The College Football Playoff has already opened the door for new faces, and the 12-team field made that even more obvious last season. Six first-timers - Miami, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tulane, Texas Tech, and James Madison - got in, and a few more schools look ready to push through in 2026.
Virginia Tech is one of the more intriguing candidates. James Franklin landed there after his Penn State run ended abruptly early last season, and the Hokies are bringing back about 14 starters along with a promising transfer class.
The catch is the schedule. There are major road tests ahead, and both lines of scrimmage still have real questions.
Houston also has a path. Willie Fritz guided the program to six more wins in his second season than in his first, and the offense has a real centerpiece in Conner Weigman.
He led a unit that averaged nearly 30 points per game, and he’ll have help from targets like Amare Thomas plus a transfer addition in Makhi Hughes. The challenge comes in the form of road trips to Texas Tech and Utah.
Florida may be staring at a rough record, but the talent level is still there. The Gators can bring plenty of punch in SEC play, especially at running back and wide receiver, and Jon Sumrall has some young defensive pieces to work with. The big issue is the quarterback spot, which still needs to be settled before anything else can really click.
BYU is another team with a strong foundation. Bear Bachmeier is back at quarterback, LJ Martin returns at running back, and the Cougars have 11 starters coming back overall.
They’ve finished ranked in each of the last two seasons, and their defense should be one of the Big 12’s best. With a manageable schedule, they have a real shot to make the road back to Arlington and maybe more.
Louisville belongs in the conversation too. Jeff Brohm has the Cardinals winning at a high level, with at least nine victories in each of his three seasons, and the offense brings back key pieces after averaging almost 30 points per game.
They also beat Miami a year ago. A matchup with Ole Miss in Nashville gives Louisville a chance to jump into the early playoff picture.
Then there’s USC, a program that has gone far too long without being part of the playoff race. Lincoln Riley still has work to do, and the pressure is obvious.
The defense has to take a real step forward with former TCU coach Gary Patterson running it, while Jayden Maiava returns at quarterback. The Trojans lose two key backs, but they still have enough skill-position experience to stay in the mix if the defense finally holds up.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Still Has Some Huge Depth Chart Battles To Settle
Virginia Techs spring game offered enough clues to sketch out a working two-deep, but it also left plenty of room for movement once camp opens. The offense has a clearer feel after offseason additions and spring performances, with the quarterback picture, the receiver pecking order and the line all drawing attention as the Hokies try to settle into something closer to a real rotation before the season arrives.
Even on defense, the outlines are there without being fully locked in. Brent Prys group still has questions to answer in the secondary, especially around how it wants to deploy its nickel and star looks, and a few position groups are being shaped as much by scheme as by personnel. For a roster still sorting out roles across both sides of the ball, the next round of battles may end up telling as much about the Hokies as the spring game did. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Still Has One Massive Quarterback Decision Looming
Virginia Techs quarterback picture is still taking shape as the program looks ahead to the 2026-27 season, and Ethan Grunkemeyer has emerged as the leading candidate to take control of the offense. The transfer brings starting experience with him, and his rsum gives the Hokies a proven option as they try to settle the most important spot on the field.
Even so, the room is not short on competition. Bryce Baker, the North Carolina transfer, is positioned to push for the job, while Troy Huhn turned heads in spring practice and flashed enough to keep the race interesting. For now, Virginia Tech has a real battle on its hands, and the final answer may not come until later in fall camp. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Heads Into LSU With A Quarterback Decision Still Looming
With Clemson set to open against LSU, the Tigers still have not settled the most important job on the field. Dabo Swinney is letting the quarterback competition between Christopher Vizzina and true freshman Tait Reynolds play out a little longer, a sign that the staff is comfortable waiting rather than forcing an early answer. Swinney has also made clear Clemson did not chase the transfer portal for a quick fix, preferring to lean on the quarterbacks already in the building.
For Virginia Tech, the ripple effects of that kind of roster patience are part of the larger ACC picture. James Franklin said the Hokies have made major offseason progress and pointed to a bigger, stronger, faster, deeper team, while also keeping Brent Pry in place as defensive coordinator to smooth the transition. Louisville, meanwhile, is preparing for a difficult schedule with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz expected to take over at quarterback, giving the league a few more unknowns as camp decisions start to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]