RADIO
Could Keelon Russell Be Sleeper Heisman Contender?
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has very limited experience at the college level, but he has dazzled when given opportunities. Russell still has to earn the starting job over Austin Mack, but the redshirt freshman has reportedly wowed throughout the spring and summer. Last season, he completed 11-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. That action did come late in blowout wins over UL Monroe and Eastern Illinois, but Russell continued to show a spark in Alabama's spring game. He completed 21-of-33 passes for 240 yards with four touchdowns and an interception, scoring points on seven of nine possessions. Should Russell beat out Mack to officially win the starting job, the budding star could be a deep sleeper to be one of the nation's top players in 2026.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Duce Robinson Eyeing Florida State Turnaround
Florida State receiver Duce Robinson could have been one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but instead opted to return to the Seminoles for his senior season. The 6-foot-6 receiver broke out last season, catching 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns after transferring in from USC. Rather than going to the NFL, Robinson returned to Tallahassee with the goal of turning the program back around. Robinson stated that, "College football is better when Florida State is at their best. That's just a proven fact. Florida State, Tallahassee, has changed my life. I just want to see Tallahassee be great again." The Seminoles enter the season with head coach Mike Norvell on a scorching hot seat, and with unproven veteran quarterback Ashton Daniels set to start under center.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Source: Sports Illustrated
Jayden Maiava Due for Career Year?
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is entering his third season in Lincoln Riley's program. Maiava broke out last season, throwing for 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while running for six more scores on the ground. He will be without his top two targets from a year ago in Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane, but the Trojans have no shortage of young talent in the receiving room. Tanook Hines, who recorded 561 yards as a true freshman, projects as the top option with NC State transfer Terrell Anderson running alongside him. Star freshman tight end Mark Bowman and freshman receivers Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt figure to mix into the rotation as well. With more mouths to feed, the sky is the limit for Maiava in his senior season. The high-flying Trojans' offense will open the season against San Jose State on Saturday, August 29th as Maiava looks to catch the attention of NFL scouts during his senior campaign.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Texas Tech Inks Deal with Galaxy on Stadium Naming Rights
Texas Tech has agreed to a 15-year, $75 million deal with Galaxy to rename Jones AT&T Stadium to Galaxy Stadium, effective this year. The deal also includes NIL opportunities for players. Galaxy is an AI company that operates out of Dickens County, 70 miles from Lubbock. The stadium has been named Jones AT&T Stadium since 2006, and will open its new era on September 5th as the Red Raiders host Abilene Christian in the season opener.
Source: On3
Source: On3
North Carolina Quarterback Competition a "50-50 Battle"
Bill Belichick's first season at the helm of North Carolina's football program was a disaster, as the Tar Heels finished 4-8 (2-6 in conference play). Quarterback play was inconsistent from Gio Lopez, who threw 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Lopez has since transferred out as Belichick reconstructed the roster, bringing in Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. and Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill as potential solutions. Edwards is the most experienced of the two, starting the 2024 season at Maryland before suffering an early-season injury at Wisconsin last year. He has thrown 512 passes in his four-year career, compared to the 20 thrown by O'Neill. O'Neill has the physical traits and the relationship with new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, which puts him squarely in the competition to start in Week 0's matchup against TCU in Ireland.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Christopher Vizzina, Tait Reynolds Competing for QB1 Job at Clemson
With Cade Klubnik off to the NFL, Clemson football enters a new era. Klubnik had started every game but one for the Tigers dating back to 2023. Head coach Dabo Swinney is not ready to name a starting quarterback quite yet, but On3's Pete Nakos would be shocked if third-year quarterback Christopher Vizzina was not the Week 1 starter. Vizzina did start the SMU game this past season, finishing the loss 29-for-42 for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Vizzina was a four-star quarterback in the class of 2023. He is competing with true freshman Tait Reynolds, a three-star out of Arizona. Reynolds has reportedly impressed Coach Swinney this spring and will continue to push Vizzina for the starting job, but it sounds as if the job is Vizzina's to lose.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Five-Star Receiver Monshun Sales Commits To Indiana
The Indiana Hoosiers have received the first-ever five-star commit in program history, as in-state star receiver Monshun Sales committed to Curt Cignetti's program on Friday. Sales picked Indiana over Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, and Texas, signaling that the Hoosiers are not going anywhere after winning last year's national title. Sales is the No. 1-ranked receiver in the 2027 class. Standing 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, he poses a dangerous combination of size and speed. Sales' commitment gives Hoosier fans more reasons to be ecstatic about the state of their program, which has never been in a better spot historically.
