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2026 College Football Contenders or Pretenders · Game Day Collective

• Josh Mahler: It seems like every year we go through the top ten, the preseason top ten that is, or even the top fifteen, top twenty-five. And you see a lot of teams that you look at that are ranked and you question why they're ranked, why they were ever put into a preseason poll at all, who ever thought to even vote for them to be in this poll, and they just end up dropping out of the top twenty-five completely by the the time that the season's over. Some of them that they're they're ranked in the top ten, top five, maybe just top fifteen. That don't even end up making the playoffs. And you look at them and you say, I could have told you that from the preseason poll that you originally put them out, where they were ranked. And the reason why this does matter, and the reason why we talk about it as sports fans, is because the strength of schedule. You know, you think of the strength of schedule that each team has and how that propels them when it comes time to making it for a playoff berth or anything like that. Sometimes they are inflated by some of these preseason polls that They they played X amount of ranked teams. Yeah, but they're not ranked anymore. So why don't we take that that measurable and and equate it to what it is now? I'm gonna go through the top 15 and the AP top 15 that is, and I'm gonna go through some of the teams that are contenders in that top 15 and some of the teams that I believe are pretenders. And we're gonna start off towards the top and work our way down. Now to to preface this, I think that contenders are just teams that have a very good chance or in my opinion, have a very good chance of making it all the way to the national championship, or maybe just being contenders in the playoff. Not necessarily that they are going to be a team that I think can win it or will win it, but just a team that I believe will be in the playoff and be a very good contender thereafter in the playoff. Or at least making a fuss and and making a, you know, a little bit of a a noise in the playoff contention. For those who are pretenders, I just don't think they're gonna make the playoffs at all. So, you know, they're they're kind of Being inflated here preseason, or maybe some of their schedule might be helping them get to that point later on where I just don't think they're they're meant to be this season. Welcome into Game Day Collective College Football Show. I'm your host, Josh Mahler, and we're gonna get into it. Starting off with number one on the AP poll, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, a lot of people I heard had a a big issue with Ohio State being number one. I don't understand that. I put them at number one in the game day collective rankings as well. And I think that Ohio State 100% is a contender. I talked about this in the last episode. I think Ohio State sh shows just about everything that you need on paper to be a contender for the 2026 season. I think that they've got an outstanding offense. I know that they the biggest question mark that they have is really just the fact that they've got to replace so much on the defensive side of the ball. Will that defense be good enough and will it be stout enough to be able to handle some of this tough schedule that they've got? Because you look at their schedule. And they really do have a pretty tough schedule when you look at it from the preseason rankings, at least, and and from some of the speculation. First starting off the season very early, go having to travel to Austin and play Texas. They also have to go to Iowa, who Iowa is always a good defensive team, and it actually is one of those teams that just seems to be a bit of an Achilles heel for Ohio State year in and year out. Every time that they play Iowa, Iowa just hangs around there for some reason. it's just one of the the games that Ohio State does struggle with. they have to go on the road to Indiana. not that the atmosphere is anything incredible, but you're still going on the road, not your home stadium, and playing the defending national champions who just beat you a season ago for the Big Ten championships. So there's gonna be some some you know a taste of blood in the mouth there and and ready to to go there. going on that they have to travel across the country to go to USC and then right after that come back home to host Oregon. So That stretch right there is a a little bit of a predicament. and then closing out the season with what has been their Achilles heel for quite some time and one that Ohio State fans are very frustrated with, even the year that they won the national championship, still quite frustrated with the fact that they couldn't get over the hump of beating Michigan. So, you know, I I don't think that that being a a contender, again, like I said, means that they're going to go undefeated, that they're they're gonna have a regular season that's just outstanding, and that they go all the way to win the national championship. I just think that that this this this schedule when it when I went through that and looked at what they've got to go through, especially with that stretch where they've got to go from USC, go across the country, come back and host Oregon, who's the number two ranked team currently, you know, that's that's gonna be a really tough stretch. And of course, having to go on the road to to Austin to to face Texas, and then also going on the road to face Indiana, this is not an easy schedule by any means, at least from the the preseason perspective. So I think even going at a 10 10 and two season for the Buc guys. is pretty commendable and will get them into the playoffs and I think it will prepare them aw enough to where they can go further and deeper into the playoffs as well. So Michigan waiting at the end, that's the one that really intrigues me the most on on this schedule, just because I think that if Ohio State is as good as I believe they are, that they're gonna get through a lot of this stuff, a lot of these games just fine. So Ohio