Alabama running back AK Dear to miss six weeks with ankle injury2 sources

Alabama running back AK Dear is expected to miss approximately six weeks after sustaining an ankle injury during a preseason scrimmage, according to multiple reports including ESPN and Yahoo Sports. The setback arrives as the Crimson Tide’s new campaign is quickly approaching, placing the program’s roster depth under immediate scrutiny. No additional details beyond the duration and the scrimmage origin of the injury have been confirmed. Dear’s absence presents a challenge for Alabama’s backfield heading into the season, with the six-week timeline putting his availability for early games in question depending on when the scrimmage took place.

Zahir Mathis suffers season-ending injury, deepening Mike Locksley’s Maryland crisis2 sources

Maryland lost edge rusher Zahir Mathis to a season-ending injury Wednesday, the program announced, though no details on the nature of the injury were disclosed. The timing could not be worse for head coach Mike Locksley, who entered the season already occupying one of college football’s hottest seats. Stability on the defensive edge was among the program’s most pressing priorities heading into the year, and Mathis had been a key contributor to that unit. His absence lands an immediate, severe blow to the defensive line and forces Locksley to reshape his strategies before the season begins, deepening concerns about both roster construction and the program’s outlook.

West Virginia’s Sieg eyed for offensive reps as freshman defensive starter

West Virginia true freshman Matt Sieg arrived at safety, head coach Rich Rodriguez’s priority, where defensive coordinator Zac Alley has been teaching him boundary and field assignments. But inside WR coach Logan Bradley is already plotting an offensive role. “I already have in my head what plays I know,” Bradley said, adding, “Matt Sieg can come in my room anytime he wants.” Outside WR coach Ryan Garrett simplified the scheme, and Sieg has been working a JUGS machine as he projects into the slot.

Three straight championships lift Big Ten past SEC in preseason power rankings2 sources

CBS Sports has released its 2026 preseason college football conference power rankings, placing the Big Ten at the top of the list above the SEC, a reordering the publication attributes to the conference’s three consecutive national championships and sustained postseason success. CBS Sports asserts that this championship run justifies the Big Ten’s standing as the best conference in college football, supplanting the SEC from the position it previously held. The Big Ten’s postseason track record stands as the stated basis for the ranking shift, with the conference change at the top serving as the primary news from the publication’s preseason assessment.

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