“But I think it’s just across the board at Ohio State, there’s an expectation that when you come here, you’re coming to be a first or second-rounder, regardless of your position,” Day said on the Not Just Football podcast.

“And that’s it. If we don’t win games and championships, they’re gonna find a new coach. Well, if you’re not a first or second-rounder, this probably isn’t the right place for you.”

Day’s standards deliver results

Ryan Day’s tenure at Ohio State has been defined by an elite standard of excellence that consistently delivers high-level results. Since taking the reins, he has transformed his relentless pursuit of talent into a dominant 82-12 overall record, including a nearly flawless 55-5 mark within the Big Ten.

Under his leadership, the Buckeyes have secured two conference titles and reached the pinnacle of college football by winning the 2024 National Championship. Despite the heavy pressure of the Columbus spotlight, Day has refused to compromise on his recruiting benchmarks, ensuring the program remains a perennial powerhouse built on a foundation of top-tier athletes.

Buckeyes strengthen their roster strongly

Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class is highlighted by an elite trio of five-star prospects who are expected to make an immediate impact. Leading the group is Chris Henry Jr., a standout wide receiver from Mater Dei widely considered the top playmaker in the country.

He is joined by Cincere Johnson, a physical and versatile linebacker from Cleveland, and Jay Timmons, a lockdown cornerback who solidifies the secondary. These three recruits ensure that the Buckeyes maintain their high standard of talent as they look to defend their recent success.

Building unity within the team

Day knows that familiar faces are being joined by new ones. Everyone must maintain cohesion in order to build harmony and a strong working environment on the field.

“This isn’t just a bunch of guys coming in off the street that we don’t know,” Day said. “Obviously, there’s been relationships built. Doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s not just random. I think that’s intentional, but there’s no question that these guys haven’t played for the Buckeyes before.

“There’s guys in that group right there that have scars here, that have had success here, and there’s a lot of guys that haven’t played one snap here yet. All that comes in, into play this season.”

An exciting start to the season

With the goal of building a title-contending team from the very beginning, these will be the first matchups the Buckeyes will have to face:

• vs Ball State, September 5
• at Texas, September 12
• vs Kent State, September 19
• vs Illinois, September 26
• at Iowa, October 3

“The importance of the regular season is still very much in line with what I believe it has always been,” the HC revealed to the press. “Could that still be the case with a larger number? Potentially. But I think we need to create some data points to figure out where that balance is.

“We don’t need to be NCAA basketball. The beauty of our sport is that there are games at the end of the season that matter that people lose.”

At a time when programs are slowly beginning to show their first moves, many are already starting to wonder what will happen in the near future. Will the number of teams competing in the CFP eventually increase?

Differentiating from March Madness

Mike Elko argues against further CFP expansion by using March Madness as a cautionary tale. He believes that adding too many teams, similar to the college basketball format, would devalue the regular season and turn high-stakes matchups into mere formalities.

Additionally, he emphasizes that the extreme physical toll of football makes a lengthy, basketball-style postseason bracket unsustainable for student-athlete health.

What changes could come to College Football?

The CFP will maintain its 12-team format for the 2026 season, as the management committee recently decided to delay further expansion to allow for more evaluation. However, starting in 2026, the automatic qualifying rules will shift: the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC will now receive automatic bids regardless of their ranking, alongside the highest-ranked Group of Six champion.

Additionally, a new revenue-sharing model will begin in 2026, granting the Big Ten and SEC nearly 29% each of the total CFP revenue. While discussions for a 14 or 16-team field continue for 2027 and beyond, the current structure remains locked in for the upcoming campaign.

A bitter-sweet feeling for the Aggies

The Texas A&M Aggies, led by Mike Elko, made a historic run during the 2025 season, achieving an incredible 11-0 start and climbing to the #3 spot in the AP Poll. However, their debut in the expanded College Football Playoff ended in disappointment.