State might lose a game, maybe even two, because this schedule is pretty ridiculous. but a regular season The regular season really isn't where it's all at anymore. We know that you have to win 10 games at a minimum, and then you you're pretty much locked in. Nine games is still kind of a question mark. It's yet to be done, but you could possibly get in there. So with 10 wins, which I think they can do with this schedule, it wouldn't automatically change my mind of who they are if they were to lose a game or two. So Ohio State Buckeyes, absolutely contenders, and I think you're crazy if you think anything else. Going on to the number two ranked team in the AP preseason poll, Oregon. I think Oregon is also a contender. I think Oregon is one of those teams. You look at the tougher sk tougher games on their schedule. They've got USC on there, but it's not as as much of a travel as we mentioned for Ohio State. But still, USC, who I think is gonna be tougher this year, no doubt. and then they go on the road to Illinois. that's a a considerable game for them. But yeah, I think they should be able to handle there. They do have to go on the road to Ohio State. That's gonna be tough. They do host Michigan and they also host Washington. So there there's some games on here that I think could be tougher for them, but when you compare Oregon's schedule to Ohio State's, I think Oregon has a schedule that is pretty favorable to them overall. I think they're better than most of the teams that are on their schedules. So the the stretch that really matters is there in November when they have to face Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington. but two of those are at home and so you can drop the game to Ohio State and still feel pretty good about where you're at in your season. And so I really think that this is a a pretty good one. you know, and of course, you know, with with a a mix of going on the road to Michigan State, which I think is interesting as well in that month of November. But you know, I I think that that the Ducks they mainly just have to avoid the classic kind of fall or may maybe a little bit of a a letdown against someone like Michigan maybe or or even that USC game. You know, just they they have to avoid one of these these upset games, these trap games, rather than then dropping one of those and also dropping one that we can understand like Ohio State, as I mentioned. So I I think Oregon's deep roster. I think it's enough to get them through this season. And and i I I I say deep because they are a very good roster up front in what they've got for their starters and for the you know what they're going to have on the field and what we we anticipate them having on the field. But also you think about them having like Dylan Riola is as a backup quarterback is a pretty good backup to have. You know, that's that's a pretty good situation to be in if you've got Dylan Riola. So Oregon doesn't have to beat Ohio State and Columbus for me to believe that they're capable of beating Ohio State later on in the playoff as well. So I I do think that that Oregon is 100% a contender, deserving of that number two spot in my opinion. That's why I also ranked them number two in the Game Day Collective preseason poll. Number three on the AP poll, on the AP preseason poll, you got Georgia. I think you'd be crazy again to call Georgia not a contender. this is another easy one for me, kind of going through this list of of teams that I think are absolutely contenders. Georgia's gonna be tough no matter you know who they go against, whenever they've got Kirby Smart leading the the pack there. I I think that Georgia, they don't really have the same collection of of of you know the top five opponents as some of the other teams around the country. but there's plenty of places that they could lose. you know, you think of Oklahoma coming to Athens in September. Georgia also has to go to Tuscaloosa and Oxford. And those those are exactly the kind of games that could really kind of get you in a lull and and and the type of environments where just a little thing as as one turnover can really change the entire game. So there's also a sequence of games that they've got where they've got to go Florida at Ole Miss, Missouri at South Carolina. That's four consecutive SEC games without much of any kind of off week. That's it's a bunch of tough teams, whether they are are true contenders or not, time will tell, but they're still tough games to have to go through. And so a a a very interesting stretch there. So This is the kind of schedule overall that I think Kirby Smart's program has built to survive. And and I think that it's the kind of program that that he's built to survive through that because Georgia doesn't need to dominate all those teams. He doesn't have to go anything. Again, this is another team that I think even with a tougher schedule, going ten and two is fine because that's kind of the standard. And I hate saying that because I don't like the fact that just ten and two is is kind of what we're aiming for anymore. But ten and two is fine and and you can get yourself to the playoffs. So you're you're playing in December again. So and I think that Georgia, if they're able to kinda put it on cruise control, take it easy and go ten and two and make the playoffs, that's gonna be a very dangerous Georgia team to face later on there in December and throughout the playoffs. So I think if if Georgia's biggest concern is kind of surviving the SEC road games, it it's it's not really much of a of a Georgia problem at that point. It's really more of an SEC problem because the other SEC teams also have to Look at Georgia and say, Man, we gotta go through Georgia. I don't care if it's in my home stadium or not. I still gotta go through Kirby Smart in Georgia. Going on to number four, Notre Dame. Another contender, another very easy one for me. I don't think Notre Dame has a very tough schedule at all. I think the most notable games they do have to play their opening game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. This will really kind of be the true test