College Football Thread - 2026

[Willmark]

It’s that time of year for us to dog fight about who’s college team is better.

Best way to start it out IMO is with the preseason coaches poll that just dropped:

Preseason Coaches Poll
1.Ohio State
2.Oregon
3.Georgia
4.Texas
5.Notre Dame
6.Indiana
7.Miami
8.Texas A&M
9.Oklahoma
10.Ole Miss
11.Alabama
12.Texas Tech
13.LSU
14.USC
15.BYU
16.Michigan
17.Penn State
18.Tennessee
19.Washington
20.SMU
21.Utah
22.Iowa
23.Clemson
24.Houston
25.Missouri

We all know who are backing after that last few years but the 2026 season is almost upon us.

For my own part, this year is special I’m attending my first home game ever at ND on 9/12.

[SkullCrusher]

Hard to say.

It certainly is interesting that once NIL and paying players became a thing that shockingly (but not really) the supposed SEC dominance up and vanished like a fart in the wind.

Funny that.

Now, I’m no fan of NIL, the way the playoffs are structured, the selection committee etc, as the cumulative effect is it’s killing college football in real time.

Basically at this point is a minor league pro football setup.

But one of the major problems is conferences and the SEC is at the top of the list. Although perhaps no longer as the last three years has shown.

I'm fully braced where college comes out and says forever eligibility and takes on the NFL.
I'm not saying for certain, perhaps they like churning players, it probably helps in some ways with contract length and liabilities.

[Willmark]

I'm fully braced where college comes out and says forever eligibility and takes on the NFL.
I'm not saying for certain, perhaps they like churning players, it probably helps in some ways with contract length and liabilities.

That’s certainly an interesting proposition. That is also is a really big leap.

It’s possible but is it probable?

That’s said, the window that the NCAA has to reign this all in is rapidly closing if it’s not already there. At some point they need to decide if they are indeed a pro sports league or sports as part of a high ed institution. Of course it could be argued that for a lot of programs they haven’t been that for decades.

[haji81872]

College sports are pretty much dead to me. I used to buy two football preview magazines a year and pour over them. Now teams rosters are still in flux.

[raider_kin]

College sports are pretty much dead to me. I used to buy two football preview magazines a year and pour over them. Now teams rosters are still in flux.

I know this is a college game thread, but I used to buy a preview mag too, Peterson's Pro Football Review. (this is back in the 80's and 90's)
They were awesome mags. Then they went full fantasy football rags.
It's why I don't play fantasy football (well, one of the many reasons)
When I sat and watched ball on Sunday I had my Peterson's at hand to check rosters and past drafts.
Was a great resource til they decided they were only there for fantasy players.
Bah

[GoodTimeCharlie]

NFL given ‘em something to think about…

“NFL formalizes eligibility rules. Several NFL rookies are hoping to return to college this year and if that happens, they won't be able to return to the NFL at any point during the 2026 season. Under a new NFL policy, if a rookie signs with an NFL team and decides to return to college, he can't return to the NFL until after the season. Dae'Quan Wright (Browns) and Zxavian Harris (Saints) are both looking to play for LSU this year. If they end up returning to college, they won't be eligible to sign with an NFL team until after the 2026 season (This means that if LSU had a bad year and their season ended in November, the two guys couldn't jump ship to an NFL team).”

[Reno Hightower]

I am sorry but players returning to the NCAA after being in the NFL is absurd as is 6th year seniors. Most students that are in year six are typically in medical or law school. I use the term student athlete very loosely.

College football has really gone to shit.

[riseNraid09]

I am sorry but players returning to the NCAA after being in the NFL is absurd as is 6th year seniors. Most students that are in year six are typically in medical or law school. I use the term student athlete very loosely.

College football has really gone to shit.

Lane Kiffin is a desperate man.

[Sold My Soul]

College sports used to be pure in that it wasn't tainted by greed and the joy of watching athletes compete for the love of competition.

Just like everything else in a money based society where cash is king, Sadly College sports has went the way of pro sports and it has become a tale of the haves and haves not.

[Sold My Soul]

ESPN is getting rid of its BottomLine ticker during college football games, the network confirmed to Front Office Sports.

As it has already done away with for the College Football Playoff games and other big events like NBA and NHL postseason contests, ESPN will not feature the ticker for regular-season games that air on ABC, ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and SEC Network.

“We’re always looking for ways to better serve sports fans. By removing the BottomLine during live action, we’re creating a cleaner presentation that keeps the focus where it belongs—on the field,” an ESPN spokesperson said in the statement.

There will still be score alerts during games at specific times during each quarter, one source said. There will also be updates in places like above the score bug or on the top right of the screen to help viewers navigate various schedule changes that occur, such as if the present game is running late and a new game is starting on a different channel or platform.

The changes should provide a less cluttered viewing experience that better showcases the action on the field, and makes sense as a vast majority of fans can just check the scores of other games on their phones or tablets.

[Willmark]

ACC now banning players returning who were in the NFL:

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/ ... -returnees

[SkullCrusher]

College sports used to be pure in that it wasn't tainted by greed and the joy of watching athletes compete for the love of competition.

Just like everything else in a money based society where cash is king, Sadly College sports has went the way of pro sports and it has become a tale of the haves and haves not.

I know we all know this, but College isn't mimicking the NFL much in this area. College certainly is a have, have nots.

Pro football uses a lot of rules to keep the play field equal and they work. This isn't a have have nots. Some teams football better with equal rules. College is way off their mark here.

College does pay some players some dollars, but that's sporadic and uncontrolled vs again a much more defined pro structure. Pro's have to be paid something, they aren't housed, fed and sex'd like college and since they bring is so much they reap that reward.

I'm still watching College Football because it's still quality football and I enjoy it, but yeah that politics of it all are a complete and utter mess and I have no problem seeing some self made disasters, the game will still be there when they do.

Watching college admins it's like they know a collapse is coming and they are trying to get every last dollar before it happens.

[Willmark]

We have our game plan for our September Roadtrip locked in with out bound and homeward legs. ND game kicks it off as we get to South Bend on 9-11; game is om 9-12. From there out to Cody WY, Yellowstone. Grand Tetons then back home.

I'll have to be driving through KC...

[Attyla]

We have our game plan for our September Roadtrip locked in with out bound and homeward legs. ND game kicks it off as we get to South Bend on 9-11; game is om 9-12. From there out to Cody WY, Yellowstone. Grand Tetons then back home.

I'll have to be driving through KC...

Stop by Slaps when you are there, great BBQ. We had some with friends when we were through there going to a funeral. Highly recommend that place

[raidersince63]

Lane Kiffin is an ass hat..

^^^ FIFY

[Willmark]

Stop by Slaps when you are there, great BBQ. We had some with friends when we were through there going to a funeral. Highly recommend that place

Were passing through fairly early on that day. We'll end up in St Louis for the overnight.