Despite hosting a First Round game at Kyle Field on December 20, the Aggies suffered a tough 10-3 loss to Miami (FL) in a defensive struggle. After finishing the year with an 11-2 record, the program looks to build on this milestone as they head into the 2026 campaign.

“I definitely believe he is, he’s just been around it long enough, and he’s made so many great plays, big plays,” DeBoer said. “He can deliver the ball wherever he needs to, you know, down the field.

“Has great football IQ, you know, he’s a coach’s kid. He’s been around the game forever, just, you know, once he won the job, he really cut loose the leadership qualities that he has, and it’s real, it’s genuine.”

Simpson’s final step in Tuscaloosa

In his breakout 2025 campaign as Alabama‘s full-time starter, Ty Simpson established himself as an elite signal-caller, leading the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. Simpson displayed exceptional ball security and precision, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions.

Though his season ended with a tough loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, his Second-Team All-SEC performance and high-level processing in an NFL-style offense have made him a focal point of the 2026 NFL Draft.

“He took our guys at times, and just really got them to rally around him,” DeBoer said. “He’s got their back. They had his. And so many things that are on the field and off the field that just equate to a guy that, you know, you want in your program leading your team.”

Can Ty Simpson be a first-round pick?

Ty Simpson is projected as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, typically viewed as a first-round talent or a high second-round pick. Scouts are enamored with his “coach’s son” football IQ, elite arm talent, and ability to process full-field reads, which has led some mock drafts to place him as high as No. 3 overall.

“Looking back at it, I don’t regret it,” he revealed on a dialogue with Jon Gruden. “Just because of the experiences I’ve been able to have. But again, at that point, I didn’t know what was the right decision.”

He also added: “I thought there was more in the tank. Again, a huge part of it was I wanted to win a national championship. I know that I had two as a backup but I wanted to win one as the quarterback.”

After a great year in Miami, he finally decided to take the most important step in his career. What will ultimately be the destination of the former Georgia Bulldogs player in the NFL?

Beck’s latest numbers in the NCAAF

After transferring to Miami for the 2025 season, Carson Beck led the Hurricanes to a historic 13-3 record and a spot in the National Championship game. He finished the year as one of the most efficient passers in the nation, posting an FBS second-best 72.4% completion percentage while throwing for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Despite his stellar individual performance, Beck’s postseason run ended in heartbreak at Hard Rock Stadium, where he fell 27-21 in the final to Fernando Mendoza and the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers.

NFL Draft projection

Following his strong recovery season at Miami, Carson Beck has solidified his status as a high-floor developmental prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. While he was once considered a potential first-overall pick, most analysts now project him as a Day 2 selection, likely falling between the second and third rounds.

College football rivalries are just different, and the feud between Kiffin and his former school, Ole Miss, is trending to be one of the nastiest in 2026. Kiffin has made it clear he still holds love for his time in Oxford, but the fact that he didn’t name Ole Miss nor Chambliss in a recent comment may signal he holds a grudge against the Rebels, just like they do against him.

“Look at the previous place we were at [the University of Mississippi]. The guy [Trinidad Chambliss] didn’t get there until the summer,” Kiffin said, via WGNO News, trying to keep LSU fans calm about the fact Leavitt has undergone surgery and is set to miss the rest of spring football.

Kiffin was recently hit with a subtle shot from Chambliss, who compared him to new Rebels head coach Pete Golding. It seems Kiffin has kept receipts, and fired right back. Knowing Kiffin’s personality, it wouldn’t be all too shocking nor hard to believe.

Why is Leavitt missing spring football?

After transferring from Arizona State to LSU, Sam Leavitt is expected to miss the rest of spring practices in Baton Rouge. As Kiffin stated, this is not news to LSU, as it’s all going according to its timeline for Leavitt. Leavitt suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot in 2025.

Recently, he posted a picture of his foot wrapped in bandages. As fans were quick to jump to conclusions about a re-aggravated injury, Leavitt clarified he had the screws from the initial surgery removed. Leavitt made it clear there were no setbacks and it’s all going according to plan.