to show us a little bit more about Notre Dame. If they're really able to handle Wisconsin. with with ease and and kind of go through that game without any major mistakes or any injuries, then I think that this could really lead up for a a very easy, almost cruise control type of season for Notre Dame. I really don't think they have much you know of importance. They have they do have to go on the road to BYU. I think that's gonna be a tough game, no doubt, but I think it's one that they can handle. the the toughest one is no doubt n number seven Miami, who we'll get to in a little bit. That's gonna be a very tough tough one for them, one that they lost a season ago, if memory serves me correctly. maybe they they beat Miami last year, right? I think that was their argument. So trying to remember what all the tiebreakers were and and and all of that. But still having to to go through Miami, that's gonna be a very tough one. and then of course they've got SMU and s and at Syracuse. I mean they don't really have a whole lot on their schedule that that really stands out. I think Miami and at BYU are really the two toughest ones. Of course SMU I think you throw in there as another team, not to overlook whatsoever, but three three ranked teams, preseason ranked teams that are on your schedule. And so I think with compared with with other several championship caliper teams and other contenders, I think Notre Notre Dame has one of the most manageable paths in all of all of college football. And so there's there's not that Ohio State, Oregon and and you know Georgia type of opponent until Miami, of course, and it it's gonna be at home as well. So they're gonna be in South Bend. So I I think you look through and what they've got. I think Notre Dame has a good enough a good enough coaching staff, a good enough roster, and and we know that they're they're a true contender based on what they've done the past few seasons. And I think if CJ Carr can kind of take the role that I believe he will take here in twenty twenty six, and take the leap that I think a lot of people are expecting from him, that this could really be a a a a team that they're not having to rely so much on Jeremiah Love just to hand it off to him and let him go for it. And or even price as as he was also another big time back that that they were just able to kind of hand it off to those two guys. I don't think they have to rely so much on the on the running production this year and which is why I actually picked CJ Carr as one of my Heisman favorites. so I I I think that you know there's not even really a four or five game gauntlet that they have to go through. And so I think CJ Carr should be able to handle business with Notre Dame here. I think Marcus Freeman is gonna have this this team just fine. I think that they have the championship talent, but unlike some of the other teams that we've talked about, this schedule kind of gives them a little bit of a lull if they do make it to the playoffs. Will they be able to make it far in the playoffs? I still consider Notre Dame a contender because I do think that they should be able to make the playoffs with this schedule and the favorable schedule that they've got ahead of them. But how well do they do when they get there? That's what I'm interested to see. Going on to number five, this was one that I battled back and forth with. And and I'm going to to Go with Texas, and I'm gonna I'm gonna say that Texas is a contender, but there's a little bit of a twist to them being a contender. They're a contender, but you look at their sched their schedule, and they might have one of the most, I think the most difficult schedules of of all the contenders and really of all college football. They start off the season early and have to host Ohio State. They go on the road to Tennessee, and then they have to come back home and and face another top ten team. In Oklahoma, in Dallas, for the Red River, and then another top 10, currently top 10 team in Ole Miss. They also have On the Road at Missouri, On the Road at LSU, On the Road at Texas AM. This is a very tough schedule. So I say that Texas is a contender because I think that they're good enough that they could squeeze through this schedule and really turn some heads and be like, man, they had a very tough schedule to start the season and they still managed to get through it. Much like what we saw from Oklahoma last year, no one was really picking Oklahoma. To really have 10 10 wins, make the college football playoffs and look as dominant, especially without any kind of offense. So with Texas, this is one of those teams that, I mean, if if they're able to kind of handle some of these road games with Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Texas AM, and they're also able to handle some of the tougher games they've got on that schedule with with Ohio State coming to town, going over to Dallas and the Red River rivalry. you know, I think that if they can handle a couple of these games, Ole Miss coming into town. it this could be a team that really s surprises everybody, shocks everybody. If Texas goes ten and two, makes the college ball playoff, I say watch out. it's either one of two things. I think it's either watch out because they're battle tested and ready to roll through anyone that steps in their way, or it could be that they went ten and two but they're really banged up now and now they just drop right out of the playoffs. But I'm gonna say that they're a contender, although I think with this schedule, I I'm I'm gonna be surprised if Texas goes ten and two or or better. I think nine wins is about where that where I put them right now. I think they can get through some of these like Tennessee and Missouri, possibly LSU. but I I think that they're gonna be more of a nine win nine-win team and just barely miss out of the playoffs. I don't think that we're gonna see nine nine-win teams in the playoffs yet, although I think it's coming. but I I still say that they're a contender because if they're good enough, then they they really can get there. Going on to number six, this is one that kind