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Noah Fifita Primed for Strong 2026 Campaign
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita is entering his fourth year as the program's starter in 2026. The 22-year-old has completed 64.9% of his passes for 9,183 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions across 40 career games (34 starts). He had an excellent redshirt freshman season in 2023, struggled in 2024, and bounced back in 2025. With a ton of experience under his belt entering his fifth-year senior season, he could be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. "[Fifita] is freaking electric. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country," an anonymous Big 12 coach said to Athlon Sports. "His off-schedule playmaking ability is unbelievable. When he gets flushed out of the pocket, the play begins. I thought their wideouts were really good." Arizona has the fourth-best odds to win the Big 12, according to ESPN (+1800), but Fifita could give the Wildcats a chance to sneak into conference title contention during his final year on campus.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Oregon Assistant Coach Charged with DUII, Reckless Driving
Oregon assistant head coach and running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples has been charged with DUII (driving under the influence of intoxicants) and reckless driving. These charges stem from an incident in mid-April, in which Samples allegedly backed his 2026 Ford 1-50 into a parked car in Eugene. When an officer from the Eugene Police Department arrived on the scene minutes later, the responding officer concluded that Samples was under the influence of alcohol, based on his visible condition and statements, according to the DMV records. The University or the Football program has not commented on this matter. Samples has been with the Ducks since the start of the 2024 season after stints with Arizona State, the Los Angeles Rams, SMU, Texas, and Houston.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Tight End Nick Pollack Commits to Clemson
Three-star tight end Nick Pollack committed to Clemson on Monday, according to 247 Sports. The 6'3", 220-pound rising high school senior is the son of former star Georgia defensive lineman David Pollack. Pollack also had offers from Wake Forest, Cincinnati, East Carolina, and Samford. He's a versatile player with snaps as edge, linebacker, H-back, and wide receiver, but he projects as a tight end at the next level. Although he isn't a big-time recruit, Clemson is a program willing to develop players who stick around long term.
Source: 247Sports
Source: 247Sports
Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon appears in position to start in Week 1 for the Volunteers, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Brandon has been competing with sophomore George MacIntyre for the starting position this spring and while sources originally gave MacIntyre the edge, it appears that Brandon has positioned himself to compete for the job and "potentially start Week 1." Brandon was ranked as the third quarterback in the class of 2026 per 247 Sports, just behind Houston's Keisean Henderson and Vanderbilt's Jared Curtis. If he does in fact win the job, he would join Curtis as the only true freshman signal callers likely to start in the SEC in Week 1.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Dane Weber Commits to Cal
Three-star class of 2027 quarterback Dane Weber has committed to California, giving new head coach Tosh Lupoi his eleventh commit in the class and his first hand-picked quarterback. Weber is ranked as the thirty-first quarterback in the class, and the forty-second ranked player in the state of California per 24/7 Sports. He stands 6-feet, 220 pounds and draws comparisons to Georgia's Gunner Stockton. Weber will not likely see much playing time as a true freshman, as Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is required to play another season of college football before entering the NFL Draft, but his addition spurs some great momentum for the Golden Bears' program.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian poked fun at Texas Tech's strength of schedule a couple of weeks ago, which prompted Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire to respond. McGuire stated that "We would love to play Texas," and Red Raiders boosters even offered to buy out the Texas State and Abilene Christian games to make a Week 1 meeting happen. McGuire reportedly has even had contact with Stephen Jones to potentially host a matchup between the two programs at AT&T Stadium. Texas and Sarkisian have yet to respond and given that we are so close to the season it appears unlikely that a game would happen, but the Red Raiders appear to be doing everything on their end to add Texas to their schedule to open the 2026 season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
The late Mike Leach has been added to the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot four years after his death. Leach was previously just short of the 60% winning percentage criteria at 59.6%, but the National Football Foundation recently lowered the criteria to 59.5%, which opened the door for Leach to be selected. Leach suddenly passed away in 2022 while actively coaching Mississippi State. The Bulldogs finished that season with nine wins, just the tenth time that they had reached that mark in program history. Considered a pioneer of the game with his Air Raid offense, one of the faces of the game is now eligible to posthumously earn college football's highest honor.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
After canceling half of a scheduled four-game series with Virginia Tech, Maryland has added Baylor to their schedule in 2027 and 2028. While many programs have been shifting away from scheduling power conference opponents, this new series bucks that trend. Baylor and Maryland have only met twice in college football history, with the last meeting coming in 1956. They split the all-time record 1-1. Big Ten-Big 12 matchups are fairly uncommon, so the addition of this series to the schedule sparks some intrigue for both leagues. Both Dave Aranda and Mike Locksley also find themselves on the hotseat, so this series could potentially mark the beginning of a new era for one or both programs.
