B/R Experts Bold Predictions for the 2026 College Football Season

The long, national wait is over. It's college football season, and even though we'll be at each other's throats soon enough, can the entire congregation at least say a united, "Amen!" for that?

So, let's get all this straight: The Big Ten rules. The SEC is looking up and saddled with a new nine-game conference schedule, too. The ACC is trying to prove it's more than just Miami, and the Big 12 is seeking national relevance, too.

Marquee quarterbacks like Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and Arch Manning rule a gaudy group of returning playmakers. But Jeremiah Smith looks like a cut above the rest of the talent.

Will all that come to fruition? CFB almost never actually "holds serve," in the expectation department now, does it? That's what bold projections are for, and that's why we're here.

Each member of our CFB writing staff—David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard—made one team-specific prediction and one player-specific prediction for the season ahead.

Let's get down to the bold takes and hope they don't become cold takes.

Kenyon: Jeremiah Smith Hits 1,500 Yards in Regular Season

There is nothing bold about saying Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver in the nation.

Already a two-time AP All-American selection, he's presumably headed for a three-year sweep—before entering the 2027 NFL draft as a projected top pick. He is a superstar.

It would only be fitting for OSU's playmaker to put up special numbers in his last college season. But that's not simply a credit to his prodigious talent.

Smith will probably need to take on a heavier share of targets in 2026. He shared the position with Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate in 2024, then Tate again in 2025. Ohio State is never thin on depth at receiver, but it seems unlikely Brandon Inniss or true freshman Chris Henry Jr. will be 1,000-yard players this year.

Not only is Smith capable of filling that production void, but the difficulty of OSU's schedule may actually help, too. Since the Buckeyes wrecked everyone en route to 12-0 last year, Smith tallied just 10 catches in the fourth quarter. More competitive games in 2026 should lead to more receptions, as well.

Smith has a great shot to become only the second wideout in a half-decade to hit 1,500 yards during the regular season.

Kramer: Keelon Russell Will Be a Superstar by Halloween

Have you seen his highlights? Sure, it was high school. I get that. It was also a few years ago.

But Alabama's new starting quarterback has truly rare traits, and the former 5-star recruit blessed with size, speed and a remarkable arm won't need long to make an impact on the SEC and college football as a whole.

Alabama was right to take it slow with him last year. Russell saw time against Louisiana Monroe and Eastern Illinois, looking plenty competent in both instances. But a year spent learning and growing should pay enormous dividends, and it will pay dividends early on.

The schedule is conducive for a fast start. A road game at Kentucky in Week 2 could offer up some resistance, although the first five games come against manageable opponents. In October, Russell will play Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. This is where it will come together.

It won't always be perfect, but it will be electric. Get ready to meet CFB's newest superstar.

Reuter: Devon Dampier is a Heisman Trophy Finalist

After racking up 2,768 passing yards, 1,166 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns at New Mexico during the 2024 season, quarterback Devon Dampier transferred to Utah last season and helped lead the Utes to an 11-2 record.

Despite the step up in competition playing the Big 12, he took a significant step forward with his completion percentage (57.9 percent to 63.5 percent), interception rate (3.1 percent to 1.5 percent) and passer rating (121.6 to 146.8) while continuing to be a dual-threat contributor with 2,490 passing yards, 835 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns.

He did all of that while playing through a sports hernia that required offseason surgery and also navigating ankle and leg injuries.

With a clean bill of health, another step forward is not out of the question, and that could make the Utes Big 12 contenders and earn him a seat in New York.

Shepard: LaNorris Sellers Rebounds to Become a Top-10 Draft Pick

If Shane Beamer doesn't turn things around at South Carolina after an abysmal 4-8 season that saw his Gamecocks win just one SEC game, he's toast.

It may be an uphill battle for them to post a winning season this year, but they are a sneaky-solid pick to rebound if redshirt junior LaNorris Sellers can regain his old form.

A season ago, Sellers looked lost in Mike Shula's offense, completing just 61 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions and running for just 270 yards after 674 in '24. All this for a guy who was a trendy pick to be the top overall player taken in this year's NFL draft.

