2025 Statistics: 294-445, 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 133 rushes, 527 yards, 8 touchdowns Defensive Player of the Year: Colin Simmons, Defensive Lineman, Texas 2025 Statistics: 23 tackles, 2 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered Special Teams Player of the Year: Tate Sandel, Kicker, Oklahoma 2025 Statistics: 35-35 on extra points, 24-27 on field goals, 107 points Freshman of the Year: Lamar Brown, Defensive Lineman, LSU 2025 Statistics: N/A (Freshman) Newcomer of the Year: Byrum Brown, Quarterback, Auburn 2025 Statistics: 226-341, 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 175 rushes, 1,008 yards, 14 touchdowns (at South Florida) Coach of the Year: John Sumrall, Florida
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 5 in Atlanta): Georgia (12-1) over Texas (11-2)
Group of Six Projections:
American
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 5 on campus): Navy (11-2) over UTSA (9-4)
Conference USA
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 4 on campus): Western Kentucky (10-3) over Liberty (9-4)
Mid-American
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 5 in Detroit): Western Michigan (10-3) over Miami (Ohio) (9-4)
Mountain West
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 4 on campus): UNLV (11-2) over New Mexico (10-3)
Pac-12
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 4 on campus): Boise State (10-3) over San Diego State (9-4)
Sun Belt
Conference Championship Game (Dec. 4 on campus) James Madison (10-3) over Arkansas State (8-5)
2026-2027 College Football Playoff Top 12 Projection: 1.Georgia (12-1) 2.Ohio State (12-1) 3.Notre Dame (12-0) 4.Miami (12-1) 5.Texas Tech (12-1) 6.Oregon (11-1) 7.Indiana (11-2) 8.Texas (11-2) 9.BYU (10-3) 10.Oklahoma (9-3) 11.Ole Miss (9-3) 12.Navy (11-2)
First Round (Dec. 18-19)
Lubbock 5.Texas Tech 12.Navy
Austin 8.Texas 9.BYU
Eugene 6.Oregon 11.Ole Miss
Bloomington 7.Indiana 10.Oklahoma
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) 4.Miami 5.Texas Tech
Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens) 1.Georgia 8.Texas
Rose Bowl presented by Prudential (Pasadena) 2.Ohio State 7.Indiana
It was a busy off-season for Arkansas football following their third 2-10 season in the last eight years. Two months after Sam Pittman’s firing and three days after their season-ending 31-17 loss to Missouri, the Razorbacks hired Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield for the same role in Fayetteville.
There were many questions about Silverfield’s hiring by the media but he quickly answered them when quarterback KJ Jackson and defensive end Quincy Rhodes announced their returns to Fayetteville for the 2026 season at his introductory press conference. In addition, he flipped many 2026 instate recruits committed to other SEC programs just a few weeks after he was hired.
Silverfield and his new staff, which includes offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, who worked in the same role with him at Memphis for the last four seasons, and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who served in the same role at Florida the previous two seasons and also at Auburn and Baylor began spring football together.
Being a first year head coach in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will be difficult for Silverfield but it is important that he has offensive continuity with Cramsey and an experienced defensive play-caller in Roberts, who’s coached in the SEC for years.
The focus for Arkansas football now goes to the 2026 season, where they attempt to make it to a bowl game for the first time since the 2025 season. The SEC Media Days head to Tampa for the first time this week and the Razorbacks will definitely be selected no higher than 14th or 15th by the media.
It makes sense as the Razorbacks have failed to get to a New Year’s Bowl game since 2021 and have a single home win (No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 5, 2024) in the last two seasons at Razorback Stadium. It gets no easier for the Hogs this season, as they travel to Utah in non-conference play before an SEC slate that includes back-to-back SEC champion Georgia and other conference contenders Texas A&M, Texas and LSU.
It hurts Arkansas that they don’t face Kentucky or Mississippi State, the two other teams expected to be picked at the bottom of the league in 2026. The good news is they will welcome the Wildcats to Fayetteville and travel to face the Bulldogs in 2027.
While Silverfield may not have the depth on his roster that other SEC programs have, he and his team can prove everyone in the league wrong with a couple of victories to begin the season in September. The Razorbacks lost many one score games in Pittman’s tenure and he can fix it by coaching his team to not make as many mistakes before the snap.
The media does not expect anything from Arkansas football this fall. Silverfield and the Razorbacks can prove them wrong with a strong season on the Hill, the first one with nine SEC conference games.
Check out the group of incoming freshmen, transfers and my early thoughts on Ryan Silverfield’s first team and coaching staff at Arkansas by clicking this link.
Check out my projected depth chart and 2026 schedule projections below:
For the first time in years, there will be a quarterback competition during fall camp in Fayetteville. Returner KJ Jackson and Memphis transfer AJ Hill have already competed through spring ball and will continue to do so when the team reunites at the end of July.
Jackson appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman and started the season finale against Missouri (Nov. 29). He completed 33-of-54 passing attempts for 441 yards and three touchdowns and carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards and two scores. He also saw action against Alabama A&M (Aug. 30), Arkansas State Texas A&M (Oct. 18) and Texas (Nov. 21) last fall. He went 6-for-7 for 48 yards in Gasparilla Bowl versus NC State (Dec. 19).
He learned Tim Crowley’s offense in the spring as he competed with AJ Hill for the starting job, who came over from Memphis with Silverfield. Hill redshirted his first and only season for the Tigers and saw action in only two games. He completed 19-of-32 passes for 223 yards with a touchdown and one interception. The Warner Robins, Ga. native made his collegiate debut at UAB (Oct. 18), passing for 175 yards on 13-of-25 with one TD and an interception. He also a
Both quarterbacks competed well through spring ball and will be expected to compete through fall camp to determine who the starting quarterback will be. Both have their pros and cons but Jefferson’s previous experience in the SEC, though limited, makes me think he will be the starter in the season-opener against North Alabama, though both guys should see play time against the Lions.
Redshirt senior Braeden Fuller, redshirt freshman Cade Trotter and incoming freshman Hank Hendrix make up the rest of the depth chart for quarterbacks coach Mitch Stewart, who replaced Clint Trickett after his short stint ended after he was hired away to become Maryland’s offensive coordinator.
Angelo State transfer Fuller will likely serve as the third-string signal-caller for the Razorbacks, saw action in 28 games and threw for 3,408 yards and 36 touchdowns in four seasons with the Rams. Trotter, a transfer from Clemson and a Highland Park High School alumnus, redshirted as a freshman before playing a scout team role in 2025. He will play behind Fuller as the fourth string quarterback in 2026.
Hank Hendrix will bring up the rear in Stewart’s room after a single season at Fayetteville High School. Hendrix, a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports, started 34 games in three years in his high school career, amassing 9,425 yards and completing 67.4% of his passes. He played his first three years at Boerne High School (TX) before transferring to Fayetteville for his junior season.
Going into the season, the media has the Razorback quarterback room as one of the worst in the SEC but Jackson or Hill can easily prove them wrong with a successful 2026 season.
Maybe the top group on the Razorback offense, the running back room has junior Braylon Russell, Memphis transfer Sutton Smith and four other capable backs.
Russell saw action in nine games and got one start as a sophomore. He totaled 55 carries and five rushing touchdowns and caught four passes for 27 yards in 2025. His best performance of the season was against Tennessee (Oct. 11), where he rushed eight times for 47 yards.
In his redshirt junior season at Memphis, Smith played in 12 games and rushed for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries and added 20 receptions for 109 yards, 155 yards on five kick returns and 125 yards on 15 punt returns for a total of 1,058 total yards. He rushed 12 times for a career-best 147 yards and one touchdown in the Tigers’ 32-31 comeback victory against the Razorbacks back in September. Now as a redshirt senior, he will attempt to produce for the Razorback backfield next to Russell.
Settles and Parker are two rising sophomores that will be integral to Arkansas’ running back room. Settles played in nine games in 2025 for the Razorbacks. He registered 16 rushing yards on six carries while catching two passes for 16 yards. He recorded 10 rushing yards on four carries and caught one pass for five yards in a loss at Texas (Nov. 22).
Parker played in six games as a true freshman for Michigan. He rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He carried the ball a season-high for a season-best 45 yards and a score against Central Michigan (Sept. 13).
Redshirt freshman Markelyin Batton and freshman TJ Hodges have major upside as the bottom of the depth chart under coach David Johnson. Batton saw action in four games as a freshman in 2025. Hodges, a four-star recruit from Bryant High School (AR), He recorded 108 carries for 900 yards, seven touchdowns and eight catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns for the Hornets as a senior.
Wide Receivers Starters: CJ Brown, Junior Chris Marshall, Redshirt Senior Ismael Cisse, Redshirt Junior
Backups: Jamari Hawkins, Redshirt Senior Antonio Jordan, Redshirt Freshman Donovan Faupel, Senior Courtney Crutchfield, Redshirt Sophomore Monte Harrison, Sophomore Jelani Watkins, Sophomore Dequane Provo, Freshman Blair Irvin III, Freshman
Arkansas puts CJ Brown and Ismael Cisse next to talented Boise State transfer Chris Marshall on the outside. Transfers Jamari Hawkins and Donovan Faupel join returners Antonio Jordan and Courtney Crutchfield on the bench.
Brown enters his third season on the Hill after playing in 12 games and getting 10 starts for the Razorbacks as a sophomore. He recorded 28 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He caught four passes for 49 yards in the Razorbacks’ win against Alabama A&M before catching five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M.
Cisse suffered an injury prior to fall camp in 2025 and missed his redshirt sophomore season as a result. Prior to transferring to Arkansas, he played in all 12 games and made five starts for Stanford as a redshirt freshman. He finished the season with 26 receptions for 241 yards and two touchdowns and logged at least one reception in eight of his 12 games played, including five multi-catch performances.
After a season at Texas A&M, one at Kilgore College and two at Boise State, Marshall returned to the SEC, this time to Fayetteville as an Arkansas Razorback. While he has had off the field issues, Marshall will attempt to prove himself after starting five games and playing in 11 games, amassing 574 yards on 30 receptions with two touchdowns as a redshirt junior for the Broncos.
Hawkins, a Memphis transfer, and Faupel, a New Mexico State transfer, will be important if Arkansas can have a down the field passing attack. Hawkins, who came over to Fayetteville with Silverfield and Cramsey, caught 38 passes for 623 yards and two touchdowns and also returned three kicks for 91 yards. His 38 receptions and 623 yards were second on the team. Faupel played in all 12 games, earning Second-Team All-Conference USA from the league’s coaches. He caught 61 passes for a total of 661 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2025.
After spending his freshman year at Missouri, Crutchfield, a Pine Bluff native, played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman for the Razorbacks. He caught one pass for 26 yards, the first of his career against LSU (Nov. 15). Jordan, a Warren native, saw action in losses against Texas A&M and Auburn. Crutchfield and Jordan will also be vital to Arkansas’ receiver depth in 2026.
Harrison, the former MLB outfielder, saw action in two games before suffering a season-ending injury, registering one catch for 29 yards. LSU transfer Watkins, a track star, spent two seasons in the Bayou, appearing in five games. He caught two passes for a total of 21 yards in a win over Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 20). He also saw action against Vanderbilt (Oct. 18) and Oklahoma (Nov. 29).
Provo and Irvin, two freshmen, will be important depth pieces for the Razorbacks in 2026 after both players helped Bentonville High School to a 12-0 season. Provo, a four-star prospect according to ESPN, registered 35 catches for 713 yards and 10 touchdowns as well as 7 rushes for 55 yards as a senior at Bentonville High School. Irvin, a consensus three-star prospect according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, recorded 42 receptions, 634 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns, two rushes for 39 yards and one rushing touchdown as a senior.
Similar to the receivers, Jaden Platt returns to Fayetteville after a solid redshirt freshman next to Boston College transfer Ty Lockwood, Memphis transfer Matt Adcock and returner Gavin Garretson.
After two seasons at Texas A&M, Platt played in 12 games and recorded 21 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns for Arkansas in 2025. He recorded three receptions for a career-high 53 yards in a loss to Ole Miss (Sept. 13) and a career-high four receptions, 66 yards, and a touchdown at Texas (Nov. 22).
Lockwood spent two seasons at Alabama and one at Boston College. As a redshirt sophomore for the Eagles, he played in all 12 games, mostly as a special teams player and a reserve tight end. He caught two passes for 30 yards in 2025. Adcock played his first two collegiate seasons at Mississippi Gulf Community College, he transferred to play his junior season at Memphis under Coach Silverfield. He played in 12 games while making seven starts and totaled 12 receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns.
Garretson redshirted his freshman season in 2025. He saw action in three games, including a season-opening victory against Alabama A&M and losses to Tennessee and Texas A&M (Oct. 18).
Arkansas’ offensive line is a strong unit, being anchored by returners Caden Kitler and Kobe Branham with Bryant Williams expected to step in at right tackle after transferring from Louisiana.
After transferring from Ole Miss, Broussard saw action in six games and made one start against Missouri. He also played in games against Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Notre Dame (Sept. 27) and Mississippi State (Nov. 1).
Breland spent three seasons at Memphis before transferring to Fayetteville when Silverfield was hired by Arkansas. As a redshirt sophomore, he started all 12 games at left guard for the Tigers. He posted a pass blocking grade of 79.6 according to PFF after allowing just one sack in 454 opportunities. He helped pave the way for a Memphis offense that averaged 420.7 yards per game while averaging 34.6 points per game.
After three seasons at UCF, Kitler transferred to Arkansas for his redshirt senior season. The Colony, Texas native started in all 11 games he saw action for the Razorbacks in 2025. He blocked for six games of 500+ yards of total offense and paved the way for 512 yards of total offense in a loss at Texas (Nov. 22).
Branham started 11 of 12 games while paving the way for six games of 500+ yards of total offense as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Like Kitler, paved the way for 512 yards of total offense in a loss at Texas (Nov. 22). He also played an important role in Arkansas’ 526 yards of total offense (305 passing and 225 rushing) in a loss at Ole Miss (Sept. 13)
Williams spent four seasons at Louisiana where he turned into a star of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ offensive line. He started 11 games and did not allow a sack and was part of an offensive line that blocked for 344.8 yards per game in 2025. The Lake Charles, Louisiana native helped Louisiana rank 31st nationally in rushing yards per game with 183.2 a contest as a redshirt junior in 2025.
