CFW Preseason 2026 - The Top Quarterbacks

 CFW Preseason 2026 – The Top Quarterbacks

Manning, Moore and Sayin

dominate the QB chatter

 

Leading the way at the quarterback position going into the 2026 season are none other than Texas junior Arch Manning (6-4, 226), Oregon junior Dante Moore (6-3, 226) and Ohio State sophomore Julian Sayin (6-1, 208). However a Carr is on their tails, breathing down their necks. That would be Notre Dame sophomore C.J Carr (6-2, 215).

 

 

The Quarterbacks – 2026

 

The quarterback battle for the top is on a crescendo for Weekend Two. On September 12, Ohio State and Julian Sayin will be in Austin, Texas, to take on the Longhorns and Arch Manning.

 

Last year, on opening weekend in Columbus, Ohio, the same two quarterbacks went head-to-head. On that day, Ohio State beat Texas, 14-7. Manning got off to a slow start in that game. Ohio State led Texas 14-0 late in the fourth quarter. Manning improved late in the game. Texas scored a touchdown with about three and a half minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.

 

At the end of the game, Manning was 17-for-30, passing for 170 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Sayin was 13-for-20, passing for 126 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.

 

During the season last year, Manning passed for 3,163 yards, averaging 243 yards a game, completing 61% of his passes. He threw 26 touchdowns passes and had seven interceptions. Sayin passed for 3,610 yards, averaging 258 yards a game, completing 77% of his passes. He threw 32 touchdown passes and had eight interceptions.

 

Oregon’s Dante Moore may be better than Manning and Sayin. Last season, Moore passed for 3,565 yards, averaging 238 yards a game, completing 72% of his passes. He threw 30 touchdown passes and had 10 interceptions.

 

Last year, Manning led Texas to a 10-3 season, including a 41-27 victory over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Sayin led Texas to a 12-2 season, including a spot in the College Football Playoff. Moore led Oregon to a 13-2 season, including a spot in the CFP.

 

Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr passed for 2,741 yards last season, averaging 228 yards a game, completing 67% of his passes. He threw 24 touchdown passes and had six interceptions. Carr led the Irish to a 10-2 season, ending the campaign on a 10-game winning streak.

 

Let the competition begin!

 

 

ACC

 

The ACC has a half-dozen topnotch quarterbacks, with one of the six being exceptional. That would be Miami junior Darian Mensah (6-3, 206). Last year, Mensah played on an above average team – Duke – and managed to put up impressive numbers. In 2025, he passed for 3,973 yards, averaging 284 yards a game, completing 67% of his passes. Mensah threw 34 touchdown passes and had six interceptions. This year, Mensah is on a talented and exceptional team. His favorite receiver at Duke – Cooper Barkate – also transferred to Miami. No telling what his numbers will look like at the end of the season.

 

Two other big-time quarterbacks in the ACC are SMU senior Kevin Jennings (6-0, 192) and NC State junior C.J. Bailey (6-6, 213). Last season Jennings passed for 3,641 yards, averaging 303 yards per game, and completing 66% of his throws. He threw 26 touchdown passes and had 13 interceptions. The interceptions were his only weakness. Jennings led SMU to a 9-4 record, including a big win over Miami (26-20) and a Holiday Bowl win over Arizona (24-19).

 

Bailey was no slouch. He passed for 3,105 yards, averaging 239 yards per game, and completing 69% of his lobs. Bailey threw 25 touchdown passes and had nine interceptions.

 

A fascinating quarterback in the ACC is California sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (6-3, 225). He passed for 3,454 yards, averaging 266 yards a game, completing 64% of his passes. He threw 18 touchdown passes and had nine interceptions. Sagapolutele’s path could parallel another California quarterback – Fernando Mendoza. Like Mendoza, Sagapolutele’s career began at California. After this season, I can see him transferring to a big-time SEC or Big Ten school with another fairy tale story in the making. Stay tuned!

 

A final ACC quarterback who deserves notice is Pitt sophomore Mason Heintschel (6-2, 215). As a freshman last year, Heintschel passed for 2,354 yards, averaging 235 yards per game, and completing 64% of his throws. He threw 16 touchdown passes and had eight interceptions.

 

 

Big 12

 

In the Big 12, what will Oklahoma State sophomore Drew Mestemaker (6-3, 215) do this year? Last year, at North Texas, Mestemaker passed for an amazing 4,379 yards, averaging 487 yards a game, and completing 69% of his lobs. He threw 34 touchdown passes and had nine interceptions. Along with his coach (Eric Morris), Mestemaker transferred to Oklahoma State.

