CFBudge

Pre-Orders for my 2026 College Football Preview Magazine are open now! This year's edition will be the BIGGEST preview yet, with nearly 250 pages of content covering all 138 FBS teams, complete with in-depth analysis, record predictions, and season forecasts. Pre-Order yours today to be one of the first to get your hands on it in early June: cfbudge.com/p/budges-2026-…

It is entirely reasonable for USC to have a playoff or bust mentality this season. - Lincoln Riley is headed into year 5 - No team in CFB returns more starters (15) - Michigan & Penn State have 1st year coaches - They’re home for 2/3 biggest games The only uncertainty would be how the defense looks with Lynn leaving and Patterson as the new DC. But at this point, it just has to work, USC has had a lot of patience with Riley. If not now, when?

@ThreeTechPod Insert Luke Kormenhoek

@CF_Budge I don’t think MVB is even the leader in the clubhouse as QB1…🫠 Could have been a legend at Miss State.

Here are 10 Third-Year College Football players who could break out as Stars in 2026. Which of these guys will have a great season?

The Big's Biggest Conference games of 2026, Rated in Tiers. Which of these games are you most excited for?

@KeithKe13471 It’s just not a 1:1. Completely different era.

@CF_Budge As a Michigan State fan I feel great about Coach Fitzgerald because he had success at an Academic powerhouse like at Northwestern !! so you can imagine what Coach Fitzgerald is going to do at Michigan State with unlimited resources ! Can’t wait

I have to question Michigan State's hire of Pat Fitzgerald. You've got a head coach who found success at Northwestern through long term development that lead to success once every 2-3 seasons. In this modern era are they not just going to have their roster pillaged every offseason? Would that not undermine his entire approach? Fitzgerald is going to have to completely reinvent himself at Michigan State and to me that is just complete uncertainty. How are Spartans fans feeling?

@MrHoggardSZN Completely different era of the sport. If you really think about it

@CF_Budge If you were to really think about it, and I mean try your absolute best to think about it, why do you think he had success every 2-3 seasons and NORTHWESTERN

@SenorBrillobox I honestly might have preferred to see Smith for another year before I would've hired Fitz

@CF_Budge Counterpoint: what else were they going to do?

@Bragg1nR1ghtz Yeah he’ll have more than he had at Northwestern. I suppose that’s the basis of the argument defending him.

@CF_Budge Won't he have more resources at MSU?

Idk, Iowa was such an established commodity by the time the portal era arrived that I almost feel like its an exception to the rule. If you're a DB, lineman or RB you go to Iowa because they've shown how excellent the development is. Michigan State does not have that and Fitz isn't crushing it in recruiting.

@CF_Budge I feel like you can look at the sustained success of Iowa and apply it to the best case scenario for Fitzgerald at MSU. Iowa’s stability has been a big asset for recruiting

The SEC's Biggest Non-Conference games of 2026, Rated in Tiers. Which of these games are you most excited for?

For the second straight offseason, Purdue got aggressive going after P4 transfers who struggled the prior season and are seeking a new opportunity. I'm just not convinced this is a sustainable/proven portal approach. For the most part it seems going after mid major guys with even some production has a much higher hit rate. Are there any examples of a team that has found consistent success with this strategy recently?

My 2026 ACC Starting Running Back Power Rankings. Please note that this is the RB1 for each team, so no more than one player per team is on this list. Who will be the best RB in the ACC this year?

@RedditCFB @SickosCommittee Oregon State above 9 Power 4 teams is wild

With the 2026 FBS schedules finalized, here’s a graph of all 138 FBS teams ranked by average strength of schedule (based on 2025 opponent ranks).

My 2026 Big 12 Starting Running Back Power Rankings. Please note that this is the RB1 for each team, so no more than one player per team is on this list. Who will be the best RB in the Big 12 this year?

@RSpurr1693 Vegas is crazy.

@CF_Budge O/u is 5.5/6.5 lmao so is Vegas crazy or are you?

I really like the offseason Nebraska football had. Clear investment in the trenches, love the "gamble" on Aurich at DC. The coveted Matt Rhule "year three leap" may happen in year four.

@JustinM46043280 Sure yeah they beat New Mexico in the bowl. Doesn't change much about their story.

Minnesota was a hilarious team last season. - 7-0 at Home - 0-5 on the Road - 0-3 vs Big Ten teams above .500 in B10 play (scored 19 total points) - 1 win all year over bowl teams Their schedule will not be so forgiving this season. They've got to improve.

My 2026 Big Ten Starting Running Back Power Rankings. Please note that this is the RB1 for each team, so no more than one player per team is on this list. Who will be the best RB in the Big Ten this year?