Source: UMTerps.com
Source: UMTerps.com
Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
Former Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens committed to North Carolina in February, but the transfer will not enroll in Chapel Hill and is now back in the transfer portal. Dickens' departure leaves the Tar Heels with Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. and Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill to battle it out for the QB1 job. It remains to be seen where Dickens will land now after completing 74.2% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 38 touchdowns, and two interceptions as a redshirt sophomore. Dickens is originally from Miami, FL, and spent three seasons at Western Carolina.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Drew Mestemaker a Top Big 12 Quarterback Right Away?
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who followed head coach Eric Morris from North Texas, could be one of the Big 12's best quarterbacks right away in 2026. As a redshirt freshman in 2025, he lit up Conference USA for 4,379 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He also scored five times on the ground. Mestemaker completed just under 69% of his passes and won 12 of 14 games in Year 1 as a starter. The Cowboys also brought in North Texas's leading rusher, Caleb Hawkins, and leading receiver Wyatt Young, so the familiarity and chemistry in Morris' offense could go a long way in hitting the ground running. Mestemaker and Oklahoma State won't have long to get firing on all cylinders, though, because Dan Lanning and Oregon come to Stillwater in Week 2. The good news is that the game against the Ducks won't factor into the conference title race, and Oklahoma could be a sneaky Big 12 Championship contender in 2026.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chris Henry Jr. the Next Great Ohio State Wideout?
Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. was a consensus five-star prospect in the Class of 2026, and given the Buckeyes' recent history of success at the position, he'll face immediate pressure to be productive. That said, Jeremiah Smith is back in Columbus for (likely) one more season, so Henry could push rising junior wide receiver Brandon Inniss for the WR2 role in the Julian Sayin-led passing offense. The California native is 6'5" and possesses all the talent necessary to be the next great Ohio State receiver, but as with any first-year player, expectations should be tempered as he adjusts to the next level. That said, he is one to keep an eye on when the 2026 season kicks off.
Source: 24/7 Sports
Source: 24/7 Sports
Chaz Coleman's Status Remains Unclear at Tennessee
Tennessee edge rusher Chaz Coleman, who was one of the top overall players in this offseason's transfer portal, missed a significant portion of spring practice, and he has yet to take part in voluntary workouts in Knoxville. The rising sophomore has been expected to be an immediate high-impact player in Tennessee's defense after following Jim Knowles from Penn State, but his situation remains uncertain. "Chaz has been dealing with some things, and we're here to support him," head coach Josh Heupel told On3. "We'll continue to go through that process." Coleman tallied three tackles for loss and one sack in a limited role for the Nittany Lions last season.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Ryan Coleman-Williams Says He's Healthy Entering 2026
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, who dealt with knee and shoulder issues, along with an early-season concussion in 2025, says he is as healthy as he's been since his freshman campaign. The 19-year-old exploded onto the scene in 2024, catching 19 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns through the first five games of his collegiate career. However, the back half of his freshman campaign and the majority of his sophomore season did not match his early production. Last year, the Mobile native caught just 49 passes for 689 yards and four scores. He took a back seat to Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton for much of the season while dealing with nagging injuries. With Bernard now in the NFL and Horton at Texas A&M, a healthy Williams could reestablish himself as one of the best wideouts in the country. Alabama will have a first-year starter at quarterback in 2026, and Williams' performance will be a key factor in whether or not the passing attack clicks.
Source: Chris Low - On3
Source: Chris Low - On3
DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway, who was viewed as an elite five-star recruit in the Class of 2024, will enter the 2026 campaign looking to rebound from an up-and-down two seasons at Florida. The Texas native posted a 6-1 starting record as a freshman, leading to sky-high expectations for his sophomore campaign. Things did not go as planned, as the Gators went 4-8 behind 16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions from Lagway. Billy Napier was fired in the middle of the season, and Lagway hit the portal to return to his father's alma mater. With the Bears, he once again has a head coach on the hot seat, and his play in 2026 will help determine whether or not Dave Aranda sticks around for at least one more season. The Bears lost leading receivers Josh Cameron and Michael Trigg to the NFL, so Lagway's top targets are projected to be Oklahoma transfer Gavin Freeman and Colorado transfer Dre'Lon Miller.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
New Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover is tasked with taking over for Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza after a 36-game career at TCU. The 22-year-old senior threw for 9,629 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. He tallied a 19-12 record in 31 starts. Needless to say, expectations will be sky high for the Hoosiers in 2026, and Hoover will be working without last year's leading receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt. However, the team brought in former Michigan State wideout Nick Marsh and returns Charlie Becker from last year's National Championship squad. The target will be on Indiana this year, and Hoover will have to put his turnover issues behind him to win at a high level on a national stage.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
