Who runs college football? Can Indiana repeat as national champions? Which team is ready to make the leap? And is LSU officially college football’s new villain?

The 2026 college football season is here, and the biggest questions in the sport are waiting to be answered.

FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt has plenty of thoughts. On the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt tackles 10 burning questions heading into Week 1, including which teams can actually win it all.

Will The Big Ten Continue Its Run Over The SEC?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think this is the biggest question in college football. … The last three National Championships have come out of the Big Ten: Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana. But it’s been even more than that because, for so long, the SEC dominated. They were the premier conference in college football by a wide margin. They won everything. … It was also that way in the NFL Draft, every single year, it was the SEC with the most players drafted in the first round … Over the last few years, we’ve seen the shift happen, not just at the top winning the championships, but also in the records in these bowl games, and, last year, in the first round of the NFL Draft.

“In the last three seasons, the SEC is 0-4 against the Big Ten in the College Football Playoff. … Every single metric you used to hear about and, candidally, the ones that matter, these games that matter, the first-round draft picks, the elite talent, the Big Ten has overtaken the SEC. … I predict that the Big Ten is going to win another championship this year.”

Is Indiana Going To Be Good Again?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “This is an emphatic ‘Yes.’ Indiana is a powerhouse right now. Curt Cignetti, I think, is the best coach in college football. That was proven last year. That roster was not as expensive as all the rosters that they were beating in the College Football Playoff. … Cignetti retained all of his staff. This is the one thing that I think is going to be hard to wrap your minds around. They were 16-0 and national champions last year, and the conversations that I’m having with people around the program at Indiana is that they’re quietly ahead of where they were each of the last two years right now with this team. There is a chance this is a better team. …

“Josh Hoover is further along in the offense and with his comfort in the offense than Fernando Mendoza was last year or Kurtis Rourke was two years ago. That’s something that they point to. The offensive line is further along. … Their front seven on defense might be better than last year, and this was one of the best defenses in college football.”

Who’s Going To Be The Face Of College Football?

Who will be this year’s face of college football?

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Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think the quarterback class is outstanding. You’ve got Dante Moore, Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, Darian Mensah, Jayden Maiava, Sam Leavitt and John Mateer. It is littered with guys who could potentially become that guy in college football … Oh, by the way, I haven’t even mentioned the guy who is widely considered the best skill position player we’ve seen in college football, maybe in our lifetimes, but certainly in over a decade in Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The potential is limitless for college football this year.

“It could be an unbelievable year, and the guy that grabs the sport and brings it down and becomes the face of the sport is going to be the one that plays the best in high-leverage moments and on big stages. That’s what it becomes, and that guy’s ultimately going to be the Heisman Trophy winner. … My pick to win the Heisman Trophy is Jeremiah Smith.”

Will Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian & Texas Finally Raise Their Ceiling?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think that [new defensive coordinator] Will Muschamp is going to have a huge impact on this season because if he fixes that defense, then, yes, Arch, Sark and Texas can raise their ceiling, but that’s really where it lies. It’s not with Arch and Sark. It’s with Will Muschamp, the offensive line and the defense. Those are the areas for Texas that have got to change. Obviously, they have a difficult schedule. They’ve got that Ohio State game. They’ve got to play at Tennessee. They’ve got Red River [Oklahoma]. They’ve got Ole Miss. They’ve got three road trips in November: Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M.

“So this schedule is daunting. There’s no doubt, but they are one of the more talented teams in the country. And if they run it and play good defense, then they could easily win a national championship.”

Which New Coaches Are Going To Make A Huge Impact In Year 1?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “Eric Morris at Oklahoma State. He goes from North Texas to Oklahoma State and takes a bunch of his guys with him. Does it remind you of anybody? Yeah, this is exactly what Curt Cignetti did when he went from James Madison to Indiana, and they popped right away and went to the College Football Playoff. Bob Chesney, now going from James Madison to UCLA. Now, I think it will be much more difficult for UCLA than it would be for Oklahoma State because I think the Big Ten is more difficult than the Big 12, but this is a guy who has a quarterback in Nico Iamaleava, and they can increase their win total drastically right away. This is a really good coach.

“I also feel the same way about James Franklin at Virginia Tech. James is a hell of a football coach. At Penn State, his only problem was that he couldn’t get all the way to the mountaintop, but, man, he’s a great climber. He built a really solid program at Penn State. He did a great job there, couldn’t get to the mountaintop, and now he’s at Virginia Tech, and I think he will immediately make them better. Those are guys I think could elevate their programs right away.”

Who Can Actually Win The National Championship?

Who will win the 2026 national championship?