 

Arizona is a dark horse to win the Big 12 this year. That’s because of senior Noah Fifita (5-10, 190). In 2025, Fifita passed for 3,228 yards, averaging 248 yards a game, and completing 64% of his passes. He threw 29 touchdown passes and had six interceptions.

 

BYU is loaded with sophomore Bear Bachmeier (6-2, 230). Last year Bachmeier passed for 3,033 yards, averaging 217 yards per game, and completing 65% of his throws. He threw 15 touchdown passes and had seven interceptions.

 

Houston senior Conner Weighman (6-3, 210) and Utah senior Devon Dampier (5-11, 210) have Cougar and Ute fans sky high for the season. Last year, Weighman passed for 2,705 yards, averaging 208 yards per game, and completing 65% of this lobs. He threw 25 touchdown passes and had nine interceptions. Dampier passed for 2,490 yards, averaging 208 yards a game, and completing 64% of his throws. He threw 24 touchdown passes and only had five interceptions. Dampier also rushed for an additional 835 yards, averaging 5.7 yards a carry. He scored 10 touchdowns rushing.

 

Two more Big 12 quarterbacks who have the potential to create excitement are Kansas State senior Avery Johnson (6-3, 196) and Baylor junior D.J. Lagway (6-3, 239). Lagway transferred to Baylor from Florida during the offseason. He says he felt trapped at Florida but feels free at Baylor. Lagway needs to abandon his passing mistakes. Last year, he threw almost as many interceptions as he did touchdown passes. At Kansas State, Johnson passed for 2,385 yards, averaging 217 yards per game, and completing 60% of his passes. He threw 18 touchdown passes and had six interceptions.

 

 

Big Ten

 

Among the Power Four conferences, the Big Ten appears to have the best overall group of quarterbacks. In addition to Dante Moore and Julian Sayin, there are another seven ace quarterbacks in the conference.

 

Last year, Indiana relied on California transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza. This year, the Hoosiers will rely on senior TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover (6-2, 200). Last season, Hoover passed for 3,472 yards, averaging 289 yards a game, and completing 66% of his passes. He threw 29 touchdown passes and had 13 interceptions.

 

The four west coast Big Ten teams (Oregon, USC, Washington and UCLA) are loaded at the quarterback position. In addition to Oregon’s Dante Moore, USC has senior Jayden Maiava (6-1, 205), Washington has junior Demond Williams (5-11, 191) and UCLA has Nico Iamaleava (6-6, 215).

 

Last year, USC’s Maiava passed for 3,711 yards, averaging 286 yards a game, and completing 66% of his throws. He threw 24 touchdown passes and had 10 interceptions. The Trojans should be in good hands with Maiava. Washington’s Williams passed for 3,065 yards, averaging 236 yards per game, and completing 70% of his passes. He threw 25 touchdown passes and had eight interceptions. Williams also rushed for 611 yards and six touchdowns. UCLA’s Iamaleava, the former Tennessee quarterback, struggled at times last year for the Bruins, but he did complete 64% of his passes and he rushed for 505 yards.

 

Lastly, three other Big Ten quarterbacks have the talent and the potential to do well in 2026. They are Penn State senior Rocco Becht (6-1, 209), Maryland sophomore Malik Washington (6-5, 231), and Michigan sophomore Bryce Underwood (6-4, 228). Becht transferred to Penn State following his coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State. In 2025, he passed for 2584 yards, averaging 215 yards per game, and completing 61% of his throws. The Terps’ Washington passed for 2,963 yards, averaging 247 yards a game. Michigan’s Underwood was up-and-down in 2025.

 

 

SEC

 

Next to the Big Ten, the SEC has the best group of quarterbacks – top to bottom. Following Arch Manning, among the SEC elite, is Ole Miss senior Trinidad Chambliss (6-0, 205). You can’t say enough good things about Chambliss. Last year, he passed for 3,937 yards, averaging 263 yards a game, and completing 66% of his lobs. He threw 22 touchdown passes and only had three interceptions.

 

Texas A&M junior Marcel Reed (6-1, 185) led the Aggies to the College Football Playoff last year. Reed passed for 3,169 yards, averaging 244 yards a game, completing 62% of his passes. He threw 25 touchdown passes and had 12 interceptions. Auburn junior Byrum Brown (6-3, 232) is another one of those players who followed his coach to a new school. Auburn hired South Florida coach Alex Golesh and Golesh brought his quarterback with him. Last year Brown passed for 3,158 yards, averaging 263 yards per game, completing 66% of his throws. He had 28 touchdown passes and only had seven interceptions. A dangerous runner, Brown rushed for an additional 1,008 yards, averaging 5.8 yards a carry. He scored 14 touchdowns rushing.

 

Georgia is in good shape with senior Gunner Stockton (6-1, 215). Last year Stockton passed for 2,894 yards, averaging 207 yards a game, completing 70% of his passes. He threw 24 touchdown passes and only had five interceptions.

