Samwise College Football Newsletter
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Phil Steele’s 2026 Preseason All-Americans: Dante Moore, Jeremiah Smith Headline First Team
Veteran analyst Phil Steele has released his Preseason 2026 All-American Teams, headlined on the First Team by Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns last season while guiding the Ducks to a 13–2 record and a College Football Playoff semifinal. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — widely considered the top player in college football entering 2026 — headlines the receiving corps alongside FSU’s Duce Robinson and Miami’s Malachi Toney. Texas’ Colin Simmons leads the defensive unit, while Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore, last season’s Unanimous All-American cornerback, anchors the secondary. Texas Tech tight end Terrance Carter earned First Team honors as well.
TCU’s Sonny Dykes: A College Football CBA Is Now the Cheaper Option
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes says college football is nearing a financial tipping point where collective bargaining would cost less than the current pay-for-play model. “Now it’s $22 million — with 15 for football — and another 30 if you want to be competitive,” Dykes told On3’s Andy Staples at Big 12 Media Days. “Now it would be much more of a bargain to collectively bargain.” Dykes cited the NFL model as proof a CBA eliminates the lawsuit chaos illustrated by the recent Brendan Sorsby eligibility case. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has also publicly advocated for collective bargaining this year.
Sources: On3 / Andy Staples Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
LSU Calls Top 40 Donors to Governor’s Mansion for “First-of-Its-Kind” Revenue Plan
LSU Athletics has invited its top 40 donors to a private event at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion on August 3 or 5 to unveil what the school describes as a “first of its kind nationally” revenue plan. Tiger Athletic Foundation president Matt Borman sent the invitations, with LSU president Dr. Wade Rousse set to lead the presentation. “This is not an ask for money. It’s not a fundraiser. It’s informational,” the letter states. The announcement comes as LSU faces financial strain following costly buyouts for former football coach Brian Kelly, basketball coach Matt McMahon, and former athletics director Scott Woodward.
Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard, Nation’s Longest-Tenured FBS Director, Announces Retirement
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, the nation’s longest-tenured FBS AD, announced Friday he is retiring after 21 years with the program. Pollard plans to officially step down on June 30, 2027, or whenever a successor is hired. During his tenure Iowa State won 24 Big 12 team titles across eight sports, grew annual fundraising from just over $9 million to $53 million, and invested more than $400 million in facilities including the planned CyTown development. Pollard was twice named Football Subdivision Athletics Director of the Year — in 2019 and 2023 — by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
Big 12 Coaches Pick BYU to Win the Conference Title in McMurphy’s Preseason Poll
Big 12 head coaches selected BYU to win the conference title in Brett McMurphy’s preseason poll for On3, conducted during Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas. McMurphy polled coaches on which two teams would advance to the Big 12 Championship Game and who would win it, capturing the field’s view of conference contenders before training camps open. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake spoke to reporters at The Star on July 7 during Media Days. McMurphy also published a companion piece the same day ranking the conference’s top 10 quarterbacks for the 2026 season.
Sources: On3 / Brett McMurphy Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Phil Steele 2026 Preseason All-Americans
First Team Highlights
🏆 QB: Dante Moore, Oregon
🏆 WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
🏆 WR: Duce Robinson, FSU
🏆 TE: Terrance Carter, Texas Tech
🏆 DL: Colin Simmons, Texas
🏆 CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
2026 Big 12 Preseason Outlook
Media Days — Frisco, TX
Coaches’ pick: BYU to win Big 12
Preseason OPoY: LJ Martin, BYU (RB)
Preseason QB: Noah Fifita, Arizona
🏆 2025 CFP Champion: Indiana
AP Preseason Poll: releases mid-August 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency