10 biggest storylines entering the 2026 college football season

Key Points:

• The ongoing Big Ten vs. SEC rivalry remains a central theme for the 2026 college football season, with the Big Ten holding an edge due to winning the last three national championships and securing all preseason first-place votes.
• The 12-team College Football Playoff format has been modified to guarantee spots for all four power conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six team, while Notre Dame gains guaranteed entry if ranked in the top 12, addressing controversies from the previous season.
• Lane Kiffin begins his first season as LSU head coach after a 7-6 finish in 2025, facing high expectations to compete with Ole Miss and aiming to end LSU’s streak of seasons with three or more losses.
• The Pac-12 has been revitalized with six new members mostly from the Mountain West, creating a smaller but competitive conference that could challenge for Group of Six playoff spots, while North Dakota State moves up to FBS and is expected to contend in the Mountain West.
• New punt rules requiring at least five players wearing numbers 50-79 on the line of scrimmage have been met with resistance from coaches, potentially reducing trick plays and altering special teams strategies; meanwhile, corporate logos on college football jerseys will debut in 2026-27 as schools seek new revenue streams.