of irritated a lot of people, and I understand. I I'm really conflicted when I talk about Indiana because I go back and forth. I I I I i i it's it's really hard to to pick for Indiana. I d I think anyone out there would would agree that Indiana is just so hard to predict because of what they did a season ago. Now, I I was on the record several times picking Indiana in games that I think a lot of people wouldn't have, but that's only because a a little part of me, I grew up in southern Indiana for about seven years of my childhood, went to a lot of Indiana games when there was absolutely nobody there. It would cost you maybe five dollars, sometimes even free tickets just from different giveaways. And so Indiana is a really intriguing team to me. I'm always cheering for them. And so I think a lot of my picks were more biased than anything. I didn't see it coming what they did last year, so I'm not trying to say that. But this year I kind of look at Indiana and I'm just wondering with all this hype and now everyone's expecting it of you, can you go out and prove it? And I I think last year was kind of that year that they did that, but now you wit you reached all the way to the top of the mountain. So so it's really hard for me to predict Indiana now because they did have some pieces leave, but then they had some of those pieces end up coming back. And I I do believe in Josh Hoover, but it's still a new quarterback in the system. And so it's really hard for me. I'm not a Kurt Signetti doubter. I'm not an Indiana doubter. I think Indiana is going to be very good this year. They do have some tough tests. When you look at their Big Ten schedule, though. I am gonna go on the record and say Indiana is a contender. That's why they're in the top ten. That's that why they're ranked number six. I think the reason why they're they dropped all the way to number six is because at the time a lot of people were kind of looking at it and saying, okay, well, you know, Georgia and and and I I could see maybe an argument for for Texas not being ranked over them. but I think Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon all just have on paper what feels easier to pick. put them above. And so that's the reason why I ranked them lower down at I believe I had them at number six in the game day collective preseason poll as well. But I do think that Ohio that Indiana is a contender. But I I also picked them for possibly the the most disappointing team this year just because I think so many people are just going to be riding on the coattails of what happened last year where 16 and just feels like anything below that is going to be disappointing. If they make it to the playoffs barely at 10 and 2 or even if they're a team that sneaks in at nine and three, which I don't think is gonna happen, if they were to make it to the playoffs and drop out in the first round, a lot of people would be pretty disappointed with that. That's the only reason why I say they're disappointment. I still think that they're a contender. They have some tough matchups on the schedule though, when you have to go on the road at Nebraska. I I don't care that Nebraska's not a great team anymore. I know that this isn't the Nebraska of old, but Nebraska is Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is still a very loud and difficult place to play, especially early in the season. And this is early enough where Nebraska, I think if memory serves me correctly, this will be the first real test for Nebraska. And so fans are going to be kind of pumped up on all these cupcake wins that they got, and they're going to be very loud. And so it's going to be a tough road match. I don't care who you are, it would be a tough road match to to go to Lincoln and play in Memorial Stadium when Husker fans are now allowed to drink in the stadium, so they're going to be rowdier than ever. I know they were last year, and so I know it from firsthand experience. anyways, they have to go on the road at Nebraska, then they turn around and host Ohio State, and they have to go on the road to the big house and play Michigan. I don't care if Michigan's still kind of a rebuilding team right now, it's still tough to do, to go on the road and beat Michigan. Then you've got to play USC, who's currently ranked in the top fifteen, and also on the road to Washington, a long trip to a a tough team. So I think that this is a This is a schedule that I look at and I think this is going to be very tough, but I still mark mark Indiana as contenders. And I think the main thing for me is that I mark them as contenders the same way that I mark Texas. I don't know if they'll make it to the playoffs. I don't know if even if they make it to the playoffs, that they'll make it past the first round. But I still think that they're in that conversation. I still think they're going to be one of those teams that you're watching throughout the entirety of the season and wondering if they're going to. take a step back or if they're gonna just blow everyone out. I mean heck I I I hope that Indiana proves me wrong and they just have another incredible season, make it to the national championship, win the national championship for all I care. but I I I don't think that they have to go undefeated again. But if they want me to believe that this is another championship team, they have to show me against Ohio State. They have to show me against USC. They have to show me against Washington. They have to show me when they go on the road to Michigan. They're gonna have to show me this year Just because I think that with with the turnaround and and having to get a new quarterback, having to replace a guy like Elijah Surratt out on the outside, it it's just gonna take a little bit for me to truly put my my faith back into Indiana again for this year to make it all the way. but I still think they're gonna be a contender. So wanna go on the record. Indiana is a contender. This is just gonna be a tough season for them, no doubt. Going on to number seven, Miami. Another easy one. I think this is a contender. They go on the road to Clemson, they've got Florida