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Klatt’s Thoughts: “I’ve got seven teams that can absolutely win a national championship this year. They’ve got the roster and everything that you need. … Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Miami: I won’t be surprised at all if any of them win the national championship. It’s what makes the sport great this year, by the way. I think that’s a deeper, more eclectic list than we’ve had maybe ever in college football, but easily in multiple decades.”

Are Lane Kiffin And LSU The New Villain In The Sport?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “They’re absolutely the villain. … Now, you have the SEC actively against LSU and Lane Kiffin [the Tigers have been trying to add players who appeared on NFL rosters in training camp to their roster]. … There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the villain in college football …

“It would be the shock of all shocks to me if they came together from a chemistry perspective to run the table, win the SEC and win the national championship. It is a different equation now. I think it takes more than talent and a great offensive mind to go and win a national championship. It takes everything. You’ve got to have chemistry, depth, experience and togetherness. All these things are really hard to build. That’s what it takes. Do they have that? I don’t know.”

Which Teams Will Level Up In Each Conference?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “Maybe it’s BYU out of the Big 12? In the Big Ten, I look at USC, Michigan, Penn State and Washington trying to level themselves up. These teams are very good teams, but you got to prove to me that you can potentially beat one of the top dogs. In the SEC, you got Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and all these different teams. My money would be on three teams that I think have the talent, coaching and potential to actually go up there and beat one of these top-tier teams in these conferences. In the Big Ten, that’s USC and Michigan, and in the SEC, it would be LSU, just because of that talent, but we’ll see about the chemistry.”

Who Could Be This Year’s Indiana? (Dark Horse)

Who will be this year’s Indiana?

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Klatt’s Thoughts: “How about Texas Tech and Ole Miss taking the next step? … I would not have told you at this point last year that Indiana had the roster or the chemistry or the experience or any of that to go win a national championship, and they did. Maybe that’s the case for Texas Tech? They beat up on teams that they should and lost to the best team that they faced in Oregon last year. Everyone’s overlooking Ole Miss because Lane Kiffin left. What if they galvanize around Pete Golding with their great quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, and they move forward and win the SEC? Maybe they just run roughshod over college football, and they become this year’s 2025 Indiana.”

Is The Sport Better Than Ever?

Klatt’s Thoughts: “It’s absolutely ‘Yes.’ For all the things that aren’t perfect in this sport, all of these changes, however hard they have been to swallow, to watch and work through, have made the sport better. There’s been more engagement than ever with college football. …

“Whatever you think about NIL and whatever you think about the transfer portal and whatever you think about the mess that is college football right now from a governance standpoint, these changes, however hard to swallow, have made the sport incredible. We’ve got great teams. We’ve got talent all over the country, and we have every single part of this country represented with high expectations and expectations all the way at the top, as high as winning the national championship. That makes it great. We’ve got great quarterbacks and players. This could be an epic season of college football.”

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The USC Trojans opened the 2026 college football season in the win column, but that’s not the story for the No. 14 ranked team in the country.

Instead, the story for USC is its poor attendance at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for its Week 0 win over the San Jose State Spartans, with the standout number of empty seats on a sunny day garnering nationwide attention.

“This is USC, right? People are going to pay attention. People are going to have an opinion. It’s part of being a blue-blood school. I don’t buy into the false narrative,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon about concerns regarding the school’s attendance for home games. “I think that comes from a lot of people who don’t follow our program and most of those who have never stepped foot in the Coliseum. 

“The reality is during my years here, attendance has gone up every single year, as has our play in the Coliseum, including running the table last year in front of a lot of epic atmospheres, and I expect that to happen again this year.”

The esteemed LA Memorial Coliseum currently seats 77,500 people for USC football games, with a reported 51,144 people purchasing a ticket for last week’s game, the lowest number for the Trojans since 2018, excluding 2020 (fans weren’t allowed in the stands for Pac-12 games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Last year (2025), USC averaged 67,783 people in attendance per game, which ranked ninth in the Big Ten, according to D1.ticker.

“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” USC said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports in response to the backlash about their attendance. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”

Riley is in his fifth season at USC, with the Trojans a combined 36-18 under him from 2022-26. Last season, they went 9-4 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten play. The Trojans haven’t made the College Football Playoff with Riley, who came to USC after five seasons as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners (2017-21) and seven seasons on Oklahoma’s coaching staff altogether.

As for how the actual Week 0 game went, USC beat San Jose State 42-26 in a victory that saw the Trojans get out to a 28-0 halftime edge and lead by as many as 32 points (USC led 35-3 at the outset of the fourth quarter).

USC’s offense racked up 504 total yards. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, while posting a 191.8 passer rating, completing 86.2% of his passes (25 of 29) and rushing for a score. In all, the Trojans rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile, USC wide receiver Trent Mosley had a game-high seven receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown.