 

If senior John Mateer (6-1, 218) stays healthy throughout the season, then Oklahoma should be a very healthy football team. Due to a hand injury, Mateer missed a game or two last season. Still he managed to pass for 2,885 yards, averaging 240 yards a game, completing 62% of his passes. Mateer threw three touchdown passes but had 11 interceptions.

 

Two final SEC quarterbacks to keep an eye on are LSU junior Sam Leavitt (6-2, 216) and South Carolina junior LaNorris Sellers (6-3, 240). Leavitt transferred to LSU from Arizona State. Two years ago, Sellers had a sensational season. He was a disappointment last year.

 

 

AC

 

As the season begins, the American Conference has three quarterbacks on the marquee. They are Florida Atlantic senior Caden Veltkamp (6-6, 236), UTSA senior Owen McCown (6-1, 190) and Navy senior Braxton Woodson (6-5, 215). Last year Veltkamp passed for 3,641 yards, averaging 303 yards a game, completing 67% of his passes. He threw 24 touchdown passes but had 17 interceptions. Veltkamp also led the nation in completions per game with 29.

 

McCown passed for 2,995 yards, averaging 230 yards per game. McCown completed 68% of his tosses. He threw 30 touchdown passes and only had seven interceptions. With Blake Horvath graduating, Woodson finally gets to take over the reins at Navy. He has lots of potential and is definitely a running threat.

 

 

C-USA

 

The best quarterback in Conference USA is Delaware junior Nick Minicucci (6-2,215). Minicucci had an amazing season last year. He passed for 3,683 yards, averaging 283 yards per game, completing 63% of his passes. He threw 23 touchdown passes and only had seven interceptions.

 

Two other quarterbacks in C-USA to keep an eye on are Jacksonville State junior Caden Creel (6-0, 200) and Western Kentucky sophomore Rodney Tisdale (6-2, 190). Creel is a big running threat. Last year, he rushed for 1,076 yards, averaging 5.9 yards a carry.

 

 

MAC

 

The two best quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference are Western Michigan junior Broc Lowry (6-1, 210), and Kent State junior Dru DeShields (6-2, 195). Last year, DeShields passed for 2,030 yards, averaging 185 yards a game, completing 57% of his lobs. He threw 18 touchdown passes and only had three interceptions. WMU’s Lowry, a threat as a runner, rushed for 963 yards, scoring14 touchdowns.

 

 

MWC

 

The Mountain West Conference has two good quarterbacks. They are Hawaii sophomore Micah Alejado (5-10, 190) and New Mexico senior Jack Layne (6-2, 206). Last season, Alejado passed for 3,106 yards, averaging 282 yards a game, completing 66% of his passes. He threw 24 touchdown passes and had nine interceptions. Layne passed for 2,486 yards, averaging 191 yards a game, completing 65% of his throws.

 

 

Pac-12

 

The Pac-12 has three top quarterbacks led by Texas State sophomore Brad Jackson (6-0, 197). Last year, Jackson passed for 3,224 yards, averaging 248 yards per game, completing 71% of his passes. He threw 21 touchdown passes and had seven interceptions. Jackson also rushed for 744 yards, scoring 17 touchdowns on the ground.

 

The other two are Boise State senior Maddox Madsen (5-10, 207) and Oregon State senior Malik Murphy (6-5, 239). Madsen averaged 212 yards a game through the air.

 

 

Sun Belt

 

As the season begins, three quarterbacks are sitting at the top of the crop in the Sun Belt Conference. Marshall senior Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (6-2, 234) may be the best of the three. In 2025, he passed for 2,043 yards, averaging 186 yards per game, completing 67% of his lobs. Del Rio-Wilson threw 17 touchdown passes and only had five interceptions. He also rushed for 661 yards, scoring six touchdowns.

 

The other two top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt are Troy senior Goose Crowder (6-2, 212) and Louisiana Tech junior Blake Baker (6-5, 220).

 

 

TT’s Top 10 Favorite Quarterbacks at Preseason

 

1.     Darian Mensah – Miami

2.     Dante Moore – Oregon

3.     Arch Manning – Texas

4.     Trinidad Chambliss – Ole Miss

5.     Drew Mestemaker – Oklahoma State

6.     C.J. Carr – Notre Dame

7.     Julian Sayin – Ohio State

8.     Bear Bachmeier – BYU

9.     Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele – California

10.  Nick Minicucci – Delaware

 

However, I’m keeping my eye on:

 

Devon Dampier (Utah), Josh Hoover (Indiana), John Mateer (Oklahoma), Jayden Maiava (USC), Brad Jackson (Texas State), Broc Lowry (Western Michigan), Demond Williams (Washington) and Kevin Jennings (SMU).