Clemons spent his freshman season at Memphis before following Silverfield to Arkansas. He did not see game action in 2025. Courtney redshirted his freshman season and saw action in three games with one start. He made his first career start (Nov. 1) and also appeared in victories against Alabama A&M and Arkansas State.
Weatherspoon started all 13 games at left guard as a First-Team All-MAC selection by the league’s coaches, leading the Bobcats in offensive snaps played with 881 according to Pro Football Focus. Edmonson played in all 12 games, appearing primarily on special teams. Hawkes transferred to Arkansas after two years at Oregon State. In 2025, earning a pair of starts against Lafayette and Washington State.
Rhodes’ return to Fayetteville after the coaching change was huge for Silverfield and his staff after a season where he was on the All-SEC Second Team by the AP and Coaches. He started 11 of 12 games, tallied 44 tackles including a team-leading 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He became the first Razorback to register three multi-sack games in a season since Tre Williams in 2021 and the first Razorback to register double-digit tackles for loss in a season since Landon Jackson (13.5) in 2023.
Osborne spent two seasons at Alabama and one at Virginia before coming to the Hill for his redshirt junior season. He played in all 14 games for the Cavaliers, recording 15 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack. He recorded a career-best four tackles versus Stanford (Sept. 20). Oke spent three seasons at Abilene Christian before transferring to Arkansas in 2025 and redshirting. He saw action in three games for the Razorbacks and he collected four tackles for a loss.
Sims, a high-upside end, spent two seasons at Oregon where he appeared in four games and made one tackle. Similarly, another west coast transfer Jones, who spent two seasons at USC, played in eight games and made four tackles in 2025 after redshirting his first season in Los Angeles. A third Big Ten transfer, Odom, played in two games as a freshman for Ohio State in 2025, seeing action against Grambling (Sept. 6) and Minnesota (Oct. 4).
Starters: JACK Linebacker: Steven Soles Jr., Junior Linebacker: Bradley Shaw, Junior Linebacker: Jamonta Waller, Redshirt Sophomore
Backups: JACK Linebacker: Charlie Collins, Junior, Jamonta Walker, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker: Phoenix Jackson, Redshirt Senior, Wyatt Simmons, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker: Jeremy Evans, Redshirt Senior, Ben Bogle, Redshirt Senior
Soles has emerged as a leader of the Arkansas linebacker room throughout the off-season. He was productive in his two seasons in Lexington at Kentucky, playing in 22 games, making 16 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. The Powell, Tenn. native recorded two sacks and forced two fumbles in their 2025 season-opener against Toledo (Aug. 30).
As a sophomore, Shaw saw action in 12 games with seven starts for the Razorbacks. He tallied 50 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He will be trusted to step up and be a starter for Arkansas in 2026 after a solid 2025 season.
Collins played in nine games and made three starts as a sophomore. He made nine tackles, including a tackle for loss. He made his first collegiate start in a season-opening win over Alabama A&M while recording two tackles (Aug. 30) and recorded three tackles in a loss to Auburn.
Jackson spent his first four seasons of college at Fresno State before transferring to Baylor for the 2025 season. There, he played in three games before suffering a season-ending injury. He logged 11 tackles before injury, eight of them against Baylor in their season-opener (Aug. 29). Fellow Baylor transfer Jeremy Evans, where he played four seasons. Across that time, he played in 29 contests and recorded 24 tackles, one forced fumble, one pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
Waller saw limited action in his two seasons at Auburn. As a freshman in 2024, he saw action in two games before a season-ending foot injury wiped out his freshman season. He recorded one tackle vs. Alabama A&M (Aug. 31) in his collegiate debut. He did not see any action in 2025.
Johnson was one of the top available cornerbacks in the transfer portal after three years and two impressive seasons at Group of Six powerhouse Tulane. He started all 14 games seeing the field for a team-high 834 defensive snaps. The Hammond, La. native made 42 tackles with one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and four interceptions to earn All-American Conference Honorable Mention in 2025.
Former Washington and North Carolina defender, House made 16 starts across 24 games the last two seasons. He led the Tar Heels with 81 tackles after being voted a team captain and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention after his efforts during the 2025 season.
Stoutmire was a vital part of the Colorado defensive backfield for three seasons, playing in 32 games, starting in 15 of them. Over his time in Boulder, he made 91 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. Three year Clemson defensive back Lewis has seen action in 27 games and made six starts. He made 23 tackles and two interceptions as a Tigers.
Roland played 27 games at Maryland before transferring to Arkansas in the off-season. He posted 31 tackles, one for loss and a team-high three interceptions in 2025. Fellow former Terrapin Lee started two of 15 games in the two seasons he was in College Park. He recorded 19 tackles, one for loss and an interception.
Former Auburn and Georgia State defensive back Scott missed his one season on the plains after tearing his ACL. After transferring to play one season with Panthers, playing in two games and making four tackles. Hairston played in all nine games, making 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one fumble recovery during his freshman year at Hinds Community College.
A former Eastern Kentucky and West Georgia transfer, Magloire played in 30 games, tallied 80 tackles, nine pass breakups, three interceptions and recovered one fumble across three seasons. After two seasons at Tennessee and one at Cincinnati, Harrison brings experience to Fayetteville after starting all 12 games at safety in 2025. He made 66 tackles, seven pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception for the Bearcats.
After two seasons at Florida, Mitchell has impressed in Fayetteville, seeing action in 17 games over the last two seasons and making 72 tackles, two interceptions and one pass break up. Ginyui appeared in 10 games, tallied 47 total tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, four pass breakups and a tackle for loss in one season at Bakersfield College.
Hicks redshirted his only season at Iowa State and played three games on special teams. Williams played in 13 games as a true freshman, making six tackles at Memphis before following Silverfield to Arkansas. Lockett, a San Diego native, transferred to play at Conway High School after pledging to Arkansas. As a senior for the Wampus Cats, he recorded 56 tackles, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble and three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in 2025.
Special Teams Placekicker: Max Gilbert, Redshirt Junior Kickoffs: Braeden McCalister, Redshirt Senior Punter: Gavin Rush, Redshirt Freshman Long Snapper: Adam Johnston, Redshirt Junior Kick Returner: Sutton Smith, Redshirt Senior Punt Returner: Sutton Smith, Redshirt Senior
Gilbert kicked all 26 of Tennessee’s games the last two seasons. He made 14-of-18 field goals and all 64 point after attempts as a redshirt sophomore in 2025. The Memphis native missed a potential game-winning field goal against Georgia (Sept. 13) but his production outside of that suggests that he will be a good replacement for former Razorback placekicker Scott Starzyk, who transferred to rival LSU in the off-season.
Georgia State transfer McCalister kicked in all 12 games for the Panthers, primarily as the team’s kickoff specialist. Of his 43 kickoffs, 36 were touchbacks. He is expected to fill the same role in Fayetteville as Silverfield’s first kickoff man.
Rush redshirted his freshman season at Arkansas. He will be expected to start at punter as a redshirt freshman following a 2025 season where he only appeared as a holder in the win against Arkansas State.
Former Modesto Junior College and Sacramento State long snapper Johnston will fulfill the same role at Arkansas. He earned Honorable Mention after handling all long snapping duties for the Hornets in 2025.
Smith had 155 yards on five kick returns and 125 yards on 15 punt returns for Memphis in 2025. He will be expected to fill both roles for Arkansas in 2026 alongside his running back duties.
Saturday, September 5 North Alabama 3:15 p.m. CT / SEC Network Arkansas opens the 2026 campaign and Ryan Silverfield’s Razorback tenure against North Alabama in the first meeting between the programs. The game is set for Sept. 5 in Fayetteville, giving Silverfield his first chance to coach Arkansas.
North Alabama is coming off a 2-10 season in 2025, matching Arkansas’ record from last fall. The Lions’ lost their only game against FBS competition to Western Kentucky 55-6 (Aug. 30) and their only wins came against Northeastern State (Sept. 13) and Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 18) last fall.
Before heading to Fayetteville, North Alabama opens its 2026 season at home against Samford on Aug. 29. That gives the Lions one tune-up before facing Arkansas, while the Razorbacks enter Week 1 with a first-time opponent on the schedule.
Arkansas should be favored on paper, especially with North Alabama replacing almost all the pieces of a tough 2025 season. The main storyline is whether Silverfield’s debut can set the tone immediately, while North Alabama will try to prove it can handle an SEC road trip after opening with Samford.
Arkansas will dominate North Alabama to open Silverfield’s tenure. The Razorbacks offense will overwhelm the Lions’ defense giving their defense time on the sidelines. North Alabama will continue their road trip to Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 12) for week 2 action.
Saturday, September 12 at Utah 9:15 p.m. / ESPN The Razorbacks travel to Salt Lake City for their first ever matchup against Utah for a late-night duel against the Utes in week 2.
Utah finished with a 10-2 overall record and won seven games in their second season in the Big 12. The Utes fell to the two teams that appeared in the conference championship game last fall, Texas Tech and BYU. That was a big reason why they were ranked No. 15 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, five spots away from an at-large bid to make an appearance. After the season, their head coach Kyle Whittingham moved on to the same role at Michigan. Longtime defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has taken over for his mentor.
Before the Utes host the Razorbacks, they open the season at home in Salt Lake City against Idaho on a Thursday (Sept. 3). Scalley’s team will get one cupcake game before they welcome Arkansas to town (Sept. 12).
Scalley retained senior quarterback Devon Dampier, junior tailback Parker Wayshawn and three starters on defense following Whittingham’s exit. Utah State transfer Braden Pegan and San Jose State transfer Kyri Shoels are experienced receivers that will help Dampier down the field. The overall success for the Utah offense will likely depend on the success of the offensive line that replaces all five starters.
The three returning starters for the Utes’ defense, senior linebacker Johnathan Hall, senior cornerback Elijah Davis and junior safety Jackson Bennee will be vital to their success in the front seven and on the back end. After having trouble stopping the run at the end of last season, the Utes added more defensive line talent from the transfer portal including San Jose State’s Jireh Moe and Wyoming’s Lucas Samsula. If all three parts of the defense come together, they can contend for a Big 12 title in their third season in the league.
With Arkansas’ inexperience at quarterback and nine new starters, it is hard to see the Razorbacks going into Rice-Eccles Stadium and getting a victory in Silverfield’s second game as head coach. However, it is just Scalley’s second game as head coach of the Utes, too. If the Razorbacks are going to win, it will come down to Braylen Russell making a touchdown run or Quincy Rhodes making a big sack in the fourth quarter to overcome the Utes.
Utah will outlast Arkansas at home thanks to the combination Dampier and Parker in the backfield. They will be too much for a new-look Razorback defense. After the Utes take on Arkansas they finish their three game home stand to open the 2026 season against Utah State.
Saturday, September 19 Georgia 11 a.m. / ABC Arkansas welcomes Georgia to Fayetteville for the first time since they opened the SEC-only 2020 schedule against the Bulldogs.
Georgia went 12-2 and 7-1 in the SEC and won their second consecutive conference championship after defeating Alabama 28-7 in Atlanta. The Bulldogs have failed to make the College Football Playoff Semifinals for the second consecutive season after SEC foe Ole Miss (Jan. 1) defeated them 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl.
Before the Bulldogs travel to Fayetteville to face Arkansas (Sept. 19), they welcome Western Kentucky to Athens (Sept. 12). Georgia should have a 2-0 record entering SEC play after victories over Tennessee State (Sept. 5) in week 1 and the Hilltoppers in week 2.
Mike Bobo’s unit returns starter Stetson Bennett and tailback Nate Frazier behind center and three offensive lineman. After losing former USC transfer Zachiarah Branch at receiver to the NFL, Georgia grabbed junior Isaiah Canion from rival Georgia Tech to play next to sophomore Sacovie White-Helton and freshman Talyn Taylor at wide receiver.
Glenn Schumann’s group returns six starters from 2025, headlined by senior linebacker Raylen Wilson and junior safety KJ Bolden. Wilson and Bolden are joined by a group on the line including senior end Gabe Harris Jr. and junior nose tackle Xzavier McLeod. Wilson will play at linebacker next to junior Quintavius Johnston and Bolden stands next to sophomore cornerback Ellis Robinson IV in the Bulldog secondary.
Georgia will overwhelm Arkansas in Silverfield’s SEC opener. The Razorbacks offense will fail to get going thanks to Wilson at linebacker and Bolden at safety. The Bulldogs’ offense, led by Stockton and Frazier, will overcome the Razorback defense and start SEC play on a good note. Kirby Smart’s team is capable of making the College Football Playoff and advancing far and they will show their capabilities on Sept. 19.
Georgia will continue SEC play when they return home to face fellow 2025 College Football Playoff team Oklahoma (Sept. 26) to close out the opening month of the regular season. The Bulldogs will matchup with the Sooners for the first time since UGA out dueled OU 54-48 in double overtime in the Rose Bowl to send them to the national championship game.
Saturday, September 26 Tulsa 7 p.m. / SEC Network + The Razorbacks face off with one of the most common opponents in their history, the Golden Hurricane to end the month of September. Tulsa will face Arkansas in Fayetteville for the first time since 2018, when the Razorbacks defeated the Golden Hurricanes 23-0 at Razorback Stadium.
During Tre Lamb’s first season as head coach, Tulsa went 4-8 and 1-7 in the American Conference. The Golden Hurricane defeated Oklahoma State (Sept. 19), Oregon State (Nov. 15), and got their lone conference victory against Army (Nov. 22) on the second to last Saturday of the regular season.
Tulsa welcomes East Texas A&M to town in week 3 (Sept. 19) prior to their week 4 trip to Fayetteville after hosting instate opponent Oklahoma State (Sept. 5) and travels to Huntsville to face Sam Houston State (Sept. 12) before they face the Lions.
Sophomore quarterback Baylor Hayes will be trusted as an “x-factor” for Tulsa, especially after leading the Golden Hurricane to a victory over the Cowboys last season. They get a similar opportunity against the Razorbacks this season, and if Old Dominion transfer Trequan Jones and an offensive line led by returning right tackle Cam East can help him out, they may have a chance to defeat the Razorbacks.
Big plays killed Tulsa’s defense in 2025. With only Hayes and East back for the Golden Hurricane offense, six return for the TU defense including senior defensive lineman Tai Newhouse, junior cornerbacks JD Drew and Elijah Green, junior star Devin Robinson and junior safety Zach Williams will be crucial to their success in 2026, especially against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks cannot overlook Tulsa, especially after facing Georgia (Sept. 19) the previous Saturday. Arkansas’ offense will definitely be challenged against the Tulsa defense. As a result, the Razorbacks’ defense will have to limit Hayes, who threw 2,158 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and his tailback, Jones.