The redshirt junior quarterback is set to take over under center in the 2026 NCAA season as Garrett Nussmeier departs for the NFL Draft. Leavitt is facing an early setback, but Kiffin remains confident this is nothing to stress about.

What happened to Chambliss last season?

Offseason drama around his eligibility wasn’t exclusive to this year for Trinidad Chambliss. Last season, the Ferris State transfer had to wait until the summer before he was officially declared academically eligible to enroll at Ole Miss. Thus, he missed crucial stages of the offseason with Kiffin and the Rebels.

Upon arrival, he proved he didn’t need a lot of time to adapt to the playbook. Chambliss hit the ground running in The Literary Center of the South and finished the season with 3,937 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and only three interceptions, as well as 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He also led the Rebels to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff before the Miami Hurricanes knocked them out in an instant classic.

Ole Miss vs LSU in 2026

In 2026, Kiffin, Leavitt, and LSU will travel to Oxford to take on Golding, Chambliss, and Ole Miss. It’s set to be a heated showdown in which Kiffin will go up against one of his best creations of his coaching career.

In a cinematic turn of events, the main figure behind Ole Miss’ growth will take on an anger-filled roster filled with players who feel betrayed by Kiffin and will vie to avenge last season’s dramatic chapter.

As is usually the case in college football, reality is stranger than fiction, and the stage is set for one memorable showdown at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the Magnolia State.

“Isaac Wilson is applying pressure, but that’s what you want,” the head coach said to the press. “You want those battles. Everybody is earning everything they get, including their money.”

Although there’s still plenty of time ahead, Coach Prime is analyzing every detail. Lewis and Wilson want to ensure the quarterback position is well covered for a season that promises to be highly competitive.

Lewis in 2025

As a true freshman in 2025, Julian Lewis appeared in four games for Colorado, completing 52 of 94 passes (55.3%) for 589 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Despite showing flashes of elite potential in his two starts—highlighted by a 299-yard, 2-TD performance against West Virginia—Lewis opted to sit out the season finale to preserve his redshirt status, entering 2026 with four years of eligibility remaining.

A change in the Buffaloes’ offense

The hiring of Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator marks a schematic revolution for Colorado heading into the 2026 season. By implementing his signature “Go-Go Offense,” Marion introduces an innovative system characterized by triple-option principles and unique unbalanced formations designed to exploit defensive spacing.

This transition from a traditional pro-style approach to an explosive attack is expected to significantly elevate the Buffaloes’ scoring efficiency and provide a more dynamic platform for Julian Lewis to showcase his elite arm talent.

A tough start to the season

The Colorado Buffaloes finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record (1-8 in the Big 12 Conference) and will be looking to quickly reverse this last impression.

• at Georgia Tech, September 3rd
• vs Weber State, September 12th
• at Northwestern, September 19th
• at Baylor, September 26th
• vs Texas Tech, October 3rd

“The players in that locker room love him. I mean, he’s a guy’s guy,” Sarkisian said to On3. “That was always the thing that I was on him about, and I love this about Arch, but I would say, ‘You need to go lead. You’re the leader.’ He would say, ‘I just don’t feel like I’ve earned it yet.’

“That’s important to him, that he earns everything he gets. But the players were the ones building him up to go lead. They wanted to follow him, and the moment he did, you could see a difference in our team.”

Growing stronger step by step

Being part of a legacy like the Mannings—with stars such as Eli and Peyton—is no easy task. Arch faced excessive criticism and opinions during his debut as QB1 at Texas, but his coach insists he rose to the occasion.

“Ninety-nine percent of kids would have melted last year if they had to endure what he endured, and all Arch did was get stronger,” Sarkisian told On3’s Chris Low.

Improving on his previous season

After a historic 2025 campaign with the Texas Longhorns, Arch Manning enters the 2026 season as the Heisman frontrunner. Last year, he shattered expectations by throwing for 4,103 yards and 38 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions, leading Texas to a dominant 13–1 record.

