Samwise College Football Newsletter
Friday, May 15, 2026
ESPN’s Broadcast Rights Emerge as Major Obstacle to 24-Team College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff appears headed for a showdown over expansion, with the AFCA and NCAA actively exploring a jump from 12 to 24 teams — but ESPN is pumping the brakes. The network, which holds broadcast rights only through a 14-team field, prefers a 14- or 16-team format; expanding to 24 would require an entirely new bidding process. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has aligned with ESPN’s more conservative stance, while four other conference commissioners openly support 24 teams. The 24-team proposal would also eliminate conference championship games, including the SEC Championship — one of ESPN’s premier broadcast properties.
Sources: The Big Lead
ESPN’s 2026 College Football Schedule Gives HBCUs Prime Broadcast Placement
ESPN pulled back the curtain on its 2026 college football broadcast slate Thursday, and HBCU programs are getting prime placement. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge — Alabama A&M vs. Howard — will air on ABC on August 29 in Atlanta, marking a significant showcase for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. College GameDay kicks off Week 1 at the LSU–Clemson matchup in Baton Rouge, marking Lane Kiffin’s debut as Tigers head coach and the show’s 500th road broadcast and 40th season. Week 2 takes GameDay to Austin for Texas vs. Ohio State. ESPN plans to release the full 2026 schedule on May 27.
Sources: HBCU Gameday
LSU’s Athletic Director Publicly Blasts Brian Kelly for Disconnect With Tigers Fans, Praises Kiffin
LSU athletics director Verge Ausberry used a candid USA TODAY Sports interview to publicly bury his program’s Brian Kelly era, describing a coaching tenure defined by “no feel, no connection” between Kelly and the Tigers fanbase. Though he never named Kelly explicitly, Ausberry’s meaning was clear: the previous coach avoided donors, shunned boosters, and kept fans at arm’s length. Ausberry framed the comments as a contrast to incoming head coach Lane Kiffin, whom he praised for accessibility and engagement. Kelly went 34–14 over four seasons before being fired five games into his fourth year. Kiffin’s LSU already ranks among the nation’s top-10 recruiting classes.
Sources: On3
Arch Manning Leads USA Today’s Preseason Quarterback Rankings for the 2026 College Football Season
The race for college football’s best quarterback in 2026 belongs to Texas’s Arch Manning, who tops USA Today’s preseason rankings after a promising first full season at the helm of the Longhorns. Julian Sayin of Ohio State lands just behind, coming off a Heisman finalist campaign as one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous arms. Oregon’s Dante Moore rounds out the top three, returning after choosing to stay with the Ducks rather than enter the draft. The rankings reflect an elite quarterback class headlined by Big Ten and SEC programs, with Manning vs. Sayin shaping up as a marquee storyline.
Sources: USA Today
All Top-10 Quarterbacks in the 2027 Class Already Committed as Recruiting Market Closes Early
The 2027 quarterback recruiting market has nearly closed before the calendar hits summer, a remarkable development underscoring how early elite programs now lock up signal-callers. As of May 14, 25 of the 27 blue-chip quarterbacks in the class — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking — are already committed. That includes all of the top 10. Alabama holds the crown jewel with No. 1 prospect Elijah Haven, while Miami landed No. 2 Israel Abrams, Oregon claimed No. 3 Will Mencl, and Texas Tech secured No. 4 Kavian Bryant. Virginia Tech most recently won a recruitment battle for four-star Peter Bourque.
Sources: On3
FOX Sports Pre-Season Top 10
Post-Spring 2026 Rankings
1. Indiana Hoosiers
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7. Miami Hurricanes
8. LSU Tigers
9. Texas A&M Aggies
10. Oklahoma Sooners
2027 Top Recruiting Classes
As of May 14 — Off-Season
1. Alabama (incl. No. 1 QB Elijah Haven)
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Texas
5. Oregon (No. 3 QB Will Mencl)
6. Notre Dame
7. LSU (No. 10 overall class)
8. Penn State
9. Miami (No. 2 QB Israel Abrams)
10. Texas Tech (No. 4 QB Kavian Bryant)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency