Samwise College Football Newsletter
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Sporting News Tabs Indiana No. 1 in Preseason Top 25, Picks Hoosiers to Repeat as Champions
Indiana has been tabbed No. 1 in The Sporting News Preseason Top 25 for the 2026 college football season, with the publication picking the Hoosiers to repeat as national champions. The magazine’s preseason top 10 lists Indiana first, followed by Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami (FL), Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and USC. The Sporting News also projects Indiana as the top seed in the 2026-27 College Football Playoff with a first-round bye. Head coach Curt Cignetti, the publication notes, has shifted the landscape of the Big Ten with his mastery of the transfer portal and talent evaluation.
Sources: Inside the Hall
Trump Administration Backs Protect College Sports Act as Senate Floor Vote Nears
President Trump’s administration formally endorsed the Protect College Sports Act on Friday, backing a push by Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the bill to a floor vote before the August congressional recess. The legislation — sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) — passed committee 19–9. It would create national standards for college athletics, including rules governing NIL payments, player transfers, and athlete protections. Trump has previously signed two executive orders directing federal agencies to safeguard college sports.
Sources: NewsNation
PFF Names Oregon No. 1 QB Room in College Football; Ohio State Second Behind Julian Sayin
Pro Football Focus ranked Oregon’s quarterback room the best in college football for 2026, with Dante Moore — who returned to Eugene despite being projected as a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — leading the group. Moore threw 30 big-time throws in 2025, the most in FBS. Backup Dylan Raiola, a five-star transfer from Nebraska, is PFF’s top backup nationally. Ohio State ranks second: Julian Sayin, a Heisman finalist who completed 77 percent of his passes in 2025, returns alongside No. 4 overall 2025 recruit Tavien St. Clair. Ole Miss, Texas (Arch Manning), and LSU round out the top five.
Sources: Pro Football Focus
Indiana Names Josh Hoover Starting Quarterback for the 2026 Season
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti officially named Josh Hoover as the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season at the start of fall camp, with Grant Wilson serving as the primary backup. Hoover won the job through consistent performance in summer workouts, per Cignetti. The Hoosiers are the defending national champions and are ranked No. 1 in The Sporting News Preseason Top 25. The publication also projects Indiana as the No. 1 seed in the 2026-27 College Football Playoff with a first-round bye, and picked the Hoosiers to repeat as national champions for a second straight year.
Fall Camp Week 1: Alabama Resets Run Game, Belichick Rotates Three QBs at North Carolina
Week one of fall camp wrapped Friday with quarterback competitions unresolved at several marquee programs. Alabama’s new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb pledged the Crimson Tide will prioritize the run game in 2026, with Keelon Russell and Austin Mack competing for the starting role — a decision that could come after upcoming scrimmages. Clemson’s Christopher Vizzina holds the first-team edge as Garrett Riley installs a vertical passing emphasis. Virginia Tech’s Ethan Grunkemeyer has separated himself as the likely starter. Bill Belichick is rotating Billy Edwards Jr., Miles O’Neill, and Travis Burgess through first-team reps at North Carolina. Deion Sanders took Colorado to Colorado Springs for team chemistry.
Sporting News Preseason Top 10
AP Top 25 releases Aug. 17
1. Indiana
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Oregon
7. Miami (FL)
8. Ole Miss
9. Oklahoma
10. USC
Conference Preseason Favorites
Big Ten
Indiana (No. 1) · Ohio State (No. 2)
SEC
Georgia (No. 3) · Texas (No. 4)
ACC
Miami (FL) (No. 7)
Big 12
Oklahoma (No. 9)
Regular season opens Aug. 29, 2026
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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