State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina. Their toughest game doesn't come until November seventh, and that's Notre Dame. So I I think that this is a really favorable setup for the the when you compare to the SEC and Big Ten contenders, this this just seems too easy with with that that sequence of a Florida State pit, North Carolina, Notre Dame. I mean, it it's gonna kind of build up towards then, which I actually put more into favor for Miami. Because it's building up to the toughest game of the season. And so I think that they avoid the kind of schedule where they're they're playing preseason top fifteen teams. They're they're avoiding the schedule where you've got to face the other ACC contenders. They don't have other teams on there that I I think could kind of upset them and and and teams that that would be I don't think they play SMU this year. looking around the S A the ACC right now, it's just not very tough. It's not. And and that's that's the fact of the matter. So interested to see what Miami does this year. The only thing is I think that Miami's schedule isn't an excuse and that if they're truly back to that championship level, this is a schedule that they're gonna have to handle and then they're gonna have to get over the fact that they didn't really play anybody throughout the season. So they don't have that battle testing that a lot of teams will have by the time they get they get to the playoffs. So that's where I'm kind of interested to see where Miami stands. The biggest reason why I think that Miami is absolutely a contender is because they have one of the best trenches in all of college football. When you look at that offensive defensive line, I think that's where Miami stands out among the rest. So I I like Miami. I think they are absolutely a contender. Going on to number eight, Texas A I I really struggle with Texas AM. I struggled a lot when looking at this. This is finally where I get to the point of the list where I'm gonna start to see some teams that I'm not really sure if they're quite a contender or a pretender. And I think the the the strongest case is that that this the schedule kind of strengthens my case that I think Texas AM might be a pretender this season. And that's not to say that I don't think they're gonna be a good team. I think they're gonna a tough team. I just don't think they're gonna get through this schedule as easy as one might think. Their their roster turnover was already a bit of a concern. and and they do they do return Marcel Reid at quarterback, and so that's a good thing to have on there. but one thing that you saw with Texas AM is they they made it all the way to the playoffs last year and couldn't score a touchdown. they they couldn't they couldn't do anything to kind of move themselves forward. so I I I look at what they've got on their re their their schedule. They've got to go on the road to LSU, to Missouri, to Alabama, to South Carolina, they've got to play Tennessee, and then they've got to go on the road at at Oklahoma, and then they've got to play Texas. That's a very tough schedule. Very tough schedule. you know, to to start start the season up with LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma and kind of end it off. just looking at it, it's a brutal schedule. So that's the only reason why I why I think that they're more of a pretender. I think that they could make it to nine wins. They could. But I mean, I think a lot of people are are projecting that Texas AM would be a true contender as in like making it to the college football playoff and then some. I don't see that happening because I see losses at LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, maybe Texas. And you know, I I think that that you you look at these these games and I think they're gonna have a really tough time against teams like I think South Carolina's gonna be a bit tougher this year and give them some fits. I think Tennessee's gonna be a tough game for them to get through. I think they can win it. but when you look at LSU Missouri Alabama Oklahoma Texas alone, I think any one of those could be a loss for the for the the Texas A and Aggies. So I think a championship team eventually has to beat several elite opponents. And I'm just not sure that Texas AM can get through this many tough opponents. I think that that's a really tough schedule. So AM, they they don't have to be overrated to lose three games. I don't think that I'm not calling them overrated. I'm not calling them a bad team. I'm not saying that they're not gonna make it to even nine wins. I just think that when you look at that schedule, I don't think that they're quite going to be a playoff caliper team. a championship caliper team. Therefore I'm not going to add them as a contender. I'm going to say pretender only because I I think that this is a very tough tough schedule to get through. Going on to Ole Miss, this was again another tough one for me to look through. I look at at Ole Miss and I think starting off the season, very, very first game that you've got, you played a top twenty five opponent, current top twenty-five opponent in Louisville, and it's in Nashville. So it's a neutral site game. I think this is interesting to start the season. I think this is really gonna tell me if I'm right or wrong about Ole Miss. But then they also have LSU, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma. Ole Miss is another one of those teams that I think this schedule keeps me from calling them a contender. I'm gonna say that Ole Miss is a pretender only because again, I don't think that they're gonna be able to get through this schedule. I think Ole Miss is probably an eight-win team this year. I think that's a tough schedule for them with New coach. I know that that Pete Golding was already there last year. I know that he helped them through the college football playoffs, but this offense doesn't have Lane Kiffin around anymore. this this this team doesn't have Lane Kiffin around anymore. And I think that has to matter some. I don't think you simply just look at last season and act like that's