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Saturday's board, coaching intel, and the movement that matters across college football, tracked by Big Mike's Desk.
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CFBBreaking
Colorado Buffaloes News: Deion Sanders Can't Stop Talking About Gideon Lampron
A December jet bridge introduction turned into a camp standout. Sanders called the linebacker "a bona fide leader" and a playmaker, but it's the third thing he said that matters most.
CFB
Ohio State-Miami Is Our First Real Look at 2026 College Football's New Rhythm
CFB
Tennessee Volunteers Injury News: Edrees Farooq Lost for 2026 With a Torn Patellar Tendon
CFB
Ohio State 2027 NFL Draft Prospects and the Rosters Stacked Early
The wire
Injuries only →- CFBDeion Sanders lauds Colorado linebacker Gideon ESPN LampronLinebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron, who met Colorado's Deion Sanders while boarding a December flight, has been a camp standout for the Buffaloes, with the coach telling reporters he is "a bona fide leader. He's a playmaker. He's a guy who loves to practice."
- CFBLane Kiffin's LSU headlines Sam Acho's CFB storylines to watch for
- CFBTennessee S Farooq suffers season-ending torn patellar tendonTennessee starting safety Edrees Farooq will miss the 2026 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in practice.
- CFBOhio State-Miami and what changes you'll see in 2026 college footballSequencing, fourth down, slow games, fewer points. Coaches explain the changes.
- CFBReports: Alabama's AK Dear to miss 6 weeks with ankle injuryAlabama running back AK Dear is expected to miss about six weeks because of an ankle injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage, according to multiple reports.
- CFBMiami RB Jordan Lyle charged with reckless driving, fleeing policeMiami running back Jordan Lyle has been charged with a felony count of fleeing/eluding police and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving, according to the Broward County state attorney's office in Florida.
- CFBOhio St. shifts senior day celebration from home finale to openerOhio State is shifting its senior day celebration from its traditional spot in the regular-season home finale all the way to the season opener on Sept. 5.
- CFBSEC betting preview: Making sense of the CFP, win totals and moreBreaking down the best bets in the SEC ahead of the 2026 season, including wagers on Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Alabama, as well as how to bet on Texas and Florida.
- CFBWhy Kirk Herbstreit is still an Arch Manning believer
- CFB4-star recruit Brayton Feister commits to Oregon on McAfee
- CFBRanking all 138 FBS teams in tiers: Who rises to the top?Presenting a tiered ranking of all 138 FBS teams ahead of the 2026 season.
- CFBCollege football realignment: Conference changes for 2026A complete list of college football conference membership for FBS in 2026.
- CFB2027 NFL draft: College football teams with most top prospectsWhich schools have the most -- and best -- talent for the 2027 NFL draft? We picked out a dozen must-watch rosters full of potential early-rounders.
- CFB2026 SEC college football preview, predictions, top transfers, moreThree seasons have passed without a championship from the SEC, but as always, there are plenty of contenders.
- CFBRoman Harper calls for Alabama to be 'tougher' in the trenchesAlabama alum and SEC Network analyst Harper says he wants to see the Crimson Tide dominate the line of scrimmage and physically impose their will on opponents.
- CFBRoman Harper says LSU passes the eye test, showing professional sizeSEC Network's Harper gives his outlook on the Tigers' training camp and discusses how the big guy up front can help steady the ship.
- CFBDJ Pickett won't budge on No. 5 amid Jayden Daniels-LSU flapLSU's DJ Pickett says he has no plans to change out of the No. 5 amid pushback from Jayden Daniels, with the Commanders QB saying the situation won't be a distraction.
- CFBSources: Jeff Monken rewarded with new 5-year deal at ArmyArmy football coach Jeff Monken has agreed to a new five-year contract, sources tell ESPN.
- CFB2027 College Football Playoff National Championship oddsOdds and futures for every team to win the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship.
- CFBESPN's 2026 preseason college football All-America teamWith the 2026 season on the horizon, we look at the nation's best players at every position.