 

 

Where are they now?

 

With the transfer portal, it’s hard to keep up with the players these days. There are 138 schools in FBS football. This season at least 61 of them will be starting quarterbacks who transferred in during the offseason. Several interesting quarterback transfers that took place this year include:

 

Jackson Arnold – Auburn to UNLV

Alonza Barnett – James Madison to UCF

Rocco Becht – Iowa State to Penn State

Cutter Boley – Kentucky to Arizona State

Byrum Brown – South Florida to Auburn

Anthony Colandrea – UNLV to Nebraska

Ashton Daniels – Auburn to Florida State

Billy Edwards – Wisconsin to North Carolina

Walker Eget – San Jose State to Duke

J.C. French – Georgia Southern to Cincinnati

Josh Hoover – TCU to Indiana

Katin Houser – East Carolina to Illinois

Colton Joseph – Old Dominion to Wisconsin

D.J. Lagway – Florida to Baylor

Sam Leavitt – Arizona State to LSU

Gio Lopez – South Alabama to Wake Forest

Alberto Mendoza – Indiana to Georgia Tech

Darian Mensah – Duke to Miami

Drew Mestemaker – North Texas to Oklahoma State

Beau Pribula – Missouri to Virginia

Jaylon Raynor – Arkansas State to Iowa State

Austin Simmons – Ole Miss to Missouri

Michael Van Buren – LSU to South Florida

 

 

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at the best running backs, wide receivers, etc.

 

Touchdown Tom

August 20, 2026

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

CFW Preseason 2026 - The Hot Seat Coaches

 CFW Preseason 2026 – The Hot Seat Coaches

Names like Norvell, Aranda, Fickell

and Beamer top the Hot Seat list

 

That would be Florida State’s Mike Norvell, Baylor’s Dave Aranda, Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer. You can add seven other names to that list, but those four are the hottest seats. And USA Today sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer predicted FSU’s Norvell would be the first coach fired this season.  

 

Last year, 19 head coaches were fired. Most likely, there won’t be that many this year.

 

 

Coaches on the Hot Seat – 2026

 

Let’s begin in the Big Ten, where three coaches are feeling the heat. Perhaps none more than Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell. Fickell was the hot coach out of Cincinnati a few years ago. He took the Bearcats to the four-team College Football Playoff. But the past three years have not been so good for Fickell, which means they haven’t been so good for Wisconsin. In three years, Fickell’s record at Wisconsin is 17-21. Last year, the Badgers were a dismal 4-8 (2-7 in Big Ten play).

 

The second coach in the Big Ten on a very hot seat is Maryland’s Mike Locksley. Locksley has had seven years to turn around the Maryland program, and he is yet to do it. He’ll likely only have one more chance. In his seven years in College Park, Locksley is 37-49. Last year the Terrapins were a sad 4-8 (1-8 in Big Ten play).

 

The third and final hot seat coach in the Big Ten is Nebraska’s Matt Rhule. Rhule has struggled to reignite the fire in Lincoln. He may be down to his final match. In three seasons, Rhule is 19-19. Last year the Huskers were 7-6 (4-5 in Big Ten play). They lost their last three games, including a 44-22 pasting from Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

 

Two Big Ten coaches are on a warm seat. They are USC’s Lincoln Riley and Rutgers’ Greg Schiano.

 

The ACC has two coaches who are definitely on the hot seat. The hottest seat in the ACC belongs to Florida State’s Mike Norvell. After six seasons in Tallahassee, Norvell is 38-34. Those numbers don’t fly with FSU fans. Last year, the Seminoles were 5-7 (3-5 in ACC play). This year, I’m afraid it’s do or die for Norvell.

 

Boston College’s Bill O’Brien is the other ACC coach on the hot seat. After two seasons in Chestnut Hill, O’Brien is 9-16. The situation got worse last year when the Eagles finished 2-10 (1-7 in ACC play). BC won its first and last game, losing nine-straight games in between.

 

Three ACC coaches are sitting on a warm seat. They are North Carolina’s Bill Belichick, NC State’s Dave Doeren and Syracuse’s Fran Brown.

 

In the Big 12, two coaches are sitting on a lot of heat. First and foremost of the two is Baylor’s Dave Aranda. After six seasons in Waco, Aranda is sitting on the negative side of things with a 36-37 record. Last year, Baylor was 5-7 (3-6 in Big 12 play). The Bears lost five of their final six games. Aranda is definitely living on borrowed time.

 

Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield is perched on a hot seat – very hot. Following three seasons with the Bearcats, Satterfield is 15-22. Last year Cincinnati was 7-6 (5-4 in Big 12 play). But the Bearcats lost their last five games, including a 35-13 drubbing from Navy in the Liberty Bowl.

 

One coach in the Big 12 is sitting on a warm seat. That would be none other than Deion Sanders.

 

The SEC definitely has two coaches on the hot seat. The hottest seat of the two belongs to South Carolina’s Shane Beamer. Beamer can’t seem to buy a break in Columbia. After five years with the Gamecocks, he is 33-30. Last year South Carolina was a poor 4-8 (1-7) in SEC play. Gamecock fans aren’t happy.

 

The other SEC coach with a hot fanny is Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebo. In two seasons, he has gotten off to a rough start in Starkville. Under Lebo, the Bulldogs are 7-18. Last year, they finished 5-8 (1-7 in SEC play). Miss State ended the season losing its last four games.

 

Three SEC coaches are on the warm seat list. They are Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel.

 

Only two Group of Six coaches are on the hot seat as the 2026 season begins. In Conference USA, Derek Mason of Middle Tennessee State is definitely feeling the heat – a lot of it. In two season’s Mason has a 6-18 record. Last year the Blue Raiders were 3-9 (2-6 in C-USA play).

 

C-USA has one coach on the warm seat. He is Tony Sanchez of New Mexico State.

 

Then, in the Mid-American Conference, Akron’s Joe Morehead is suffering from the heat. In four years, Morehead has a 13-35 record. Last year the Zips finished 5-7 (4-4 in MAC play). Morehead needs to show some improvement this season.

 

The only MAC coach on the warm seat is Eastern Michigan’s Chris Creighton.

 

Amazingly, four Group of Six conferences have no one on the hot seat. Two of those four conferences – the American Conference and the Pac-12 – not only have no one on the hot seat, but also they have no coach on the warm seat.

 

The other two conferences may have no one on the hot seat, but they have a slew of coaches on the warm seat. In the Mountain West Conference UTEP’s Scotty Walden, Nevada’s Jeff Choate, San Jose State’s Ken Niumatalolo and Wyoming’s Jay Sawvel are all positioned on warm seats.

 

The Sun Belt Conference has an unbelievable seven coaches perched on the warm seat. They are South Alabama’s Major Applewhite, Arkansas State’s Butch Jones, Louisiana’s Michael Desormeaux, Georgia State’s Dell McGee, Louisiana Tech’s Sonny Cumbie, Troy’s Gerald Parker and ULM’s Bryant Vincent.

 

Which hot seat coaches will survive, and which ones will take a dive? Stay tuned!

 

Tomorrow we will take a look at college football’s best quarterbacks, entering the 2026 season.

 

Touchdown Tom

August 19, 2026

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

CFW Preseason 2026 - The Head Coach Hires

 CFW Preseason 2026 – The Head Coach Hires

Franklin, Whittingham come out smelling

like roses, Kiffin comes out smelling

 

Most coaches who get fired or resign end up sitting out for at least a season if not more, maybe working as a commentator or broadcaster for ESPN or FOX. Some eventually come back as a head coach or an assistant coach.

 

That was not the case with James Franklin. Penn State fired Franklin just six games into the season last year. After Franklin was fired, there were a half dozen or more schools hot on Franklin’s tail. He was a heavily sought after commodity. Exactly five weeks after Franklin was let go by Penn State, he was hired by Virginia Tech.

 

That was not the case with Kyle Whittingham either. Exactly two weeks after Whittingham stepped down, resigned, retired, was fired or whatever at Utah, he was hired by Michigan.

 

Franklin and Whittingham came out smelling like roses.

 

Meanwhile, as the regular season was coming to an end last season, Lane Kiffin took center stage. It was his shining moment. And Kiffin took advantage of it, soaking up all the attention he could get. Would he stay at Ole Miss or not? If he left, would he go to Florida or LSU? Ultimately, Florida was eliminated. But it was still in doubt whether he would stay at Ole Miss or go to LSU.

 

Eventually, Kiffin chose to go to LSU. Kiffin’s handling of the situation didn’t sit well with Ole Miss fans. And it didn’t sit well with many college football fans around the country. After all, Ole Miss was all but certain to make the College Football Playoff and Kiffin ran off and left them hanging in the balance.

 

To Ole Miss and many other fans, Kiffin came out smelling, but not like a rose.

 

 

The New Head Coaches – 2026

 

Thirty-five Division I schools will have new head coaches this season. Six of those 35 schools are in the SEC. The SEC experienced a bloodbath after the 2025 season. Five SEC schools (LSU, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky and Arkansas) fired their head coaches, and the sixth school lost its coach to a fellow SEC member.

