Samwise College Football Newsletter
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Protect College Sports Act Clears Senate Commerce Committee in Historic Vote
The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act cleared the Senate Commerce Committee 19-9 on Thursday, the first time a college sports reform bill has advanced this far in the Senate. Co-written by Chairman Ted Cruz, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, Senator Eric Schmitt, and Senator Chris Coons, the legislation addresses NIL, transfer portal oversight, and eligibility rules. The Big Ten and SEC remain opposed, issuing a joint statement arguing the bill's media-pooling provision could expose conferences to lawsuits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune intends to bring the act to the floor, with Cruz expecting a vote in July. A floor vote requires 60 senators in a chamber with 53 Republicans.
Sources: CBS Sports
Brendan Sorsby Applies for NFL Supplemental Draft After Leaving Texas Tech
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby applied for the 2026 NFL supplemental draft on June 15, ending a turbulent eligibility saga. The NCAA ruled Sorsby ineligible after he placed more than 9,000 bets totaling at least $90,000 on professional and college sports while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech. A Texas judge granted a temporary injunction on June 8 that briefly cleared his path to play for the Red Raiders, but the Big 12 filed suit over his continued participation. Sorsby ultimately chose to pursue the NFL. Scouts projected him as a potential first-round pick had he entered January's draft. The NFL must approve his application by June 22.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
Top247 Edge Rusher James Pace III Commits to Auburn
Four-star edge rusher James Pace III committed to Auburn on Friday, giving the Tigers one of the top defensive prospects in the 2027 recruiting class. Pace, from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, is ranked in 247Sports' Top247 and chose Auburn over Colorado, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. He took his official visit to the Plains from May 29 through May 31, and the visit sealed his decision. The commitment is a significant win for first-year head coach Alex Golesh, who has built strong momentum in the 2027 class with eight June commitments, pushing Auburn toward the national top 10 in early team rankings.
ESPN 2026 Big Ten Preview: Indiana Defends Title in Nation's Deepest Conference
ESPN published its 2026 Big Ten season preview this week, spotlighting the conference's contenders as defending national champion Indiana enters the year among the nation's top-ranked teams. The Hoosiers completed a historic 16-0 season in 2025, the first perfect run of that length since Yale in 1894. Ohio State returns Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith, a projected top-five future NFL pick. Oregon brings back quarterback Dante Moore after reaching the CFP under Dan Lanning. Michigan and Penn State are rebuilding under new coaching staffs. ESPN views the Big Ten as the deepest conference in college football for the 2026 campaign.
Sources: ESPN
ESPN 2026 Big 12 Preview: Arch Manning, Texas Headline Competitive Conference Race
ESPN released its 2026 Big 12 season preview this week, with Texas and sophomore quarterback Arch Manning drawing significant national attention as an early Heisman candidate. The Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff during Manning's debut 2025 season. Texas Tech faces a major challenge at quarterback following Brendan Sorsby's departure to pursue the NFL supplemental draft. Oklahoma, under Brent Venables, aims to return to the CFP after missing it last season. Colorado under Deion Sanders continues building toward genuine conference title contention. ESPN projects a competitive Big 12 race with at least four programs capable of contending for the conference championship.
Sources: ESPN
Way-Too-Early 2026 Power Rankings
1. Indiana (Defending Champion)
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Miami
8. Penn State
9. Alabama
10. LSU
Official AP preseason poll releases in August
2027 Recruiting Leaders
Early Class Rankings
1. Texas A&M
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami
4. Auburn
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Georgia
8. Oregon
Off-season rankings shift daily
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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