Uthinkuknowsports

Nebraska is 19-19 under Matt Rhule, and the Cornhuskers are coming off at 7-6 season. With Anthony Colandrea at quarterback and six starters back on defense, can Nebraska surprise and make a leap up the Big Ten standings?

East Carolina is going for its first back to back 9 win seasons in school history. Can the Pirates get it done with only three returning starters, including a new quarterback?

UTSA returns its star QB and has never had a losing record under head coach Jeff Traylor. Are the Roadrunners a title contender in the American in 2026?

In his first full year as the head coach at UAB, Alex Mortensen -- the son of former ESPN broadcaster Chris Mortensen -- hopes to get the Blazers back to a bowl game in the American. Is that a fair expectation?

Tulsa returns QB in Baylor Hayes and have six defenders back. Could the Hurricane have their first winning season since 2021?

Tulane went 11-3 last year and qualified for the College Football Playoff. With a new head coach, a new QB and just five returning starters back. is it fair to expect the Green Wave to win the American again?

Temple went 5-7 last season and will have a new quarterback (either Jaxon Smollk or Ajani Sheppard), a great tight end in Peter Clarke and a revamped defense. Will it be enough to get to a bowl game?

South Florida has a new head coach, a new QB and only three starters returning. However, the Bulls have reloaded with Power 4 guys on defense and brought in two QBs with Power 4 experience. Can they win the American in 2026?

The Rice Owls have not had a winning season in 12 years... could that change in 2026? Rice has options at QB, a running back in Quenton Jackson who should get 200+ carries and a rebuilt defense. Is it enough?

PJ Fleck is entering year 10 at Minnesota and may have one of his best rosters. Drake Lindsey is back at QB, as are other key offensive pieces. Anthony Smith will terrorize Big Ten quarterbacks on defense. Could the Gophers surprise?

New Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is hoping to turn around the Spartans the way he did Northwestern. But what are fair expectations for year one? #michiganstate #sparty #cfb #big10 #collegefootball

North Texas was thisclose to being in the College Football Playoff in 2025, coming up short in the American championship game. With 0 starters back, how will the Mean Green fare in 2026?

Navy is listed as the favorite in the American for many, but the Midshipmen must replace their key skill position players. Can the Midshipmen reload off of last year's 11 win season?

Kyle Whittingham is the new head coach at Michigan after three decades at Utah, and he's got a lot going for him in year one in Ann Arbor -- a returning QB in Bryce Underwood, experience back on the offensive line, and key transfers from Utah. Here are things to know for the Wolverines going into 2026.

The Memphis Tigers will look completely different in 2026 with only one returning starter. But with Charles Huff at head coach, many like the Tigers to be a contender in the American this year. 

Maryland returns a ton of starters (14), including QB Malik Washington and three offensive linemen. Defensively, 8 starters are back. Could the Terps be a surprise contender in the Big Ten?

Florida Atlantic was one of the most pass-happy teams in the country in 2025, and the Owls figure to throw the ball around as much in 2026 with QB Caden Veltkamp back. Will they be able to get to a bowl game?

Defense is everything at Iowa, and the Hawkeyes must reload on that side of the ball with only three starters back. There will also be a new QB in place as Jeremy Hecklisnki and Hank Brown compete for the starting role. Is this the year Iowa gets back to 10 wins?

Will Indiana go back to back? The Hoosiers have brought in key transfers in QB Josh Hoover, RB Turbo Richard and WR Nick Marsh as they look to repeat in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff. Will it be enough for Curt Cignetti in 2026?

Charlotte was one of the worst teams in college football last season, but the 49ers have options at quarterback, reinforcements coming in at running back and a new look roster. Can they turn it around?

Army is 19-8 over the last two seasons and recovered from a poor start in 2025 to play good football down the stretch. With 72% of their offensive snaps, the Black Knights should expect to be a contender in the American. But can you make the College Football Playoff running the triple option?

Illinois just completed its best two season run in school history, going 19-7. But the Illini have been uncompetitive in losses to Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana during that run. Can head coach Bret Bielema lead Illinois to be a real contender for the Big Ten title in 2026?

The Syracuse Orange are hoping to be much more competitive in the ACC this year. Last season was derailed due to Steve Angeli's injury, but he is expected to return and be healthy for the start of the season.

James Franklin is the new head coach at Virginia Tech, and expectations are through the roof for the Hokies. With 14 starters back, can Franklin get Virginia Tech back to playing important games in October and November in year one? 

Coming off a 9-win season, Wake Forest is working to show last season wasn't a fluke. The Demon Deacons bring in QB Gio Lopez to run the offense and eight players on defense. Is it enough to be a factor in an improving ACC? 

Virginia had its best season in program history last year. Can the Cavaliers keep it going with a new quarterback and running back, an experienced offensive line and pieces back on defense?

Can the Stanford Cardinal get back to a bowl game in 2026? The Cardinal have brought in Tavita Pritchard to be the head coach and Davis Warren, a Michigan transfer, is likely to start at QB. Stanford has seven starters back on defense. #stanford #stanfordcardinal #cfb #collegefootball #ncaafootball See less  

SMU's offense is loaded and the Mustangs are poised to once again compete for a trip to the ACC Championship game. Kevin Jennings is back at QB and he has a new RB in California running back Kendrick Raphael. Can the defense improve enough for the Mustangs to be in the hunt? #smumustangs #smu #collegefootball #cfb #ncaafootball

Pittsburgh is entering year 12 under head coach Pat Narduzzi and expectations are high with quarterback Mason Heintschel returning. Can the Panthers surprise and get back to the ACC championship game? #pittsburghpanthers #pittpanthers #pitt #cfb #collegefootball 

This episode previews NC State as a possible ACC sleeper for 2026: quarterback C.J. Bailey is back, Dave Doeren is back for year 14, and the offense returns key pieces with transfer reinforcements. The defense needs upgrades but incoming transfers could help, and a favorable schedule — just two true road games until late November— gives the Wolfpack a real chance to compete in the conference behind top contenders like Miami.

Shock hire Bill Belichick enters year two at North Carolina after a 4–8 season marked by offensive struggles, turnovers, and penalties. The podcast breaks down defensive improvement late last year, key returners, new transfers, and Bobby Petrino’s role as offensive coordinator. The episode focuses on the critical quarterback battle (Billy Edwards vs. Taron Dickens), a tough early schedule that includes TCU, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Duke, and whether Belichick can right the program in year two. #cfb #collegefootball #unc #tarheels

The Miami Hurricanes appear to have all the pieces necessary to win the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. But remember, this team didn't even play for its conference title in 2025. Can Miami win the ACC behind transfer Darian Mensah and all the talent returning? And can that propel a CFP run to end a 25-year national title drought? #cfb #collegefootball #TheU #miamihurricanes

Louisville may have the most explosive running back duo in the ACC. The Cardinals added an Ohio State transfer at QB in Lincoln Kienholz. They have a proven winner as a coach in Jeff Brohm, who seems to always get the most out of his roster. And they have a schedule they doesn't include Miami (FL) or ACC champion, Duke. Is this the year the Cardinals break through to win the ACC? #uofl #collegefootball #ncaafootball #louisvillecardinals

Is Georgia Tech going to be a sneaky ACC contender with Alberto Mendoza at QB, Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley at RB and a revamped receiving corps? Or is there too much to figure out on a schedule that features Colorado, Tennessee, Duke and is a trip to Stanford in the first five games? #georgiatech #accfootball #cfb #collegefootball #ncaafootball

My college football offseason tour continues with Florida State. The Seminoles have already named Ashton Daniels their starting QB, but Mike Norvell must clean up a lot with only six starters back if he hopes to turn things around. #fsu #fsufootball #floridastate #accfootball #cfb        

It feels like this Clemson season could go about 10 different ways with early trips to LSU and California and a home game against Miami in week 5. Could it go so poorly that it's the final season for Dabo Swinney at Clemson? Or will the Tigers bounce back behind a new nucleus (9 players were drafted into the NFL Draft) and get right back in the ACC Championship conversation? #clemsontigers #accfootball #clemsonfootball #cfb

Duke surprised the college football world by winning the 2026 ACC championship and was ultimately left out of the College Football Playoff due to having five losses. Could Duke once again surprise in 2026? Or will the Blue Devils miss Darian Mensah too much at quarterback? #dukebluedevils #duke #collegefootball #cfb #ncaafootball

We just saw Duke win the ACC in football. Could California be the next surprise winner? The Golden Bears have a young QB that played well despite no running game, avoid the Miami Hurricanes and have a new head coach and intriguing transfers to build around. 

I begin my "tour" around college football during the summer months. We start with Boston College. Can Bill O' Brien right the ship in year three? Who is going to play quarterback? And can playing 4 of the first 6 games at home be a huge advantage for a team that went 2-10 last year? We dive into deep into the Golden Eagles in episode one.