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Notre Dame-USC Rivalry Renewed Beginning in 2030
Notre Dame and USC have agreed to a four-year series beginning in 2030 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, USC Football announced on X. The two sides have met 96 times since 1926, including every year since 1946 (except the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season). The two storied programs will not square off in 2026, 2027, 2028, or 2029 due to scheduling conflicts. While it's a shame the series is being paused, it's great news that one of the sport's best rivalries will be renewed at the start of the next decade. In an era of realignment and crowded conferences, this is a big win for college football. The Irish are riding a three-game winning streak against the Trojans and lead the all-time series 36-30-3.
Source: USC Football
Source: USC Football
JC French Leading Cincinnati Quarterback Battle Entering Fall Practice
Georgia Southern transfer JC French is viewed as the leader in the quarterback competition against Samaj Jones entering preseason practice, according to ESPN's Pete Nakos. French arrived at the program this spring after throwing for over 5,800 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions in two full seasons as a starter. Jones is a former three-star recruit out of Pennsylvania and has seven career passing attempts to his name two years removed from high school. Replacing Brendan Sorsby figures to be a tall task for the Bearcats, but French appears to be in line to lead that effort after separating himself from Jones in spring practice. Head coach Scott Satterfield enters the 2026 campaign on the hot seat, so French's play will largely determine the future of the program. Cincinnati opens the season on September 5 against ACC foe Boston College.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Tanook Hines Limited to Start Fall Practice
USC wide receiver Tanook Hines (undisclosed) is not a full participant in practice due to an undisclosed injury, according to head coach Lincoln Riley. However, he is progressing well and is expected to be ready for the regular season. The Trojans began fall practice on Friday, July 31, ahead of their Week 0 game against San Jose State. Hines enjoyed a relatively strong freshman season while sharing the field with Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane, catching 34 passes for 561 yards and two touchdowns. With Lemon and Lane now in the NFL, Hines is expected to step into the WR1 role in Lincoln Riley's offense led by standout quarterback Jayden Maiava. The Texas native could be a household name at the end of the 2026-27 campaign, and it sounds like the program is being cautious with him ahead of a potential College Football Playoff push.
Source: Chris Treviño - 24/7 Sports
Source: Chris Treviño - 24/7 Sports
Dierre Hill Jr. Brings Explosive Element to Ducks' Backfield
Sophomore running back Dierre Hill Jr. got significant playing time as a freshman at Oregon, carrying the ball 75 times for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Standing 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Hill has the perfect frame combined with explosive speed to really make a difference in the Ducks' offense entering his sophomore season. Hill is again expected to split the backfield with fellow sophomore Jordon Davison, but the two should see more work with Noah Whittington off to the NFL. It is widely expected that the Ducks will deploy a committee at running back, and Hill should have his fair share of work as an important piece of the puzzle.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Charlie Becker to Break Out in 2026?
Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker came on down the stretch of the season last year during the Hoosiers' national title run. He finished the season with 34 grabs for 679 yards and four touchdowns, putting together his most productive games in big moments against the likes of Penn State and Ohio State. Becker returns to Indiana as a redshirt sophomore and is joined by Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh to form a dangerous tandem. While Becker did have some productivity down the stretch last year, he is set for a full-fledged breakout as a full-time starter in 2026 with Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. off to the NFL.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ja'Kyrian Turner Set to Lead Pittsburgh Backfield
Sophomore running back Ja'Kyrian Turner is set to step into a lead role for Pitt this season after running alongside Desmond Reid in 2025. With Reid off to the NFL, the backfield is Turner's to lose. Standing 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, the young back carried the ball 140 times for 745 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman. He also caught 25 balls for 150 yards. Turner's most productive game came in an upset win over Georgia Tech when Reid was sidelined, in which he ran 21 times for 201 yards and a score. With that type of workload weekly, the potential is there for him to emerge as one of the nation's best running backs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Georgia Tech to Add DeAndre Hopkins to Staff
Former NFL star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who played for the Ravens just last season, is reportedly set to join Georgia Tech's staff for the upcoming season. Hopkins has a relationship with offensive coordinator George Godsey, and is expected to take on a role on the offensive staff. Fresh out of the NFL, Hopkins has never held a coaching role before but makes an interesting hire given his pedigree. He played at Clemson from 2010-2012 before being drafted in the first round, and amassed 13,295 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns in his career. Having such a successful NFL receiver around should certainly help boost recruiting pedigree for Brent Key's program.
Source: 247 Sports
Source: 247 Sports
Julian Sayin Up 10 Pounds Heading into 2026
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was a Heisman finalist in 2025, but that does not stop him from feeling like he has a lot to prove. Buckeyes' strength coach Mickey Marotti stated that Sayin is "the toughest player in the whole Woody," despite the reputation he gets for being smaller-framed. The redshirt sophomore threw for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions a season ago, and has reportedly gained 10 pounds and "feels faster." On Sayin, safety Jaylen McClain stated, "He's a lot more comfortable. Obviously, he had a great season being a Heisman finalist, but for him to come back with a chip on his shoulder as well, he feels like he has a lot to prove." The Buckeyes kick the season off against Ball State on September 5th.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Bob Chesney Says Nico Iamaleava is Growing as a Leader
New UCLA head coach Bob Chesney stated that he has seen marked growth in junior quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is one of the few holdovers from the previous regime in Westwood. "This year definitely feels more comfortable. I'm comfortable at home. I feel better about it this year, mentally and physically," Iamaleava stated, settled in at UCLA now after his tumultuous departure from Tennessee. Chesney brought five coaches and 10 players along with him from James Madison, and stated, "Your quarterback needs to be your leader, and when you bring in an outsider, obviously, there's some friction that might occur at moments. Having [Iamaleava] already present in that community, in that school, all the things that come with it, I think he finally had a chance to just let his guard down and be like, 'All right, we got a program. We're stable now. Let's do this thing.'" The new coach-quarterback pairing will kick their season off on September 5th against California.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Braun Says Chip Kelly Hire was "Transformative"
Northwestern head coach David Braun swung for the fences when the Wildcats brought in Chip Kelly to be the team's offensive coordinator in 2026. Braun stated, "There needed to be some form of transformative change, and the fact that he chose us is a reflection of what we're building." The Wildcats went 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten) last season, and have gone 19-19 in his tenure thus far in Evanston. Northwestern's offense has not been the strong suit over the last few seasons under Braun, and if Kelly can ignite a spark, the Wildcats could build something special. They will be relying on Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles, who has thrown for 4,116 career yards, to run the offense. Star receiver Griffin Wilde, who recorded 880 yards and eight touchdowns last season, should be the go-to target in the revamped offense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bryce Underwood to Run More in 2026?
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood scrambled for 392 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman last season. The sophomore is due to see an uptick in his usage on the ground in 2026 with Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck in the fold. Under Beck, Devon Dampier produced 2,001 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground over the past two seasons. Whittingham stated that "A lot of what we did with Devon Dampier last year at Utah is what you're going to see Bryce doing this year." Underwood has also reportedly been doing drills with the running backs to better that aspect of his game. On the running game in general, Whittingham also said: "To help Bryce, there's two things we can do: shore up the offensive line and have a strong running game. A strong running game is a quarterback's best friend. If he can turn and hand the ball and get chunks of yardage up the field, that takes a lot of pressure off of him." With Jordan Marshall returning and five-star Savion Hiter joining him in Michigan's backfield, the Wolverines should be lethal on the ground in 2026.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Landen Thomas Ready to Make Impact for Florida State
Florida State tight end Landen Thomas dealt with injuries last preseason that lingered into the regular season, limiting the former four-star recruit to three receptions for 35 yards and two touchdowns. This came after he earned a starting job in the middle of his freshman campaign and collected 14 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. Entering 2026, he is healthy for the start of camp for the first time in his career, and tight ends coach Chris Thomsen said he is excited for what he can bring to the position. The Noles added East Carolina transfer tight end Desirrio Riles this offseason, so if Thomas can live up to his potential, Florida State could have one of the top tight end rooms in the ACC.
Source: Matt LaSerre - Warchant.com
Source: Matt LaSerre - Warchant.com
Danny Scudero Not "Satisfied" After Leading Country in Receiving Last Season
Colorado wide receiver Danny Scudero was one of the best pass-catchers in the country last season, hauling in 88 passes for 1,297 yards (led FBS) and 10 touchdowns at San Jose State. However, the California native remains hungry heading into his first season with the Buffaloes. "For me, there's a never-ending ceiling," he said at Big 12 media day. "You're never satisfied with whatever you do. I left a lot on the table last year. I feel like I could have made a lot more plays, got a lot more yards. And I feel like moving forward this year, I'm going to make the most and take advantage of all my opportunities." After a down season on offense following the departure of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Colorado is counting on transfer pass-catchers like Scudero, DeAndre Moore (Texas), and Ernest Campbell (Sacramento State). If Scudero's production translates to the Power 4 level, he could be one of college football's breakout stars nationally in 2026.
Source: Brian Howell - BuffBlitz
Source: Brian Howell - BuffBlitz
Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski Battling for Iowa QB1 Job
Iowa quarterback Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski will continue the starting quarterback competition this fall, and the battle could take until just before the Week 1 game against Northern Illinois to be decided. Brown is entering his second season with the Hawkeyes after two years in the SEC at Auburn. In eight career games, he has thrown for 642 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions. Hecklinski is also in Year 2 with Iowa, serving as the third-string quarterback behind Brown in 2025. He began his career at Wake Forest and has thrown two career passes. Whoever wins the job is unlikely to light up scoreboards in Iowa's run-first offense, but taking care of the ball will be responsibility No. 1. As of now, both quarterbacks are expected to receive equal first-team and second-team reps during camp.
Source: USA Today
Source: USA Today
Ole Miss Files Lawsuits Against Princewill Umanmielen, Devin Harper
Ole Miss has filed breach-of-contract lawsuits against former Rebels edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper, the school announced on Tuesday. The school is seeking nearly $1 million between the two players, who transferred to LSU this offseason. "The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them," a statement released by the school said. "In return, the university expects that same commitment from its student-athletes and their representatives in upholding their contracts." The school also said it tried to "amicably" resolve the matter before the filings. While this move comes as no surprise in modern college football, we could see more actions like this taken by schools in the future as players leave programs after signing lucrative NIL deals.
Source: On3
Source: On3
