Samwise College Football Newsletter
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Florida unveils all-blue uniform combination — a first in program history
Florida football revealed a striking all-blue uniform combination ahead of the 2026 season opener — a first in program history. The all-blue ensemble pairs a blue helmet with a blue jersey and blue pants, debuting under new head coach Jon Sumrall. Sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III modeled the new look, which is set to be worn when the Gators open the Sumrall era against Florida Atlantic on September 5. The bold aesthetic shift marks a new chapter for Florida football, as Sumrall looks to revitalize a program coming off a turbulent stretch and establish a distinct identity.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Stephen A. Smith visits Notre Dame football team at new $100M Shields Family Hall
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith visited the Notre Dame football team on Tuesday evening, making an appearance at the program’s new $100 million Shields Family Hall facility. Head coach Marcus Freeman reacted, saying “I’m in awe” of what Smith brought to the team environment. The Irish are entering 2026 motivated after missing the College Football Playoff last season despite returning key contributors including quarterback CJ Carr and cornerback Leonard Moore. Notre Dame sits third in CBS Sports’ preseason FBS rankings, with a returning roster capable of making a deep playoff run this season.
Maryland DE Zahir Mathis suffers season-ending injury in practice
Maryland defensive end Zahir Mathis suffered a season-ending injury in practice on Wednesday, a significant blow for the Terrapins ahead of the 2026 season. The nature of the injury was not disclosed. Mathis earned spots on On3 and 247Sports’ True Freshman All-America teams after recording six sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in his debut 2025 season. The loss adds to the challenges facing coach Mike Locksley’s program, which posted a 4-8 record in both 2024 and 2025, a second consecutive losing season. Maryland heads into 2026 without its most disruptive defensive presence.
Dabo Swinney calls Clemson roster ‘just a bunch of nobodies’ ahead of 2026 season
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney leaned into an underdog narrative at a Tuesday media session, describing his 2026 roster candidly: “We’re just a bunch of nobodies. We’ll see if anybody becomes somebody as we play some games.” The comments followed Clemson’s 7-6 finish in 2025. Despite the modesty, the Tigers return four players named to the All-ACC Preseason team: wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., defensive lineman Will Heldt, linebacker Sammy Brown, and safety Ashton Hampton. CBS Sports ranks Clemson 27th in its full preseason FBS rankings heading into the 2026 season.
David Pollack projects Oregon over Texas in 2026 CFP National Championship
ESPN college football analyst David Pollack shared his 2026 College Football Playoff predictions on social media, projecting Oregon to defeat Texas in the national championship game. Pollack’s bracket has Oregon beating Notre Dame in one semifinal while Texas tops defending champion Indiana in the other. Pollack includes five SEC teams in his field: Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss. Oregon is coming off a 13-2 season that ended in the CFP semifinals. The bracket notably includes Lane Kiffin’s former team Ole Miss while his current squad, LSU, does not appear.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Two Mississippi State football players disciplined for gambling on NFL, NBA games
Two Mississippi State football players were disciplined by the NCAA after being caught gambling on professional sports, according to the Clarion Ledger. The players, who were not named, received Level III violations — the lowest tier — after being flagged through the program’s ProhiBet monitoring service. One player placed a $50 bet on the Super Bowl winner, incorrectly picking the New England Patriots; the other wagered on NBA All-Star weekend events. Both completed rules education, with one donating gambling winnings to charity. The case arrives as Texas coach Steve Sarkisian renewed public concerns about athlete access to sports wagering.
BYU’s Kalani Sitake jokes ‘my agent’ will handle NIL resource questions
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake deflected questions about the program’s NIL resources and recruiting budget at a Wednesday press conference with a pointed quip: “My agent is going to handle all of that stuff.” The comment carries real weight — Sitake has openly called for greater investment in the program. BYU went 12-2 in 2025 and reached the Big 12 Championship game before falling to Texas Tech. The school also this week hired Marc Hill — who spent 27 years at Kentucky — as deputy athletic director to oversee administrative and operational efforts.
CBS Sports releases full preseason FBS rankings: Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2, Notre Dame No. 3
CBS Sports released its full preseason FBS rankings covering all 138 teams ahead of the 2026 college football season. Ohio State sits atop the list, returning preseason Heisman candidates quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith after going 12-0 in the regular season. Oregon ranks second, with quarterback Dante Moore returning after turning down the NFL Draft. Notre Dame is third, Texas fourth, Georgia fifth, and defending champion Indiana sixth. Miami checks in seventh, Texas Tech eighth despite quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s ineligibility. Oklahoma and LSU complete the top 10.
CBS Sports Preseason Top 10
AP Preseason Poll releases Aug. 17
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Texas Tech
9. Oklahoma
10. LSU
Conference Contenders
SEC (CBS Sports Preseason)
Texas #4 · Georgia #5 · LSU #10
Big Ten
Ohio State #1 · Indiana #6 · USC #14
Big 12
Texas Tech #8 · Oklahoma #9 · BYU #16
ACC
Miami #7 · SMU #20 · Clemson #27
Season opens Aug. 29 — conference W-L records to follow
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