8 Hot Takes for the 2026 College Football Season

The road to arrive here, on the cusp of a fresh college football season, has been long. But despite the long, painful wait, a new batch of games, upsets, disappointments and moments are at our doorstep.

Thank goodness for that.

With that start of every college football season comes a flood of takes. Let's be honest, everyone wants to be right. Many will be wrong. Such is the life of trying to unpack how a season will play out.

Today, we're not delivering layup predictions. What's the point in that?

No, we're out searching for the hottest of takes as the season begins, looking for hot takes that will withstand the test of time.

Let us begin. And welcome back, football. We missed you dearly. 

Bill Belichick Won't Be North Carolina's Head Coach Come New Year's Day

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From the moment he was announced as head coach, the fit has never been right.

The distractions have been constant, and they haven't subsided. His handpicked GM, Michael Lombardi, was put on his leave. Steve Belichick, his son and the team's DC, was put on medical leave.

And the results, so far, haven't been there. UNC won four games in 2025, and there's not an abundance of optimism heading into this year. Maybe the Tar Heels will win five games. Heck, maybe they become bowl eligible under the best of circumstances.

The reality is it just won't matter. Belichick is 74 years old, and another season of middling football with so many moving pieces just won't work. Maybe he leaves, maybe he's asked to leave or maybe it's a combination of the two.

Either way, it won't be long now.

The Hot Seat Will Stay Largely Frigid

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Yes, Belichick is likely out, one way or another. Other coaches will be, too. Such is the ritual in the sport, but don't expect an avalanche of coaching changes throughout.

As the winds of college football have swirled over these past few offseasons, something strange has happened. College football coaches are no longer being removed—especially from high-profile jobs—at the pace they once were.

Sure, changes happen. Auburn, Florida and LSU, three enormous jobs, have new coaches. There was movement last year, and there will be once again.

But with schools struggling to balance budgets due to NIL and other unique constraints, the prospect of paying enormous buyouts is causing schools to reconsider making a change.

Last season, Wisconsin and Florida State followed this path. This year, other schools in a crunch will hesitate to pull the trigger, choosing instead to reinvest in the roster.

There will still be firings, but don't expect the flurry we were once accustomed to. 

Oklahoma State Will Execute One of the Greatest CFB Turnarounds in Recent Memory

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You no longer need three years to turn a program around. Curt Cignetti showed us this, lifting Indiana to unreasonable heights over a few short months.

Oklahoma State might not reach that level of success in Eric Morris' first season, but there is a ton to like. The former North Texas coach is bringing Drew Mestemaker and Caleb Hawkins with him, giving him stars at quarterback and running back.

And for as bad as things were with the Pokes' roster last season, a rebuilt lineup and a friendly conference schedule makes the potential that much more intriguing.

An early matchup against Oregon might not go spectacularly, although things will improve as the season progresses. It wouldn't be the least bit shocking to see OK State go from Big 12 doormat to conference Cinderella—a potential threat to make the College Football Playoff—in one season.

Trinidad Chambliss Will Become the Face of College Football

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A year ago, Trinidad Chambliss was an unknown backup quarterback who had just transferred in from Ferris State, figuring to be somewhere deep on the Ole Miss depth chart. 

Now, he's the most electrifying player in football ready for an encore.

Forget about the word "best" for a moment. In a year with so many capable quarterbacks at massive programs, Chambliss is very much in contention for this prestigious honor.

In many respects, however, he is more than that. He is a passer, he is a runner, he is a creator. His game is explosive and unpredictable. He is charismatic without being dramatic, which speaks volumes given the coach he used to play for.

Simply put, no player warrants your attention more on a given play than this one. And now that he's gotten comfortable with his school and new head coach, the best is still yet to come. 

Lane Kiffin Will Meet the Hype

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Speaking of Ole Miss, enter Lane Kiffin.

Given his high-profile departure from the Rebels and his headline-capturing arrival at LSU, Kiffin has largely been at the epicenter of college football over the past nine months.

Since arriving in Baton Rouge, however, Kiffin has managed to assemble a spectacular roster, putting LSU's ample resources to use.

Which leads us to the actual games, the only thing that matters.

Indeed, LSU's schedule is a mess. The Tigers play five opponents currently ranked in the Top 25 in the preseason AP Poll. They also play Clemson and take a tricky road game at Auburn.

It's a lot to ask out of a head coach still learning his roster, albeit one with plenty of talented options. But with Sam Leavitt at QB and talent at key positions, Kiffin will find a way.

No, LSU won't win a national championship. But the Tigers will be a force in the SEC and find a home in the playoff in Kiffin's debut voyage. 

2026 Will Be the Year of the Running Back, Not the Quarterback

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To be clear, the quarterbacks across college football are exceptional. Dante Moore, Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, CJ Carr, Darian Mensah and Trinidad Chambliss, just to name a few, will be as advertised.

But at a time when NFL teams are starting to financially commit to running backs in a major way, college football will follow suit. And the talent level across the country warrants it.

Ole Miss' Kewan Lacy and Missouri's Ahmad Hardy are the lead backs. The hope, of course, is that Hardy is healthy enough to be the ridiculous talent we know he can be. Beyond him, however, the list is deep.

Miami's March Fletcher Jr. was a CFB playoff star. BYU's LJ Martin was a monster last year. Louisville's Issac Brown, Oklahoma State's Caleb Hawkins, Florida's Jadan Baugh, Ohio State's Bo Jackson, Texas' Hollywood Smothers and plenty others will have an enormous say on how this year plays out.

The SEC Will Once Again Play Its Way Out of the CFB Playoff

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First, some clarity.

This is not a knock on the SEC. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The exhausting dialogue that comes when comparing conferences based on results is tiresome, and that is not the intent here.

The reality, however, is that the SEC gauntlet will continue. What we saw at the end of last season, with Texas and Vanderbilt on the outside looking in, will persist. There will be more fan bases in the SEC crying foul come final playoff rankings, and there will be a strong case to be made that those teams deserve a spot.

A nine-game conference schedule won't help matters—not with teams in the middle and the bottom half of the conference set to improve. As a result of this depth, there will be far less teams with two (or less) losses at season's end.

That result will create a familiar debate, one the SEC will be on the wrong side of once again.

Is that fair? Absolutely not. But it's the system we have.

Oregon Will Win Its First National Championship

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The momentum has been building.

Under Chip Kelly, the Ducks were oh so close to winning a title. Under Dan Lanning many years later, all the necessary pieces have properly aligned.

The quarterback is back, for starters. Dante Moore's decision to forego the NFL Draft was the major piece, and his supporting cast is nothing short of remarkable. His wideouts are healthy, and it might be the best collection of pass catchers in the country.

But the defense is where this pick really takes shape. The defensive line is loaded, the defensive backfield has reloaded and there are future NFL players all over the field.

Navigating the Big Ten, which includes a road trip to Ohio State, has plenty of teeth. But the Ducks' goals stretch well beyond that game. The roster and coaching staff are in place. The talent is overwhelming.

This has the makings of a truly elite college football team. Let the games begin.