“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.

When asked about the situation, the experienced coach revealed his stance. He made it clear that he is against players choosing to make the jump early in their careers, rather than continuing to develop further in college basketball.

“Unless it absolutely makes total sense for you to go and you know you’re a lottery pick guaranteed to go top 15-18, the biggest mistake you can make right now as a college basketball player is going to the draft too early,” he said on The Dan Patrick Show/The Field of 68.

Which Huskies players declared for the upcoming Draft?

The UConn Huskies are preparing for a significant roster overhaul as several key players transition to the professional ranks following the 2025-26 season. Senior center Tarris Reed Jr., who ran out of eligibility after a dominant year averaging nearly 15 points and 9 rebounds, is a lock for the draft as a physical interior presence.

He is joined by veteran forward Alex Karaban, a “winning” combo forward whose elite floor-spacing and perimeter shooting have him projected as a potential late first-round or early second-round pick. Additionally, freshman standout Braylon Mullins has emerged as a high-upside first-round prospect; the 6-foot-6 sharpshooter is expected to finalize his decision shortly, with many scouts viewing him as one of the premier movement shooters in the 2026 class.

When and where is the next Draft?

The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place over two nights, with the first round on Wednesday, June 24, and the second round on Thursday, June 25. The event will return to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Ahead of the draft, the NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 10, followed by the Draft Combine from May 10–17, where top prospects like AJ Dybantsa and the UConn trio will be closely evaluated.

“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.

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.

According to USA Today, May’s bonuses in the NCAA Tournament were as follows: $50,000 for appearing in the first round, $75,000 for reaching the second stage, $100,000 for making it to the Sweet Sixteen, $150,000 for their Elite Eight appearance, $200,000 for playing in the Final Four, $300,000 for qualifying to the national title game, and $400,000 for winning it all.

With the national title conquest, May bolstered his case to win the the National Coach of the Year award. Such an accomplishment would secure an extra $50,000 for May. Had Michigan lost against UConn, May would have taken home a $300,000 paycheck, missing out on the extra $100,000. It wasn’t like he would’ve had to pinch pennies, but his team’s triumph still secured him even more money.

Hurley misses out on a fortune

As for Hurley, had UConn defeated Michigan at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, he would’ve walked away with a whopping $1.275 million bonus. Even with the national title loss, Hurley is earning more in bonuses than May is for his historic conquest with the program in Ann Arbor.

Hurley has earned $775,000 thanks to the NCAA Tournament bonuses in his contract. Cutting down the nets of March Madness is priceless, but Hurley already knows how that feels, and securing $775,000 definitely makes the pain easier to withstand.

Hurley’s bonuses breakdown

Hurley’s contract bonuses are as follows: $25,000 for an NCAA Tournament appearance, $50,000 for UConn’s win in the first round, $75,000 for making it out of the second round, $125,000 for the Sweet Sixteen triumph. The win over Duke in the Elite Eight meant an extra $200,000 for Hurley, whereas the Final Four victory added $300,000 to the total.

A national championship would’ve handed Hurley the final $500,000. Most importantly, it would’ve earned him a seat in the debate for the greatest college basketball head coach of all time. However, May and Michigan prevented that with a staple performance. Now, the Wolverines are national champions for the first time since 1989.

“That’s a Geno question. I have not heard from Geno,” Staley admitted, via USA Today’s Meghan Hall. “It’s UCLA’s day. Let’s keep it there. We’re not gonna damper UCLA’s day with that.” Staley did say she has a lot of unread messages, and Auriemma’s reported text may well be one of them.

According to ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, Auriemma did reach out to Staley to apologize for his candid reaction, but South Carolina‘s head coach couldn’t confirm that. As far as Staley knew—or cared to publicly discuss—she hadn’t heard from Auriemma.

Staley’s reaction to the question put on full display that she had no intention of touching the subject. That was not something on her mind after the Gamecocks lost in the National Championship Game for the second year in a row.

Staley vs Auriemma never fails to deliver

Regardless, after suffering one of the worst defeats of her coaching career in women’s college basketball, Staley was in no mood to speak about the clash with Auriemma that made waves across the nation last Friday. Everybody knows how heated matchups between Staley’s Gamecocks and Auriemma’s Huskies are, but this one went over the line.

The head-to-head record between Staley and Auriemma is now tied in NCAA Tournament showdowns. As it stands, both sides have won two and lost two against one another. Though she didn’t directly name Auriemma or Connecticut, Staley did fire a not-so-subtle shot at the Huskies with her praise for Cori Close and the Bruins.

“Although we didn’t win, I can swallow it because we lost to a really good human being and a good team that represents women’s basketball well,” Staley said, per The Athletic’s Grace Raynor. Clear as water, Staley put Auriemma on notice with that comment.

Missed opportunity for Staley

South Carolina’s loss against UCLA meant Staley failed to make the podium for the most decorated coaches in the NCAA Tournament. Auriemma still leads with 12 national titles, followed by Pat Summit’s 8 championships. Kim Mulkey closes out the podium with 4 conquests of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

Make no mistake, though, the Gamecocks will be back in the dance next year, and Staley isn’t going anywhere as she is inked to the highest contract in the nation. Moreover, her deal runs through the 2029-30 season. It’s safe to say, Staley is there to stay in Columbia.

• Geno Auriemma: 12 national titles with Connecticut
• Pat Summit: 8 national titles with Tennessee
• Kim Mulkey 4 national titles (Baylor 3x and LSU)

If there’s a silver lining, though, it’s the fact South Carolina avoided making history of the wrong kind. After the Gamecocks’ 28-point loss to the Bruins, the record for the biggest blowout in a national title game in women’s college basketball still belongs to the UConn Huskies, who defeated the Louisville Cardinals 93-60 (33-point difference) in the 2013 National Championship Game.