 

That sixth school was Ole Miss and that coach was none other than Lane Kiffin. Kiffin left Ole Miss to become the head coach at LSU. Prior to LSU, Kiffin has been the head coach at four other colleges and one NFL team. The NFL team was the Oakland Raiders (2007-2008). The other colleges were Tennessee (2009), USC (2010-2013), Florida Atlantic (2017-2019) and Ole Miss (2020-2025). In between USC and Florida Atlantic, Kiffin was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Alabama, under Nick Saban. That’s quite a resume. As a head coach in college football, his record is 116-53. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kiffin is 51. In college, he played quarterback at Fresno State.

 

Replacing Kiffin at Ole Miss is Pete Golding. Golding was the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2023-2025). Prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator at Alabama (2018-2022). A native of Hammond, Louisiana, Golding is 42. In college, he was a defensive back at Delta State.

 

When it comes to hiring new coaches, Florida seems stuck on the state of Louisiana. In 2022, Florida hired Billy Napier to be its head coach. Napier came to Florida from the University of Louisiana. After firing Napier last year, Florida went back to Louisiana to find Jon Sumrall. He was the head coach at Tulane (2024-2025). Prior to Tulane, Sumrall was the head coach at Troy (2022-2023). His overall record is 43-12. A native of Texarkana, Texas, Sumrall 44, grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. In college, he played linebacker at Kentucky.

 

The new head coach at Auburn is Alex Golesh. Golesh is jumping back into the SEC. For two years (2021-2022) he was the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. More recently, Golesh was the head coach at South Florida (2023-2025). His three-year record at USF was 23-15. A native of Moscow, Russia, Golesh is 42. A graduate of Ohio State, he never played college football.

 

Kentucky hired a state native for its new head coach – Will Stein. Stein was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Oregon (2023-2025). A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Stein is 36. In college, he played quarterback for Louisville.

 

Arkansas reached across the Mississippi River to grab its new head coach – Ryan Silverfield. Silverfield was the head coach of Memphis for the past five seasons (2020-2025). His record was 50-25. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Silverfield is 46. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, he never played college football.

 

Four schools in the Big 12 (Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Utah and Iowa State) will sport new head coaches in 2026.

 

Kansas State reached out to one of its own – Collin Klein – to become the Wildcats’ new head coach. Klein played quarterback at Kansas State (2008-2012). More recently, he has been the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M (2024-2025). Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Kansas State (2017-2023). A native of Loveland, Colorado, Klein is 36.

 

Oklahoma State reached across the border into Texas to secure its new head coach – Eric Morris. Morris was the head coach at North Texas (2023-2025). Previously, he was a head coach at Incarnate Word (2018-2021). In between, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Washington State (2022). His head coaching record is 46-34. A native of Littlefield, Texas, Morris is 40. In college, he played wide receiver at Texas Tech.

 

Utah stayed within its program and also named a native son to be its new head coach – Morgan Scalley. Scalley has been on the Utah staff since 2007. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator (2016-2025). A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Scalley is 46. In college, he was a defensive back at Utah.

 

The new head coach at Iowa State is Jimmy Rogers. Last year, Rogers was the head coach at Washington State (2025). Prior to that, he was the head coach at South Dakota State (2023-2024). His head coaching record is 33-9. A native of Chandler, Arizona, Rogers is 39. In college, he was a linebacker at South Dakota State.

 

Four schools in the Big Ten (Michigan, Penn State, UCLA and Michigan State) will debut new head coaches this season.

 

As mentioned above, Michigan hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. Whitingham had been the head coach at Utah for 21 seasons (2005-2025). Prior to that, he was Utah’s defensive coordinator (1995-2004). And prior to that, he was Utah’s defensive line coach for one season (1994). In all, he was on Utah’s staff for 32 seasons. Whittingham’s overall head coaching record is 177-88. A native of San Luis Obispo, California, he is 66. In college, Whittingham was a linebacker at BYU.

 

To replace James Franklin, Penn State hired Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. Campbell had coached Iowa State for 10 seasons. Prior to Iowa State he was the head coach at Toledo (2012-2015). His overall head coaching record is 107-70. A native of Massillon, Ohio, Campbell is 46. In college, he was a defensive lineman at Pitt.

 

UCLA hired James Madison head coach Bob Chesney. Chesney has been a head coach for 16 seasons – Salve Regina (2010-2012), Assumption (2013-2017), Holy Cross (2018-2023) and James Madison (224-2025). His head coaching record is 132-52. A native of Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, Chesney is 49. He graduated from Dickinson College (Pennsylvania) where he was a defensive back.