Riley’s Trojans host the Fresno State Bulldogs on Friday night (9 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX One), with USC’s Big Ten opener coming on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sept. 19.

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The confetti has already dropped for Alex Palou, who secured his fifth INDYCAR title and fourth consecutive last week. 

However, one more race remains on the INDYCAR schedule before the 2026 season comes to an end.

This weekend, the series goes to Laguna Seca for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX).

Will reigning champion Alex Palou add another exclamation mark to his already dazzling track record or should bettors keep their eyes on another driver?

Here are the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 2.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

INDYCAR Series: Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey 2026

Alex Palou: 10/11 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Christian Lundgaard: 18/5 (bet $10 to win $46 total)
Pato O’Ward: 15/2 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Kyle Kirkwood: 15/2 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
David Malukas: 10/1 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Will Power: 12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Scott McLaughlin: 16/1 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Scott Dixon: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Felix Rosenqvist: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Rinus Veekay: 25/1 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Josef Newgarden: 25/1 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Marcus Ericsson: 30/1 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Marcus Armstrong: 40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Christian Rasmussen: 50/1 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Alexander Rossi: 50/1 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Louis Foster: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Graham Rahal: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Romain Grosjean: 70/1 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Santino Ferrucci: 80/1 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Nolan Siegel: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Mick Schumacher: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Kyffin Simpson: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Dennis Hauger: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Caio Collet: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Sting Ray Robb: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)

Here’s What To Know About The Oddsboard:

The Favorite

Alex Palou’s 2026 could get sweeter if he gets into Winner’s Circle at Laguna Seca.

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This weekend should be a relatively enjoyable one for Alex Palou because, regardless of what happens on the track, he’s already wrapped up the 2026 INDYCAR championship. His road to his fifth INDYCAR title (and fourth consecutive) was paved with eight poles, six wins and 673 laps led. When the series raced here in July 2025, Palou got into Winner’s Circle, holding off Christian Lundgaard (second) and Colton Herta (third).

One To Watch

Will Pato O’Ward finish the year with another win?

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Pato O’Ward comes into this weekend after sweeping both races at Milwaukee. His electric run in the Midwest was exactly what he needed to add some glimmer to an otherwise disappointing year. Before the series stopped at the Milwaukee Mile, Pato had just one other win under his hood this season and that came at Mid-Ohio. Last year at this track, O’Ward just missed the podium, finishing fourth.

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Last season’s College Football Playoff ended with Indiana lifting the trophy after a 27-21 victory over Miami. So it’s no surprise this season to see the Hoosiers featured in FOX’s opening Big Noon Kickoff.

Equally unsurprising in College Football Week 1 odds: Curt Cignetti’s squad is quite popular, even though it’s nearly a six-touchdown home favorite vs. North Texas.

“Action is one way. They’re laying the 40 points with Indiana,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said.

Bookmakers and sharp bettors offer their Week 1 college football betting insights on a handful of the most notable matchups.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

High On The Hoosiers

Indiana was great on the field all of last season, then late in the year became a betting-window behemoth. In their last five games, the Hoosiers went 5-0 straight up (SU) and 4-1 against the spread (ATS).

That included an impressive three-game win-and-cover streak:

• A 13-10 victory over Ohio State as a 3.5-point underdog in the Big Ten title game
• A 38-3 blowout of Alabama as a 7.5-point favorite in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals
• A 56-22 beatdown of Oregon as a 3.5-point favorite in the CFP semis.

Indiana then capped its 16-0 SU season with that victory over Miami in the CFP championship game, falling just short of covering as a 7.5-point favorite.

The public betting masses often remember what they last saw and react to it. That’s the case at Caesars with North Texas vs. Indiana, in a noon ET Saturday kickoff on FOX.

Caesars opened the Hoosiers as massive 40.5-point favorites, briefly went to Indiana -41.5, then actually backed up to -39.5. As of Wednesday afternoon, it’s Hoosiers -40.

North Texas was great to bettors throughout last season, going 12-2 SU/10-4 ATS. But things have greatly changed since then.

“North Texas is not the same team as last year. Coach Eric Morris and the majority of the team moved on to Oklahoma State,” Feazel said, while noting the Hoosiers are 19-10 ATS over the last two seasons. “Indiana has been very good to bettors the past couple years.

“We anticipate a lot more bets coming in on Indiana by kickoff.”

Lane Leads LSU

Lane Kiffin enters his first season as head coach for the Tigers (Getty Images).

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Clemson vs. LSU is arguably the biggest Saturday game in college football Week 1 odds. Dabo Swinney is trying to put Clemson back on the CFP map, while a new era begins at LSU under Lane Kiffin.

Caesars opened LSU as a 9.5-point home favorite and stretched to -10.5 on Aug. 19. The line has been at LSU -10 since Monday.

