ESPN’s College GameDay opened its 2026 road season on Saturday ahead of LSU-Clemson, and the panel’s championship picks came back with one glaring omission: preseason No. 1 Ohio State didn’t get a single vote for the title game.
The desk split four different ways on who would reach the College Football Playoff final. Desmond Howard went with Texas over Notre Dame.
Nick Saban took Miami over Texas. Pat McAfee picked Indiana over Ole Miss.
Kirk Herbstreit chose Notre Dame over Indiana.
That left Ohio State completely out of the conversation, a notable miss for a team that entered the weekend as the AP No. 1.
Saban’s pick stood out most. He was the only regular panelist to put Miami in the final, and the only one to have the Hurricanes winning it all. He framed it as a simple guess in a crowded field of contenders: "The number of good teams that we talked about today, there's no magic in terms of who you pick and it's just your best guess, but I'm saying Miami versus Texas and Miami wins."
For Miami, that kind of praise can turn into a headache fast if the team doesn’t stay locked in. Saban has already been high on the Hurricanes, saying last year they deserved a CFP spot, so this wasn’t exactly a shock from him. Still, the spotlight is now squarely on Mario Cristobal’s group, and Cristobal’s background as a former Saban assistant means he knows what comes with that kind of attention.
The conference picks followed a similar theme. Howard, Saban, Herbstreit and Wilson all predicted Miami would win the ACC, while McAfee went with North Carolina.
Ohio State’s shutout deserves its own mention. Even with the Buckeyes sitting at No. 1 in the AP poll heading into the weekend, none of Howard, Saban, McAfee or Herbstreit had them reaching the title game. Saban did back Ohio State to win the Big Ten, but Howard and Wilson picked Oregon, and McAfee and Herbstreit went with Indiana.
In Other News...
Pacers Gamble On From Myles Turner Looks Smarter Than Ever
When Indiana let Myles Turner walk, it was a franchise-shaping decision, the kind that invites immediate second-guessing. Turner landed with the Bucks on a four-year deal worth $108.9 million, while the Pacers moved on by trading for Ivica Zubac and positioning themselves for the 2026-27 season with bigger goals in mind. It was a clear bet on reshaping the roster rather than trying to keep the old core intact.
Early signs have only added to the debate, because Turners first season in Milwaukee produced his lowest statistical averages since his rookie year. For Indiana, that doesnt automatically make the choice look right or wrong, but it does sharpen the context around what comes next. The Pacers wanted flexibility and a path toward a title run, and now the question is whether the pivot away from Turner ends up being the move that gives them the ceiling they were chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Fans Can Already See Milwaukees Myles Turner Problem
Myles Turners exit from Indianapolis was always going to linger, but the timing has made the comparison even easier for Pacers fans to spot. Indiana moved on from its longest-tenured player by turning to Ivica Zubac on a more favorable contract, while Turner landed in Milwaukee carrying the kind of deal that tends to invite scrutiny the moment the results wobble.
For the Pacers, the bigger takeaway is not just that they replaced Turner, but that they did it without inheriting the same financial baggage. Turner still brings shot-blocking and a recognizable skill set, but the questions around his overall defensive impact and efficiency have followed him into Bucks conversations, and that makes his contract look even heavier from a distance. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Zubac Trade Suddenly Looks Different Than Fans Remember
When the Pacers struck the deal for Ivica Zubac, the trade package looked as steep as any recent move in the league. Indiana sent out multiple assets, including two first-round picks and players Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, in a swap that was meant to reshape the frontcourt and give the Clippers a major return. The transaction was already going to be judged on whether Zubac could justify the price, and now the way the deal is remembered has shifted again.
A guilty verdict against the Clippers in a cap circumvention scandal changed the optics even more, costing Indiana a 2029 draft pick tied to the trade. It does not alter the actual pieces exchanged between the teams, but it does leave the Clippers' return to the Pacers reduced to Keaton Wagler in the aftermath. For Indiana, the broader question remains the same: whether the on-court value of Zubac can still make a deal this expensive feel worthwhile. [Read more 🡒]