Samwise College Football Newsletter
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Saban Warns Senate That College Football’s NIL Arms Race Is ‘Going 150 MPH Toward the Grand Canyon’
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday in support of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, co-authored by Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell. Saban described the current NIL landscape as a race to the bottom, warning that unchecked collective spending threatens non-revenue programs and Olympic sports. He disclosed that Alabama’s NIL fund grew from $2.7 million to $24 million during his tenure, with some programs now spending close to $40 million annually on rosters. Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould, and University of Utah player Lance Holtzclaw also testified at the three-hour hearing.
Sources: CBS Sports, Saturday Down South
SEC and Big Ten Withhold Support for Federal College Sports Reform Bill
The SEC and Big Ten released a joint statement on Tuesday opposing the Protect College Sports Act in its current form, a day before the bipartisan legislation’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing. The two conferences cited critical issues, arguing the bill fails to meaningfully preempt the patchwork of state NIL laws and shifts ongoing rulemaking authority to Congress rather than leaving flexibility for quick adaptation. The Big 12 and ACC, by contrast, have expressed support for the bill. The SEC and Big Ten, as the two most powerful conferences in the College Football Playoff structure, hold considerable sway over the legislation’s ultimate fate.
EA Sports College Football 27 Reveals Cover Athletes, Full Game Reveal Streams Today
EA Sports unveiled the College Football 27 cover athletes on Tuesday, with the Standard Edition featuring Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy. Moore threw for more than 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, while Toney shattered Miami’s single-season receptions record with 109 catches, and Lacy rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first Ole Miss season. The Deluxe Edition includes Texas linebacker Colin Simmons, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, and national-title-winning Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. The full game reveal streams today on EA Sports’ YouTube channel, with worldwide release set for July 9.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, EA Sports
2026-27 CFP Schedule Reveals 52-Day Wait Between Conference Championships and National Title Game
The College Football Playoff released its 2026-27 broadcast schedule, and the numbers are striking. Conference championship games are set for December 5, with the CFP first round not beginning until December 18–19, a second round on December 30, semifinals on January 14–15, and the national championship on January 25, 2027 — a 52-day gap from conference title weekend to the title game. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning renewed his call for an overhaul, arguing every playoff round should be played on consecutive weekends. Lanning noted the current calendar creates chaos for the transfer portal and coaches considering NFL opportunities during deep playoff runs.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, College Football Playoff
Official Visit Season Opens with 2027 Class Recruiting at Full Speed
June marks the busiest stretch on the college football recruiting calendar, with the 2027 class in full swing. Official visit weekends are underway, and 177 of the top 300 prospects have already committed. Texas A&M and Texas are locked in an in-state battle for ESPN’s top-ranked cornerback John Meredith, while No. 2 cornerback Joshua Dobson dropped LSU from his official visit slate and added Michigan to his schedule. Programs including Texas A&M, Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama, Texas, and Oregon are competing fiercely for remaining blue-chip prospects, with financial conversations — revenue-share contracts and NIL deals — increasingly shaping where top-300 recruits ultimately land.
Sources: ESPN
2025-26 Final AP Poll
National Champions
1. Indiana (16-0) — CFP Champions
2. Miami (lost CFP title game)
10. Notre Dame
Off-Season Note
2026 preseason polls not yet released. Season opens August 27, 2026.
2026-27 CFP Key Dates
Schedule
Conf. Championships: Dec 5, 2026
CFP First Round: Dec 18–19, 2026
Second Round: Dec 30, 2026
Semifinals: Jan 14–15, 2027
National Championship: Jan 25, 2027
52-day gap: conf. championships to title game
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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