“There was a little pushback at 10.5,” Feazel said, alluding to Clemson interest. “It’s two-way action, but I anticipate that changing once we get closer to game time. I expect more action on LSU, especially on parlays and moneyline parlays.”

Feazel also noted early sharp money on Under 51.5, with the total dipping to 50.5.

Top-25 Tilt

No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss is the lone Week 1 meeting of Top 25 teams. The Rebels, behind QB Trinidad Chambliss, are coming off a stellar 13-2 SU campaign (9-6 ATS).

Kiffin led that charge in the regular season, before darting to LSU. Pete Golding then guided Ole Miss all the way to the CFP semifinals, where the Rebels lost a thriller to Miami, 31-27, as 3.5-point underdogs.

Golding then went from interim to full-time Ole Miss coach. And with Chambliss returning this year, bettors are high on the Rebels in college football Week 1 odds.

Ole Miss opened -6.5 at Caesars and is up to -7 as of Wednesday afternoon, for a 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday neutral-site game in Nashville.

“No surprise, we’re seeing more Ole Miss action coming in. I wouldn’t expect that to change, with the depth and talent of this team,” Feazel said. “The Rebels have one of the better quarterbacks in this draft class, and Chambliss is getting action on Heisman Trophy odds, too.”

On-Campus Sharp Side

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is also at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, going up against Louisville-Ole Miss. It’s a quasi-neutral-site game at Lambeau Field, 2.5 hours from the Badgers’ campus.

College football betting expert Paul Stone picked Notre Dame to win the national title. However, he’s not on the Fighting Irish in Week 1, at least on the spread as a 20.5-point favorite.

Stone believes Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph could keep the Badgers within the lofty number. Stone recommends taking the points, and he actually got Wisconsin at +21.

Joseph played last season at Old Dominion, where he threw for 2,624 yards and ran for another 1,007, accounting for a total of 34 touchdowns.

“In Old Dominion’s season-opening 27-14 loss at Indiana last year, Joseph broke free for long touchdown runs of 75 and 78 yards,” Stone said. “If Joseph can use his legs to generate some offense, I think the Badgers can keep it within the generous number.”

On the flip side, the public masses — as expected — are on Notre Dame this week.

“Notre Dame has been one of the championship futures darlings, and that’s gonna translate into action on Week 1,” Feazel said. “Right now, we’re seeing heavy, heavy action on Notre Dame.

“Although 20.5 is a lot of points, that’s not stopping bettors from laying that number here, even for a game in Wisconsin’s backyard.”

Oh Say Can You ACC

College football Week 1 odds wrap up with a Monday night ACC clash. SMU travels to Florida State for a 7:30 p.m. ET kick.

The Seminoles are coming off two straight sub-.500 seasons. Then in last week’s season opener, the ‘Noles (1-0 SU/0-1 ATS) were unimpressive in a 34-17 win as hefty 31.5-point home favorites vs. New Mexico State.

With those elements in mind, the Mustangs are a growing road favorite this week at Caesars.

“Florida State played last week and struggled against the number,” Feazel said. “So we saw some line movement as a result, from SMU -1.5 through -2 and -2.5, up to -3.

“There’s pressure pushing back on the 3. It’s gonna be a highly bet game, and so far, bettors are backing SMU. I expect action to be one-sided on SMU leading up to game day.”

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The NFC North enters the upcoming season as one of the most competitive divisions in the league, with all four teams harboring playoff ambitions.

The Chicago Bears enter as the defending division champions, but face heavy pressure from a reloaded division. Detroit aims to bounce back behind a high-powered offense, Green Bay looks to navigate early injury concerns, and Minnesota enters with a new-look roster.

With Week 1 just around the corner, the First Things First crew predicted the NFC North standings and how the season would unfold for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings.

Both panelists agreed on the division winner, signaling a strong consensus at the top of the division.

Nick Wright’s NFC North Prediction

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Nick Wright selected the Detroit Lions to win the division, projecting the Chicago Bears in second with 10 wins, the Green Bay Packers in third at 9-8, and the Minnesota Vikings fourth at 8-9.

Wright picked Detroit to capture the division title, led by a dynamic offense.

“I got the Lions winning the division. I think they’ll have an awesome offense,” Wright said. “I think they’re going to struggle to stop the pass. I think they’re going to lose to bad quarterbacks when they play them, but I think their offense is going to be really good.”

Wright picked Chicago to finish second as a playoff wild card team.

“A little bit of a step back, 10 wins, the Chicago Bears,” Wright said.

Wright projected Green Bay to finish third and miss the postseason, pointing to early availability issues and receiver production.

