ESPN College Football

McElroy goes over the most “getable schedules” in the SEC, BIG 10, BIG 12 and ACC. Did Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Auburn hit the scheduling lottery in 2026? Will Luke Fickel at Wisconsin and Matt Campbell at Penn State BOTH get more wins than expected with “lighter” paths in the BIG 10? Can BIG 12 favorite Texas Tech take advantage of missing out on BYU & Utah and will Virginia be back in the mix for the ACC in 2026? Plus, McElroy gives you the biggest trap games for 12 legit contenders.
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Is the FPI correct with their strength of schedule metric? McElroy explains what we should use the FPI for then goes through the P4 and gives you the toughest schedules in each conference. Texas, Oklahoma & Texas A&M have a gauntlet to get through to make the CFP, while Ohio State and USC have the toughest road schedules in the BIG 10. In the BIG 12 Colorado and Oklahoma State will be grinding out the season and can Clemson and Florida State bounce back with the toughest schedules in the ACC? Plus, McElroy answers mailbag questions about Notre Dame, Tennessee, the BIG 12 coaches poll and much more.
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What if the SEC misses the title game (again) and the BIG 10 wins ANOTHER national title? What if Arch Manning struggles, Lane Kiffin and LSU BEAT Ole Miss and Jeremiah Smith wins the Heisman? McElroy tackles some of the biggest ‘what if’s’ heading into the 2026 season including if a Group of 6 team can win a college football playoff game, if money CAN buy a national championship and what if everything goes chalk in September?
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The weight of being the preseason #1 team is very heavy. In 76 years of the AP poll there is only ONE team that started #1 and stayed that way throughout the entire season and won a National Championship - that was Florida State in 1999.  While the CFP has given more leeway for the top ranked teams it’s still a big target on your back to start the season. So who deserves to be ranked #1 in the preseason? McElroy makes the case for and against Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami, Indiana and Georgia all to be the preseason #1 ranked team.
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What if the SEC has a really bad start in non-conference play to open the season? What if Indiana drops three games or Penn State wins 10? What if Notre Dame finally breaks through for their first National Title since 1988 and what if USC finishes UNDER 8 wins in year five under Lincoln Riley?  What if the BIG 12 is a two bid league and what if the college football playoff gets even messier in November? McElroy tackles some of the biggest ‘what if’s’ heading into the 2026 season.
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