Wednesday, July 29, 2026

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College Football Playoff

College Football Playoff Prediction: 12-team bracket projection for 2026

Jeremiah Smith, Arch Manning, Darian Mensah, Dante Moore

With August right around the corner, it's finally time to shift the conversation to the field. Ari Wasserman used the moment to lock in his projected final College Football Playoff rankings, along with a full breakdown of how the bracket plays out.

Wasserman's bracket ends with an SEC power finally breaking through against a Big Ten mainstay in the national title game. Both programs have made the playoff a habit in recent years without ever closing the deal, and in this projection, only one of them shakes that reputation.

Wasserman breaks down how the national champion gets there, plus his full round-by-round breakdown of every CFP matchup from the first round through the semifinals, below.

FULL PROJECTION FROM ARI WASSERMAN →

College Football

Tony Petitti addresses SEC ‘breakaway’ talks, clarifies Big Ten’s stance

Tony Petitti got grilled on Day 1 of Big Ten Media Days about whether his conference is exploring a breakaway model of its own.
His answer stopped short of "breaking away," but he made clear the Big Ten already has people laying groundwork for what comes next if the Protect College Sports Act doesn't get it done.
Petitti's comments come as speculation grows about which leagues could end up aligned if a bigger governance shakeup actually happens.

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College Football

True freshmen who could start Week 1 of 2026 college football season

With fall camp about to open across the country, Pete Nakos identified the former top-ranked recruits who look ready to make an immediate impact as true freshmen, quarterbacks included.
Ohio State's Chris Henry Jr. is already carving out a role in a loaded receiver room, and Michigan's Savion Hiter has drawn buzz as one of the most NFL-ready freshman backs in the country, and both could contribute on day one.
Several more newcomers, including a pair of five-star linemen and a few potential starting quarterbacks, round out the list below.

READ MORE FROM PETE NAKOS →

College Football

ACC releases preseason media poll

With the 2026 season just weeks away, the ACC football Preseason Poll has been officially released. 188 media voters participated in crafting the poll. All 17 teams in the conference now know where they stand going into the season.

College Football

North Carolina places Michael Lombardi on administrative leave: Behind the move, latest on CSC interest

North Carolina placed general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave on Monday. Pete Nakos has the behind-the-scenes details that led to the decision, plus the latest on a potential College Sports Commission inquiry.