Arkansas and Tulsa will go back-and-forth in the first quarter but the Razorbacks’ athletes at running back and wide receiver including Braylen Russell, Sutton Smith, Chris Marshall, CJ Brown and Ismael Cisse will help the Razorbacks overcome the Golden Hurricane.
The Golden Hurricane begin American Conference play against North Texas (Oct. 1) when they return home to Tulsa. The Mean Green will have to rebuild after losing head coach Eric Morris and most of his roster to Oklahoma State under new head coach Neal Brown.
Saturday, October 3 at Texas A&M Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA Arkansas heads to College Station and will face Texas A&M at Kyle Field for the first time since 2020, when the Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 42-31 on their way to a 11-1 regular season.
Texas A&M started the 2025 season 11-0 prior to dropping their final two games. Had the Aggies defeated Texas (Nov. 28), they would have made their first appearance in the SEC Championship game. After their second loss to the Longhorns in as many seasons, A&M failed to score a touchdown against Miami (Dec. 20) in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The Hurricanes defeated the Aggies 10-3 at Kyle Field.
Texas A&M will be traveling home from Baton Rouge after facing rival LSU (Sept. 26) before returning home to face Arkansas at Kyle Field. The Aggies, who also play Kentucky (Sept. 19), will have already played two SEC games before they face the Razorbacks (Oct. 3).
Following the disappointing end to the season, offensive coordinator Collin Klein returned to his alma mater to become the head coach at Kansas State. Wide receiver coach Holman Wiggins was promoted to replace Klein. Wiggins is lucky that Texas A&M returned junior quarterback Marcel Reed, leading rusher, junior Rueben Owens, junior Mario Craver and sophomore Ashton Bethel-Roman at receiver and senior Mark Nabou at center.
The Aggie secondary profiles as its best room on defense in 2026. Senior safeties Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks in addition to junior cornerback Dezz Ricks will be a tough group to pass against this fall. A&M was fourth in the nation in sacks last season but SEC Player of the Year Cashius Howell is gone. Sophomore defensive end Marco Jones or transfer Anto Saka are expected to fill Howell’s role. Senior Daymion Sanford is expected to anchor the linebacking core for Texas A&M.
Whether the starting quarterback is Jackson or Hill, they will have to be schooled up on SEC secondaries because A&M’s secondary is going to be one of the best in the country let alone the nation. In addition, Arkansas’ wide receivers will have to have their heads on a swivel looking for Ratcliffe, Brooks and Ricks making a big play for the Aggies’ defense. Last season, the Arkansas defense gave up 45 points in their three-point loss (Oct. 18). If the Razorbacks want to win versus Texas A&M this season, Quincy Rhodes, Bradley Shaw and Jahiem Johnson will have to step up and make big plays for Arkansas.
The game may be close in the first half, but the Kyle Field crowd will be too much too muster for the Razorbacks to deal with. Texas A&M should move to 2-0 in the SEC with a win over the Razorbacks.
Texas A&M will travel to Columbia after facing Arkansas. The Aggies will play annual opponent Missouri (Oct. 10), looking for their third straight victory against the Tigers.
Saturday, October 10 Tennessee Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA Arkansas and Tennessee square off at Razorback Stadium for the first time since 2024, a 19-14 upset for the Razorbacks over the then No. 4 ranked Volunteers (Oct. 5).
Tennessee welcomes Auburn (Oct. 3) to Knoxville before they return to Fayetteville for the first time in two seasons. The Volunteers will face the Tigers for the first time since 2020, when AU defeated UT 30-17.
Tennessee was solid during the 2025 season, winning eight games overall and four in the SEC. The Volunteers’ quarterback Joey Aguilar led the league in passing yards per game and last season but is out of eligibility. Outside of their efficient offense led by Aguilar, the Tennessee defense was not good at stopping their opponents, allowing 30 or more points seven times.
Now, Volunteers’ fans expect their team to return to the College Football Playoff. As a result of their lack of success on defense last fall, head coach Josh Heupel hired Jim Knowles, the former Penn State defensive coordinator to the same position after firing Tim Eubanks. Three starting defenders return to Knoxville including senior weak side linebacker Arion Carter, junior strong safety Edges Fardoq, and sophomore Ty Redmond next to multiple former Nittany Lions following Knowles, including senior middle linebacker Amare Campbell.
Without Aguilar, there will be a quarterback competition between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub, who enters his third collegiate season. Six returning starters are back to play in Heupel’s offense, including junior tailback DeSean Bishop, junior receiver Mike Matthews, sophomore receiver Braylon Staley and four of five offensive linemen.
For Arkansas to defeat Tennessee for the fifth time in six attempts, they will have to be very good. If inexperienced quarterback MacIntyre is the starter for the Volunteers this season, and Quincy Rhodes Jr., Hunter Osborne and Bradley Shaw get to the quarterback, they can set up the Arkansas offense with better field position. UT’s defense should be better but the Razorback offense should be able to advance the ball down the field.
The inexperience of Silverfield and his coaching staff in the SEC will be the reason why Tennessee will outlast Arkansas and defeat them by just three points. If the Volunteers win against the Razorbacks this season, they will begin their first win streak against UA since 2000, when they won three straight games (2000-2002).
Tennessee will renew the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry against Alabama (Oct. 17) in Knoxville after facing the Razorbacks. The Volunteers have defeated the Crimson Tide back-to-back times in Knoxville, winning 52-49 in 2022 and 24-17 in 2024.
Saturday, October 17 at Vanderbilt Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA The Razorbacks will play Vanderbilt in Nashville for the first time since 2011. Arkansas came from behind and won that game against the Commodores 31-28 en route to an 11-win season.
Vanderbilt will face their old cross-division rivalry versus Ole Miss (Oct. 10) for the first time since 2023 before facing Arkansas (Oct. 17). The Commodores will attempt to end a five-game losing streak to the Rebels.
Vanderbilt comes off of a 10-win season in 2025 on the back of a Heisman runner-up season from Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers, who both head to the NFL after a tremendous two-year run on the West End. The Commodores won six of their first eight games last fall with victories against SEC opponents South Carolina, LSU, Missouri and Tennessee before dropping their bowl game to Iowa.
Clark Lea replaced Pavia with five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, a Nashville native and a former Georgia commit behind center. Curtis will stand next to productive running back Sedrick Alexander and wide receiver Junior Sherrill. Only one offensive lineman, senior left guard Cade McConnell returns as a starter next to fellow four-year tight end Cole Spence.
Five starters are back for what was a so/so Vanderbilt defense in 2025. They are senior defensive end Miles Capers, inside linebacker Bryan Longwell, cornerback Martel Height and junior defensive tackle Glenn Seabrooks III. Three Power 4 transfers join the Commodore defense for this fall, so Lea’s unit should be ready to compete for another season above VU’s previous standards before his tenure in Nashville.
This is a winnable game for Arkansas but it is on the road. The Razorbacks have not played on the gridiron in Nashville in 15 years and it comes in a season with their first-year head coach, who last coached in the same state. Silverfield’s team will go back into the “Volunteer State” after falling to Tennessee the week before and upset Vanderbilt, their first SEC win since Oct. 26, 2024 at Mississippi State.
After their first opportunity to play the Razorbacks in over a decade, Vanderbilt travels to Lexington to face Kentucky (Oct. 17). The Commodores will attempt to continue their success against the Wildcats in UK’s first season with new head coach Will Stein.
Saturday, October 31 Missouri Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA With the SEC moving to a nine-game football schedule in 2026, Missouri will travel to Fayetteville and face Arkansas at Razorback Stadium for the second consecutive season. The Razorbacks will not face the Tigers the final weekend of the regular season for the first time since 2020.
Missouri will travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss (Oct. 17) before taking their bye week ahead of their game against Arkansas (Oct. 31) on Halloween. The Tigers and Razorbacks will both be coming off of their bye weeks entering their matchup.
Eli Drinkwitz’s team was solid in 2025, but could not make their first College Football Playoff appearance because injuries forced then freshman quarterback Matt Zollers into a role he was not ready for. Missouri still won eight games overall and four in the SEC thanks to a strong running game and defense but without a strong passing offense, the Tigers failed to defeat Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M or Oklahoma. Tailback Ahmad Hardy’s physical running style powered UM’s offense last season.
Tragedy hit when junior running back Hardy was shot in the off-season. His availability will be in question but backup Jamal Roberts is capable and he should be a quality piece beside Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons, who began the 2025 season as the starter for the Rebels before getting injured and Trinidad Chambliss taking over for him and leading them to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Senior tight end Brett Norfleet and left tackle Cayden Green headline five returners to the Tiger offense in 2026.
Corey Batoon’s defense was incredible in 2025, allowing just 18.9 points a game. There will be a new-look unit for him this fall after all 11 defenders that played for Batoon exited the program. Cornerback transfers Chris Graves Jr. (Ole Miss) and Jahlil Florence (Oregon), and linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. (Auburn) will be the guys Arkansas offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey will have to game plan for weeks ahead of their matchup.
Arkansas has not defeated Missouri since the 2021 season. For the Razorbacks to defeat Drinkwitz and the Tigers, it will take a phenomenal defensive performance against the dynamic quarterback Simmons, a rushing attack that could include Hardy, Roberts, and the tight end Norfleet. The Razorbacks will keep it close, but Missouri will defeat Arkansas by ten points.
The Tigers return home to face Texas (Nov. 7) to begin the final month of the regular season. The last time Missouri and Texas battled was in the 2017 Texas Bowl, when the Longhorns defeated the Tigers 33-16.
Saturday, November 7 at Auburn Early 11 a.m.-Noon / TBA As Arkansas begins the final month of the regular season, they will attempt to continue their two-game winning streak at Auburn inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn faces Ole Miss (Oct. 31) in Oxford on Halloween before hosting Arkansas. The Rebels will look to continue a two-game winning streak against the Tigers.
Auburn has not had a winning record since 2019. After Hugh Freeze’s last team on the Plains went 5-7 and won their only SEC game in Fayetteville against Arkansas (Oct. 25), his offensive acumen should be what gets the Tigers back on the right foot again in 2026.
The former South Florida coach brought key staff members and offensive contributors from the Bulls including quarterback Byrum Brown, wide receivers Chas Nimrod, Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger and center Cole Brown. Brown eclipsed 3,000 passing yards in both the 2023 and 2025 seasons after an injury half way through 2024 cut his season short. Senior running back Jeremiah Cobb returns to Auburn after rushing for 969 yards and five scores in 2025.
Golesh retained defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who was up for the permanent head coaching position after serving in the interim role to finish the 2025 season. Durkin returns a centerpiece at the linebacker position Xavier Atkins, a first team All-SEC selection with 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles last fall. Sophomore Elijah Melendez will complement Atkins at linebacker while the Tigers’ safety position is filled with depth, including junior Fred Gaskin III, Sylvester Smith, and sophomore Eric Winters.
Silverfield is a perfect 3-0 against Golesh during their time as head coach in the American Conference at Memphis and USF respectively. Will Auburn protect their home field against Arkansas, end that streak and defeat the Razorbacks for the first time since 2020? Coming into the 2026 season, the Tigers’ roster looks much better than Arkansas’. But something tells me Silverfield’s team will get a few wins no one expects them to get. The Razorbacks will walk into Jordan-Hare Stadium and grab their second SEC win of the season.
After facing the Razorbacks, Auburn returns to the state of Mississippi when they travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State (Nov. 14).
Saturday, November 14 South Carolina Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA Arkansas will face South Carolina in Fayetteville for just the first time since 2022, when the Razorbacks defeated the Gamecocks 44-30.
South Carolina welcomes Texas A&M (Nov. 7) to open the final month of the regular season before traveling to face Arkansas (Nov. 14). The Gamecocks and Aggies have faced each other the last 12 seasons when they became cross-division rivals after being the Razorbacks’ cross-division opponent since the two teams joined the SEC.
After beginning the season ranked 11th in the AP Poll, South Carolina went 4-8 and won a single SEC game in 2025. Shane Beamer’s job is on the line after the Gamecocks’ only wins against Power 4 competition were against Virginia Tech (Aug. 31) and Kentucky (Sept. 27), which both came in the first month of the regular season.
Without support from his offensive line and a coordinator that forced him to limit his rushing ability, LaNorris Sellers and the Carolina offense faltered last fall. The defense was average after losing multiple players to the NFL Draft following the 2024 season.
As a result, Beamer fired Mike Shula and hired former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles for the same position in Columbia. Sellers is a similar quarterback to Briles’ last quarterback in Fayetteville, KJ Jefferson, a big body athlete with a big arm and a tremendous athlete. Sellers can thrive in this system with Nyck Harbor and his brother Jayden Sellers back at wide receiver.
The rest of the offense will be the problem for the Gamecocks. Sophomore Matt Fuller is expected to step in at tailback while tackle Josiah Thompson is out for the season and transfer Jacarrius Peak is questionable for the start of the season with a lingering knee injury.
Clayton White’s defense has many questions for the 2026 season. Star end Dylan Stewart sat out spring ball with a back issue so his availability will be critical throughout the season, especially as much as he was double-teamed last fall. Stewart is one of five returners for the South Carolina defense, including linebackers Judge Collier, Jayr Johnson, Justin Okoronkwo and safety Peyton Williams.
As Briles goes back to Fayetteville for the first time since Arkansas’ 44-30 victory against the Gamecocks four years ago, South Carolina could enter their battle against the Razorbacks having already fired their head coach, Beamer. If this is the case, which it could be, Silverfield and his team could take advantage of that. However, Sellers, Harbor, and Stewart won’t want to give up on their season. South Carolina will get their first win in Fayetteville since 2013 (Oct. 12) after defeating the Razorbacks.
South Carolina wraps up SEC play against rival Georgia (Nov. 21) when they return home from Fayetteville after facing Arkansas. The Gamecocks and Bulldogs will match up for the first time since the 2023 season when they meet up the second to last Saturday of the regular season.
Saturday, November 21 at Texas Afternoon 2:30-3:30 p.m. / TBA Arkansas will travel to Austin to face Texas for the second consecutive season after the SEC moved to nine league games. The Razorbacks and Longhorns will meet up in the Afternoon window for the third consecutive season.