Shula was relieved of his duties in November, and Sellers' play improved down the stretch. This offseason, Beamer hired veteran offensive coordinator Kendal Briles from TCU to help Sellers regain his old dual-threat form.

He's going to put up the kind of numbers that calm NFL executives' fears, and that 6'3", 238-pound frame will help push him back up draft boards.

Heading into the 2026 campaign, the ACC is all about Miami. After finishing as the national runner-up, the 'Canes reloaded with a few flashy transfers to complement a strong core of returning players. They should be excellent this year.

Back in 2023, the Mustangs exited the American with an 11-3 mark and a conference title. They debuted as part of the ACC in 2024, rattling off another 11-win record that included an appearance in the College Football Playoff. SMU squandered a chance to make the ACC Championship Game with a loss in 2025's regular-season finale but still posted a 9-4 record. This program is a consistent threat.

Led by veteran QB Kevin Jennings, SMU should be a contender yet again. There are trips to Florida State, Louisville and Notre Dame on the docket, but that's not exactly a gauntlet. Miami, Clemson and Pitt aren't on the slate, and the Mustangs get Virginia and Virginia Tech at home. The schedule is plenty favorable.

Even if Miami, for example, were to beat SMU in the ACC title game, an 11-2 record may be enough for the Mustangs to snatch one of the CFP's last at-large bids.

Kramer: Oregon Will Break Through and Win the National Championship

Oh, the Ducks have been close. Under Chip Kelly, they were a few flipped plays away from a national championship. Under Dan Lanning, there has been a mix of close calls and remarkable progress.

This roster is the best he's ever had. It's also the most balanced group in all of college football.

Quarterback Dante Moore said no to the Jets to get at least one more crack at winning a title, and he's surrounded by playmakers in his second year with the Ducks. Defensively, Oregon has one of the strongest defensive lines in all of college football coupled with a slew of playmakers on the back end.

This team is good—really, really good. And although the schedule features tricky road games at USC and Ohio State, it will only help this team come playoff time.

Oregon has flirted with a natty in recent years. This year, it all finally comes together.

Reuter: Oklahoma Wins a College Football Playoff Game

The Sooners open the season at No. 10 in the AP poll, putting them squarely on the College Football Playoff bubble, but they are capable of shaking up the playoff bracket.

Defense has been a strength under head coach Brent Venables, and they ranked in the top 10 in the nation last year in yards allowed (272.5, sixth) and points allowed (15.5, seventh). With six returning starters, expect it to be a major strength once again.

The X-factor will be the health and production of quarterback John Mateer. He was a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate last season before suffering a broken bone in his throwing hand. He wasn't the same threat in the passing game when he returned, but a healthy Mateer should again be one of the nation's most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks.

Their schedule is daunting, with Michigan, Georgia and Texas early before they close out the year with Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri in a three-week span. If they can survive, they'll be as battle-tested as any team in the country.

Shepard: North Dakota State Will Play in College Football Playoff in Its Inaugural FBS Season

For years, North Dakota State was even more dominant in the Football Championship Subdivision than Nick Saban-led Alabama.

Finally, the bullies are picking on somebody their own size.

News flash: If Week 0 is any indication, the Bison are still bullies.

They whipped Jacksonville State 33-7 in the Fargo Dome last weekend in their first-ever game on this level. The Gamecocks aren't some slouch, either. They were in the Conference USA title game last year and picked third again.

NDSU obliterated them, using the same defense-first formula that kept them dominant in the lower level for years. Coach Tim Polacek isn't fixing something that's not broken.

With the triumvirate of AAC coaches (Jon Sumrall to Florida, Alex Golesh to Auburn and Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas) off to the SEC, that league could suffer. That leaves the Group of Six CFP berth wide-open.

Boise State and Fresno State will be tough in the new-look Pac-12, but NDSU might just be the beast in the Mountain West, especially after UNLV looked susceptible last week.

The bold guess is the Bison's success translates.