Samwise College Football Newsletter
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Five-Star WR Xavier Sabb Commits to Oregon, Vaults Ducks Into 2027 National Top Five
Five-star wide receiver Xavier Sabb of Glassboro, New Jersey committed to Oregon on Thursday, boosting the Ducks into the national top five in the 2027 recruiting class. The 6-foot, 195-pound Sabb, ranked the nation’s No. 5 receiver and No. 32 overall prospect by the Rivals Industry Ranking, chose coach Dan Lanning over LSU, Tennessee, Georgia and UCLA. Lanning has recruited Sabb since eighth grade, and a June 19 official visit sealed the deal. Sabb, the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey, caught 59 passes for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while also contributing on defense.
Alabama Self-Reports Six Level 3 NCAA Violations Spanning Four Sports Programs
Alabama’s athletic department self-reported six Level 3 NCAA violations spanning July 2025 through June 2026, the university announced Friday. The minor infractions spanned four sports programs. The football violation, from January 26, involved a staff member contacting a recruit during an evaluation period; corrective actions included a seven-day recruiting ban and a letter of admonishment. In two separate incidents, student workers for the video and film departments were terminated after participating in sports wagering through the prediction market website Kalshi. Additional violations involved a women’s soccer coach sending premature recruiting correspondence and end-of-year banquets scheduled during final exams in gymnastics and men’s tennis.
4-Star Safety Davion Jones Commits to South Carolina Over LSU, Georgia, Auburn and Indiana
Four-star safety Davion Jones committed to South Carolina on Thursday, choosing the Gamecocks over LSU, Georgia, Auburn and Indiana. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Jones — ranked the No. 9 safety and No. 139 overall prospect in the 2027 class by Rivals — plays at Hough High School in North Carolina. Jones is the second-highest-rated prospect in South Carolina’s 2027 class, which has nearly doubled since late June and now stands at 15 commitments. His highest-rated teammate, five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson — the No. 3 corner in the class — also committed to the Gamecocks. Jones recorded 11 interceptions and 118 tackles over his last two seasons at Hough.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Four-Star OL Nate Carson Stays Home, Commits to South Carolina Over Georgia and Clemson
Four-star offensive lineman Nate Carson, the No. 221 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking, has committed to South Carolina over Georgia, Clemson and Colorado, becoming the latest homegrown talent to stay in state under coach Shane Beamer. Carson, from Irmo, South Carolina, visited Columbia more than 15 times during his recruitment. A pivotal official visit was the turning point, as Georgia had built significant late momentum. “Even when other programs gained momentum, Coach Beamer never changed his approach,” Carson said. Beamer’s staff began recruiting him in his freshman year. The Gamecocks view offensive line development as a key pillar of their effort to reach playoff contention.
Five College Football Sleepers for the 2026 National Title Race: Texas A&M and LSU Lead the List
Following Indiana’s improbable 2026 national championship, five programs have emerged as dark-horse contenders for the upcoming season according to a BetMGM odds analysis. Texas A&M and LSU — each at 15-to-1 — lead the sleeper list, with the Aggies returning a veteran quarterback and offensive skill players from last year’s College Football Playoff team. LSU under new coach Lane Kiffin boasts one of the SEC’s most balanced rosters. Ole Miss (25-to-1) pairs quarterback Trinidad Chambliss with star running back Kewan Lacy. USC (35-to-1) returns the most starters of any Power Four program. Penn State (50-to-1) features the most favorable schedule among the five.
Sources: Sports Illustrated Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Final 2025–26 AP Top 10
Indiana won national title 27–21 over Miami
1. Indiana (16–0) ★
2. Miami (13–3)
3. Ole Miss (13–2)
4. Oregon (13–2)
5. Ohio State (12–2)
6. Georgia (12–2)
7. Texas Tech (12–2)
8. Texas A&M (11–2)
9. Alabama (11–4)
10. Notre Dame (10–2)
Off-Season Snapshot
Transfer Portal 2026
Window: Jan. 2–16 (closed)
3,667 entered • 2,777 committed
2026 Heisman Favorites
Arch Manning (Texas) +750
CJ Carr (Notre Dame) +750
2027 Recruiting Season
Early signing period: Dec. 17–19, 2026
National signing day: Feb. 4, 2027
Curated by JD · samwise.agency