exactly who they're gonna be because Lane Kiffin left before the the postseason. I I don't think that's the case. I think that Lane Kiffin built up that program and set it on its way. And and therefore I think that this is a team that's going to be a pretender. I think them being ranked as as high as they are is giving them respect for what they were able to do without Lane Kiffin in the postseason last year. But I think right now, when you look at it, I I just don't see how they get through this whole schedule. And I do think that the way they they handle Louisville could prove me right or wrong. I think if they really handle business with Louisville in in Nashville, that this could be a team that watch out, they're they're on their way. To proving guys like me wrong. I just don't see it in Ole Miss this year. and so I think that's gonna be a a a tough one. You think of of the stretch that that you know, the stretch that I really don't like on their schedule is where they have Texas, Auburn, Georgia, and at Oklahoma. That's a tough schedule right there. Auburn is your easy game in that stretch. That's that's not easy. even a even a bad Auburn team still puts up really tough games against teams like Georgia who struggle against Auburn. So I'm just throwing that out there. I think they could be a contender. I'm just going to say I don't think that they're going to be a contender by the time we see them roll around in November. I think that's when we're going to start to look at Ole Miss and say, okay, maybe, maybe we should have expected a little bit of a step back from this team. I'm not saying that they're going to be bad. Again, another team that I think that they can be a good team. It's just, I think that this is a pretender team this year. Give them some time. Give them some time to really build up with this new coaching staff. Going on to number 10. I I always have a hard time talking about Oklahoma. I'm not going to pretend that I'm not biased against Oklahoma, but I'm also not going to pick against Oklahoma just because I'm scared of being biased. I'm going to come out and say that I think Oklahoma is a major dark horse. I think there's there are a lot of other pundits out there talking, a lot of other media personnel that talking about Oklahoma and mentioning how they think that Oklahoma can be a championship contender. I'm not the first one. I'm not the only one. I understand that. But I'm gonna come out and say that I think that they're a dark horse because I think when you start to look up towards the top of the media chain, I don't think a lot of people are thinking that Oklahoma could compete for the SEC or that they could make it to the playoffs and even win a playoff game. I understand that they've had their struggles in the past. But this is an Oklahoma team that if you look at what they've made with changes in the in the offseason, getting new defensive coaches, getting a new running back coach, getting a new tight end coach, and Jason Witten, a a a Hall of Fame tight end to bring in. a a great tight end room with Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers, a lot of hype coming out of those guys. I feel like this running back room is gonna have so much more depth and actual versatility than it has in years past. And so this is finally a team, of course, not to mention that they've also added some wide receiver pieces and Trail Harris and Parker Livingstone that I think are really good pieces to add to this team to finally give Brent Venables an offense that he can work with that that this offense now can complement his elite defense. So I think this is going to be really fun to watch this Oklahoma team. Obviously for me, I'm an Oklahoma fan. I'm going to be cheering for them, of course. But you know, I do think that it's going to be interesting when you see them go on the road to Michigan, how they handle business there. And when they go on the road to Georgia, how they handle business there, because then they're going to have to turn around after a bye week and go to Dallas and play Texas. Now I think if they can get through that Red River rivalry game with only one loss on the season, watch out. I think this is a very Tough and very elite team if they're able to get through Texas, Georgia, and Michigan with only one loss. If they're able to get through that without any losses, I'm probably going to be picking them to win the national championship at that point. just because that's a tough stretch. But they do have a very tough schedule. it's another brutal schedule. Michigan, on the road to Michigan, on the road at Georgia. You got Texas Ole Miss, Texas AM, and on the road at Missouri. So this is a team that I think a lot of people would not pick to make it to To Atlanta for the the SEC championship game. And I'm not ready to put them there, but I think Oklahoma could be in the mix of a tiebreaker system where maybe they don't make it, but they were only a tiebreaker system away from making it to Atlanta. I really think that this is a 10 and two team, which a 10 and 2 team with these types of schedules, as I've mentioned with other teams that we've just talked about, I think that that this is a very good team if they're able to make it to ten and two and and possibly win a playoff game finally for the Oklahoma Sooners. Going on to number 11, LSU. Another pretender. All right, I'm just going to throw this out there. Listen, LSU's biggest problem isn't a lack of talent. It's not that they don't have a good coaching staff. But it's it's asking a completely restructured roster, a completely restructured coaching staff. Lane Kiffin comes into town. I I get it. Lane Kiffin, he's a great coach, but he gets Clemson immediately. That's gonna test you right off the bat. And I think that they beat Clemson, if I'm gonna be honest, I do think they beat Clemson. but you go through this this schedule and they've gotta go face Lane Kiffin's old team at Ole Miss. they've gotta face Texas AM, they've gotta face Alabama, they've gotta face Texas, and they have to go on the road to Tennessee. The good thing is is that you get a lot