The Kiffin Experiment Begins at LSU
All eyes are on Baton Rouge, where Lane Kiffin has taken over LSU after a dramatic and controversial exit from Ole Miss. Kiffin departed just as the Rebels were entering the College Football Playoff, taking much of his staff with him. Now, the pressure
is immense. LSU expects not just an SEC title contender, but a national champion. Kiffin’s first game is a blockbuster against Clemson, but the most anticipated date is September 19, when LSU travels to Oxford to face a scorned Ole Miss team. Kiffin also brought in a marquee player in quarterback Sam Leavitt, the top-rated player in the transfer portal from Arizona State, to run his high-powered offense. If the Tigers stumble, the questions about Kiffin's move and methods will be deafening.
Can Indiana Run It Back?
The Indiana Hoosiers shocked the sports world by going undefeated and winning the 2025 national championship, a true Cinderella story. Now comes the hard part: proving it wasn't a fluke. Head coach Curt Cignetti became a legend, but he loses quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. To replace him, the Hoosiers brought in Josh Hoover from TCU via the transfer portal. They also added talented Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh to reload their offense. While the coaching remains elite, the talent level has likely taken a step back. The polls reflect this uncertainty, with the reigning champs starting the season ranked sixth. Everyone is watching to see if the Hoosiers can sustain their newfound success.
Heisman Watch: The Year of the Quarterback
This year's Heisman race is shaping up to be a quarterback showcase. The preseason favorites are a who's who of the nation's top signal-callers. Texas quarterback Arch Manning is a leading candidate after a strong finish to the 2025 season. He's joined at the top of most lists by Oregon's Dante Moore, who is back for another year after being projected as a top NFL draft pick. Notre Dame's CJ Carr is also a popular pick, with some analysts considering him a potential No. 1 overall pick in the future. Ohio State's Julian Sayin, a Heisman finalist last year, is another name to watch. But don't count out a dark horse, as players like Georgia's Gunner Stockton or Texas A&M's Marcel Reed have the talent and opportunity to make a run if their teams contend for a championship.
The New Normal of Conference Chaos
The era of super-conferences is in full swing, and its effects will be a dominant storyline in 2026. The SEC and Big Ten, swollen with new powerhouse members like Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and Oregon, are more competitive than ever. Ohio State starts the year at No. 1 in the Coaches Poll, but faces a brutal schedule that includes Texas, Oregon, and USC. The SEC, which will play a nine-game conference schedule for the first time, has nine teams in the preseason Top 25. Meanwhile, other conferences are still in flux. The Pac-12 is rebuilding by adding teams from the Mountain West, and FCS powerhouse North Dakota State is making the jump to FBS. Further realignment could also be on the horizon, with a proposed amendment to a new college sports bill potentially giving schools like Florida State and Miami a window to leave the ACC.
Coaches on the Hot Seat
For some coaches, 2026 is a make-or-break year. At USC, Lincoln Riley's star has faded, and another underwhelming season could see him on his way out. Clemson's Dabo Swinney is also feeling pressure after a 7-6 season in 2025, his worst since 2010. With a tough opening game at LSU, the Tigers' season could go south quickly. In Alabama, Kalen DeBoer enters his third season needing to show progress after the Crimson Tide lost four games in each of his first two years, a far cry from the program's historic standards. These situations highlight the intense, win-now reality of modern college football, where even coaches with championship pedigrees aren't safe from rising expectations.