Texas travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU (Nov. 14) before returning to Austin to face Arkansas (Nov. 21). The Longhorns and Tigers could be two College Football Playoff contenders late into November, setting up an important matchup likely set up in primetime.
After insane expectations ahead of the 2025 season, Texas failed to make the College Football Playoff after back-to-back appearances the two seasons before. Losses to Ohio State (Aug. 30), Florida (Oct. 4), and Georgia (Nov. 15). After their loss to the Bulldogs, the Longhorns finished the season strong, winning their final three games against Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Arch Manning threw 11 touchdowns with only one interception during the final five games of the regular season. With Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, who has caught 13 touchdown passes over the last two seasons, joining returners Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosely V on the outside, it should be an easier start to the season for Manning and the Texas passing attack. Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown and North Carolina State transfer Hollywood Smothers will form a solid duo in the backfield for Steve Sarkisian. They will play behind a line that returns senior Connor Robertson and junior right guard Brandon Baker.
Sarkisian made an interesting decision when he fired defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatiwski (whose defenses gave up an average of 18.1 points per game in the last three seasons) in hopes of an even better one with the hire of Will Muschamp, who returns to Austin to fill the same position he had from 2008-2010, after serving on Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia for the past five seasons. Muschamp has playmakers at every level with end Colin Simmons (12 sacks in 2025), linebackers Ty’Anthony Smith, Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh transfer), Justin Cryer (Florida State) and safety Jelani McDonald, who led the team in tackles and interceptions in 2025).
After welcoming Texas to the SEC with a dominant 40-21 in 2021, Arkansas has fallen to the Longhorns in back-to-back seasons since they joined the league. For the Razorbacks to win this late-season rivalry battle, they cannot give up over 50 points to Manning and the elite Longhorn offense, like they did in the 52-37 defeat last season.
Now, Arkansas has to return to Austin for the second consecutive season after the league’s move to nine conference games. With Manning at quarterback, Coleman, Wing, and Mosley at receiver, and Brown and Smothers at tailback, and a defense that includes Simmons up front and McDonald on the back end, Texas is in a different class than Arkansas right now. The Longhorns will defeat the Razorbacks on their way to a third College Football Playoff appearance in four seasons.
Texas finishes the regular season against instate rival Texas A&M on Black Friday in the Lone Star Showdown. The Longhorns look for their third consecutive win against the Aggies since they joined the SEC and their first College Football Playoff appearance since the 2024 season.
Saturday, November 28 LSU Early 11 a.m.-Noon / TBA Arkansas and LSU will return to the traditional spot on the schedule for the first time since the 2013 season, when the Tigers defeated the Razorbacks, 31-27.
After hosting Texas, LSU begins a two-game road trip, starting in Knoxville against Tennessee. In his first season in Baton Rouge, Lane Kiffin will face two teams he used to coach, Ole Miss (Sept. 19) and UT (Nov. 21) before wrapping up the regular season against Arkansas (Nov. 28).
Following a 7-6 season that included only three wins in the SEC, LSU fired Brian Kelly. That led to one of the craziest coaching moves in SEC history when the Tigers welcomed Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin to take over the same position on the Bayou. While Kiffin’s Rebels made it all the way to the College Football Playoff Semifinals, LSU fell to Houston 38-35 in the Texas Bowl (Dec. 27).
After the Rebels did not allow Kiffin to coach his team in the playoffs after he announced his departure from Oxford, he tried to recruit some of his coaches and players to join him in Baton Rouge. He was successful in adding his offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who was a big part in Ole Miss’ deep run last season.
While he did not get Trinidad Chambliss to join him, one of the top transfer portal quarterbacks in the country, Sam Leavitt, formerly of Arizona State will get to throw passes to former Florida wideout Eugene Wilson III and behind the top left tackle transfer in the nation, former Colorado left tackle Jordan Seaton. The LSU offense also returns senior center Brain Moore, junior playmaker at tight end Trey’Dez Green, and sophomore right tackle Weston Davis to their offense. Running backs Caden Durham and Harlem Barry will be important to establish the ground game and open up passing lanes for Leavitt.
Like Golesh at Auburn, Kiffin retained defensive coordinator Blake Baker to coach Princewill Umanmielen (9 sacks in 2025) and linebacker TJ Dottery (SEC-leading 98 tackles), who both followed him to LSU. Senior linebacker Whit Weeks, junior cornerback PJ Woodland and safety Tamarcus Cooley will return to play for Baker under Kiffin, forming a unit that could be impressive in 2026. All-American cornerback Mansoor Delane is now playing in the NFL so Woodland and Cooley will have to lead their younger group that will be sitting on the bench.
With LSU back as the final game of the regular season, there should be excitement in Fayetteville when the Tigers come to town for their Saturday after Thanksgiving battle against Arkansas depending on where they are entering the final weekend of the regular season. While I am not confident in Leavitt and the new-look LSU passing attack, I am confident in Weis’ play-calling ability. The Tigers’ defense looks strong and has multiple returners and transfers that are elite. Arkansas will keep this game close in the first half but a turnover by the Razorbacks will help LSU win the Golden Boot Trophy for the fifth consecutive time.
If Kiffin’s first season in the Bayou goes well, the Tigers could be back in the SEC Championship game (Dec. 4) for the first time since 2022. Georgia defeated LSU 37-10 en route to a second consecutive national championship victory.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Talking Season kicks off for the Southeastern Conference on July 20 at Media Days in Tampa, with the Arkansas Razorbacks taking their turn on Thursday, July 23, with offensive lineman Caden Kitler, running back Sutton Smith and defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes will join first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield on the podium.
Kitler started all 11 games of his redshirt junior season in 2025 and is set for another season of leading of one of the better offensive lines in the SEC. He helped pave the way for six games of 500+ yards of total offense and a 119-yard increase in rushing yards, behind tailback Mike Washington, who is now on the Las Vegas Raiders. Kitler and the Arkansas offensive line allowed 29 sacks last season, the fewest by a Razorback team since 2019 (19 sacks), and two games without a sack, one against Arkansas State (Sept. 6) and the other against Ole Miss (Sept. 13).
Smith followed Silverfield after four seasons at Memphis. As a redshirt junior, Smith played in all 12 games for the Tigers, rushing for 669 yards and seven scores on 102 carries. He caught 20 passes for 109 yards, 155 yards on five kick returns and 1,058 yards on 15 punt returns. Smith had three 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by his 12 carries for a career-high 147 yards and one touchdown against Arkansas (Sept. 20). His 64-yard touchdown with 4:51 left in the game was the winning score. Smith also rushed for 100 or more yards against conference foes Troy (Sept. 13) and East Carolina (Nov. 15). Smith should thrive behind a Caden Kitler-led offensive line along with his backfield mate Braylen Russell.
Rhodes Jr. enters the 2026 season as one of the top defensive linemen in the SEC. He broke out as a junior, totaling 44 tackles with a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, six quarterback-hurries and a forced fumble. His 15.5 tackles for loss were the most since Trey Fowlers registered the same number during the 2015 season. He is also the first Razorback to have double-digit tackles in a season since Landon Jackson (13.5 TFL) in 2023 and was the first Razorback to record three multi-sack games in a season since Tre Williams in 2021. Rhodes Jr. finished the regular season ranking 13th nationally and second in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (1.23) and 23rd nationally in sacks per game (0.67).
For Silverfield, it is his first appearance at SEC Media Days. He was one of the most successful head coaches in the country over the last six seasons at Memphis, going 50-25 overall and 27-13 in the American Conference. He led the Tigers to a pair of 10-win seasons in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Arkansas kicks off the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they welcome North Alabama to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for a 3:15 p.m. matchup on SEC Network.
Click this link to see all of players attending 2026 SEC Media Days from all 16 teams.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a 13-year partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season after being facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties.
The multi-phased partnership will not just include naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will support student-athletes and fans, serving as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics.
The partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on game day. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will provide Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Kickoff time windows have been set for Arkansas’ Southeastern Conference controlled games this fall.
For the third consecutive year, the SEC will utilize kickoff time windows that feature four windows: Early (11 a.m.-Noon CT), Afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m. CT), Night (5-7 p.m. CT) and Flex (2:30-7 p.m. CT). Game time windows will be converted to kickoff times six days prior to the game. Flex games will encompass the Afternoon and Night windows before being assigned a window 12 days prior to the game.
Arkansas already has three established game times for the 2026 season: the opener against North Alabama on September 5 at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network; a September 12 matchup at Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN; and the SEC home opener against Georgia on September 19 at 11 a.m. on ABC.
The Razorbacks finish the month of September back home at Razorback Stadium against Tulsa. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Arkansas will head to College Station on October 3 to face Texas A&M at Kyle Field for the first time since 2020 in the Flex window (2:30-7 p.m. CT). The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 42-31 six years ago.
The Hogs welcome Tennessee to Fayetteville on October 10 for the first time since 2024, when they upset the No. 4 Volunteers 19-14. Arkansas and Tennessee will matchup in the Flex window.
The Razorbacks head to Nashville on October 17 for their first opportunity at Vanderbilt since 2011, winning 31-28 on their way to an 11-win season. It will be Arkansas’ third consecutive game in the Flex window.
Arkansas begins the final month of the regular season at Auburn on November 7 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, where they have won two consecutive games. Kick-off is set for the Early window (11 a.m.-Noon CT) The Razorbacks welcome South Carolina to town on Nov. 14 for the first time since 2022, when they defeated the Gamecocks 44-30. Arkansas faces former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles in the same role with South Carolina in the Flex window.
Arkansas will end the regular season with two rivalry games. The Razorbacks will face Texas in Austin for the second consecutive season on Nov. 21 in the Afternoon window (2:30-3:30 p.m. CT). It will be the third consecutive season the Razorbacks and Longhorns face off beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Battle for the Golden Boot returns to its traditional place on the schedule for Arkansas and LSU, the final weekend of the regular season on Nov. 28. The Razorbacks and Tigers will face off at Razorback Stadium with the kick-off in the early window to finish regular season action.
2026 Arkansas Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 5 North Alabama 3:15 p.m. / SEC Network
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Utah 9:15 p.m. / ESPN
Saturday, Sept. 19 Georgia 11 a.m. / ABC
Saturday, Sept. 26 Tulsa 7 p.m. / SEC Network+
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Texas A&M Flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. / TBA
Kick-off times are set for Ryan Silverfield’s first three games at Arkansas.
The Razorbacks welcome North Alabama to Razorback Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. It is the first ever matchup between the Lions and Razorbacks and it will mark Ryan Silverfield’s first game as head coach.
In week 2, Arkansas travels to Salt Lake City, Utah to face Utah on the gridiron for the first time. The Razorbacks and Utes will square off on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Arkansas returns home to open Southeastern Conference play against back to back defending SEC champion Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kick-off will be at 11 a.m. on ABC. The Bulldogs and Razorbacks will face off in Fayetteville for the first time since Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.
The newest Hall of Honor Class will be honored when Arkansas and Tulsa square off on Sept. 26 as part of Family Weekend for the University. The Razorbacks open October with a trip to College Station to face Texas A&M which will be their first game at Kyle Field since Oct. 31, 2020. Arkansas returns home to take on Tennessee on before a trip to Vanderbilt to face the Commodores for the first time since Oct. 29, 2011. Missouri will return to Fayetteville to face the Razorbacks to serve as Homecoming on Oct. 31, reigniting the Battle Line Rivalry.
Arkansas will attempt to continue their winning streak at Auburn when they begin the final month of the regular season on “The Plains” on Nov. 7. The Razorbacks will take on South Carolina on Military Appreciation Day, the first time the two schools have met in Fayetteville since Sept. 10, 2022. Arkansas ends the regular season against two of their biggest rivals, Texas and LSU. The Razorbacks will face the Longhorns in Austin for the second consecutive season on Nov. 21 and will return home to Fayetteville to face the Tigers on Nov. 28. Arkansas and LSU will meet the final weekend of the regular season for the first time since 2013, returning to its traditional spot on schedule since the Hogs joined the SEC in 1992.
Television windows for all remaining (not previously schedule) SEC-controlled games will be announced on SEC Now: Inside the 2026 Football Schedule. The broadcast will be on Wednesday, June 10, beginning at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
The 2026 NFL Draft occurred over the weekend, starting with the first round on Thursday, April 23, continuing on Friday with the second and third rounds, and wrapping up Saturday, April 25, with rounds four through seven.
Four Arkansas Razorbacks that played on the 2-10 2025 team are headed to the league via the draft and several others are doing the same by signing undrafted free agent contracts with different teams.
Take a look at the 2026 Arkansas Razorback NFL Draft recap:
Julian Nealbecomes first Razorback selected in the third round The Seattle Seahawks selected Arkansas defensive back Julian Neal with the 199th overall pick. The reigning Super Bowl champions made Neal the first Razorback to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Neal started all 12 games for the Razorbacks in 2025, making 55 tackles and intercepting two passes. He made 11 tackles, one interception and a pair of pass breakups against Arkansas State, helping Arkansas win their second game of the season.
Neal is the first Arkansas defensive back selected since Montaric Brown in 2022 when he was selected in the seventh round. He became the first Razorback to be drafted by the Seahawks when they drafted the late Alex Collins in 2016. Neal’s selection in the third round makes it back to back years Arkansas players have been selected in the third round after Isaac TeSlaa (Detroit) and Landon Jackson (Buffalo) were selected in the same round last year.
Over 42 games throughout his collegiate career, Neal recorded 99 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions.
Mike Washington Jr. becomes fifth tailback selected in NFL Draft The Las Vegas Raiders traded up to pick No. 122 and selected Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Washington Jr. will join former Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty to form a duo next to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback starting in the 2026 season.
Washington Jr. broke out in the 2025 season for the Razorbacks, rushing for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns, becoming the 16th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground.
The New York native earned Second Team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and the Associated Press after five 100-yard games and finishing fifth on the SEC rushing list.
Washington Jr. is the first Arkansas player to be drafted by the team since Tyler Wilson was selected by the team when he was a fourth round pick by the then Oakland Raiders. He is the Razorback running back selected in the draft since David Williams in 2018.
Fernando Carmona becomes the next Razorback offensive lineman drafted
The Tennessee Titans drafted Fernando Carmona Jr. in the fifth round with the 142nd overall pick. Carmona Jr. became the first Arkansas player selected by the Titans since they selected Treylon Burks in the first round in 2022.