“I don’t think they can overcome no Micah Parsons early,” Wright said. “There’s two teams that it’s been three years since they’ve had a 1,000-yard receiver: the Chiefs … and the Packers, who everyone’s like, man, they’ve got four No. 1s. They’ve got an embarrassment of riches at receiver. I think they win nine games.”

Wright placed Minnesota at the bottom of the division and questioned their late-season trajectory with Kyler Murray under center.

“I have the Minnesota Vikings going 8-9, but the inevitable Kyler Murray December collapse I think will follow him from the south to the north,” Wright said. “I’m stunned by the amount of hype surrounding this team.”

Chris Broussard’s NFC North Prediction

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Chris Broussard agreed with Wright on the overall division order, picking the Detroit Lions to take first place, followed by the Chicago Bears in second, the Green Bay Packers in third, and the Minnesota Vikings in fourth. Broussard voiced confidence in Detroit’s leadership and overall roster depth.

“Bounce-back year for the Lions. I think they’re ready. In Dan Campbell, I trust,” Broussard said. “I think he’s a very good coach, a great coach, and I think that defense is going to bounce back from last year, and obviously the offense has weapons galore.”

Broussard placed Chicago second, anticipating growth from their young quarterback.

“I think the offense is gonna cook, and I think Caleb Williams is going to improve,” Broussard said. “Not just be great in the last four minutes, but be really good throughout the game. I think they’ll be good enough to get in the playoffs.”

Broussard selected Green Bay to finish third, also citing the uncertainties surrounding Parsons leading into the start of the year.

“Micah targeted Week 6. Targeting doesn’t mean he’ll be back for week six. And then how long will it take him to get going,” Broussard said. “It’s gonna be a rough year. I hate to say it. They were my Super Bowl pick last year to get the NFC, so that’s a tough one.”

Broussard rounded out the standings with Minnesota in fourth place, expressing skepticism about their quarterback situation relative to the division.

“Kyler’s the fourth-best quarterback in that division,” Broussard said. “Even if he bounces back, he’s the fourth-best quarterback in that division.”

NFL Related Stories

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In Week 1, all eyes will be on Clemson traveling to No. 11 LSU and No. 24 Louisville facing No. 9 Ole Miss.

However, there are plenty of games flying under the radar on this week’s slate that offer intrigue for bettors.

And with that, here are six of the best sleeper games to watch over Labor Day Weekend.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Spread: USC -21.5
Moneyline: USC -2100, Fresno State +1100

The Outlook: USC got its season started with a 42-26 win against San Jose State in Week 0. The Trojans had over 500 yards of total offense and at one point were up 42-11 in the fourth quarter. Two late touchdowns from SJSU made this game seem closer than it was. Quarterback Jayden Maiava only had four incompletions while tossing two touchdowns and running for another. This week, the Trojans will play one of the best teams in the Mountain West from a season ago, the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs could have an advantage with their head coach Matt Entz, who spent the 2024 season at USC as the defensive assistant head coach. Entz also knows how to build elite defenses, having been part of six FCS national championship teams at North Dakota State, including two as head coach. His familiarity with the Trojans could help Fresno State keep this game close and cover the spread in their first game as a member of the Pac-12. 

Player To Watch: Trent Mosley was one of the five true freshmen to start for the Trojans last week, and he might’ve had the biggest impact. The four-star receiver led the Trojans in all receiving categories in his first start with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. With Mosley already making noise in L.A., he could continue being a big part of this offense.

Spread: SMU -3
Moneyline: SMIU -155, FSU +130

The Outlook: Over in the ACC, the top-25 SMU Mustangs begin their season on the road against a Florida State team that already has a game under its belt. The Seminoles opened up play in Week 0 with a 34-17 win over New Mexico State. In a game where they were 31.5-point favorites, it was not a promising win for the Noles. Still, Doak Campbell can be an environment that causes problems early in the season. Just ask Alabama about last season.

Player To Watch: SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings could be in for a big year, as the senior looks to follow up his 3,641-yard, 26-touchdown campaign from last season. He’ll lead the Mustangs into a hostile environment in Week 1 as they look to return to the CFP.

Spread: UCLA -2.5
Moneyline: UCLA -130, Cal +110

The Outlook: The Bruins begin their new era under Bob Chesney, hoping he can follow Curt Cignetti’s blueprint as a former James Madison head coach leading a Big Ten team to new heights. Cal also has a new head coach, Tosh Lupoi, the former Oregon defensive coordinator. He has brought in the 14th-best transfer class in the country for Year 1. His biggest accomplishment so far might be retaining quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, the freshman All-American who threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025.

Player To Watch: UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava had a breakout game in UCLA’s historic upset against No. 7 Penn State last season. With a new revamped offense under Chesney, Iamaleava could be in for a big year.

   Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears

Spread: Auburn -7.5
Moneyline: Auburn -298, Baylor +240

The Outlook: Auburn defeated Baylor on the road in its season opener last season in Waco, 38-24. Now these teams will kick off in Atlanta. Auburn will have a totally new offense under new head coach Alex Golesh, as the former USF coach brought in the No. 9 transfer class, led by his dynamic quarterback Byrum Brown. Baylor will look to former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway to lead the offense against this Tigers’ defense. Auburn looks to start the Golesh era on a good note and give Baylor another Week 1 loss in two straight seasons.

Player To Watch: Auburn’s Byrum Brown could be the most dynamic quarterback in college football. He became the 13th quarterback to pass for 3,000 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more in a season. Brown, with his same weapons and coach from last season, could cause tons of problems for defenses in the SEC.

Spread: Georgia Tech -6.5
Moneyline: Georgia Tech -265, Colorado +215

The Outlook: Colorado and Georgia Tech get ready to open their season against each other for the second straight season. The Buffaloes gave up a last-minute touchdown to lose 27-20 last year, but a lot can change in a year’s time. Tech lost the majority of its offensive productivity, losing Haynes King, its leading passer and rusher, plus five of its top six receivers. On the other sideline, Colorado was able to retain quarterback Julian Lewis and add two dynamic weapons on the outside in DeAndre Moore Jr. and Danny Scudero. Scudero was the leading receiver in CFB last season at San Jose State, and Moore was Texas’ second leading receiver. Deion Sanders’ team has a chance to avenge last season’s loss with a big win on the road.

Player To Watch: Colorado’s Gideon Lampron was one of the top tacklers last season in the country. The Bowling Green transfer racked up 119 combined tackles. The new Buffaloes linebacker could be a true game wrecker in this Week 1 matchup against a run-heavy Georgia Tech offense. 

Spread: UNLV -3
Moneyline: UNLV -155, Hawaii +130

The Outlook: These two Group of Six teams started their season 0-1 after disappointing losses. Hawaii saw its second-half comeback hopes against Stanford fall short after a fumble return for a touchdown in the last minute. It didn’t help that the Rainbow Warriors gave up almost 500 yards of offense to a Stanford team that was second to last in the ACC last season. Meanwhile, despite Jackson Arnold almost passing for 300 yards and being the leading rusher for the Rebels, UNLV fell short against Memphis at home, 27-21. The story of his career followed him to Vegas, as the former Auburn quarterback was sacked six times in the second half. With both defenses struggling in the opener, despite good quarterback play, this could be a high-scoring game in Honolulu. Whichever offense has the ball last or which defense can make the last stop could ultimately end up winning the game.

Player To Watch: Hawaii’s quarterback Micah Alejado had 50 attempts in their loss against Stanford. Alejado completed 30 of those attempts for 269 yards. He’ll need more help from the run game, but it’s no question that this offense and quarterback aren’t afraid of a shootout against Dan Mullen and this UNLV offense.

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There’s a full slate of college football this week, and the Polymarket is making sure new users can get in on the action. 

New users can use promo code FOX to get a $50 bonus when they place their first trades, just in time for a loaded slate of games featuring some of the top teams in the country.

The action starts Thursday with Colorado at Georgia Tech before No. 7 Miami travels to Stanford on Friday night. Saturday brings the game of the week when Clemson visits No. 11 LSU, while defending national champion Indiana opens its title defense against North Texas. Then on Sunday, No. 24 Louisville takes on No. 9 Ole Miss in the only matchup between two AP Top 25 teams.

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CFB Week 1 Slate

*Probabilities are subject to change*

Thursday: Colorado @ Georgia Tech

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Georgia Tech	70%	70¢	31¢
Colorado Buffaloes	31%	31¢	70¢

Friday: No. 7 Miami vs. Stanford

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Miami Hurricanes	94%	94¢	6¢
Stanford Cardinals	6%	6¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Oregon Ducks	94%	94¢	6¢
Boise State Broncos	6%	6¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
LSU Tigers	78%	78¢	23¢
Clemson Tigers	23%	23¢	78¢

Saturday: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	70%	70¢	31¢
Louisville Cardinals	31%	31¢	70¢

Monday: No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
SMU Mustangs	61%	61¢	40¢
Florida State Seminoles	40%	40¢	61¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

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College football is officially back, and that means you can use your favorite sportsbook like FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365 and more to bet on college football odds all season long. 

From Week 1 matchups to the College Football Playoff, national championship and Heisman Trophy candidates. 

The action really heats up Saturday night when Dabo Swinney leads Clemson against a new era No. 11 LSU team under Lane Kiffin in prime time. LSU is rolling out a star-studded roster featuring quarterback Sam Leavitt.