 

Hiring its new head coach, Michigan State brought a familiar face back to the Big Ten. The Spartans hired former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Prior to the start of the 2023 season, Northwestern fired Fitzgerald, amid allegations of hazing from some of the players. He had been on the Northwestern staff for 22 years, the last 17 years as the head coach (2006-2022). His head coaching record is 110-101. Fitzgerald has been away from coaching the past three seasons. A native of Midlothian, Illinois, Fitzgerald is 51. A Northwestern graduate, he was a linebacker for the Wildcats.

 

Three ACC schools (Virginia Tech, California and Stanford) have new head coaches this season.

 

The most well-known of the three new coaches is former Vanderbilt and Penn State head coach James Franklin. Franklin coached Vanderbilt for three seasons (2011-2013) and Penn State for 12 seasons (2014-2025). Prior to Vanderbilt, he was the head coach in waiting at Maryland. But he got tired of waiting and left the Terrapins for the Commodores. His head coaching record is 128-60. A native of Langhome, Pennsylvania, Franklin is 54. In college, he played quarterback at East Stroudsburg University.

 

The new head coach at California is Tosh Lupoi. Lupoi comes to Cal from Oregon where he has been the defensive coordinator (2022-2025). Prior to Oregon, Lupoi had three seasons in the NFL as a defensive line coach. A native of Walnut Creek, California, he is 45. In college, Lupoi was a defensive lineman for California.

 

After a season under an interim coach, Stanford hired Tavita Pritchard to be its head coach. Last season, Pritchard was the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders of the NFL. Prior to that he was on the Stanford staff for 12 seasons, the last five of those seasons as the offensive coordinator. A native of Tacoma, Washington, Pritchard is 39. In college, he played quarterback for Stanford.

 

Seventeen Group of Six schools will have a new head coach in 2026. One Group of Six school will go through the season with an interim coach. Five of those schools (North Texas, South Florida, Memphis, UAB and Tulane) are in the American Conference

 

North Texas looked no further than Texas to find its new head coach – Neal Brown. Last season, Brown was an offensive consultant on Steve Sarkesian’s staff at Texas. Prior to that, he had been the head coach at West Virginia for six seasons (2019-2024). Before West Virginia, Brown was the head coach at Troy (2015-2018). His head coaching record is 72-51. A native of Danville, Kentucky, Brown is 46. In college, he was a wide receiver at Massachusetts.

 

The new head coach at South Florida is Brian Hartline. Hartline has spent his entire coaching career (2017-2025) on the staff at Ohio State. The past three seasons (2023-2025) he was the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. A native of Canton, Ohio, Hartline is 39. In college, he was a wide receiver at Ohio State.

 

Charles Huff is the new head coach at Memphis. Huff comes to Memphis after coaching Southern Miss for one season (2025). Prior to Southern Miss, he spent four seasons as the head coach at Marshall (2021-2024). His head coaching record is 39-25. Before Marshall, Huff was a running backs coach at Western Michigan, Penn State, Mississippi State and Alabama. A native of Denton, Maryland, Huff is 43. In college, he played football at Hampton.

 

UAB stayed within its program and elevated Alex Mortensen to be the full-time head coach. Mortensen became the interim head coach at UAB halfway through last season. He went 2-4. Since 2023, Mortensen has been the offensive coordinator at UAB. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he is 40. In college, Mortensen played quarterback at Samford and Arkansas.

 

Like UAB, Tulane stayed within its program and elevated Will Hall to the head coach position. Last year, Hall was the passing game coach for Tulane. Hall has head coaching experience at West Alabama (2011-2013), West Georgia (2014-2016) and more recently at Southern Miss (2021-2024). His head coaching record is 70-50. Previously, he was at Tulane as an offensive coordinator (2019-2020). A native of Amory, Mississippi, Hall is 46. In college, he played quarterback at Murray State and North Alabama.

 

Four Mid-American Conference schools (Kent State, Toledo, Ohio and Sacramento State) will have new coaches in 2026.

 

Last year, Mark Carney was the interim head coach at Kent State. At the end of the season, the Golden Flashes made Carney the full-time head coach. In 2024, he was the offensive coordinator at Kent State. His head coaching record is 5-7. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Carney is 46. In college, he played quarterback at Fordham.

 

Toledo’s new head coach is Mike Jacobs. Most recently, Jacobs was the head coach at Mercer (2024-2025). Prior to Mercer, he was the head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne for four seasons (2020-2023). His head coaching record is 94-23. Jacobs was on the staff at Notre Dame for six seasons (2014-2019). A native of Maumee, Ohio, he is 47. In college Jacobs played football at Ohio State as an offensive lineman and long snapper.

 

John Hauser was elevated to the head coaching position at Ohio. Hauser has been on the staff at Ohio for four seasons (2022-2025). The last two seasons he was the Bobcats’ defensive coordinator. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Hauser is 46. In college, Hauser was a defensive back for Ball State and Wittenberg.

