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Yard Dash: Gauging College Football’s 10 Biggest 2026 Pressure Points
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- LSU coach Lane Kiffin is stirring controversy by adding NFL dropouts to his roster amid ongoing lawsuits, drawing criticism from the SEC and raising questions about his spending and team dynamics.
- Texas has bolstered its support around quarterback Arch Manning under coach Steve Sarkisian, with high expectations to overcome previous setbacks and contend for the College Football Playoff.
- Oregon and Notre Dame, led by coaches Dan Lanning and Marcus Freeman respectively, are strong contenders for the national title, each with impressive records and key returning players.
- Texas Tech and Houston are pushing for playoff bids, with Texas Tech adding a wildcard quarterback and Houston strengthening its roster through transfers and coaching stability.
- The Dash predicts a 12-team playoff bracket with Notre Dame as the national champion, highlighting key matchups and first-round byes for top-ranked teams like Indiana, Georgia, and Ohio State.