Carmona Jr. collected All-SEC honors at two positions, earning third-team recognition at left tackle in 2024 and second-team honors at left guard in 2025.
The Las Vegas native starred at San Jose State before transferring to Arkansas. He started all 49 games of his college career.
Taylen Green joins the Cleveland Browns’ crowded quarterback room
The Cleveland Browns selected Taylen Green with the 182nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Green became the first Arkansas quarterback to be drafted since Brandon Allen, when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the 152nd pick in the 2016 draft. Green became the first Razorback selected by the Browns since 1999, when they selected tailback Madre Hill.
Green started his college career at Boise State (2021-2023) before transferring to play two seasons for Arkansas. The Lewisville, Texas native started 46 of his 53 games on the gridiron, passing for 9,662 yards with 59 touchdowns and adding 2,405 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground. In Fayetteville, the Lewisville, Texas native passed for 5,868 yards and ran 1,379. Combined, that is a total of 7,247 yards, good enough for sixth all-time for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas has had at least one player selected in the NFL Draft in each of the last 31 drafts.
Seven Razorbacks sign UDFA deals After four Arkansas players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, six joined them as undrafted free agents who signed deals with different teams after the draft finished up on Saturday, April 25. Players who signed undrafted free agent deals include Cameron Ball, Rohan Jones, Xavian Sorey, Corey Robinson II, Raylen Sharpe and Kani Walker.
Arkansas defensive tackle Cameron Ball signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Ball played all five seasons of his collegiate career in Fayetteville. The Atlanta, Georgia native started all 24 games he played his last two seasons, totaling 74 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks.
Razorback tight end Rohan Jones signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Jones played in all 12 games in his only season and made four starts in his lone season in Fayetteville. Jones caught 19 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns while rushing twice for 10 yards and a
Arkansas linebacker Xavian Sorey became the second Razorback defensive player to sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, joining teammate Mike Washington Jr. in the “Sin City”. In his two seasons at Arkansas, Sorey totaled 180 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and six quarterback hurries. The Campbellton, Florida native began his career at the University of Georgia.
Razorback offensive tackle Corey Robinson II signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. In Robinson II’s one season at Arkansas, he started all 12 games for the Razorbacks and paved the way for six games of 500+ yards of total offense. Robinson II redshirted his first collegiate season at Kansas before starting 24 of 36 games in three seasons at Georgia Tech, where he was a staple at left tackle at Brent Key before transferring to play his redshirt senior season in Fayetteville.
Arkansas slot receiver Raylen Sharpe signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Sharpe made three starts and saw action in all 12 games in his one season as a Razorback. He caught 41 passes for 592 yards and three touchdowns while rushing six times for 54 yards.
The Allen, Texas native started his career at Houston where he redshirted his freshman season before joining Bobby Petrino at Missouri State, where he played his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons. He left Springdale and played his redshirt junior season at Fresno State before wrapping up his final season of college football for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas cornerback Kani Walker joined his six other teammates who signed as undrafted free agents signed with the Buffalo Bills. In his one season as a Razorback, Walker started 11 of 12 games during the 2025 season. He tallied 52 tackles, three for loss, one sack, one interception and 11 pass breakups. The Atlanta, Georgia native spent a redshirt year at Louisville before playing a meaningful role for Oklahoma the next three seasons, where he recorded two interceptions and 10 pass breakups during his time in Norman.
In five months, the sport of college football will return to our televisions every Saturday from September to the first week of December and games will continue in the College Football Playoff until a champion is decided at the end of January.
Along with that, ESPN’s College GameDay will head to a different campus site each week. The GameDay crew has been going to different sites since the 1993 season and 2026 will not be any different. So, where will Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit head each Saturday for their famous pregame show? Read to find out below.
Aug. 29 North Carolina vs TCU (Dublin; Aer Lingus College Football Classic) College GameDay did not go to a campus site for Week 0’s games a year ago, instead deciding to put on a studio show. Two years ago, the crew went to Dublin for Georgia Tech’s win against Florida State. So, could GameDay return to Dublin again for North Carolina-TCU overseas?
It definitely is possible. On Sept. 1, 2025, TCU destroyed North Carolina 48-14 in Bill Belichick’s debut as the Tar Heels’ head coach. Under a year later, Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs will face North Carolina again to open the regular season.
Quarterback Josh Hoover is no longer in Fort Worth as he decided to transfer to Indiana to off-season so it will be a new look offense for the North Carolina defense to deal with in this game. On the other side, Belichick hired former Arkansas interim head coach Bobby Petrino to be his next offensive coordinator. So, the TCU defense should have a bigger challenge than they did a season ago.
If the College GameDay were to go anywhere else in Week 0, it would be to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for an ACC showdown between North Carolina State and Virginia.
Sept. 5 Ole Miss vs Louisville (Nashville) College GameDay does not always open with back to back games at neutral sites but they have to make an excuse for Ole Miss and Louisville, who will face off in Nashville to highlight week 1 of the 2026 college football slate. The Rebels and the Cardinals are two rising programs that could both appear in the College Football Playoff.
Amidst all of the craziness of Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU, Pete Golding led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals and they were just four points short of making the national championship game, losing to Miami 31-27. Golding should be confident that his team can return to that stage returning his backfield of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy and a defense that should be better than it was a year ago.
Jeff Brohm has nearly brought his alma mater back to the top of the sport. Louisville went 9-4 in 2025 and they won four games in the ACC. They finished the season with a 27-22 victory against Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. Now, they must rebuild an offense losing quarterback Miller Moss, especially if they want to keep up with the Rebels’ high-scoring offense.
The Clemson-LSU is the game College GameDay could opt for in week 1 if they don’t go to Nashville for Ole Miss-Louisville.
Sept. 12 Ohio State at Texas The College GameDay set will be in Austin on Sept. 12 for a huge battle between two of college football’s best. The GameDay crew was in Columbus for the game a season ago, a 14-7 Ohio State win, but this season the game is Austin, so Texas must take advantage and avenge their loss to the Buckeyes from a year ago.
Ohio State boasts an offense with some of the best playmakers in the country. That group includes quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and a running back room that expects Bo Jackson to step in and be the next great player standing next to the quarterback for the Buckeyes after a year buried on the depth chart. Ohio State’s defense lost top safety Caleb Downs and pass-rushers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese to the NFL Draft but their defense always raises to the occasion.
Matt Patricia’s defense will be trusted to stop Arch Manning and the Texas offense, that improved drastically after a 45-38 win against Mississippi State on Oct. 25. In his second season as the starter behind center, Manning has no excuses not to perform being able to throw to Auburn transfer Cam Coleman down the field. The Longhorns’ defense will have a new leader as Will Muschamp takes over his old job, replaces Pete Kwiatowski, and will attempt to build on what he had started.
If Ohio State-Texas is not the choice for College GameDay, another Big Ten-SEC battle between Oklahoma and Michigan may be the choice, as they would head to Ann Arbor for the game.
Sept. 19 LSU at Ole Miss Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss as LSU’s head coach is the slam dunk pick for College GameDay during week 3. The Rebels’ athletic department did not allow Kiffin to coach his team during their College Football Playoff run. Instead, Pete Golding led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Both teams open their SEC slates with a familiar foe that they don’t like.
LSU went 7-6 last season, prompting them to fire head coach Brian Kelly and hiring Kiffin away from Ole Miss. After helping the Rebels on their playoff run, new Tigers offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will hope quarterback Sam Leavitt is fully healthy for the season as he continues to deal with an injury after transferring from Arizona State. He will need to be out on the field for Kiffin’s offense if they want to outscore his old quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense.
Ole Miss quarterback Chambliss and Kyren Lacy will be tough to deal with and Kiffin knows it. That is why he retained Blake Baker as his defensive coordinator. They were able to retain linebackers Whit and West Weeks in addition to adding Ole Miss’ Princewill Umanmielen to their defensive line. The x-factor in this game will be Baker against Ole Miss’ new offensive coordinator John David Baker, who returned to the Rebels’ staff after a few seasons at East Carolina.
While it is likely ESPN will send College GameDay to Oxford for the battle between LSU and Ole Miss, if they do not go there, they may go to Lubbock for Houston-Texas Tech.
Sept. 26 Oregon at USC College GameDay has not been to Memorial Coliseum for a USC game in a long time. That may change when ESPN potentially sends the College GameDay crew to Los Angeles as Oregon heads to face their old Pac-12 rival, the Trojans. USC head coach Lincoln Riley must have a team that can compete for a College Football Playoff berth or his job might be in question. Dan Lanning’s Ducks are capable of another playoff run, despite the devastating loss to Big Ten foe Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals a year ago.
Lanning’s team returns Dante Moore behind center and gets wide receiver Evan Stewart comes back after a torn ACL to lead the Oregon offense. The Ducks’ defense is headed by linebackers Matayo Uiagalalelei and Teitum Tuitoi and they will be forces all season and vital against Riley’s offense that wants to go up and down the field.
Riley will expect his quarterback Jayden Maiava to ascend to a new level in 2026 and he will have to reach that level if they want to score on the tough Duck defense. Questions will have to be answered on defense after former TCU head coach Gary Patterson takes over the unit.
If they don’t go to Los Angeles for Oregon-USC, I anticipate College GameDay may go to the Oklahoma-Georgia game in Athens.
Oct. 3 Miami at Clemson This projection might be entirely wrong as Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers have fallen from the top of college football. Miami has replaced them as the ACC’s top team despite not winning the conference’s championship game last season.
The Hurricanes made the College Football Playoff as an at-large and defeated Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss on their way to the national championship game in January. They fell to Indiana in the game however they reinstated them as one of college football’s top programs. Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah can be a star for his team, especially with upcoming sophomore receiver Malachi Toney’s skills down the field. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman will have to replace likely first round NFL Draft pick Rueben Bain at the defensive end position but the Hurricanes should be the favorites to win the ACC and make another playoff appearance in 2026.
Clemson will have a new look in 2026 after many players exited to the NFL and the transfer portal. Christopher Vizzina takes over at quarterback and three defensive back transfers look to lead the Tigers back in the right direction.
College GameDay may head to Iowa City for Ohio State-Iowa if they do not head to Clemson for the battle between the Hurricanes and Tigers.
Oct. 10 Georgia at Alabama The last two seasons, the battles between Alabama and Georgia have been highlighted by ESPN and College GameDay and for good reason. In 2024, the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 41-34 and 24-21 in 2025 in their last two regular season meetings. Despite those results, Georgia has won the last two SEC Championship games. So, it is not likely GameDay will miss this game.
The Bulldogs fell short of winning a third national championship in five seasons after falling to Ole Miss in a 39-34 shootout in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton and running back Nate Frazier have returned but wide receivers Zachariah Brach, Dillon Bell, Colbie Young. tight end Oscar Delp are headed to the NFL. On defense, defensive tackle Christen Miller, linebacker CJ Allen, and cornerback Daylen Everette are also headed to the pros.
Alabama has a quarterback battle between redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell going on this spring. The winner of that battle will be a vital part of the Crimson Tide’s third win over the Bulldogs in as many regular seasons. The winner will get to Ryan Coleman-Williams, who must bounce back this fall after an up and down sophomore season.
The Cotton Bowl should be the destination for ESPN to send the College GameDay crew for the Oklahoma-Texas matchup if they do not go to the Alabama-Georgia game for the third consecutive season.
Oct. 17 Ohio State at Indiana ESPN will not missing out on sending the College GameDay crew to the Big Ten Championship game rematch between Ohio State and Indiana in Bloomington, over ten months after the 14-10 Hoosiers’ win back on Dec. 4. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes will attempt to avenge their loss to Indiana as they look to get back to the national championship game. Curt Cignetti will have his team focused and ready as they attempt to win a second consecutive national championship.
Two seasons ago, Ohio State finished the season with the national championship trophy. Last season, the Buckeyes came up short in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Miami, losing to the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl. Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and their entire roster will not be satisfied with anything less than a second national championship in three seasons but they will have to go through Cignetti and Indiana to get it.
Cignetti must hope new quarterback Josh Hoover fits in his offense and shows out on the field, especially against a team like the Buckeyes. Hoover will have the luxury of throwing to returning receiver Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. The Hoosier defense should also be ready to face the Buckeyes’ offense but it will be a challenge just as it was a year ago.
If College GameDay does not go to Bloomington for week seven, they may go to Provo for the battle between Catholics and Mormons, Notre Dame at BYU on Oct. 17.
Image – Auburn Tigers
Oct. 24 LSU at Auburn It was hard to pick for this week, so an old SEC West rivalry returning to the calendar makes for a perfect selection for College GameDay this week. While, the crew may not choose to go with all of the LSU games they could go to, but this seems like an easy pick if Alex Golesh has Auburn improving in his first season as head coach.
The Tigers will play through their quarterback Byrum Brown, who was Golesh’s quarterback at South Florida as well. Golesh also retained defensive coordinator DJ Durkin on his staff so even though they lost a few pieces in the transfer portal, the Tigers’ defense should still be one of the SEC’s best.
Sam Leavitt should be healthy for LSU eight weeks into the season but if he is not, Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the SEC, so Lane Kiffin’s team could definitely lose to Auburn if they are not focused.
Alabama-Texas A&M, Indiana-Michigan and Ole Miss-Texas make sense as games that College GameDay could go to if they do not head to ‘The Plains’ on Oct. 24.
Oct. 31 Arizona at Texas Tech ESPN should send the College GameDay crew to Lubbock, where they will see Arizona face Texas Tech on their home field. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 Championship and appeared in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history in 2025 so the crew should definitely make plans to get out to west Texas if they continue their success.
Brett Brennan led the Wildcats to a 9-4 record with a 6-3 standing against Big 12 competition last fall. Things are looking up for Arizona with veteran quarterback Noah Fifita starting behind center. Memphis transfer Everett Roussaw Jr. heads over to help the Wildcats’ pass-rush against what should be another solid Texas Tech offense.
Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby will replace Behren Morton behind center for the Red Raiders. Sorsby will have the benefit of throwing to Micah Hudson, Coy Eakin and Kenny Johnson. Joey McGuire picked up four front seven transfers to fill the spots NFL-bound Jacob Roudriguez and David Bailey leave behind in Lubbock.
If the College GameDay set is not at Texas Tech for Oct. 31 games, it could also be in Atlanta for the Florida-Georgia game or Los Angeles for Ohio State-USC.