of these games in Baton Rouge, so maybe you start to turn around a lot of these around. But I think a lot of people are looking at LSU right now and assuming that just because Lane Kiffin comes into town and brings Sam Levitt with him, along with some other Key pieces that this offense is just going to be too tough and they're just going to roll right through. But I'm kind of looking at this team and thinking this might be an eight and four, nine and three team. I think that it's it's kind of naive in some regard. I'm not saying that this is always the case, but to believe that a completely transfer portal built team with a new coaching staff wouldn't have some sort of setback. That's all I'm saying. Wouldn't have some, I think they're going to be better than they were last year. no, it's not saying much, but I think they're gonna be better last year. So I think that LSU might become a championship program under Lane Kiffin. And it's gonna piss LSU fans off to hear me say that I don't think it's gonna be this year and that they're just gonna start competing for national championships. My question is whether they can become that program quickly enough to survive this schedule in year one. Maybe they proved me wrong, but right now I'm gonna call LSU a pretender for now, and only the sense that I just don't think they're gonna be. that ten eleven win team that everyone expects them to be in one of these true championship contenders. Going on to number twelve, this is another tough one for me because they're in a conference that isn't isn't really stout. It's not a t a conference that's gonna really start to hammer you down and wear you out throughout the season. but it's it's the Texas Tech Red Raiders. And I think that Texas Tech has quite the opposite schedule argument from L S U or Alabama or Oklahoma, Texas, all these other teams that that we've talked about, I think that this schedule is very manageable. You look at at Oregon State, Houston at home, at Colorado, Arizona State, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU. So I mean it's not a t a crazy tough schedule. There's no Georgia, there's no Oregon, there's no Texas, there's no Indiana, there's no Michigan, nothing like that. There's n there's nothing that they really have to work through. And so I think that they're gonna be just fine. And I think that they could even make the college football playoffs. I think they could win the Big 12. I believe I picked Texas Tech as my Big 12 champions. it was either them or BYU. But still, the interesting part is not that I I think they're gonna make it. It's just that the reason why I'm calling them a pretender is that even at 10 and 2, 11 and 1, hell yeah, even 12 and 0, I st I don't know if they're going to be a national championship contender. I don't know if they're gonna get past the first round in the playoffs. And it wouldn't surprise me if they if they were to. have to go against a very tough team. Let's say that they got matched up against maybe an Oklahoma and have to had to go on the road and play Oklahoma in the first round. Or let's say that they were matched up against I don't know, Indiana or or Ohio State. Are they going to be able to get through those types of of opponents on the road to Oregon maybe? I don't know. I I just don't see that they would be they'd be able to get past that. Now it might be in their favor if they get a lower seeded team and they end up playing at home in the playoffs, maybe. But I just don't think that they're truly a contender for the national championship. I do think that with road games at Colorado, Oklahoma State, Baylor, they're exactly the types that a favorite like this could stumble. but I think this is a team that they're gonna do just fine in the regular season. What are they able to do after the regular season? What are they able to do in the postseason? I just don't know if they've got enough to do anything there. So I'm gonna call them a pretender. Alabama. Another tough one for me because I look at the schedule and I think I there's there's room for them to really prove me wrong here. But I'm gonna call them upper tender. And this is where my Alabama skepticism ten tends to get a little bit tested. Keel and Russell just won the starting position. It concerns me a little bit that they've just now got a quarterback out there, but at least they've got a quarterback, right? And so maybe that's a moot point. And it's not that I that the talent isn't there. It's not that that that that I think that He is the issue or anything like that. It's just whether an inexperienced quarterback can survive the portion of the schedule where Alabama plays Texas at Tennessee, Texas AM, you're gonna be going against some defenses that love to terrorize a new quarterback. So new quarterbacks having to face off into the SEC, that's the biggest thing that concerns me for Alabama. And I think this could be, again, another another team that might might be like an nine-win team. I'm thinking maybe closer to an eight-win team, and maybe that we start to see. the the Kalen De Boer experiment start to kind of spiral a little bit and Alabama fans start to get pretty irritated. But I I think that there's there's enough danger on this schedule that this could be a problem for Alabama coming into the 2026 season. Alabama's problem it's not the talent but it's it's that by October we're gonna have to see Keelan Russell playing several championship level football teams because Georgia i isn't isn't gonna wait for him to develop before they start to bring the blitz. So I'm I'm very interested to see how a new quarterback can can deal here in the SEC. Not to say that he can't do it. And again, another team that I think has a very good chance to prove me wrong, but right now I'm gonna list Alabama as a pretender. Going on to USC. USC is one of these teams that I have been higher on than I think a lot of people are, mainly because I think that with the offensive production that they br they bring back with Jade Mayava and and so many things. I I think that that there's so much room for potential with USC, but you