Three New College Football Rivalries Born in the 2026 Offseason-and Why They Matter
College football has always thrived on rivalries. Some have been simmering for over a century, rooted in tradition, geography, and decades of unforgettable moments.
But in today’s version of the sport-supercharged by the transfer portal and the ever-chaotic coaching carousel-rivalries don’t need decades to take hold. They can be born overnight, sparked by a controversial transfer, a heated press conference, or a coach jumping ship at the worst possible time.
This offseason brought all of that and more. Between high-profile coaching moves and some eyebrow-raising player transfers, three brand-new rivalries have emerged-and they’re already packed with drama, bitterness, and must-watch potential.
Let’s break down the three most compelling new rivalries heading into the 2026 season:
3. Miami vs. Duke: From Teammates to Enemies
This one didn’t just start with a transfer-it escalated into a full-blown legal battle.
On the final day of the transfer portal window, Duke was rocked when star quarterback Darian Mensah announced he was leaving. That alone was a gut punch.
But then came the second blow: standout wide receiver Cooper Barkate, Mensah’s top target, decided to follow him out the door. The destination?
Miami.
That’s when things got messy. Duke challenged the move in court, alleging tampering on Miami’s part.
The case was settled, and while the details remain mostly under wraps, it’s widely believed Duke received some form of buyout. But that hasn’t cooled the outrage among Blue Devils fans, who still believe Miami crossed a line.
Now, with Mensah and Barkate suiting up for the Hurricanes, you can bet this matchup-whenever it happens-is going to be circled, underlined, and bolded on the calendar. The fans haven’t forgotten, and neither have the players.
2. Dabo Swinney vs. Ole Miss: The Portal War Gets Personal
This one isn’t just about programs-it’s about personalities. And when it comes to college football personalities, Dabo Swinney and Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss are about as different as it gets.
Swinney has long been one of the sport’s most vocal critics of the transfer portal. So when he accused Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding of tampering with Luke Ferrelli, a Cal transfer who briefly landed at Clemson before flipping to Ole Miss, it wasn’t just a complaint-it was a shot across the bow.
Swinney even called Golding out by name, a rare move in a sport where most grievances are aired behind closed doors. The accusations sparked a wave of debate about the portal, tampering, and the NCAA’s role in all of it. But while the noise was loud, don’t expect any real punishment or resolution anytime soon.
Still, the tension is real. Swinney vs. Ole Miss might not have a scheduled matchup yet, but if these two teams ever meet on the field, the backstory will be impossible to ignore.
1. Lane Kiffin vs. Ole Miss: The Breakup That Won’t End
This one’s personal-and it’s not cooling off anytime soon.
Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave Ole Miss in the middle of a dream season, just before the College Football Playoff, is still reverberating through Oxford. He didn’t just leave; he left for a rival SEC program.
That alone would’ve been enough to spark outrage. But then came the kicker: Ole Miss didn’t collapse without him.
In fact, under Pete Golding, they made a serious Playoff run.
The drama didn’t stop there. As the transfer portal opened, both programs started poaching from each other.
Ole Miss scored big by landing Carius Curne, a former five-star offensive lineman from Kiffin’s new team. But Kiffin struck back, bringing over Winston Watkins, TJ Dottery, and elite pass rusher Princewill Umanmielen.
This isn’t just a rivalry-it’s a full-on turf war.
And the best part? We don’t have to wait long to see it play out.
Kiffin returns to Oxford on September 19, and if his last return to Knoxville was any indication, this one could be even more hostile. The emotions are fresh, the rosters are intertwined, and the stakes are sky-high.
Final Thoughts
College football has always had its share of bad blood, but the modern era-with its free-flowing transfers, coaching shakeups, and social media firestorms-has taken things to a new level. These three rivalries didn’t need decades to marinate. They were cooked up in a single offseason, and they’re already sizzling.
Circle the dates. Bookmark the matchups. Because these storylines are just getting started.