Regardless, Staley and the Gamecocks have now lost in back-to-back championship games, and they weren’t particularly close. Last season, South Carolina lost 82-59 (23-point margin) against UConn. Staley’s side has now been outscored by 51 points in its last two title game appearances in the NCAA.

Top 3 biggest losses in title game

Though Staley’s South Carolina avoided being on the wrong end of the worst defeat in the NCAA’s Women’s National Championship Game, it couldn’t escape the podium. The 28-point defeat at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ is now the third biggest blowout in a title showdown.

The Bruins’ victory is surpassed only by the Huskies’ 93–60 win over Louisville and 82–51 victory against Syracuse in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Had UCLA not taken its best players off the court in the final minutes, the final score might have been even more lopsided.

UCLA wins 1st NCAA title

Although UCLA had hoisted an AIAW national championship in 1978, its conquest over South Carolina meant the Bruins have cut down the nets of March Madness for the first time in school history. It was extra sweet for them, as the Bruins prevented the Gamecocks from hoisting their fourth national championship.

Hungry dogs run faster, and that was definitely the case, as the Bruins simply wouldn’t be denied in their pursuit of immortal glory. The program had gone through a valley, and how fitting that, in The Valley, UCLA touched the sky in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.

“It’s definitely unpleasant. I feel like we should’ve been here and we’d be playing tomorrow night,” he revealed via Brian Rauf of Basket Under Review on X.

Boozer, who will watch the final of this thrilling tournament from the sidelines, had to stay in Indianapolis to receive this individual recognition. Now, his mind is clearly focused on what’s ahead: the big leap in his career with the NBA Draft.

Boozer’s breakout year at Duke

Cameron Boozer’s freshman season at Duke was nothing short of historic, as he dominated the ACC and solidified his case as a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. Over 38 games, he averaged an impressive double-double with 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while also showcasing his versatility with 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals.

Despite Duke’s heartbreaking 73-72 loss to UConn in the Elite Eight—where Boozer still managed a team-high 27 points and 8 rebounds—his elite efficiency and all-around play earned him ACC Player of the Year honors and cemented his status as a generational talent.

His projection in the NBA Draft

Cameron Boozer is a consensus top-3 pick for the 2026 NBA Draft. While he is in a tight race with AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson for the No. 1 overall spot, many analysts view him as the most “pro-ready” prospect due to his elite efficiency and high basketball IQ.

Scouts project him as a versatile, modern frontcourt star with All-Star potential, often comparing his polished game to that of a young Al Horford or Chris Webber.

The 2026 March Madness Championship game

The Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies in the National Championship game on Monday, April 6, at 8:50 PM ET. This high-stakes battle for the title will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, as Michigan looks to secure its first championship since 1989.

“I am a UConn coach until the end. Maybe, [I leave for the] NBA some day down the line. But no, I’m a UConn coach, man,” Hurley stated during an interview with Jeff Goodman from Field of 68.

As tempting as coaching the Tar Heels may be for any coach in college basketball, Hurley’s commitment to the Huskies is rock solid. Not many—if any—coaches have it better than him at Storrs. Thus, it makes sense why Hurley isn’t paying any attention to the outside noise. As he made it clear, if he is to leave UConn it’ll be to take the next step and coach in the NBA.

Hurley turned down NBA years ago

Coming off back-to-back college basketball national championships with the Huskies in 2023 and 2024, Hurley was handed a very appealing contract offer by the Los Angeles Lakers. According to reports at the time, the 17-time NBA champions offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million deal. Hurley would’ve become one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, but he felt his time with Connecticut was only getting started.

Shortly after, he was inked to an extension in the “Basketball Capital of the World.” Per USA Today, Hurley’s contract in Storrs runs through the 2029–30 NCAA season. When the time comes, who knows where Hurley will head?

National Championship Game

At the moment, though, Hurley only has time to focus on the immediate future. And that deserves his full attention, as the Huskies are set to do battle with the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6 at 8:50 p.m. ET.

Hurley and UConn have a date with history, as well as a not-so-fun meeting with No. 1 Michigan, which looks downright unstoppable, outscoring opponents by a 107-point margin so far in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. As for UConn, its plus/minus is +41.

“They have championship DNA. What they’ve done over the last four years is as impressive as anything we’ve seen in recent memory. And we’ve got our hands full Monday, but these guys will be up for the challenge,” he said on the TBS broadcast.

It was no easy task at all to reach this stage. The Wolverines defeated the Arizona Wildcats 91–73 in the Final Four, in May’s second season at the helm of the team. Will Michigan be able to achieve its ultimate goal on Monday night?

Led by Aday Mara

Aday Mara led the charge in Michigan’s rout of Arizona, dominating the paint with a career-high 26 points and 9 rebounds. Despite shooting struggles, Elliot Cadeau orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 10 assists to propel the Wolverines into the National Championship game.

The Wolverines are aiming for their second title

Thirty-seven years after their historic 1989 triumph, where they defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 80-79 in a thrilling overtime finish, the Michigan Wolverines will seek for their second official title. The team looks to break a nearly four-decade drought and finally return to the top of the college basketball world.

When and where is the March Madness final?

The 2026 March Madness National Championship game is scheduled for Monday, April 6, at 8:50 PM ET. The high-stakes matchup will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, featuring Dusty May’s team against the UConn Huskies.

This marks the ninth time Indianapolis has hosted the Final Four, with the city serving as the culminating site for this year’s tournament drama.

“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.