look at their schedule when they have to go against Oregon, they have to go against Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Indiana, there's for sure three of those that I think just are gonna be losses. I don't know which three. I think there's gonna be a trap game in there that sneaks up on So I'm picking them as kind of a nine win season. you know, maybe even eight wins if if they got a couple of traps in there and they couldn't beat any of the three that I just mentioned as being tough ones with Oregon and Ohio State and Indiana. But I I think when you look at this team, there's there's a lot of potential based on the offensive side of the ball. But what we keep on seeing through the Lincoln Riley led USC teams is that you have so much offensive production and they do. They have crazy good with with bringing back an and a a great quarterback, running back production, wide receiver production. They've got the the s the the the front the the offensive line is going to be very good this year as well. That's not where I'm concerned. It's that I'm concerned how they they handle against those top teams. So if if they weren't able to beat either of those three top teams with Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana and they were to drop one of those those traps as well, or maybe those those opponents that they should be able to beat, like Washington, Penn State or Wisconsin, that they they should be able to come out with a win there. But let's say that Washington upsets them. Now what? how how do we look at that? Not only that, but you also have to go on the road to Penn State across the entire country from coast to coast. So I think that there's a a a scenario where USC shocks people and goes ten wins this year. I don't know, ten wins and and really shocks the nation and they're like, Wow, Lincoln Riley finally put together a manageable defense that gets him to the championship caliper team that we always thought he could be. But I just don't see it being this year. So USC doesn't get to tell us the defense is fixed, we're gonna have to see it. Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, all these teams, they're they're gonna have to to stop them for the test to really prove to us that that they've got a a a a defense that can hand in that hang hang hang in there with some of these top dogs in the nation all right ending it off with number 15 Michigan I'm gonna say that Michigan's a pretender this year I think there's been a lot of hype thinking that maybe with with Whittingham coming over to from from Utah that he was just gonna be able to to kind of create Utah in Michigan. And I don't know that that that that that's the case because I think that this is a team that with such a rebuild and everything that's kind of been hampering this this program for so long, it's gonna be really hard to completely burst out of this rut. Now I do think they've got the system set in place to get this thing going on the right tracks. I thought it was a little strange that they went with an older coach that's not gonna have a whole lot of years to really build this program back up before he hands it off. maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he just keeps on coaching till he's 80. I don't know. but I I think when you look at their schedule and what they've got to go through, the good thing is that they've got favorable a favorable schedule in the sense that they stay at home for a lot of these tough games with Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana all being at home. But you've got to go on the road to Oregon, you've got to go on the road to Ohio State, who already tastes blood in their mouth and is just tired of this narrative that Ohio State can't get over that hump to beat Michigan. So they're they're ready to put put an end to that narrative. So I think that this is going to be a tough one for for Michigan. I'm seeing maybe an eight and four season, seven and five is on the table for Michigan. I don't think that they're gonna be a nine or ten win season, a nine or ten win program this year, a nine nine or ten win team to make it to the playoffs or anything like that. And so I think the reason why I say pretender is that for anyone that thinks that Michigan would be a contender to make it to the playoffs or maybe even make it and and and compete for a national championship. I just don't think that this is going to be yet. I think that Underwood Bryce Underwood has to make a a a pretty big jump. I don't think I saw enough last year to make me think that he's going to be able to really turn it around. He does have some extra pieces that might be able to help out this year and things of that nature, but ultimately you think of this new offensive system and the fact that he's going to have to learn that. You think of all the new staff and everything that they've got to transition immediately and and the fact that they have to replace They're complete defensive production. I think that this is gonna be a totally different team. I think they're on the right track. I think they're gonna start to be better. I think they're gonna start to to kind of piece something together and become the the Michigan team that we we thought they could be. But Michigan they might be better than they were last year and still lose four games. They could be much better than they were last year and still lose four games. When you've got Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State on your schedule, improvement doesn't necessarily mean That you're going to take a step forward. So I think that that's going to be very important for Michigan. So these are my top 15 contenders and pretenders. I'd love to hear what you think. Let me know where I got it wrong. Let me know your biggest pretenders, your biggest contenders. Who do you think could win it all? Engage with us on social media. You can find us on X, Instagram, Facebook, all of that. So make sure to follow us over there and check out everything that we've got going on at gamedaycollective.media. Check it out over there, and we'll see you on the next one.