Nov. 7 Miami at Notre Dame College GameDay should definitely pick South Bend as the destination for their week 10 show, as Miami and Notre Dame renew their rivalry to begin the month of November in college football.
The Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over Notre Dame on Aug. 31 started both teams’ seasons a year ago. A week later, the Fighting Irish fell 41-40 to Texas A&M. Those two losses kept them out of the College Football Playoff. Miami made their first appearance in the College Football Playoff and advanced to the national championship game, where they fell to Indiana 27-21 at their home stadium.
The Hurricanes are reenergized for another season after their quarterback Mensah will look to pick up where outgoing signal-caller Carson Beck left it at the end of last season. The defense will have to pick it up after losing many pieces to the NFL, as mentioned above.
Notre Dame will come in to 2026 angry after missing the College Football Playoff in 2025. CJ Carr returns at quarterback but tailback Jeremiyah Love is off to the NFL Draft. The Fighting Irish should also have the defense to beat Miami and make another postseason run.
If College GameDay does not go to South Bend for the Miami-Notre Dame showdown, they may make it to Oxford for Georgia-Ole Miss or Baton Rouge for Alabama-LSU.
Nov. 14 Texas at LSU Seven years ago, LSU went to Austin and defeated Texas 45-38 in an absolute thriller. In 2026, the Longhorns makes a return trip to Baton Rouge. Both teams should be able to make the SEC Championship game if College GameDay heads to Louisiana for their classic pregame show.
Arch Manning returns to his home state and home area when he leads Texas to face LSU. The New Orleans native will be the x-factor against the Tigers’ defense. The Longhorn defense will have to shut down Sam Leavitt and a group of transfer receivers including Jayce Brown, Eugene Wilson III and Winston Watkins.
The 2026 version of Texas-LSU may not combine for 83 points but it will definitely be the quality of game that ESPN will not want the College GameDay cast to miss out on. Tennessee-Texas A&M and Ole Miss-Oklahoma are other games the crew may consider going to on Nov. 14.
Nov. 21 Texas A&M at Oklahoma The SEC is known for the second to last week of the regular season being their “cupcake” week because of the amount of the Group of 6 or FCS opponents their members play that week. However, Texas A&M-Oklahoma is a game that College GameDay will not want to miss. The two old Big 12 rivals square off on the gridiron for the first time as SEC foes in a game that could have SEC and College Football Playoff implications.
After their first College Football Playoff appearance, the Aggies promoted Holoman Wiggins to be their new offensive coordinator after Collin Klein returned to Kansas State to become the new head coach. Marcel Reed will still be throwing passes to Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman but Mike Elko has had to retool a defense that lost a bunch of production to the NFL.
The Sooners also made a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025 and it ended in the first round just like the Aggies. John Mateer is back at quarterback, top receiver Isaiah Sategna was retained but the offensive line will need to be improved to get the ground game on solid footing and to protect Mateer a bit better. Under head coach Brent Venables, the Oklahoma defense will always be great but they have lost pieces just like Texas A&M. By the end of the season, Venables should have his defense clicking.
Virginia Tech-Miami or LSU-Tennessee are the two options College GameDay might consider if they do not go to Norman for Oklahoma’s week 12 matchup against Texas A&M.
Nov. 28 Ohio State at Michigan Most years, Ohio State-Michigan is the pick for College GameDay during rivalry week and for good reason. ‘The Game’ is the most heated rivalry in the sport and because it is a Big Ten game, ESPN does not get to actually broadcast the game. So there is no reason why they will not be there.
The Buckeyes fell short of a national championship a year ago but there is no reason why they cannot be that good this season. Jeremiah Smith is one of the best receiver prospects in the country, Julian Sayin is throwing him the ball and they always have a quality defense.
After years of building up and turning Utah football into a quality program, Kyle Whittingham has taken over Michigan and will look to get the Wolverines back to defeating Ohio State. It will be no easy task against Ryan Day’s squad but he has the talent that is capable to do so. Dual-threat quarterback Bryce Underwood should develop under the new offensive staff and Whittingham always had talented defenses in his time in Salt Lake City.
If College GameDay does not make their Thanksgiving weekend stop in Ann Arbor, they might do it in Tuscaloosa for the ‘Iron Bowl’ between Auburn and Alabama.
Dec. 5 SEC Championship Game (Atlanta) The last couple of years, the College GameDay set is in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. A big part of why they go to it every season is Disney’s deal with the SEC. No matter what the matchup is, the crew should definitely be there to cover the weekend of games and preview that matchup because it is normally appointment television.
Georgia has won the last two SEC title games but Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M are all capable of reaching the game and potentially defeating the Bulldogs.
The SEC has not won a national championship game in three years, so the conference must find out a way to get back on the Big Ten’s level, the conference that has won the last three championships.
If GameDay does not go to the SEC Championship game, they will likely be in Indianapolis at the Big Ten Championship game, although it is unlikely with the media deals in place right now between the two conferences.
Dec. 12 Army vs Navy (East Rutherford) College GameDay will definitely be in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium for the annual Army-Navy game. Last season, the Midshipmen got a 17-16 victory over the Black Knights.
Army went 7-6 and 4-4 in the American Conference. They will attempt to avenge their loss to Navy, who had a strong 11-2 record with seven wins in conference.
There are bowl games on that day but ESPN will not send College GameDay anywhere else.
Since Ryan Silverfield accepted job as head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 30, 2025, he has been hard at work making his first staff, putting together his transfer portal and high school classes, and preparing for the upcoming season with winter workouts with a team competition with coaches drafting players to create four teams.
Silverfield’s staff is headlined by offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, who spent the last four seasons as his offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who has spent time in the same position at fellow SEC programs Auburn and Florida and special teams coordinator Chad Lunsford, who spent the 2025 season in the same spot at Auburn.
Originally, Silverfield hired Clint Trickett to be his quarterbacks coach and Marion Hobby to be one of his two defensive line coaches. Since, Maryland hired Trickett as their offensive coordinator and Hobby was hired away by the Indianapolis Colts. Silverfield hired Mitch Stewart, his quarterbacks coach at Memphis to replace Trickett. A replacement for Hobby has not been named.
David Johnson was hired to be the running backs coach and assistant head coach, Larry Smith will coach receivers, Marcus Johnson, Jeff Myers, and Baer Hunter will coach the offensive line. Tight ends coach Morgan Turner is the lone man to stay apart of the staff that was with Sam Pittman last season.
On defense, Kynjee Cotton will be joined by the newly hired Landius Wilkerson to coach the defensive line. CJ Wiliford will coach cornerbacks and Eddie Hicks, TJ Rushing, and Deron Wilson will be in charge of defensive backs. Wilson, who returns to Fayetteville after a year in Gainesville at Florida, will also be the assistant defensive coordinator.
Scott Gasper was hired as the Senior Director of Recruiting & Player Personnel, Noah Franklin will lead as the strength and conditioning coordinator, and Gaizka Crowley will be the football only general manager for the Razorbacks. In 2025, Crowley helped Arizona to a five win improvement going from four to nine wins and an invitation to the Holiday Bowl.
Recently, Razorback athletics announced important dates for the 2026 season:
Silverfield will lead Arkansas onto the field for the first time today with their first practice on March 15. The Razorbacks wrap up spring drills on Saturday, April 25 with the spring game hosted by TheLinkU.
Arkansas begins the season at home against North Alabama on September 5 before their first ever trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah a week later on September 12.
Arkansas returns home to begin SEC play against the back to back SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs. Razorback Stadium will be striped out for the game on September 19.
Tulsa comes to town the next weekend for what will begin another home and home series between the Razorbacks and the Golden Wave. The September 26 game will be apart of Family Weekend and the newest members of the Hall of Honor being recognized as well.
Two weeks later, Tennessee returns to Fayetteville to face Arkansas. Razorback Foundation Appreciation Day will be apart of the day’s celebration just over two years after the Razorbacks upset the No. 4 Volunteers in the same stadium.
Homecoming is set for October 31 with a new date for the Battle Line Rivalry against Missouri. The Razorbacks will not play the Tigers the final weekend of the regular season for the first time since 2020.
Arkansas welcomes former cross division rival South Carolina to Fayetteville two weeks later on November 14. The Razorbacks will honor the military that day along with celebrating the 250th year of the United States of America.
The Battle for the Golden Boot against LSU returns to the final weekend of the regular season on Nov. 29. Arkansas’ seniors will be honored pregame.
Incoming 2026 Class (via 247Sports): 119.Anthony Beal (#15DL) Cherry Creek, AR Cross County HS 355.Terry Hodges (#18RB) Bryant, AR Bryant HS 463.Anthony Kennedy Jr. (#37DL) Little Rock, AR Little Rock Central HS 575.Colton Yarbrough (#40Edge) Durant, OK Durant HS 680.Hank Hendrix (#40QB) Fayetteville, AR) Fayetteville HS Dequane Prevo (#63ATH) Bentonville, AR Bentonville HS Tay Lockett (#82S) Conway, AR Conway HS Jakore Smith (#65LB) Bryant, AR Bryant HS Jalon Copeland (#78CB) Valdosta, GA Valdosta HS Jude Hall (#138WR) Greenville, SC Christ Church Episcopal School Ben Mubenga (#106OT) Buford, GA Buford HS Kyndrick Williams (#120S) Fayetteville, AR Fayetteville HS Hugh Smith (#92OT) Missouri City, TX Ridge Point HS Tucker Young (#116OT) Hot Springs, AR Lakeside HS Brandon Ford (#146CB) Crowley, TX Crowley HS Blair Irvin III (#247WR) Bentonville, AR Bentonville HS Carey Clayton (OL) Grapevine, TX Carroll Senior HS Connor Smith (P) Clintwood, VA Ridgeview HS
JUCO DL J’Lynn Allen, North Little Rock, AR Hutchinson CC DB Nsongbeh Ginyui, Bakersfield CC DB DJ Hairston, Hinds CC DL Antonio Sandel-Bascomb, Akron, OHCoffeyville CC
Transfer Additions (via 247Sports): 75.OT Bryant Williams Previous School: Louisiana 139.LB Khmori House Previous School: North Carolina 151.CB Jahiem Johnson Previous School: Tulane 282.OT Terence Robinson Jr. Previous School: Ouachita Baptist 315.DL Hunter Osborne Previous School: Virginia 380.WR Chris Marshall Previous School: Boise State 395.CB Braydon Lee Previous School: Maryland 416.LB Phoenix Jackson Previous School: Baylor 420.LB Ben Bogle Previous School: West Virginia 442.QB AJ Hill Previous School: Memphis 465.IOL Davion Witherspoon Previous School: Ohio 480.S Christian Harrison Previous School: Cincinnati 506.WR Jelani Watkins Previous School: LSU 515.CB La’Khi Roland Previous School: Maryland 517.DL Carlon Jones Previous School: USC 531.RB Sutton Smith Previous School: Memphis 532.LB Steven Soles Jr. Previous School: Kentucky 586.DL Jamonta Walker Previous School: Auburn 633.CB Shelton Lewis Previous School: Clemson 643.WR Jamari Hawkins Previous School: Memphis 776.RB Jasper Parker Previous School: Michigan 831.TE Matt Adcock Previous School: Memphis 938.S Ian Williams Previous School: Memphis 968.DL Trajen Odom Previous School: Ohio State 978.S Carter Stoutmire Previous School: Colorado 979.DT Xadavien Sims Previous School: Oregon 1038.CB Lamarcus Hicks II Previous School: Iowa State 1078.WR Donovan Faupel Previous School: New Mexico State 1206.CB Tyler Scott Previous School: Georgia State 1253.LB Ja’Quavion Smith Previous School: Howard 1327.OL Josiah Clemons Previous School: Memphis 1387.TE Ty Lockwood Previous School: Boston College 1579.S John Howse IV Previous School: Middle Tennessee State 1641.LB Jeremy Evans Previous School: Baylor 1663.CB Kyeaure Magloire Previous School: West Georgia 1740.OT Adam Hawkes Previous School: Oregon State 1796.QB Braeden Fuller Previous School: Angelo State TE Breylen Gilbert Previous School: Georgia State K Max Gilbert Previous School: Tennessee K Braeden McCalister Previous School: Georgia State QB Cade Trotter Previous School: Clemson LS Adam Johnston Previous School: Sacramento State
Early look at the 2026 position groups before spring practice begins:
QB Braeden Fuller, Senior (RS) KJ Jackson, Sophomore (RS) AJ Hill, Freshman (RS) Cade Trotter, Freshman (RS) Hank Hendrix, Freshman
Secondary Miguel Mitchell, Senior (RS) Landon Phipps, Senior (RS) Christian Harris, Senior (RS) Kyeaure Magloire, Senior (RS) Kourtlan Marsh, Senior (RS) John Howse IV, Senior (RS) Carter Stoutmire, Senior Jahiem Johnson, Junior (RS) Shelton Lewis, Junior (RS) Tyler Scott, Junior (RS) La’Khi Roland, Junior Braydon Lee, Sophomore (RS) DJ Hairston Jr., Sophomore Nsongbeh Ginyui, Sophomore Ian Williams, Sophomore Lamarcus Hicks II, Freshman (RS) Blake Brisker, Freshman (RS) Tay Lockett, Freshman Kyndrick Williams, Freshman Jalon Copeland, Freshman Brandon Ford, Freshman
Special Teams Starters Kickers Braeden McCallister, Senior (RS) Charlie Von Der Meden, Sophomore (RS) Max Gilbert, Sophomore Punter Gavin Rush, Freshman (RS) Long Snapper Adam Johnston, Junior (RS)
Early look at the 2026 slate: Sept. 5 North Alabama Arkansas will begin the Ryan Silverfield era with their first matchup ever against the Lions.
In his six season-openers as the head man at Memphis, Silverfield led the Tigers to a 5-1 record in those games. The only loss was to the Razorbacks’ long-time SEC foe Mississippi State back in 2022. North Alabama is 0-3 in season-openers under head coach Brent Dearmon.
Dearmon’s overall record as the Lions’ head coach is 8-27, and he has failed to reach more than three wins in a single season as head coach. Silverfield attempts to lead Arkansas into the new era with a victory over what has been a struggling North Alabama prediction.
Sept. 12 @ Utah Arkansas heads to Salt Lake City for a showdown with Utah in week 2. The Razorbacks have never faced the Utes on the road in their program’s history but recently went to Provo and beat Utah’s instate rival BYU back on Oct. 15, 2022.