Boasting an elite 68.4% completion rate, Manning is now focused on improving his mobility after recording 312 rushing yards and 5 scores on the ground. With a veteran core of playmakers returning, he is poised to elevate his dual-threat production even further within Steve Sarkisian’s high-powered system.

What will Manning do with his future?

Although Arch Manning is eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, the 2026 season may not necessarily be his last at the collegiate level. Currently a redshirt junior, Manning technically holds an additional year of eligibility for 2027 due to his redshirt status in 2023 and limited snaps in 2024.

While he is widely projected as a potential number one overall pick, his family has historically prioritized completing four full years of college development before turning pro. Ultimately, whether he declares for the draft or returns to Austin for a final season will depend on his performance this year and his desire to follow the seasoned path set by his uncles, Peyton and Eli.

“We’ve got to choose the best one when we really know,” the head coach said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “I think that’s going to be something that drags on to the fall. We’ll see. We declared Ty the starter a little bit earlier than I would’ve anticipated a year ago.“

DeBoer also praised the work done so far by Austin Mack and Keelon Russell: “The offense, in particular, with so many new linemen and a couple other guys and the backfield that needs some guys to step up, I really appreciate what Austin and Keelon are doing in their leadership role. At some point, there’s going to be a hard time for one of them, when we do decide and move forward with a starter.”

Who will be QB1 in Tuscaloosa?

Keelon Russell is currently seen by many analysts as the favorite to win the job following a redshirt freshman year where he showed elite efficiency, completing 73.3% of his passes and throwing 2 touchdowns in limited backup action. However, he faces stiff competition from Austin Mack, a redshirt junior who has spent three years in DeBoer’s system and served as the primary backup last season, recording 228 passing yards and 2 scores in four appearances.

While Russell offers higher physical upside and “future of the program” status, Mack’s extensive experience with the coaching staff makes this a tight race that will likely be decided late in August.

A tough schedule ahead

Alabama will kick off the 2026 season with a challenging stretch that balances high-profile non-conference matchups and early SEC tests. The Crimson Tide opens at home against East Carolina on September 5, followed by their first road trip to face Kentucky in Lexington on September 12.

Returning to Tuscaloosa, Alabama will host a massive showdown against Florida State on September 19 before welcoming South Carolina for an SEC clash on September 26. The opening month concludes on October 3, when the team travels to Starkville to take on Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.

“I just don’t know how you could live with yourself and look into your players’ eyes if you’re looking at other opportunities in the midst of the season and getting ready for a playoff game and hopefully making a run at a national championship,” DeBoer said via on3.com.

“…I mean, this is Alabama. I’m at an amazing place. That’s the way I was looking at it. I chose to be here. I love the support and love our players and love the direction and everything the staff has done to put the pieces together here over the last two years. A lot of heavy lifting’s been done to get us to this point.”

The coach knows he is exactly where he wants to be: “…we’re right here where we want to be, and I plan on being here for a while.”

Rumors that didn’t materialize

Despite intense rumors linking Kalen DeBoer to high-profile openings at Michigan and Penn State, both programs ultimately went in different directions. Michigan aggressively pursued DeBoer but eventually hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham in December 2025 to replace Sherrone Moore.

Similarly, while Penn State considered DeBoer as a top candidate, they finalized a deal with former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell to lead the Nittany Lions.

Simpson’s replacement

Following Ty Simpson’s departure to the NFL, the battle for the starting quarterback spot at Alabama for the 2026 season centers on two distinct talents. Austin Mack, a 6’6″ redshirt junior with deep knowledge of Kalen DeBoer’s system, holds the edge in experience and veteran leadership.

However, five-star prospect Keelon Russell is a serious contender, with his elite accuracy and mobility making him a fan favorite to potentially secure the job before the regular season kicks off.

