Fall camp always sorts out the depth chart, but for a handful of stars, the stakes run a lot higher than winning a job. For these players, the next few weeks could shape everything from playoff hopes to coaching futures.
At Alabama, the quarterback situation still hangs over the program. Neither Jalen Milroe nor Ty Simpson could get the Tide back to the top of college football, and now the focus shifts to a different battle: slightly more tested, but slightly more limited Austin Mack against the talented but still unproven Russell.
Kalen DeBoer’s future may be tied to whether Russell is ready to lead Alabama back to glory. If Russell doesn’t have a strong fall practice, Tuscaloosa could be staring at a long season.
Ohio State has a different kind of pressure. The Buckeyes expect to be in the mix for both the B1G and the CFP title hunt, and Jeremiah Smith is already being talked about as arguably the best player in college football.
But Carnell Tate is in the NFL, and another big-play receiver is needed. Brandon Inniss could grow into that role after posting 36 catches for 271 yards last year, while Henry, one of the nation’s top recruits, could be the dynamic x-factor that turns Ohio State’s offense from explosive to un-defendable.
Give Julian Sayin one more reliable weapon, and the Buckeyes could really take off. Without it, Smith could be seeing constant double teams in 2026.
Indiana’s quarterback situation brings a different kind of challenge. Hoover is already proven as a capable Power Conference starter, but the ask here is bigger: fill the shoes Fernando Mendoza left behind after a 2025 season to remember.
Hoover’s résumé is strong - he threw for 3,472 yards and 29 scores at TCU last year - but the expectations at Indiana are enormous. If a less acclaimed passer could win a national title, what can Hoover do?
The answer depends in part on whether he can clean up the interceptions - 24 over the last two years - and show the same calm under pressure that made Mendoza stand out. That’s a tall order.
Oregon’s situation is a little unusual. The offense should keep rolling even with Raiola on the sideline, especially with Dante Moore back for another year.
Still, the Nebraska transfer is clearly the next man up, and fall camp is his chance to prove he belongs there. Raiola arrived from Nebraska after two seasons as a starting quarterback and with a reputation as a bit of a diva.
If he stirs up locker room issues and eventually transfers after an uneventful 2026 season, the Ducks’ move would look like a waste. But if this year gives him time to mature and settle into the team concept, Oregon could end up refining a quarterback with an exceptional skill set.
The spotlight will be on how he handles the sideline and how well he fits into a much better team than the one he had at Nebraska.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Is Building Oregons Next Recruiting Advantage
Oregons push to stay ahead off the field is taking shape in a big way, with the football program expanding its facilities to roughly 500,000 square feet from a current building footprint of about 150,000. For Dan Lanning, the project is about more than adding room. It is part of the Ducks effort to keep upgrading the player experience and the day-to-day operation around a program that has long sold itself as forward-thinking in college football.
Construction is still underway, so Oregon has been juggling practice time at Autzen Stadium, the Moshofsky Center and outdoor fields in the meantime. Even with the temporary setup, the broader message is clear: the Ducks are trying to turn infrastructure into a recruiting edge, and Lanning wants the program to remain one of the sports standard-bearers for innovation. [Read more 🡒]
Dana Altman Just Gave Oregons Frontcourt A Big Boost
Oregons frontcourt got another jolt this week when Arkansas transfer Malique Ewin joined the roster after the NCAA granted an additional season of eligibility to the 2022 recruiting class. Its the latest sign that Dana Altman is not just patching holes inside, but reshaping the Ducks entire interior rotation with a mix of experience and size.
Ewin brings a well-traveled rsum that includes stops at Ole Miss, JUCO, Florida State and Arkansas, and his college path has been marked by steady growth along the way. With Sean Stewart already back and several other forwards and centers added, Oregon suddenly has the look of a team that expects its frontcourt to be a strength rather than a question. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Young Secondary Could Become A Real Strength Fast
With fall camp approaching, Oregons secondary is drawing more attention than it usually would for a group this young. The Ducks are bringing back All-American cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., while freshman Jett Washington and transfer Koi Perich give Dan Lanning a mix of proven talent, raw upside and flexibility that could make the back end of the defense a fast-moving project once practices begin.
Lanning has been encouraged by what he has seen from that group, pointing to their physical tools and the way they approach getting better. Washington and Perich are in position to push for immediate roles in the secondary, with Washington also a candidate to help on special teams and Perich offering versatility from his previous experience. If the development comes quickly, Oregon may not have to wait long for this unit to become a real strength. [Read more 🡒]