No. 2 Oregon hosts Boise State, while No. 7 Miami visits Stanford. Sunday features the only matchup this weekend between two Top 25 teams when No. 24 Louisville meets No. 9 Mississippi in Nashville. 

Some of the top Hesiman favorites get their season with relatively easy opponents. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr faces Wisconsin and Texas’ Arch Manning leads the Longhorns against Texas State.

Whether you’re taking a heavy favorite like Georgia, Ohio State or Indiana to cover or looking for an upset, there’s a full slate in Week 1 to get involved as the 2026 season gets underway.

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Week 1 Best Matchups

No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Clemson	+10.5 -114	O50.5 -113	+328
LSU	-10.5 -109	U50.5 -110	-453

No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

Louisville	+7 -110	O55.5 -114	+228
Ole Miss	-7 -113	U55.5 -109	-297

No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Boise State	+24.5 −110	O51.5 −108	+1200
Oregon	−24.5 −110	U51.5 −112	−2400

DraftKings

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Best Odds To Win The National Championship

Ohio State	+600
Notre Dame	+600
Texas	+650
Oregon	+750
Georgia	+850
Indiana	+900
Miami FL	+1000
LSU	+1700

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Best Odds To Lift the Heisman Trophy

CJ Carr	Notre Dame	+700
Arch Manning	Texas	+750
Dante Moore	Oregon	+1100
Darian Mensah	Miami FL	+1100
Julian Sayin	Ohio State	+1200
Trinidad Chambliss	Ole Miss	+1300
Jeremiah Smith	Ohio State	+1400
Josh Hoover	Indiana	+1500

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Dark Horse Teams To Win Confernece

Virginia Tech	ACC	+2450	+1600
Penn State	Big Ten	+2200	+280
Oklahoma	SEC	+950	+205
Arizona State	Big 12	+2500	+1200

Read more here.

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College football is officially back, and the Kalshi Promo Code FOXSPORTS can help you get in on the action. New users can unlock a $25 bonus when trading on their favorite college football wagers as Week 1 kicks off Thursday.

A loaded Saturday slate features the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers opening against North Texas, while No. 2 Oregon gets an early test against Boise State. Lane Kiffin gets his tenure at LSU started in Death Valley as the Tigers take on Dabo Swinney and Clemson.

Arch Manning and No. 5 Texas take on Texas State, Kirby Smart and No. 3 Georgia kick off against Tennessee State. 

Sunday continues the action with No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 4 Notre Dame facing Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. Then on Monday, No. 19 SMU go on the road to face Florida State.

You can still trade on future markets, giving you a chance to trade on which teams will make the College Football Playoff or win the national championship.

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4. Complete identity verification, which Kalshi requires before users can deposit and trade.
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CFB Week 1 Slate

*Probabilities are subject to change*

Thursday: Colorado @ Georgia Tech

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Georgia Tech	69%	70¢	31¢
Colorado Buffaloes	31%	31¢	70¢

Friday: No. 7 Miami vs. Stanford

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Miami Hurricanes	93%	94¢	7¢
Stanford Cardinals	7%	7¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Oregon Ducks	94%	95¢	6¢
Boise State Broncos	6%	6¢	95¢

Saturday: No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
LSU Tigers	78%	78¢	23¢
Clemson Tigers	23%	23¢	78¢

Saturday: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	72%	72¢	29¢
Louisville Cardinals	28%	29¢	72¢

Monday: No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
SMU Mustangs	61%	62¢	39¢
Florida State Seminoles	40%	40¢	61¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

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It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish. 

We hear that phrase all the time from baseball players, and it’s most important now to these various stars who have a lot riding on the final month of the regular season. 

There are multiple players chasing something historic. There’s a long-expected comeback from injury with zero room for a setback. There’s real concern about a four-time MVP going for his fifth award. There’s a sleeping giant who, if he awakens, could completely alter the postseason picture. There’s a veteran pitcher who’s suddenly lost his command and needs it back in order to take his team to glory.

Here are seven players under the biggest microscope to perform down the stretch:

Rival executives who tried and failed to acquire Rutschman at the trade deadline should be feeling pretty good right now. The three-time All-Star catcher is currently sidelined with a new, different injury than the one he was already rehabbing from when the Red Sox traded for him. Rutchman has been out of the lineup for three straight games with a hyperextended elbow, and though there’s no ligament damage, the Red Sox will have to monitor him throughout the rest of the year. 

The catcher has already missed two games in Miami, played three out of four against the Yankees, and now completely missed all three games against the Mariners. He’s played in just 15 games since the Red Sox sent a significant portion of their pitching-prospect pipeline to Baltimore on Aug. 3. And when he’s managed to step into the box for Boston, he hasn’t been much help. Rutschman has struggled to find his pop, batting just .170 with one home run, one double and four RBI in 59 plate appearances. All eyes will be on the catcher as he attempts to make a meaningful impact down the stretch.