Alabama Crimson Tide season kickoff

• vs East Carolina, September 5th
• at Kentucky, September 12th
• vs Florida State, September 19th
• at Mississippi State, October 3rd
• vs Georgia, October 10th

“I would say I mean just the personalities are a little different than our old coach and coach Golding,” Chambliss said, per On3. “I’d say [Golding is] more of a team guy. We really value his leadership, whatever he says.”

Chambliss’ comments make much noise. He transferred to Ole Miss largely because of Kiffin, but is seemingly still upset at his former head coach’s decision to leave the program when LSU came knocking last season.

Chambliss goes after Kiffin

Moreover, Kiffin publicly backed Chambliss’ case as he fought for an extra year of eligibility in 2026. At the end of the day, Chambliss remains eligible for 2026 after the NCAA’s appeal was denied. Still, their relationship may be past its point of no return.

Now, Chambliss isn’t even calling Kiffin by his name. He simply referred to him as “our old coach.” Sometimes, what isn’t said is bigger and louder than what is. This may be the case.

Kiffin and Chambliss’ story

Kiffin saw potential in Chambliss. The head coach recruited him out of junior college at Ferris State and took him under his wing in Oxford. In just one year together, Chambliss blossomed into a top quarterback who put college football on notice. Last NCAA season, Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.

Moreover, he rushed for 527 yards and eight TDs. Chambliss proved he wasn’t simply a product of Kiffin, as he led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. With Pete Golding calling the shots in 2026, Chambliss hopes to have equal—or greater—success. As the sixth-year QB noted, the team has the utmost trust in its new head coach. Kiffin’s dramatic departure taught Ole Miss a lesson, and the Rebels aim to put it to good use next season.

Ole Miss will host LSU in 2026

If college football does indeed have scriptwriters, they deserve recognition, for they have knocked it out of the park with the LSU–Ole Miss saga. Kiffin fled the scene after his exit from Ole Miss but is now set for a dramatic reunion. In September, the Rebels will host the Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Needless to say, Kiffin won’t fly under the radar in his return to Oxford. In the SEC, every game means more, and this will be no exception. Fans in attendance may set a new decibel record for the loudest “Hotty Toddy” in school history.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Smith said to the press. “I knew, especially at the end of that game (vs. Miami in the Cotton Bowl), that a certain program was going to come at me very hard. Not gonna say no names, I think everybody here knows who it was. But I wasn’t goin’ nowhere.”

Despite this situation, the wide receiver declined any option to leave. Jeremiah Smith will now play his third season with the Buckeyes and will aim once again to compete among the title contenders.

Smith eyes breakout season

Jeremiah Smith remains ineligible for the NFL Draft until 2027 due to the league’s mandatory three-year post-high school rule. Despite his elite physical traits and record-breaking production since his freshman year, the 6-foot-3 receiver must complete his upcoming 2026 junior season with the Buckeyes.

Scouts already project Smith as a potential number one overall pick, as he continues to be widely regarded as the most NFL-ready prospect in college football.

A big 2025 for Smith

Smith delivered an outstanding 2025 sophomore season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, recording 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. Averaging 14.3 yards per catch, he solidified his status as one of the most explosive wide receivers in college football while leading the Big Ten in several receiving categories.

An intriguing receiving corps for the Buckeyes

Ryan Day will count on a deep and talented depth chart for the 2026 season. Devin McCuin and Brandon Inniss are set to play primary roles alongside Smith, while highly-touted prospects Chris Henry Jr., Kyle Parker, and Phillip Bell provide elite depth from the bench. This explosive group will be at the full disposal of quarterback Julian Sayin as the Buckeyes aim for a national title.

Ohio State’s first challenges

These are the first matchups that the Ohio State Buckeyes will face, a team that will try to position itself from the start as a title contender.

• vs Ball State, September 5
• @ Texas Longhorns, September 12
• vs Kent State, September 19
• vs Illinois, September 26
• @ Iowa, October 3