 

Sacramento State’s new head coach – Alonzo Carter – probably has the most interesting resume of all the head coaches. Following college, Carter was a backup dancer for M.C. Hammer. He was the choreographer for Hammer’s 1990 hit “U Can’t Touch This.” After six years as one of Hammer’s dancers, Carter eventually got into coaching, initially at the high school level. The past two seasons, he has been the running backs coach for Arizona (2024-2025). Prior to Arizona, Carter was the running backs coach for San Jose State for six seven seasons (2017-2023). A native of Oakland, California, he is 57. Carter played college football for Hayward State (California).

 

There are three new head coaches this season at Pac-12 schools – Colorado State, Washington State and Oregon State.

 

Colorado State hired a well-known head coach – Jim Mora. Mora has a long coaching career in both the NFL and college football. In the NFL, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2004-2006) and the Seattle Seahawks (2009). In college, Mora coached UCLA for six seasons (2012-2017). The past four seasons, he was the head coach at Connecticut (2022-2025). Mora’s head coaching record in college is 73-53. A native of Los Angeles, California, he is 64. In college, Mora was a defensive back and linebacker at Washington.

 

The new head coach at Washington State is Kirby Moore. The past three seasons, Moore has been the offensive coordinator at Missouri State (2023-2025). Prior to that he was on the staff at Fresno State for six seasons (2017-2022). His last season at Fresno State he was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator. A native of Prosser, Washington, Moore is 35. In college, he was a wide receiver at Boise State. Moore is one of the youngest head coaches in FBS football. Only Florida Atlantic’s Zach Kittley is younger.

 

Jamarcus Shepard is the new head coach at Oregon State. The last two years, Shepard was the offensive coordinator at Alabama (2024-2025). He was the passing game coordinator at Washington for two seasons (2022-2023). Shepard spent five seasons on the staff at Purdue where he was the passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator (2017-2021). A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Shepard is 43. In college, he played wide receiver for DePauw.

 

Three schools in the Sun Belt Conference have new head coaches this season – James Madison, Southern Miss and Coastal Carolina.

 

James Madison hired a well-known coach. Former Florida coach Billy Napier is the new head coach at JMU. Napier has been on the staffs of several schools – Clemson, Alabama, Colorado State and Arizona State (2003-2017). From 2018-2021, he was the head coach of Louisiana. The past four seasons, Napier was the head man at Florida. His head coaching record is 62-35. A native of Cookeville, Tennessee, Napier is 47. In college, he played quarterback at Furman.

 

Blake Anderson is the new head coach at Southern Miss. Last year, Anderson was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Southern Miss (2025). Prior that, he was the head coach at Arkansas State (2014-2020) and at Utah State (2021-2023). His head coaching record is 74-55. Before 2014, Anderson spent many years on the staffs at New Mexico, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana and North Carolina, mostly as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, he is 57. In college, Anderson played quarterback and wide receiver for Baylor and Sam Houston.

 

The new head coach at Coastal Carolina is Ryan Beard. The past three seasons, Beard was the head coach of Missouri State (2023-2025). His head coaching record is 19-16. He had been the defensive coordinator at Missouri State (2020-2022). Prior to that, Beard was on the staffs at Western Kentucky, Louisville and Central Michigan (2012-2019). A native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Beard is 37. He played college football at Western Kentucky where he was a defensive back.

 

There is one new head coach in Conference USA. He is Casey Woods at Missouri State. The last four seasons, Woods was the offensive coordinator at SMU (2022-2025). From 2008 to 2021, he was on the staffs at Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas State, UAB and Missouri (2008-2021). A native of Starkville, Mississippi, Woods is 43. In college, he was a wide receiver for Tennessee.

 

The Mountain West Conference is sporting one new head coach this season. In the late winter/early spring, Rob Harley was named the interim head coach of Northern Illinois. The previous season, Harley was the defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois (2025). Previously (2012-2024), he was on the staffs at Michigan State, FIU, Pitt and Arkansas State, mostly as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. A native of Elmhurst, Illinois, Harley is 43. In college, he was a defensive back at Ohio State.

 

And finally, an Independent in the Group of Six – Connecticut – has a new head coach this season. He is Jason Candle. For the past 10 seasons, Candle has been the head coach of Toledo (2016-2025). Prior to that, he was on the staff at Toledo for seven seasons (2009-2015). His head coaching record is 81-44. A native of Salem, Ohio, Candle is 46. In college, he was a wide receiver for Geneva and Mount Union.

 

That’s a wrap on the 34 new head coaches and the one new interim head coach this season.

 

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at the coaches who are on the “hot seat” this season. There aren’t as many as we have had in recent years.

 

Touchdown Tom

August 18, 2026

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