Samwise College Football Newsletter
Monday, July 27, 2026
SEC Commissioner Sankey Confirms NCAA Breakaway Talks Are Real
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed this week that talks about the conference breaking away from the NCAA are genuine. Speaking at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Sankey framed the discussions as ‘conference-led change,’ saying schools are frustrated by governance uncertainty and lack of leadership. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reaffirmed his support, arguing the SEC needs power to make binding decisions. A bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz, has been floated as a possible solution, though neither the SEC nor the Big Ten supports the bill in its current form. Sankey said talks with congressional leaders are ongoing before the Senate’s August recess.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Lane Kiffin Admits He Regrets Messy Ole Miss Departure
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said at SEC Media Days on Thursday that he regrets how he handled his departure from Ole Miss during last December’s College Football Playoff run. Kiffin told reporters he wishes he had simply walked away when Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter said no. “I wish I would have just said, I’d like to coach the team. He’d say no. And I’d say, OK, I appreciate it,” Kiffin explained. A motivational speaker later told him he had been “trying to do something impossible.” Kiffin said he is now trying to look at past decisions differently, asking himself how he could have handled each situation better.
Sources: ESPN
Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy Medically Cleared After May Shooting
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz delivered encouraging news on running back Ahmad Hardy at SEC Media Days, saying Hardy has been medically cleared after a May shooting at a concert in Mississippi. The bullet struck a bone that Drinkwitz confirmed is now “fully healed and clear,” and Hardy began his first full recovery workout Monday. Drinkwitz expects a five-to-eight-week return timeline, putting Hardy on track for the Tigers’ September 26 SEC opener against Mississippi State. Last season Hardy led the SEC in rushing yards per game at 126.85 and yards per carry at 6.44, totaling 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. Drinkwitz said he anticipates Hardy returning stronger than before.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Georgia RB Dante Dowdell’s 2026 Status Uncertain After ATV Accident
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said running back Dante Dowdell’s availability for the 2026 season is uncertain following an ATV accident last week. Smart offered a cautious update at SEC Media Days, confirming Dowdell is past the most critical phase of his recovery but adding that his full return timeline is unclear. Dowdell transferred to Georgia from Kentucky, where he totaled 560 yards and three touchdowns last season. He was expected to contribute alongside returners Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens, who combined for 1,463 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. Dowdell previously played for Oregon and Nebraska before Kentucky.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Sarkisian: Arch Manning “Poised for a Heck of a Season” in 2026
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days that quarterback Arch Manning enters 2026 as a “very dangerous player” after a season that blended early adversity with a strong finish. Manning drew heavy criticism following losses to Florida and Ohio State before leading the Longhorns to a 7-1 close. Sarkisian said the pressure Manning endured “would have melted or destroyed 99% of people in his shoes.” Manning said he is determined to reverse the result when Ohio State visits Austin on September 12. “I don’t want to repeat that game,” Manning said. Sarkisian credited Manning’s work ethic and said he has never carried a sense of entitlement.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Will Stein Makes Bold First Impression as Kentucky’s New Head Coach
Kentucky first-year head coach Will Stein made a memorable debut at SEC Media Days in Tampa. When asked why the Wildcats will succeed under his watch, Stein replied without hesitation: “I think because of me, to be honest. I think because of me.” The answer drew comparisons online to Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and his now-famous “Google Me” comment before the Hoosiers’ remarkable turnaround. Stein, previously an offensive coordinator, joins five other first-year SEC head coaches in 2026. He told reporters that Kentucky fans need to believe and “put the ball down and play,” projecting early confidence as he begins what figures to be a challenging rebuild in Lexington.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Preseason Rankings
ESPN FPI (July 9)
1. Ohio State
2. Texas
3. Notre Dame
4. Oregon
5. Georgia
Official AP preseason poll releases in August
Season Outlook
Off-Season
Season opener: Sept. 5
Big Ten Media Days: July 28–30
SEC nine-game schedule debuts in 2026
Transfer portal: Jan. window closed; no summer window
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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