- CFBDaniels sends cease and desist to LSU after Pickett given No. 5Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels informed LSU that it can no longer use his name, image and likeness and said he felt "profoundly disrespected" after the school allowed cornerback DJ Pickett to wear his former No. 5 jersey.
- CFB'Bussin' & Pate' react to Jayden Daniels' NIL controversy: 'You're not Joe Burrow'
- CFB2026 Big Ten college football preview, predictions, top transfersThe Ducks look to continue an amazing trend, but Ohio State, Indiana, USC and others stand in the way.
- CFBFinal preseason college football SP+ rankings, takeaways for 2026Bill Connelly looks at what the SP+ projections and production numbers mean heading into the season.
- CFBBig Ten betting preview: Should you bet on Oregon, Ohio State or Indiana to win the conference?Breaking down the best bets in the Big Ten ahead of the 2026 season, including why Oregon is a better bet than Ohio State to win the conference.
- CFBReports: Sankey reminds SEC schools to follow eligibility rulesCommissioner Greg Sankey sent a memo to SEC members reminding them to move carefully when adding players suddenly allowed by court rulings to seek a fifth year of eligibility.
- CFBSwole ballgame: Should quarterbacks be jacked? An ESPN investigationOklahoma quarterback John Mateer has turned heads this offseason with his massive arms. But has he gotten too big?
- CFBNotre Dame OL Augustine (toe), CB Smith (wrist) to have surgeryNotre Dame OL Matty Augustine, who was competing for a starting job, and CB Chaz Smith are both set to have surgery to repair injuries sustained in camp, the school announced.
- CFBCollege Football's Power Shifts and Playoff ChaosThe GOATs of the Gridiron Story: The Sporting News just dropped their ranking of the 20 greatest college football teams since 1869, and it’s a bloodbath of debate fodder. A 20-voter panel crowned the usual suspects—2001 Miami (FL), 2004 USC, 1971 Nebraska—but the real heat comes in the tiers below. 1995 Nebraska (12-0, avg. margin of 38.6 PPG) and 2019 LSU (15-0, Joe Burrow’s Heisman run) are locked in a statistical death match for supremacy. The panel’s snub of 2005 Texas (41-38 over USC in the greatest title game ever) is already getting torched in the comments. Big Mike’s Take: If you’re ranking teams by dominance, the ‘95 Huskers lapped the field—no team scored more than 14 on them all season. But if you want star power, the ‘19 Tigers had Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson on one roster. Either way, the list’s a reminder: college football’s golden eras don’t last. The SEC’s dynasty (2006-2020) is over. The Big Ten’s cash grab is here. And the playoff’s about to get u
- CFBNCAA Fights Back as Eligibility Chaos LoomsThe Latest The NCAA’s legal team is sprinting to overturn a court injunction that’s thrown athlete eligibility into chaos. The Tenth Circuit wants briefs fast—class members respond by Friday, with the NCAA’s reply due Monday. For now, the Wisne injunction stays, meaning no retroactive enforcement of age-based rules. The NCAA’s stance? The Division I Cabinet (including athletes) unanimously rejected retroactivity, calling it bad for all players—current and future. Their message: "This injunction never should’ve happened." Sharp Take The NCAA’s fighting like a cornered animal here, and for good reason. Letting this injunction stand would open the floodgates—imagine years of eligibility lawsuits clogging courts. But their argument about "best interest of athletes"? Weak. If the rule’s so fair, why not apply it retroactively? Oh right—because it’d crater rosters overnight. The real play? Delay, appeal, and hope the Tenth Circuit blinks. Don’t bet on it. Elsewhere in the
- CFBFreaks List Shakes Up CFB, Belichick's UNC a Dumpster FireFreaks List Drops Wildest Names Yet—Including a Snake-Catching Fullback & Olympic Bloodlines OT Biggest Story: The 2026 Freaks List is out, and it’s packed with next-level athletes who make scouts drool. Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith—already the nation’s leader in 50+ yard catches the last two years—is about to get even more dangerous after new WR coach Cortez Hankton drilled the Buckeyes on yards after catch. Smith’s 10 deep bombs in ‘24-25? Kid’s just getting started. Then there’s Jackson Cantwell, Miami’s freshman OT (No. 4 on the list), who’s built like a Greek god with Olympic DNA—dad won silver in shot put, mom was a 2x NCAA champ. Mario Cristobal’s got another monster. And the wildest deep cut? Some D2 fullback who catches snakes barehanded. Yeah, you read that right. Belichick’s UNC Tenure a Total Clown Show Hot Take: Bill Belichick’s first year at North Carolina has been so bad, even Bruce Feldman and Pablo Torre are joking that UNC’s AD (Lombardi) is sabotaging the pro
- CFB2026 Big 12 college football preview, predictions, top transfers and moreEven with the change at QB, the Red Raiders are the team to beat, but contenders are out there.
