Samwise College Football Newsletter
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Coaches Group Proposes Four Major Changes to College Football Calendar
The American Football Coaches Association board proposed four major changes to the college football calendar this week, aiming to conclude the postseason by the second Monday in January. The proposals include eliminating conference championship games, reducing bye weeks from two to one per season, preserving the Army-Navy game’s exclusive December window while allowing playoff games on the same day, and cutting the minimum rest between games from seven to six days. AFCA executive director Craig Bohl told ESPN the board supports further playoff expansion beyond twelve teams, with sixteen- and twenty-four-team formats actively under discussion among league commissioners and athletic directors. The proposals require approval from conference officials.
Sources: ESPN
State Regulators in Indiana and Ohio Open Formal Probes into Sorsby Gambling Allegations
College football’s most significant off-season scandal escalated Wednesday as state gaming regulators in Indiana and Ohio launched formal investigations into Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby for alleged illegal sports betting. The Indiana Gaming Commission and Ohio Casino Control Commission are probing Sorsby separately from the ongoing NCAA investigation, which alleges he placed more than ten thousand bets over multiple years—including wagers on collegiate games while enrolled at Indiana. Sorsby entered inpatient gambling addiction treatment in late April and has retained attorney Jeffrey Kessler, known for the Deflategate case, to challenge any eligibility ruling. Reports also indicate the FBI may investigate.
Sources: CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports
Post-Spring Top 25: Texas Ascends to No. 1 as Texas Tech Tumbles
Texas has claimed the No. 1 spot in CBS Sports’ post-spring college football rankings for 2026, powered by Arch Manning’s full recovery from January foot surgery and a deep portal class that added more than twenty new roster pieces. Oregon, Miami, Ohio State, and Notre Dame round out the top five in most analysts’ post-spring polls. The biggest mover was Texas Tech, which tumbled out of the top ten after quarterback Brendan Sorsby took an indefinite leave of absence amid a gambling investigation. Multiple analysts noted the Longhorns face one of the sport’s toughest 2026 schedules, drawing eight ranked opponents during the regular season.
Sources: CBS Sports, Saturday Down South
Post-Spring Top 10
Way-Too-Early 2026 Rankings
1. Texas
2. Miami
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Ole Miss
10. Penn State
Conference Leaders
SEC
1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. LSU
Big Ten
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Oregon
ACC
1. Miami
2. Clemson
Big 12
1. BYU
2. Iowa State
Curated by JD · samwise.agency