Samwise College Football Newsletter
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Sorsby Applies for NFL Supplemental Draft After Gambling Controversy Forces Exit From College Football
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has applied to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft, stepping away from college football following a gambling controversy. Sorsby admitted to placing more than 9,000 bets totaling at least $90,000 on professional and college sports over four years while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech, including at least 40 wagers on Indiana football games. The NCAA denied his reinstatement in May, though a Texas judge granted a temporary injunction in early June. Facing a Big 12 lawsuit against the school and ongoing backlash, Sorsby opted to pursue the NFL rather than fight for eligibility, with a June 22 filing deadline.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Lane Kiffin Arrives at LSU With Nation’s Top-Ranked Transfer Class, $40M Roster
Lane Kiffin arrives at LSU with the nation’s top-ranked transfer class, headlined by quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton. Seaton jumped to No. 3 in transfer portal rankings after Brendan Sorsby’s exit from the pool, making LSU just the second program in portal history to land two top-three transfers in the same cycle. Kiffin, who preached patience during spring practice, reportedly assembled a roster worth approximately $40 million in NIL and collective spending. The Tigers enter 2026 as one of the SEC’s most anticipated programs, with expectations that Leavitt and a rebuilt offensive line could push LSU into the College Football Playoff conversation from the opening weekend.
Sources: 247Sports, CBS Sports
ESPN’s 2026 Big Ten Preview: Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon Lead Loaded Conference Into New Season
ESPN has published its comprehensive 2026 Big Ten season preview, projecting the conference as the deepest in college football for a second consecutive year. Defending national champion Indiana, which became the first FBS program to complete a 16-0 season, headlines a field that also includes Ohio State and Oregon as legitimate national title contenders. The preview notes that Indiana and Oregon both face grueling back-to-back stretches against conference heavyweights on their 2026 schedules, leaving little margin for error. The Big Ten boasts three of the consensus top national title contenders entering August. Ohio State, which went 25-1 against non-Hoosier opponents in 2025, is considered the top threat to unseat Indiana.
Sources: ESPN
Four-Star DE Chris Whitehead Commits to LSU as Lane Kiffin’s 2027 Recruiting Class Takes Shape
Lane Kiffin’s LSU capped a stunning recruiting week Wednesday when four-star defensive end Chris Whitehead committed to the Tigers — its fifth addition in five days. Whitehead, a 6-foot-5 edge rusher from Chesterfield, Virginia, is ranked No. 47 in ESPN’s SC Next 300 and No. 7 nationally among defensive ends in the 2027 class. He chose LSU over Ohio State, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech following a campus visit earlier this week. Whitehead recorded 54 tackles and 10.5 sacks in his junior season and is the top-ranked prospect in Virginia. He joins four-star DE K.J. Green (No. 45) as the second defender committed to the Tigers in the 2027 cycle.
Sources: ESPN
NFL, NFLPA and NBPA Back Protect College Sports Act as Senate Commerce Committee Prepares Today’s Vote
Three of America’s largest professional sports organizations formally endorsed the Protect College Sports Act this week, boosting the bipartisan bill ahead of a Senate Commerce Committee markup vote scheduled for today. The NFL, NFLPA, and NBPA each sent statements backing the legislation — co-authored by Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell — which would grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption to enforce limits on transfers, coach-poaching, and athlete eligibility. The NFL also backed voluntary media rights pooling under the Sports Broadcasting Act. Fifteen of 28 committee members must vote yes to advance it. The Big 12 and ACC support the bill; the Big Ten and SEC have withheld endorsement.
Sources: ESPN
2026 Preseason Top 10 (CBS Sports)
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana (Def. Nat. Champion)
3. Oregon
4. Georgia
5. Texas
6. Notre Dame
7. Penn State
8. Miami
9. Alabama
10. LSU
Off-season — AP poll resumes in August
2026 Season Outlook
BIG TEN
Ohio State — preseason No. 1
Indiana — defending champion (16-0)
Oregon — top-3 contender
SEC
Georgia — preseason No. 4
LSU (Kiffin) — No. 1 transfer class
Alabama — top-10 contender
SEASON OPENS
FCS: Aug. 27 • FBS: Aug. 29
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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