Source: 274 Sports
Source: 274 Sports
Michael Hawkins Jr. a Potential Quarterback Sleeper with Change of Scenery
Former Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is viewed as the favorite to emerge as the starter at West Virginia, as the camp battle with Scotty Fox Jr. is set to kick off. Hawkins showed some flashes in two seasons with the Sooners as the primary backup to Jackson Arnold (2024) and John Mateer (2025), totaling 950 passing yards, 262 rushing yards, and eight touchdowns in limited action. Hawkins has legitimate rushing upside, but his development as a passer is a big question as he potentially enters his first season as a starter. There have been plenty of examples of quarterbacks breaking out with a change of scenery later in their careers, and Hawkins could fit that bill in 2026. The Mountaineers open their schedule with home games against Coastal Carolina and UT-Martin, which should give him time to get his feet wet before Power 4 competition begins.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Cole Ballard Projected to Win Kansas QB1 Job
After six seasons on the roster, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is gone. The veteran leaves behind 49 games of experience that saw him pass for over 9,000 yards and score 90 touchdowns. Entering camp, quarterbacks Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall are competing for the starting job, and Pete Nakos of On3 projects Ballard to come out victorious. The son of Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has played in 15 games over the last three seasons, compiling 445 passing yards, 209 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. Marshall is entering his third year with the program and has seen action in nine games. Both have experience in Lance Leipold's offense, but Ballard has more live reps and has been ahead of Marshall on the depth chart. Leipold believes the position is in good hands, regardless of who is under center to start the year.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Is Dave Aranda on the Hottest Seat in the Country?
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda checked in at No. 1 on CBS's college football hot seat rating entering 2026. The former LSU defensive coordinator got out to a hot start in Waco following the COVID-affected 2020 campaign, winning 12 games and a Big 12 Championship in 2021. However, Baylor followed that up with 6-7 and 3-9 seasons before briefly rebounding to 8-5 in 2024. Last year, the Bears had high expectations with veteran quarterback Sawyer Robertson but posted just five wins. Many believed Aranda would be relieved of his duties following the 2025 season, so he's clearly coaching for his job in 2026. Much of Aranda's fate is dependent on how former five-star recruit DJ Lagway performs at quarterback after struggling last season with Florida. Baylor's win total is set at 6.5 (FanDuel) this season.
Source: CBS Sports
Source: CBS Sports
DeAndre Moore Jr. Due for Breakout with Colorado?
Colorado wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. joined Deion Sanders' program this offseason after three years at Texas and is expected to be one of Julian Lewis' top options in this year's passing game. Last year, Moore ranked second among Longhorns' pass-catchers in receptions (38) and receiving yards (532). Although he'll have to compete with San Jose State transfer Danny Sceduro, who tallied 1,297 receiving yards last year, there is potential for a breakout campaign in 2026. Moore was the No. 8 wide receiver in this year's transfer portal (On3) and will take on a feature role for the Buffaloes right away.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Austin Romaine Stepping in for Jacob Rodriguez at Texas Tech
Former Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine enters his senior season with Texas Tech after transferring to Lubbock this offseason, and although he's an established Big 12 linebacker, he has big shoes to fill. Last season, the Red Raiders' linebacker Jacob Rodriguez stuffed the stat sheet with 128 total tackles, six pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, and a sack. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, and Chuck Bednarik Award, and finished fifth in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting. Romaine is a two-time second-team All-Big 12 linebacker and has tallied 184 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, and 3.5 sacks in his career. He'll be playing with the most surrounding talent of his career, setting him up for a productive season in the middle of the fierce Tech defense in 2026.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Kaelan Chudzinski Out for 2026 Season with Achilles Injury
Boston College tight end Kaelan Chudzinski (Achilles) won't play in 2026 after suffering an Achilles injury, according to head coach Bill O'Brien. The former three-star recruit made a significant impact as a true freshman, collecting 24 receptions for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Chudzinski was expected to step into the clear TE1 role for the Eagles following the departure of Jeremiah Franklin. O'Brien said he is expected to return to football activities in January of 2027. This is a significant loss for O'Brien's offense, and Florida transfer Cameron Kossmann could now have the inside track on the TE1 job entering 2026.
Source: Pete Thamel
Source: Pete Thamel
Breakouts from Cam Ward, Carson Beck Led Darian Mensah to Miami
Speaking at ACC Media Days, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah said breakout seasons from former Hurricanes quarterbacks Cam Ward and Carson Beck were among the reasons he decided to join the program heading into his junior campaign. "That was a huge factor, deciding to transfer, seeing what those guys did," Mensah said. "My OC (Shannon) Dawson will form the offense around the quarterback, around the stuff he likes to do. That also made it something I wanted to be a part of." Both Ward and Beck joined Mario Cristobal's program in the final seasons of their collegiate careers. Ward went from a zero-star recruit with mild NFL interest to a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, while Beck went from flaming out at Georgia to becoming the first player selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Now at Miami, Mensah will look to follow suit, and he'll be throwing to one of the best wide receiver tandems in the nation in Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate. He'll also have Mark Fletcher Jr. flanking him in the backfield behind the most talented offensive line he has worked with in his career. The potential for Mensah to develop into a clear top quarterback prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft class is strong. In 27 career games with Tulane (2024) and Duke (2025), Mensah has tallied 6,696 passing yards, 56 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship victory last season, something Miami has yet to accomplish.
Source: Brett McMurphy
Source: Brett McMurphy
Former Penn State Running Back Tikey Hayes Joining Nebraska Program
Penn State transfer running back Tikey Hayes has officially committed to Nebraska as a late addition to the Cornhuskers' roster, according to On3's Transfer Portal. Hayes played in just one game for the Nittany Lions as a true freshman, rushing three times for 18 yards. Nebraska has a challenging task ahead of them in replacing standout running back Emmett Johnson, and the program clearly felt the need to add more depth at the position. Hayes will join the Huskers this fall in hopes of carving out an immediate role.
Source: Transfer Portal (On3)
Source: Transfer Portal (On3)
