Samwise College Football Newsletter
Monday, August 10, 2026
Protect College Sports Act Pushed to September as Senate Enters August Recess
The Protect College Sports Act failed to secure a full Senate floor vote before Congress entered its August recess, with Sens. Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt announcing the delay in a joint statement Friday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune had filed for cloture — a key procedural step — but eight holds, multiple amendments from senators including Josh Hawley, Jim Banks, and Tommy Tuberville, and opposition from the Congressional Black Caucus derailed the push. Cruz and Schmitt said the vote is guaranteed when Congress returns from recess, which is expected to run until mid-September. President Trump had urged lawmakers to remain in Washington to pass the bill.
No. 14 USC Loses Starting Center Kilian O'Connor to Season-Ending Knee Injury
No. 14 USC suffered a significant blow in fall camp when starting center Kilian O’Connor sustained a season-ending knee injury during a non-contact practice drill. Head coach Lincoln Riley confirmed the veteran had undergone surgery and was shut down for the season. O’Connor, a redshirt senior who walked on before earning a scholarship, was on the Rimington Trophy watch list entering 2026. His loss deepens the Trojans’ offensive line concerns ahead of the season opener, as USC must now find a replacement at center amid an ongoing carousel along the interior line.
Sources: CBS Sports
Veteran OL Cole Hutson Rejoins Texas After Court-Granted Fifth Year of Eligibility
Veteran offensive lineman Cole Hutson has rejoined the Texas Longhorns after a U.S. District Judge granted him a fifth year of eligibility under the broader 5-for-5 injunction covering age-based eligibility cases. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound lineman played 48 games with 23 starts across three offensive line positions during his college career, went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, and attended minicamp workouts with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys before pursuing the legal route. Hutson filed a lawsuit in Travis County court seeking an additional season. His return gives Texas a proven, experienced blocker heading into 2026.
Rivals No. 1-Ranked 2028 QB Christopher Vargas Commits to Ohio State
Ohio State landed a major 2028 recruiting commitment Friday when Christopher Vargas, the top-ranked quarterback in the class per Rivals, pledged to the Buckeyes over Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, and Stanford. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound prospect from St. John’s Prep in Lawrence, Massachusetts completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,038 yards with 24 touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore. Vargas’s commitment adds to an already dominant Ohio State 2028 class that Rivals ranks No. 1 nationally, bolstering Ryan Day’s program heading into the 2026 season as fall camp intensifies.
Ohio State Signs $15M Jersey Patch Deal With JPMorgan Chase; Ryan Day Cites Investment Imperative
Ohio State announced a jersey patch sponsorship with JPMorgan Chase valued at $15 million annually, one of the highest-valued deals since the NCAA permitted on-jersey advertising — trailing only Notre Dame’s arrangement with SoFi. Head coach Ryan Day praised the investment at Big Ten Media Days, telling NBC Sports, “We know Ohio State football can’t fail.” Day credited athletic director Ross Bjork and university president Ravi Bellamkonda for adapting to the modern era. He also stressed recruiting players motivated beyond financial compensation, with the team reading the book Legacy to focus on leaving a lasting program legacy.
Preseason Coaches Poll
Top 6 Released Aug. 4
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana (defending champ.)
AP Preseason Poll
Expected Aug. 17
Not yet released. First poll drops
Aug. 17 ahead of the season.
CFP Rankings
Not released until Week 9
of the regular season.
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.