Despite the fact that Kyle Whittingham left the Utes to be Michigan’s new head coach, longtime defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has taken over the program. Whittingham and Scalley are the two men that have set up what Utah football is now: toughness, defense, and a team that has been successful since the final few seasons of the Pac-12.
The Razorbacks look for a defining non-conference win on the road against a Big 12 opponent for the first time since their win over the Cougars almost four years ago.
Sept. 19 Georgia Georgia will be at Razorback Stadium to face Arkansas for the first time since Sam Pittman’s first SEC game as head coach. Just six years later, it is Pittman’s replacement’s, Ryan Silverfield’s first duel against an SEC program.
Despite the game being in Fayetteville, there is no tougher challenge in the SEC for Arkansas to begin the Silverfield era with. The Bulldogs have won the last two SEC Championships despite winning no College Football Playoff games since the event expanded to 12 teams.
Something tells me Georgia’s Kirby Smart will have his team ready for their 2026 conference opener, too. The Bulldogs want another SEC Championship and they want to win their first national championship since January of 2023.
Georgia returns quarterback Gunnar Stockton but will have a revamped offense around Nate Frazier. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann wants his defense to reach levels Dan Lanning’s did following their 2021 national championship run and a year later when his defense helped the Bulldogs win it all in 2022.
Silverfield and the Razorbacks must be prepared to face Georgia because if not, the Bulldogs will blow them out.
Sept. 26 Tulsa Arkansas welcomes Tulsa to Fayetteville for the first time since Oct. 23, 2018, where they shut them out 23-0.
Last season, Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis team defeated Tulsa 45-7 back on Oct. 4, 2025. If the Golden Hurricanes put up a similar performance at Razorback Stadium this season, they can definitely win that game.
The Razorbacks only won two games last season but Tulsa only won four games. This is a game Arkansas needs to win if they want to get to a bowl game in Silverfield’s first season with a tough October SEC slate coming up after this game.
Oct. 3 @ Texas A&M Arkansas will play at Texas A&M in College Station for the first time since the 2020 COVID season that included SEC-only competition. Since the Razorbacks last played the Aggies on the road, they have lost four of their last five games in the contest.
Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher after the 2023 season and hired their former defensive coordinator Mike Elko, then the head coach at Duke, to take over the program. Since taking over, the Aggies are 19-7 and have recorded a 12-4 record in SEC play and appeared in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history during the 2025 season.
Texas A&M lost their offensive coordinator following the 2025 season. Collin Klein returns to his alma mater to take over the head coaching job at Kansas State. The Aggies also lost one of their top offensive playmakers in wide receiver K.C. Concepcion but return quarterback Marcel Reed and receiver Mario Craver.
Texas A&M will have a retooled defense following their playoff run when they host the Razorbacks to begin the month of October. Arkansas will attempt to win their first game in College Station against the Aggies since Nov. 24, 1989.
Oct. 10 Tennessee The last time Arkansas welcomed Tennessee to Razorback Stadium, they upset the No. 4 Volunteers 19-14 back on Oct. 5, 2024. The Volunteers likely won’t be an AP Top 5 team when they face off in Fayetteville this season but under Josh Heupel, Tennessee has been successful offensively.
Last season, Tennessee outscored Arkansas 34-31 in Knoxville, their first victory over the Razorbacks in five attempts. Both the Volunteers and Razorbacks’ defenses were two of the first in the SEC and the country last fall. New Tennessee coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped Ohio State to a national championship in 2024, is known as of the best coordinators in the country and longtime SEC coordinator Roberts takes over the Arkansas defense.
Heupel’s team will have a new quarterback in 2026 after failing to get another year of eligibility for Joey Aguilar. If the defense improves and one of the Volunteers’ quarterbacks step up, there is no reason why they cannot compete for an SEC championship, another College Football Playoff berth, and a second consecutive win over the Razorbacks.
Oct. 17 @ Vanderbilt Arkansas heads to Nashville for their first meeting with Vanderbilt on the gridiron since Oct. 29, 2011, Bobby Petrino’s last season as head coach. The Razorbacks came back from an early deficit and defeated the Commodores 31-28 in Petrino’s final season as head coach in Fayetteville.
Seven years later, Vanderbilt went to Fayetteville and defeated Arkansas 45-31 in Chad Morris’ first season as head coach. Now, the two programs, known for being at the bottom of the barrel in the league since 2012, face off for the first time in nine years.
The Commodores’ head coach Clark Lea has been built a solid program in Nashville. Lea’s offense, led by quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers, and their quality defense helped Vanderbilt to back to back successful seasons between 2024-2025, combining for a 17-9 record overall and a 10-6 mark in SEC play.
Now Pavia, Stowers, and many other playmakers are off to the pros and Clark Lea will rely on Nashville’s very own Jared Curtis, the top overall high school quarterback in the high school class of 2026, to take over the reins from Pavia after he flipped him from the University of Georgia. A rebuilt defense will be expected to come together on the ‘West end’ as well.
This is Ryan Silverfield’s Razorbacks best shot at a road conference win. The Commodores’ will have to rely on a young quarterback and a defense with many new playmakers to defeat Arkansas on Oct. 17.
Oct. 24 OPEN
Oct. 31 Missouri After their open week, Arkansas will welcome Missouri to Fayetteville for the second consecutive season because of the SEC’s move to nine conference games. Also as a result of the move to nine conference games, the Arkansas-Missouri “Battle Line” rivalry has been moved out of the final weekend of the regular season. It will be the first time the Razorbacks will not face the Tigers the final weekend of the regular season since 2020, when they faced Alabama to close things out.
Arkansas native Eliah Drinkwitz has done a tremendous job as head coach of Missouri but the Tigers took a small step back in 2025. After back to back 10+ win seasons in 2023 and 2024, they went 8-5 thanks to an injury to their quarterback Beau Pribula.
Former Ole Miss signal-caller Austin Simmons is expected to take over behind center with fellow Rebel transfer Cayden Lee coming over to anchor a receiver position. Drinkwitz will trust them to lead an offense that struggled through much of 2025 and will have a new coordinator this season, former North Carolina and Wisconsin offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey.
The Missouri defense has been what has kept Arkansas from defeating them since 2021, when KJ Jefferson and Treylon Burks led the Razorbacks to their last win over the Tigers. There have been close calls since the Razorbacks’ last win with a 29-27 Missouri victory in 2022, a 28-21 Missouri victory in 2024, and a 31-17 Missouri victory on the Saturday after Thanksgiving a year ago.
Can the coaching change help Arkansas win just its fifth game all-time against Missouri? We will find out on Halloween when Silverfield and Drinkwitz go head to head.
Nov. 7 @ Auburn The last two times the Razorback football program has traveled to “The Plains” to face Auburn, in 2022 and 2024, they have come out victorious. Despite the fact that the Tigers have won every game in Fayetteville since 2017, but lucky for Arkansas, Auburn does not come to Fayetteville until 2028.
Alex Golesh takes over at Auburn following the firing of Hugh Freeze. His innovative offense, led by his quarterback Byrum Brown, who joined him after both guys left South Florida. If Brown can be half as successful as he was in the American conference in the SEC this season and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who Golesh retained on his staff after Freeze’s exit, can have as good of a defense as he did last year, the Tigers will be successful.
Golesh had success in the American with the Bulls but failed to beat new Arkansas coach Silverfield has won all three games his Memphis Tigers faced South Florida.
Nov. 14 South Carolina Arkansas’ old permanent cross-division rival South Carolina in the pre-2012 realignment SEC returns to Fayetteville for the first time since Sept. 10, 2022, when the Razorbacks defeated the Gamecocks 44-30.
A big difference between that day and this season will be which sideline Kendal Briles is on. Back in 2022, Briles called plays for Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks in their win over South Carolina. Now, he enters his first season as offensive coordinator in Columbia coaching NFL prospect LaNorris Sellers behind center.
The difference in Mike Shula and Briles should be big and if it is, the Gamecocks can bounce back from a 4-8 season and contend for the 12-team College Football Playoff once again. Defensive end Dylan Stewart returns for his junior season where he will continue to lead the South Carolina defense against a new-look Arkansas offense.
A back and forth game seems realistic between the Razorbacks and the Gamecocks after they combined for just six wins during the 2025 regular season. We will find out on Nov. 14.
Nov. 21 @ Texas Arkansas heads to Austin to face Texas for the second time in as many season with the SEC’s move to nine league games. The Longhorns have defeated the Razorbacks in back to back times for the first time since defeating them in 2004 and 2008, with both of those games being played in Austin as well.
Steve Sarkisian and Texas did not appear in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2022 so they will be attempting to get back there in 2026 with Arch Manning, who has gained a year of experience, at quarterback, a retooled receiving core with Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, and what should be an improved offensive line.
Former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has returned to the “40 acres” to replace one of the country’s best Pete Kwiatowski. The Longhorns did not have much success on that side of the ball in 2025 but his recruiting acumen and tenure up until last fall were solid. Muschamp’s unit will be under major criticism if it fails to succeed this fall.
Arkansas’ last road game in 2026 will likely be its most difficult against rival Texas but don’t count out Silverfield and the new-look Razorbacks over eight months away from the action against the Longhorns.
Nov. 28 LSU The Tigers have historically dominated Arkansas since the Razorbacks joined the SEC, with a 44-23 all-time series lead. The last time Arkansas defeated LSU, Cam Little kicked a game-winning field goal to defeat the Tigers in overtime at Tiger Stadium in 2021.
Now that Lane Kiffin, a man everyone of Arkansas fans hate, is leading another program they have disdain for in LSU, they will be front and center for a rivalry series that finally returns to Thanksgiving weekend since 2013.
Leading up to the rivalry’s move to earlier in the calendar, the series was much more competitive. From 2007-2013, LSU won four of seven matchups against Arkansas. Since, the Tigers have nine of the last twelve.
Kiffin and his retooled roster will attempt to improve LSU’s standing from seven victories in 2025 to a potential College Football Playoff team in 2026. If he fails, with Charlie Weiss calling offensive plays and Blake Baker leading the defense, things in Baton Rouge will continue to be crazy.
Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt takes over at quarterback after he visited many schools during his time in the transfer portal. Leavitt should benefit greatly from playing in Kiffin and Weiss’s offense after a down year filled with injuries in Tempe.
Defensively, Baker will have former Ole Miss edge Princewill Umanmielen and returning linebacker Whit Weeks to anchor them against the strong offenses in the SEC. They will be the key cogs in stopping Arkansas’ defense to wrap up the regular season.
If Silverfield and Arkansas get a victory in year 1 in front of their home crowd against a team many Razorback fans consider their biggest rival, things would start out well for him and his tenure. If not, LSU is probably a lock for the College Football Playoff and a national championship contender.
I wrote more about the Razorbacks’ opponents when the schedule came out in December, right here.
Monday, January 19 College Football Playoff National Championship (Miami Gardens) 10.Miami (13-2) vs. 1.Indiana (15-0) 7:30 PM ET, ESPN Miami returns home for the College Football Playoff National Championship game against undefeated No. 1 Indiana/No. 5 Oregon after defeating No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Hurricanes’ offense controlled the time of possession with offensive playmakers Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. helping quarterback Carson Beck defeat the Rebels. Toney’s 36-yard touchdown on a bubble screen and Beck’s game-winning 3-yard touchdown run were the difference in the fourth quarter against an Ole Miss team that advanced to the semifinals without former head coach Lane Kiffin.
The Miami defense could have closed Jan. 8’s thriller much earlier with a victory as their secondary dropped four different potential passes that could have been intercepted from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. But the defensive effort was good enough to help them advance to the program’s first national championship game since Jan. 3, 2003 at the Fiesta Bowl.
Indiana dominated No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers’ defense forced three first half turnovers setting up great field position for quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the offense. D’Angelo Ponds’ pick six on the opening play from scrimmage and two forced fumbles led to 28 points.
Indiana’s Mendoza, who threw five touchdowns, and Ponds who contributed six tackles in addition to his interception, will both return to their hometown of Miami for Monday’s game after winning offensive and defensive MVP at the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers will play for their first national championship game against the Hurricanes in their home stadium.
Beck, who went 23 for 37, passed for 268 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble. While he did score the game-winning touchdown, he cannot expect to turn the ball over against Indiana and lead Miami to another victory. Hoosier linebackers Aiden Fisher, Isaiah Jones, and Rolijah Hardy will look to get to Beck and pressure him so that he does not have an easy time against their defense.
Mark Fletcher (22 carries for 154 yards) and CharMar Brown (14 carries for 54 yards and 1 TD) helped Beck in the backfield against the Rebels. Wide receivers Keelan Marion (7 catches, 114 yards, and 1 TD) and Toney (5 catches, 81 yards, and 1 TD) also were pivotal in Thursday’s victory. Fletcher, Brown, Marion, and Toney will be trusted to do even more against an Indiana defense that is one of the best in the country. Defensive backs Louis Moore, Jamari Sharpe, and Ponds will deal with the Miami playmakers.
The Hurricane’s skilled pass rushers, including Akeem Mesidor, Mohamed Toure, and Rueben Bain Jr., will have to affect Mendoza, who has been the most efficient passer in the country. Mendoza’s trusted weapons include Kaelon Black in the backfield and Elijah Sarratt, Charlie Becker, and Riley Nowakowski down the field.
Miami defensive backs Jakobe Thomas and Keionte Scott will attempt to stop Black, Sarratt, Becker, and Nowakowski from having successful days. Both Thomas and Scott have been key in the secondary for the Hurricanes and now they will face their biggest challenge of the postseason against the Hoosiers.
In a home game for Miami where they will be considered the “road team” because of being the lower seed, they will face their biggest challenge against the top seed Indiana in the national championship. The Hoosiers beat No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl 56-22. The Hurricanes have been underrated their entire run to the national championship game but they will finally fall at the hands of the Hoosiers. Indiana and Miami may battle for a half or three quarters but the Hoosiers will win their first College Football Playoff National Championship trophy under Curt Cignetti.
Thursday, January 8 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl (Glendale) 6.Ole Miss (13-1) vs. 10.Miami (12-2) 7:30 PM ET, ESPN The two most exciting stories of the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff will meet on Thursday night far from their southeast homes in Glendale at the Fiesta Bowls. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss are the only SEC representative in the CFP semifinals after avenging their loss to No. 3 Georgia from earlier in the season at the Sugar Bowl. Miami’s defense, headed by Rueben Bain Jr., Akeem Mesidor, and Keion Scott upset reigning national champion Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl.
Chambliss led the Rebels to victory over the Bulldogs by passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Harrison Wallace caught nine passes for 156 yards and one touchdown an De’Zhaun Stribling caught seven passes for 122 yards in the victory. Miami defensive backs Jakobe Thomas’ seven tackles and interception and Scott’s four tackles and pick six helped that helped the Hurricanes to a victory over the Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve.
Despite dealing with an injury entering the matchup against Georgia, tailback Kewan Lacy reached 98 yards and two scores. A second quarter fumble did not amount to any Bulldog points but facing a tough Miami defense, he must avoid turning the ball over if they want to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Linebackers Mesidor (2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss) and Bain Jr. (3 tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss, and 1 sack) will attempt to limit Chambliss and Lacy from having a successful game against the Hurricanes.
Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr.carried the ball 19 times for 90 yards. He will have to run for a touchdown against the Rebels if they want a better chance of advancing to the national championship game. Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris totaled 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass defended, end Princewell Unanmielen got seven tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, and linebacker Suntarine Perkins got six tackles, two passes defended, and one sack.
Carson Beck threw for just 138 yards and a touchdown in their quarterfinal win over Ohio State. CJ Daniels caught five passes for 49 yards and Keelan Marion caught five passes for 36 yards. While they did not catch a touchdown but Fletcher Jr. caught a touchdown to extend their lead. Safety Wydett Williams Jr. and cornerback Jaylon Braxton led their defense against a strong Georgia offense and will have to do the same against the Hurricanes.
In what should be a back and forth game, a high scoring game would likely favor Ole Miss thanks to their efficient offense and a lower scoring game would likely favor Miami thanks to their impressive pass rush and secondary. The matchup between the Hurricanes offense and Rebels defense will be what determines who moves on to the national championship game. A win for the Hurricanes over the Rebels would send them back to home at Hard Rock Stadium. But Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense will be the first team to have success against Bain Jr. and the Miami defense and advance on to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Projected Score: Ole Miss 31, Miami 28
Friday, January 9 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta) 1.Indiana (14-0) vs. 5.Oregon (13-1) 7:30 PM ET, ESPN A Big Ten rematch will take place far from the midwest and west coast in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl. Both No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon dominated their competition in the quarterfinals. The Hoosiers eliminated No. 9 Alabama 38-3 at the Rose Bowl and the Ducks shut out Texas Tech 23-0 at the Orange Bowl. Now, Oregon will attempt to avenge their 30-20 loss to Indiana back on Oct. 11.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was impressive and efficient in Indiana’s 38-3 blowout of Alabama. He went completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The trio of Charlie Becker (2 catches for 51 yards and 1 TD), Omar Cooper Jr. (3 catches for 45 yards and 1 TD), and Elijah Sarratt (4 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD) contributed to the Rose Bowl victory as well. Oregon freshman defensive back Brandon Finney Jr., starred with six tackles and two interceptions in their domination of Texas Tech.
The duo of running backs Kaelon Black, who rushed 15 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and Roman Hemby, who carried the ball 18 times for 89 yards and a score, helped the Ducks put the Red Raiders away in the Orange Bowl. The playmakers’ offensive line won the Rose Bowl Game’s offensive MVP. That is thanks to all of the time the line gave to Mendoza and holes made for Black and Hemby out of the backfield. Linebackers Bryce Boettcher (12 tackles) and Teitum Tuitoi (6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss) against Texas Tech must play well if they want to get past the Hoosiers’ strong offensive line.
Indiana defensive backs Devan Boykin and Jamari Sharpe will be vital in stopping Oregon’s passing attack, led by quarterback Dante Moore, who threw for 234 yards and an interception against the Red Raiders’ tough defense. Avoiding turning the ball over and getting the ball to wide receivers Malik Benson, Jamari Johnson, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq will be important in avenging their loss earlier in the season against the Hoosiers.
Tailbacks Jordon Davison (42 yards and 2 TDs) and Noah Whittington (31 yards) will have to play much better on Friday against the Indiana’s strong defense. Linebackers Aiden Fisher (7 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss) and Rolijah Hardy (4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss) will attempt to stop the Ducks’ strong run game.
The all-Big Ten Peach Bowl means that the winner will be attempting to claim the conference’s third consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship. Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers have been the standard of the sport all season long and they will sweep Dan Lanning’s Ducks in what should be one of the best games of the season. With a victory, Indiana would look to finish the job by defeating the winner of No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 10 Miami in South Beach at the national championship game.
Wednesday, December 31 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington) 2.Ohio State (12-1) vs. 10.Miami (11-2) 7:30 PM ET, ESPN Miami struggled offensively but they went to College Station and defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes proved their worth in the College Football Playoff when receiver Malachi Toney threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Carson Beck just minutes after Toney fumbled the ball. Ohio State will be the next challenge for Miami in their pursuit of their first national championship trophy since 2000. The No. 2 Buckeyes will hope their defense shuts the Hurricane offense down like the Aggies did or this could turn into a shootout.
Miami’s offense is paced by Beck, Toney, and tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. The Hurricanes’ entire group only gained 278 yards overall against Texas Tech. Fletcher Jr. led the Miami offense with 172 yards on the ground and set up Beck, who threw for only 103 yards and the game winning touchdown. Ohio State leading tacklers Sonny Styles (81) and Arvell Reese (62) will be an even more difficult task for Fletcher Jr. to get through their defense and help his team to a victory.
Beck must use the time his offensive line gives him against Ohio State’s talented defensive front to get it to wide receivers Keelan Marion, CJ Daniels, and Toney if they want to keep pace with the Buckeyes’ offense. Miami will have to move the ball against a tough Buckeye secondary, led by safeties Caleb Downs and Jaylen McClain. The two have combined four passes defended and two interceptions will be hard to
Miami defensive backs Keionte Scott accounted for 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks and Jakobe Smith had nine tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 0.5 tackles for loss in their victory against Texas A&M. They will be a big part of defending against one of the top receiving cores in the nation including Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Max Klare, and Brandon Inniss who catch passes from Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who has thrown for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
Bo Jackson (1,035 yards and 5 TDs), James Peoples (344 yards and 3 TDs), and CJ Donaldson (330 yards and 10 TDs) share carries in the backfield. Linebackers Mohamed Toure (8 tackles and 1 pass defended)), Wesley Bissainthe (7 tackles), and defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks) were huge for the Hurricanes against the Aggies and they will be important to stop the Buckeyes run game on Wednesday night.
As Ohio State begins their run for a second consecutive national championship trophy, they may start slow after an almost month break off but their defense should keep the Miami at offense at bay long enough to run away with a victory. The Hurricanes will keep the game close until they give up a run by Ohio State’s offense that may include multiple touchdowns in a row. The Buckeyes will defeat Miami by ten points.
Projected Score: Ohio State 24, Miami 14
Thursday, January 1 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens) 4.Texas Tech (12-1) vs. 5.Oregon (12-1) 12 PM ET, ESPN Oregon’s defense struggled in a game where they defeated No. 12 James Madison by just 17 points, 51-34. The Ducks will have to come out with a better performance against the Big 12’s best, No. 4 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders boast a loaded offense have and have one of the top defenders in the country, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Texas Tech has not faced a high-powered offense like that of Oregon’s so New Year’s Day’s test will be an interesting one.
The Ducks’ defense gave up a season high 34 points to James Madison on Dec. 20. They will have to limit Texas Tech’s offense better than they did against the Dukes. It will be up to the leaders of the defense to win against the Red Raiders. A few of those leaders include linebackers Bryce Boettcher (113 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuitoi (60 tackles, 7.5 tackles, and 5 passes defended). They will be in charge of shutting down the Texas Tech ground game on Thursday afternoon.
Red Raider tailbacks Cameron Dickey (1,095 yards and 14 TDs) and J’Koby Williams (787 yards and 6 TDs) will look to continue their successful seasons against Boettcher and Tuitoi. If they do so, setting up the passing game, led by signal-caller Behren Morton and a receiving core that includes four guys with 300 receiving yards or more. That group includes Caleb Douglas (7 TDs), Reggie Virgil (6 TDs), Coy Eakin (6 TDs), and Terrance Carter Jr. (5 TDs). Defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Aaron Flowers have combined for seven passes defended and three interceptions this season. They will be huge against Texas Tech’s talented wideouts.
While their defense struggled, the Oregon offense exploded for 51 points against James Madison. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 313 yards, four touchdowns, but must limit turnovers against Texas Tech after throwing two interceptions. Moore’s two leading receivers in the game were Malik Benson (5 catches for 119 yards and 2 TDs) and Jeremiah McClellan (6 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD).
The Ducks’ running backs Jordon Davison carried the ball ten times for 90 yards and Dierre Hill Jr. went six times for 76 yards and a score against the Dukes. They will have a difficult challenge going against Butkus, Bronko, and Lombardi Award winner Rodriguez at linebacker.
In what could be a back and forth game, it will be up to either the Texas Tech or Oregon defense to shut their opponent’s offense down. While the Red Raiders have not faced a potent offense like that of the Ducks’, Morton and Rodriguez will lead their team to a victory. Texas Tech would move on to the semifinals to face the winner of the Rose Bowl, either No. 1 Indiana or No. 9 Alabama.
Projected Score: Texas Tech 34, Oregon 31
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential (Pasadena) 1.Indiana (13-0) vs. 9.Alabama (11-3) 4 PM ET, ESPN In the first quarter against No. 8 Oklahoma, Alabama fell down 17-0. Until quarterback Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide offense answered back with 17 points of their own in the second quarter, the game shifted. A revolting win over the Sooners, their first in three attempts since Oklahoma joined the SEC, may be just what Alabama needs to return to their high quality of play they had back in October.
The Rose Bowl will be a different challenge for the Crimson Tide. The Indiana defense will present challenges to the Alabama offense they have not seen this season as one of the best units in the country. Though some may think the Hoosiers’ offense may be pedestrian, the Heisman Trophy Fernando Mendoza winner leads it from behind center.
Mendoza’s Heisman campaign included passing for almost 3,000 yards, 33 touchdowns, rushed for 240 yards, and six more scores. He will attempt to get the ball to a talented receiver duo including Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, who combined for 23 touchdowns so far this season. Alabama defensive backs Keon Sabb, Domani Jackson, and Bray Hubbard combined for 16 tackles in the victory over Oklahoma and they will be just as important in this game to stop Cooper Jr. and Sarratt.
Running backs Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, and Khobie Martin shared carries next to Mendoza in the backfield. Linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson led the Crimson Tide in sacks against the Sooners. If they can stop Hemby, Black, and Martin, the Hoosier passing game will not set up as easily.
Despite Simpson’s slow start in the first quarter against Oklahoma, he threw for 232 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns but Indiana defensive backs Louis Moore (76 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 1 pass defended) and Devan Boykin (48 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) will have to watch out for fellow receivers Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, Ryan Williams, and tight end Josh Cuevas if they want to come out victorious on Thursday night.
The Crimson Tide running game has been pedestrian this season with Daniel Hill leading the way with just nine carries for 43 yards and a single touchdown. Linebackers Rolijah Hardy (87 tackles, 8 sacks, and 4 passes defended) and Aiden Fisher (75 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions) will be a huge part of continuing to limit the Crimson Tide’s up and down ground game.
In a game between two strong defenses, Alabama will pull the upset of the College Football Playoff and defeat top seed Indiana in a low scoring game. The Crimson Tide would advance to play the winner of No. 4 Oregon or No. 5 Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
Projected Score: Alabama 24, Indiana 23
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) 3.Georgia (12-1) vs. 6.Ole Miss (12-1) 8 PM ET, ESPN Georgia and Ole Miss will play in a rematch from Oct. 18 in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl. There are many differences from that game. The Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin is now in the same role at LSU and defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to take over. In Golding’s first game as head coach, Ole Miss dominated No. 11 Tulane 41-10 in another rematch from earlier in the season.
Since the Bulldogs win over the Rebels in mid-October, they are on a seven game winning streak and have used a combination of offense, defense, and special teams on their way to another SEC Championship under head coach Kirby Smart. Georgia will attempt to win a third national championship since 2021 by starting out with a victory over Ole Miss.
Last time the Bulldogs went out on the gridiron, they dominated Alabama 28-7 and avenged a loss to the Crimson Tide they suffered earlier in the season. In that game, Gunner Stockton completed 20 of his 26 passes, 156 yards, passed for three touchdowns, and rushed for 39 yards. Stockton got the ball to wide receivers Zachariah Brach for 53 yards and a touchdown and Dillon Bell for 45 yards and another score. Ole Miss safeties Wydett Williams and Suntarine Perkins, who combined for nine tackles in their victory over Tulane, will be important to defend Branch and Bell.
Starting tailback Nate Frazier rushed for only 52 yards and a touchdown against Alabama. He will be counted on to do more for Georgia as they attempt to defeat Ole Miss for the second time this season. Defensive tackle Will Echoles, who had six tackles and one tackle for loss and linebacker TJ Dottery who had six tackles against Tulane, will attempt to continue to limit Frazier.
Despite exiting their win over Tulane early with an injury, Ole Miss tailback Kewan Lacy rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Lacy, who is probable to play on Thursday night because of a bruised shoulder injury, will look to do much more than he did against the Green Wave versus the Bulldogs. Linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson lead the Bulldogs in tackles this season. It will be vital for them to shut down the Ole Miss ground game, especially if Lacy is full go on New Year’s Day.
Defensive backs KJ Bolden (66 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and JaCorey Thomas (42 tackles and 1 sack) will be in charge of stopping Ole Miss’ talented passing attack. That passing attack is headed by Trinidad Chambliss who accounted for 282 yards and one touchdown through the air and 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. With Lane Kiffin’s new offensive staff at LSU back in Oxford for the playoff run, coordinator Charlie Weiss will hope he sets up situations for Chambliss to wide receivers Deuce Alexanders (7 catches for 87 yards), De’Zhaun Stribling (5 catches for 79 yards and 1 TD), and tight end Dae’Quan Wright (4 catches for 64 yards) to make big plays like they did in their first round victory,
In what should be another close game, one of college football’s top head coaches, Kirby Smart, will overwhelm Golding and the Rebels in his second game as head coach. Because they have Smart, Georgia will defeat Ole Miss by seven points and cover the spread. The Bulldogs would advance to face the winner of No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
