Samwise College Football Newsletter
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
CFP Management Committee Meets to Weigh 16- and 24-Team Playoff Formats
The College Football Playoff management committee convened Monday in Denver for its first substantive meeting since January to discuss expanding the playoff beyond the current 12-team format. The session featured presentations from media advisers on scheduling and television considerations, centering on 16- and 24-team formats for potential future use. ESPN is proposing a 16-team bracket with four play-in games for the lowest seeds, effectively creating a 20-team field. The Big Ten favors a 24-team expansion, while the SEC prefers 16 teams. No decision was reached Monday, and the 12-team format will remain in place for the upcoming 2026 season.
Sources: CBS Sports
Fall Camp Reveals Early Standouts as Ohio State, Alabama Players Make Statements
With the 2026 college football season less than three weeks away, early fall camp sessions are already reshaping preseason depth charts. CBS Sports identified 11 players making significant early statements, with Ohio State and Alabama athletes among the top risers. Alabama running back Jordan Lyle, returning to full strength after last season's injury, is competing for expanded playing time behind starter Mark Fletcher Jr. The report highlights heralded freshmen pushing veterans for starting jobs and portal transfers delivering immediate impact. Each is described as a legitimate riser generating momentum rather than a single-session highlight, as programs build toward the August 29 season opener.
Sources: CBS Sports
CJ Carr in Unexpected Competition at Notre Dame Among High-Profile Fall Camp QB Battles
Multiple high-profile quarterback competitions remain undecided as college football programs enter their second week of fall camp. Notre Dame enters 2026 with an unexpected competition at the position, as redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey has pushed assumed frontrunner CJ Carr into a battle CBS Sports describes as too close to call. Across the SEC, Alabama is split between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, Tennessee is monitoring five-star freshman Faizon Brandon closely, and Florida features a tight race between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt sophomore Tramell Jones. The SEC could see multiple freshmen start at quarterback in 2026.
Sources: CBS Sports
Senate Adjourns Without Voting on Protect College Sports Act; September Vote Secured
The U.S. Senate adjourned for its annual August recess without voting on the Protect College Sports Act, pushing critical college athletics legislation to September. The bill, which passed a Senate committee in June, would create an antitrust exemption for the NCAA to enforce spending caps, transfer restrictions, and eligibility rules, while redefining third-party NIL arrangements and expanding revenue sharing up to $48.8 million. The Senate adjourned in the early morning hours following an all-night session without scheduling a floor vote. Senators Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt have locked in a guaranteed vote for September when the chamber returns on the 14th.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Norvell, Fickell, Aranda Top CBS Sports Hot Seat Rankings Entering 2026 Season
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell tops the CBS Sports annual hot seat rankings entering 2026, sharing the highest average score in expert polling with Wisconsin's Luke Fickell and Baylor's Dave Aranda. Norvell, beginning his seventh season at 38-34 overall with a 22-26 ACC record, saw expectations briefly rise after a 31-17 Week 1 upset of Alabama last year, before the Seminoles won just two of their final nine games. Fickell acknowledged his hot seat status at Big Ten media days following back-to-back losing seasons for Wisconsin. Aranda, despite a 2021 Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl win, enters 2026 at 36-37 overall.
Sources: CBS Sports
Preseason Coaches Poll Top 10
AP Preseason Poll releases Aug. 17
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Ole Miss
Conference Leaders (Preseason)
SEC
#3 Georgia — #4 Texas — #8 Texas A&M
Big Ten
#1 Ohio State — #2 Oregon — #6 Indiana
ACC
#7 Miami
Big 12
Season begins Aug. 29 — standings TBD
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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