Today: The juiciest games of 2026, a look at every team's QB situation, MBB coaches to watch, and Bruce Pearl vs. Miami (OH). |
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The juiciest games of the 2026 college football season |
This is March. Yes, we're in the heart of basketball season with the NCAA Tournament around the corner. But it's always football season here. So, what are some of the juiciest games of the 2026 season? Let's dive in. 5. Florida at Auburn, Sept. 19 Two SEC programs that think they should be competing at a high level meet with first-year head coaches on the sidelines. That alone makes this compelling. The added layer is Florida coach Jon Sumrall's near-hire at Auburn before the Gators stepped in late in the interview process. His decision reshaped multiple jobs across the league. Who got the hire right? See you on The Plains in September. 4. Georgia at Alabama, Oct. 10 This matchup always belongs on the list. For much of the past decade, it felt reasonable that one of these brands would win the national title. That hasn't happened recently, and Alabama is especially desperate to reassert itself in the post-Saban era. Kalen DeBoer is 2-0 against Georgia, but the pressure never eases in this rivalry. This game is always a banger. 3. Miami at Notre Dame, Nov. 7 Last season's opener between these teams became one of the defining storylines of the year. How often does that happen? Now Miami travels to South Bend in November for a rematch that could again ripple through the playoff picture. Both project as CFP contenders with manageable schedules, which makes this head-to-head clash potentially decisive in shaping seeding and national conversation. 2. Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 12 College football peaks when two blue bloods collide, especially when both enter with national title aspirations. Unlike last year's meeting, both quarterbacks return as veterans, so there should be little feeling-out process. Add in a marquee receiver matchup and early playoff implications, and this feels like titan versus titan. 1. LSU at Ole Miss, Sept. 19 Can you believe this game was scheduled before everything happened? This is the No. 1 game of the season, without question. Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss before its CFP run for a rival he believes offers a better long-term path. In his first SEC game at his new school, he returns to Oxford to face the music. Beyond the drama, both teams should be playoff contenders in 2026. |
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| Examining every power conference QB situation as spring practice begins |
As spring practice begins, it's time to check in on the quarterback competitions. Except, there are scarcely any traditional QB competitions anymore because of the dynamics created by the NIL/Transfer Portal era. Even if most jobs aren't up for grabs, it's useful to remind ourselves who will be throwing for which school this season. Because a lot of QBs moved in January, and they'll be wearing new uniforms starting this month. From returning starters to the ascending backups to the transfer portal QB1s, Andy Staples takes a look at every team's quarterback situation heading into spring practice. |
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Top men's college basketball head coaches to watch for bigger jobs |
College basketball's coaching carousel never really stops. It simply waits for the right jobs to open. With positions like Kansas State, Oregon State, and San Diego already available, a familiar group of successful mid-major coaches are again positioning themselves for high-major opportunities this hiring cycle. Below are five names to watch as athletic directors begin evaluating candidates (the full list of 20 is available here). Casey Alexander, Belmont Alexander has deep ties to Belmont. He played four seasons for the Bruins and later returned to take over the program in 2019 after successful stops at Stetson and Lipscomb. Alexander has thrived at his alma mater, compiling a 165-58 record in seven seasons and a career mark of 302-178 as a head coach. His long track record of winning and program stability continues to keep him on the radar for bigger opportunities. Bryan Hodgson, USF Hodgson spent years as a key assistant under Nate Oats at Buffalo and Alabama before earning his first head coaching opportunity at Arkansas State. After winning 45 games across two seasons there, he moved to South Florida and immediately produced results. The Bulls are 20-8 and leading the AAC while averaging more than 88 points per game. Bob Richey, Furman Richey has quietly built one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country. Since taking over Furman in 2017, he has surpassed 200 career wins and posted a 68.5 percent winning percentage. The Paladins have regularly finished near the top of the SoCon and continue to churn out winning seasons. Josh Schertz, Saint Louis Schertz dominated Division II at Lincoln Memorial before transitioning smoothly to Division I success. After a strong run at Indiana State, he has Saint Louis sitting at 25-3 and leading the Atlantic 10. Schertz's teams have already cracked the AP Top 25 during both of his Division I stops. Travis Steele, Miami (OH) Steele rebuilt his career at Miami (Ohio) after previously leading Xavier. The RedHawks are 29-0 and ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll, giving Steele one of the most eye-catching seasons in college basketball. His experience at the high-major level could make him an attractive candidate again this cycle. |
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| Bruce Pearl fuels debate over Miami (OH)'s tournament case |
Bruce Pearl's recent comments about undefeated Miami (OH) have sparked one of the more heated NCAA Tournament debates of the late season, with coaches, administrators, and analysts weighing in as Selection Sunday approaches. The conversation began after Pearl argued the Redhawks would need to win the MAC Tournament to reach the Tourney, pointing to their weak schedule and lack of quality wins. Miami has not played a Quad 1 opponent and has built its record largely against lower-tier competition, leading Pearl to question whether the team belongs among the 68 best teams in the country. The remarks immediately drew a response from Miami (OH) athletic director David Sayler, who accused Pearl of bringing bias into the discussion because Auburn, now coached by Pearl's son Steven, is also fighting for a spot on the tournament bubble. Sayler blasted the former Auburn coach on social media and doubled down later, saying the Redhawks' undefeated record should speak for itself and defending the role mid-major programs play in March Madness. Naturally, Pearl pushed back against accusations of nepotism, saying his opinion had nothing to do with Auburn and everything to do with evaluating the field honestly. He reiterated that Miami's résumé simply lacks the type of wins typically required for an at-large bid, even if the team ultimately finishes the regular season with only one loss. Meanwhile, Miami (OH) coach Travis Steele took a more measured approach to the controversy. Steele praised Pearl's coaching résumé but made clear he is focused solely on his team controlling its own path. "I'm not calling Bruce and asking him for his opinion on our team," Steele said. "...I could care less what he says." Even ESPN personalities weighed in on Pearl "stumping" against Miami. Rece Davis acknowledged the difficulty of evaluating a team with an undefeated record and a weak schedule. Joe Lunardi also threw shade at Pearl, telling him to leave Bracketology "to the professionals." |
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Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go. I was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and finished my college career as Oklahoma's all-time leading rusher with 4,122 yards, earning two All-Big 12 selections along the way.
- I helped Oklahoma win two Big 12 championships, scored 51 total touchdowns, and had six different games with more than 200 rushing yards during my college career.
- As a freshman in 2014, I set an NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas, one of the most memorable performances in CFB history.
Answer at the bottom. |
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Tracking the most-watched men's basketball teams of the 2025-26 season |
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