COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

Quite honestly, I’m pretty much over the NFL preseason and I’m sure everyone reading this is too. The only thing we need to worry about the rest of the preseason is staying healthy, something NFL players aren’t even doing in practice. Sigh. 13 DAYS TIL NFL KICKOFF!

Alas, it’s time for the 2026 College Football season to begin with Week 0 games kicking off this weekend. Bill Belichick faces off against TCU in Ireland to deflower the season, but that isn’t the game I want to focus on. Tonight the real sickos rejoice as No. 4 Pitt State hosts No. 1 Ferris State, the back to back Division-II Champions. The game will of course be on MIAA+, a subscription service you have to pay for. Bullshit capitalism. Anyway, Ferris State has made five national championship game appearances in the last seven seasons and won four of the last five D2 national titles. It’s a freaking powerhouse that sent Trinidad Chambliss to Ole Miss prior to last season. Pitt State is no slouch, especially at home. The Gorillas have won 178 of their last 212 regular season home games, posting a 178-33-1 (.842) record over the last 41 seasons. This is an absolute powerhouse matchup you’re going to want to tune in for.

Other notable games D-1 games include Memphis traveling to Las Vegas to take on UNLV in what may be the two best group of 6 schools in the country. No. 14 USC will host San Jose State in a game that probably won’t be close. Week 0 is merely a taste of what is to come over the next 5 months so buckle up! Ball is back!

My Top 10 Predictions for the 2026 CFB season:

Darian Mensah leads Miami to the College Football Playoff, wins the Heisman Trophy and is drafted No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft
Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman both go top 8 of the 2027 NFL Draft, marking the 4th draft in a row with multiple receivers selected in the top 8.
Virginia plays Miami in the ACC Championship. I like what the Cavaliers have going, coming off an 11-2 season. Transfer QB Beau Pribula is poised to lead UVA back to another double-digit win season.
The second spot in the SEC Championship game comes down to Rivalry Weekend on November 28. I think Georgia will have secured its spot in the SEC Championship which leaves Texas at Texas A&M as the biggest game of the weekend. A&M has a brutal schedule as do the Longhorns, but I think either of those will have a chance to sneak in even at 9-3. Ole Miss, who is one of the top teams in the conference, hosts Mississippi State and the electric Kamario Taylor in what should be an incredible Egg Bowl. Oklahoma travels to Missouri in a previous Big 12 rivalry and potential trap game for OU with Ahmad Hardy potentially back on the field, and Alabama hosts Auburn in the Iron Bowl. LSU travels to Arkansas in another classic trap game. I think one of LSU, Texas, Oklahoma or Ole Miss takes on Georgia in Atlanta.
San Diego State will be the first “new” Pac-12 Champion, earning a bid to the CFP. This might be a bold prediction, but with the revitalized Pac-12, the Aztecs and Head Coach Sean Lewis have an opportunity to do something great out west. Quarterback Jayden Denegal (6’5, 230) and running back Lucky Sutton (6’1, 210) are a dangerous duo in the backfield. I believe in Coach Lew; I got to see it firsthand at Kent State. He’s a true alpha and elite leader of men. If anyone can grab this new version of the Pac-12 by the balls, it’s him. He led Kent State to its only bowl win the over 100+ years of football. He’s legit.
Houston is the surprise team that gets into the CFP. Head Coach Willie Fritz is loved among college football fans, many believing he’s one of the most talented coaches in the country. I’m one of them. The Cougars finished 10-3 last season and return a plethora of offensive talent led by quarterback Conner Weigman and wide receiver Amare Thomas. Fritz was also able to secure a key running back, Makhi Hughes, who rushed for 1300+ yards in back to back season at Tulane before transferring to a crowded Oregon RB room in 2025, seeing just 17 total carries. It’s a bit of a crazy reunion considering Hughes was set to breakout heading into the 2025 season. But I think Hughes is the piece that can get Houston over the top.
Two SEC 3-loss teams get in the CFP, while one 3-loss team (Oklahoma) gets left out. The committee is forced to decide between Texas, LSU and Oklahoma for the last two playoff spots. All teams finish 9-3 but the Longhorns beat the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry. Since LSU and Oklahoma don’t play, it comes down to these two for the spot. If LSU beats Texas on November 14 they could flip, but I couldn’t pass up a first round CFP matchup between Lane Kiffin and his former team. And neither can the playoff committee.
Clemson beats LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina in Death Valley to save Dabo Swinney’s job. The home team hasn’t won The Palmetto Bowl since 2016, so the odds might not favor the Tigers. Clemson will begin its season in another Death Valley, at LSU on September 5. It’s one of the most anticipated early season matchups. They go to Cal on September 25, a Friday night, before hosting Miami on October 3. There is a real chance Clemson begins the season 2-3. Add in trips to Florida State and Syracuse, things could go south fast. Beating South Carolina to maintain a 7-5 or 8-4 record should keep Swinney safe. But a loss to SC and a 6-6 finish… I’m not so sure.
Damon Wilson II starts being talked about as a 2027 NFL Draft prospect in the same breath as Colin Simmons and Dylan Stewart, two projected top 15 picks. Wilson is a former 4-star recruit who started his career at Georgia but only accumulated 6 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in two seasons. He then transferred to Missouri in 2025 and had a breakout year with 9.0 sacks and 9.5 TFLs. Wilson now heads to a loaded Miami defensive line, coached by NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. It’s the perfect fit for someone like Wilson, who possesses an incredible first step and elite speed off the edge. Coach Taylor is going to help Wilson have an All American season.
Georgia will win the College Football Playoff over Miami.
Chaw’s 2026 College Football Playoff Prediction

FOR THE GIRLS: LET’S TALK OUTFITS, PT 1

One of the funniest things I can remember seeing is someone on TikTok call football team uniforms “outfits.” It was years ago and it still makes me laugh.

I want to talk about fashion and how it’s circled back around in college football. This idea came to me last week when the University of California aka Cal Berkeley aka Aaron Rodgers alma mater posted their “new” uniforms.

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I say new in quotes because these are throwback uniforms. Cal is doing what most teams are doing and modernizing their elite jerseys from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It’s smart, it’s HOT and it gets the people going! It’s a trend around college football right now, and I’m absolutely loving it. Missouri, Arizona State, Florida and Baylor have all went back to classic looks.

Missouri throwback uniforms

Arizona State throwback uniforms

Florida throwback uniforms

Baylor throwback uniforms

I think college football costume design has gone downhill significantly in the last 10-20 years. That being said, there were some absolute classic uniforms that we NEED back in college football. Please marvel at these wondrous outfits. There are many more I could showcase but I can only grab so many illegal photos off the internet.

Big 12 uniforms from the 2010s

Iowa State’s cyclone logo helmets

Hawaii rainbow stripes

Teams have been rolling out their alternate 2026 uniforms over the last couple weeks. Vanderbilt will pay homage to their all gold uniforms which they haven’t worn since 2002. Ohio State, Texas Tech, Louisville and Air Force lean into the all black look. There’s weirdly a lot of camouflage in 2026, spoiler alert I hate it.

I can’t sit here and rank 138 FBS uniforms plus alternates, but I will sort the latest jersey releases for you beautiful people.

The Good: