College football media days start next week, and there are numerous storylines to watch as the start of the 2026 season draws near. With drama over players and coaches leaving, blueblood programs returning to form, and the return of the PAC-12, this season looks to be a compelling one from start to finish. There are five developments to be aware of with, with recent developments in Texas being at the top of the list.
What Does Brandon Sorsby’s Exit Mean For Texas Tech And The Big 12?
Brandon Sorsby’s ineligibility threw a wrench into Texas Tech’s hopes for 2026. The Red Raiders were counting on steady quarterback play to carry them this season, with the loss of four defensive starters from a season ago. The program’s best options going forward are a pair of redshirt freshmen in Lloyd Jones III and Will Hammond. Both were former four-star prospects out of high school, so Tech can salvage the 2026 campaign if either QB can navigate the ups-and-downs of the early college football season.
The turmoil in Lubbock has created a wide-open Big 12, where BYU and Utah are in play for a conference championship. The Cougars are coming off of a 12-2 season in 2025, and bring in a pair of elite transfers in tight end Walker Lyons and linebacker Cade Uluave. The Utes, meanwhile, are undergoing a transition period with new coach Morgan Scalley, with 16 incoming transfers to a program that won 11 games last season. The Big 12 is likely to be chaotic all season long without a clear preseason favorite, and Sorsby’s absence will have an impact on the whole conference in 2026.
Will Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers Actually Make An Impact This Season?
Lane Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss and arrival at LSU was a messy saga, but Kiffin unquestionably makes the Tigers better. One of the top recruiters in college football, he brought in quarterback Sam Leavitt and pass rusher Princewill Umanmielen via the transfer portal for 2026. The team struggled with QB efficiency (65.7 completion percentage and seven interceptions) and sacks from the defensive front (no defensive lineman had more than two sacks) in 2025. Does shoring up these weakness make LSU a real contender this season?
The SEC is set for a return to form in 2026, with multiple teams that can legitimately win the conference. Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M all made the College Football Playoff last season, with the Bulldogs having the shortest odds of those three to win an SEC title thanks to all of their returning players. The media and sports bettors are high on Arch Manning and Texas, which leaves the top of the league crowded. It’s unlikely that LSU makes the Playoff in Kiffin’s first season, but it was always going to be a multi-year rebuild from what the Brian Kelly era left behind.
Are Ohio State And Oregon The Class Of The Big Ten?
After a disappointing showing in the Playoff last season, Ohio State lost elite starters on both sides of the ball, and has three games with postseason ramifications (at Texas, vs. Oregon, vs. Michigan). Despite all this, Ryan Day shored up the defensive front through the transfer portal with three players, as the position group that got exposed against Miami. The offense for the Buckeyes will have a new look with Arthur Smith calling plays, but Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith makes the unit a force to be reckoned with. OSU won’t be the only Big Ten team with championship aspirations, as Oregon might be the most talented team in college football.
The Ducks will likely be the preseason number-one team, with a plethora of returners from 2025’s Playoff team. There is some doubt about the team, as they are breaking in two new coordinators, and have to replace three starters on the offensive line. Outside of the road contest against Ohio State, Oregon’s schedule is favorable, so the program is in good position to return to the CFP. Indiana is a dark horse for the conference title, as the defending national champions lost a multitude of players from a season ago.
Was 2025 A Fluke For Miami?
Miami benefited from a down ACC last season, but had an almost-fairytale run in the Playoff. The Hurricanes will look wildly different in 2026, with six starters on their offensive and defensive lines gone. The program brought in Duke passer Darian Mensah and three receivers as transfers, so an emphasis on the passing game could be in the cards for this season. Despite the losses, “The U” still boasts one of the best rosters in the ACC, but the road to a conference title may not be an easy one.
Louisville and SMU have the shortest odds outside of Miami to win the ACC, as each won nine games in 2025. Virginia finished the season ranked 16th in the country, while Clemson is desperate for a return to the top of the league. The Hurricanes are in the best position out of all of these teams to push for a conference title and a Playoff spot, but it’s unknown if they will have staying power nationally.
Can Boise State Take The New PAC-12 To The Playoff?
2026 is going to be an interesting year for West Coast football, with the return of the PAC-12. Boise State is the consensus favorite, as the program added 18 transfers to help with the transition to a new league. The Broncos have a track record of being consistent performers, and showdowns with Oregon and Washington State solidifies their strength of schedule. Will the team hold its own in a league where there are so many unknowns?
Boise State may be the favorite, but the new PAC-12 poses an interesting challenge. It’ll be fascinating to see how the roster stacks up to original conference members Oregon State and Washington State. Fresno State and San Diego State were regular contenders in the Mountain West, so they won’t be easy contests for the Broncos. It would be safe to assume that a 10-2 Boise State team with a conference title would be a lock for the Playoff as an at-large bid, which would be massive for the future of the league.
