Samwise College Football Newsletter
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Pac-12 Officially Relaunches With Eight Programs as 11 FBS Teams Change Conferences
Eleven FBS programs officially changed conference affiliations on July 1, highlighted by the relaunch of the Pac-12 Conference. The reconstituted Pac-12 opens with eight members: Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and Texas State. Two FCS programs also made the jump to Football Bowl Subdivision competition: North Dakota State joined the Mountain West Conference, and Sacramento State joined the MAC. All eleven moves became official simultaneously on July 1, with each program entering its new conference home at the start of the 2026–27 athletic calendar.
Sources: Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Texas Leads SEC With Five Selections on 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-American Teams
The Walter Camp Football Foundation named its 2026 Preseason All-Americans on Tuesday, and SEC programs placed 21 players from 12 schools across the two teams. Texas leads all programs with five selections: QB Arch Manning and OL Trevor Goosby earned First Team honors alongside DL Colin Simmons and LB Rasheem Biles, while WR Cam Coleman earned Second Team recognition. Georgia contributes three players including DB KJ Bolden on the First Team. Other First Team SEC selections include Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy, Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy, LSU TE Trey’Dez Green, Auburn LB Xavier Atkins, South Carolina DL Dylan Stewart, and Mississippi State DB Kelley Jones.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Texas A&M Leads Nation in Recruiting Entering July as SEC Claims Seven Top-25 Classes
Texas A&M enters July as the nation’s top recruiting class per the 247Sports composite rankings, with 25 commitments, a 68 percent blue-chip ratio, six five-stars, and 11 four-stars. Four other SEC programs rank in the national top 10: Oklahoma at No. 4, Florida at No. 6, Texas at No. 7, and Auburn at No. 10. Ole Miss checks in at No. 12 and Georgia at No. 17, with LSU at No. 18. Historic programs are below expectations: Alabama sits at No. 43 nationally, while Tennessee ranks No. 30, Arkansas No. 31, and South Carolina No. 56 in the composite entering the summer.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Texas No. 1, Alabama Slips to Sixth in SEC Power Rankings Entering July
Saturday Down South ranked all 16 SEC programs entering the 2026 season on Wednesday, with Texas landing at the top behind QB Arch Manning and running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. LSU is ranked third with Lane Kiffin calling plays and Sam Leavitt under center. Alabama slides to sixth amid questions at quarterback, offensive line, and linebacker. Tennessee tumbles to tenth after QB Joey Aguilar was denied another year of eligibility and pass rusher Chaz Coleman was medically disqualified. Georgia is second, Ole Miss fourth, Texas A&M fifth, Oklahoma seventh, and Missouri eighth in the full 16-team rankings.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Nine Top Recruits to Announce College Decisions Live Wednesday on Rivals Summer Signing Day
Rivals’ Summer Signing Day brings nine top-2027 prospects committing live on Rivals YouTube beginning at 11 a.m. CT Wednesday. The headliner is five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson, ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 3 at his position, with Texas A&M holding an edge over South Carolina and Michigan. Four-star cornerback Hayden Stepp (No. 44 overall) is trending toward Oregon. Four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. (No. 70) is also favoring Oregon over Auburn, LSU, Georgia, and Ole Miss. Four-star safety Jayden Anding is leaning toward LSU over Ole Miss, with the live commitment stream running until 3 p.m. CT.
Sources: Rivals / On3 Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Texas A&M Stays No. 1 in Updated Rivals Rankings After June Produces 130-Plus Blue-Chip Commits
More than 130 blue-chip prospects committed during June, reshuffling the national class standings heading into July. Texas A&M holds the No. 1 spot in the updated Rivals Industry Team Rankings with a score of 94.003, anchored by six five-stars and 25 total commitments. Their top pledge is OT Mark Matthews, rated No. 5 nationally. Notre Dame is second (92.732), Miami is third (92.387), Oklahoma is fourth, and Ohio State is fifth. Among SEC programs, LSU checks in at No. 11, Auburn at No. 12, Ole Miss at No. 14, and Georgia at No. 16 in the updated Rivals standings.
Sources: Rivals / On3 Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Penn State Ends 33-Year Nike Relationship as Four Programs Officially Switch Apparel Brands
Four Power Four programs officially changed uniform sponsors on July 1. Penn State ends a 33-year relationship with Nike to join adidas on a 10-year deal valued at approximately $300 million, inclusive of NIL benefits. Tennessee also departs Nike for adidas on a separate 10-year agreement. South Carolina exits Under Armour for Nike on a $70 million deal covering all 21 athletic programs, with terms including a $5 million cash component and a $2.5 million product allowance. Georgia Tech moves from adidas to Under Armour on a 10-year contract the school described as nearly six times more per year than its previous deal.
On3: It Now Costs $8M or More to Build a Top Recruiting Class After Record NIL Spending in June
On3 published an in-depth investigation Wednesday finding that June 2026 was the most expensive recruiting month in college football history for NIL spending. Surveying general managers, agents, and collectives, On3’s reporters found it now requires at least $8 million to build a nationally competitive recruiting class. “There are no layups anymore,” a source told On3, describing a sport where high-profile prospects command significant NIL offers well before signing day. The report arrives as summer commitments continue to pour in from top-2027 recruits after what On3 described as the most expensive June in college football recruiting history.
Final 2025–26 AP Top 10
CFP Champion: Indiana
1. Indiana
2. Miami
3. Ole Miss
4. Oregon
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Texas Tech
8. Texas A&M
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
2027 Rivals Recruiting Top 10
Updated After Hectic June
1. Texas A&M (94.003)
2. Notre Dame (92.732)
3. Miami (92.387)
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. Texas
7. Florida
8. Texas Tech
9. Oregon
10. USC
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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