Five daring forecasts shaping the 2026 college football landscape
A columnist outlines five bold predictions for the 2026 season, ranging from Nebraska snapping Indiana's streak to a Heisman race featuring Auburn's Byrum Brown.
Looking ahead to the 2026 campaign, the analyst predicts that Nebraska will halt Indiana’s 21-game winning streak when the Cornhuskers travel to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 10. In the Group of 5, UT-San Antonio is singled out as the only team likely to reach the College Football Playoff, capitalizing on a stable Jeff Traylor program. Oklahoma State, guided by Eric Morris and bolstered by former North Texas talent such as quarterback Drew Mestemaker, is forecast to capture the Big 12 championship despite a disastrous 2025 season.
Auburn’s dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown, now under coach Alex Golesh, is listed as a 55-to-1 Heisman favorite. Finally, the piece suggests that both LSU and Notre Dame have the timing and talent to finish among the final four in January.
Why it matters
These forecasts highlight potential shifts in power and emerging storylines for the upcoming college football season.
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