- CFBBig 12 betting preview: Texas Tech might be the best team, but who is the best value?Breaking down the best bets in the Big 12 conference ahead of the 2026 season, including whether to bet on Texas Tech or BYU.
- CFB2027 college football recruiting class rankings: Top 40 schoolsSummer recruiting is winding down. Here's how the top classes are shaping up.
- CFBPredicting which teams will have largest win increase this seasonChris Doering takes a look back at the teams who had the largest win increase last season and discusses why South Carolina, Auburn and Florida could improve this year.
- CFBCollege football changes include tweaks to targeting, OPI rulesTargeting penalties in the second half will no longer require the offending player to sit out the first half of the next game, and OPI will become a 10-yard penalty.
- CFBCollege football 2026: How much does each position cost?We talked to general managers, staffers and agents from around the nation to put a price on each position.
- CFBNorthwestern gets $35M over next 3 years for football programNorthwestern announced Tuesday that the football team has received a $35 million donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein aimed at strengthening the program.
- CFBArch Manning Under Fire as Texas Bets BigThe Heat on Arch Manning Story: Texas dropped $45.9 million this offseason to build a roster around Arch Manning—and now the sophomore QB’s gotta cash it in. Coaches around the SEC are already whispering about the 2026 QB class, but Manning’s 2027 NFL Draft stock is the talk of Austin. The bar? Heisman finalist or bust. The Numbers: $45.9M isn’t just a number—it’s the price of a Super Bowl window. For context, that’s more than the entire 2023 NFL salary cap for the Jets. Sarkisian’s not just asking for a win—he’s betting the farm on Manning being the guy. The Bobcats Wildcard: Meanwhile, Texas State’s sending eight players to All-Pac-12 teams. Not bad for a program that’s usually an afterthought. If Manning stumbles, the Longhorns might have to answer some uncomfortable questions about where all that cash really went. Bottom Line: This isn’t just another season. It’s a referendum on Arch Manning. Win big, or watch the vultures circle.
- CFBFreaks List Drops, CFB Road Trip Hype BuildsThe Freaks Are Here—And They’re Ridiculous Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List just dropped, and the numbers are straight-up insane. Cal edge Emmanuel Okoye (6-4, 247 lbs, 8% body fat) is the headliner—405-pound bench, 42-inch vertical, 11-foot broad jump. Tosh Lupoi called him "an absolute freak," and the data backs it up. But he’s not alone: A 6-6 WR with an 82.5-inch wingspan who runs a 10.1 100M? That’s not human. A 327-pound DT who hit 21 MPH? NFL scouts are drooling. Jeremiah Smith’s offseason numbers? Still classified, but the hype is nuclear. The Athletic’s full list (link) is packed with future NFL talent. Christmas came early for draft nerds. CFB Road Trip 2026: Freddy’s Wild Ride Freddy (@FreddyLA7) blew up during the World Cup, and now he’s setting his sights on college football’s ultimate road trip. The Athletic’s deep dive (link) taps vets for advice, and the takeaways are gold: Prioritize the atmosphere: LSU’s Death Valley, Texas A&M’s 12th Man, Michigan
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