Wheeler seemed to get back on track in his most recent outing against the Angels, but it’s overall been a poor second half for the 36-year-old right-hander. He owns a 6.27 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in eight starts and 37 ⅓ innings pitched since the All-Star break — far and away the worst second-half ERA of his 12-year career. His 26 earned runs allowed in those eight starts have surpassed his 22 earned runs allowed in 15 starts in the first half. All of this comes after he posted a terrific 2.13 ERA in 93 innings pitched in the first half. 

It’s difficult to pinpoint what’s wrong with Wheeler, who is typically excellent with his command, but has been uncharacteristically walking too many batters of late. He adjusted his arm slot in his last outing, which seemed to help, but he still walked three batters and even drilled Mike Trout. The Phillies need Wheeler to pitch like the ace he’s been since they signed him in 2020, and he has about a handful of starts remaining this month to get back into a groove before October. Philly’s World Series hopes hinge on the strength of their starting rotation, and that begins and ends with Wheeler being dominant.

How soon can Judge return to the Yankees’ erratic lineup? Will he look like himself when he’s back? Will he be able to play in right field after missing three-plus months with a fractured rib? These are just some of the questions Yankees fans have been not-so-patiently asking as they await the much-anticipated return of the reigning AL MVP. Unlike the last time Judge missed a significant chunk of the season due to injury in 2023 when he crashed into the Dodger Stadium wall and sprained his big toe, the 2026 Yankees were able to stay near the top of the AL East rankings without their best player. But just because they were able to stay afloat does not mean they can go the distance without a healthy Judge. 

Judge’s availability and ability to make a big impact as soon as he returns is detrimental to New York attempting to surpass Tampa Bay and win the division. And even beyond September, it’s difficult to imagine the Yankees’ inconsistent offense making a deep playoff run without their superstar slugger. Since June 1, the Bronx Bombers are ranked 25th in the majors in slugging (.390) and runs scored (325), 26th in OPS (.684), 28th in batting average (.226), and 30th in hitting with runners in scoring position (.209). The offensive numbers are ugly, but the Yankees have been able to stay atop the division due to their excellent pitching and the mediocrity in the rest of the AL. That will all change come October, when they’ll need Judge to give them their best shot at breaking their 17-year championship drought.

Stunningly, the Blue Jays and their losing record are still very much in the thick of a crowded AL wild card race, and any day Guerrero decides to wake up should catapult them to a postseason spot. Guerrero, last year’s ALCS MVP, has hit just seven home runs this season and none — zero!!! — at home. The complete and total absence of his traditional power is appalling. And yet… he still has time to erase and forget everything that’s happened this season. A strong month of September from Guerrero will help the Blue Jays get scary fast, especially with the lack of clear-cut contenders in the AL. 

But the waiting has been tiring. His season-long slump throughout Toronto’s high expectations of returning to the World Series has been the biggest detriment to the club’s offensive plans. When the Blue Jays let Bo Bichette walk away in free agency and failed to sign Kyle Tucker, it already seemed like they didn’t have enough pop on offense — and that calculation included Guerrero performing up to his usual standards. Without Guerrero’s slug, it’s almost inconceivable that Toronto has managed to remain within striking distance of a wild-card spot. All they need now is a little push from their six-time All-Star first baseman, and last year’s October magic could be tapping on their door.

As long as Ohtani’s knee injury continues to impede him from pitching, there will be concern about how impactful he can actually be for the Dodgers down the stretch. The two-way phenom provides the most value to Los Angeles when he’s putting up otherworldly numbers at the plate, and though he’s been productive as usual this season, he hasn’t been dominant in his superhuman way these past couple of months. After his high-water mark with a 1.091 OPS in June, his numbers dipped to a .887 OPS in July and an even worse .795 OPS in August.

So, for now, forget pitching. It sounds like the Dodgers will continue to be cautious with him on the mound, anyway, and he’s no longer built up, since his last start was two months ago. The Dodgers need Ohtani to turn it on offensively this month, and get on a heater before the postseason. They’ve been below average at the plate in the second half, sporting a 95 wRC+ since the All-Star break while ranking 22nd in MLB in runs scored (172). Beyond team needs, Ohtani is still chasing his fifth career MVP and fourth straight. A dominant final month of the regular season could certainly help get him there.

PCA is locked in a historic, high-stakes race for the NL MVP award as he carries a surging Cubs team toward October. His monster breakout campaign — which includes leading the majors in WAR (8.3), runs scored (100) and games played (139) — has pushed him to first in the NL in slugging (.569) and OPS (.943). As elite and important as he’s been for the North Siders, he cannot afford to slow down. This final month of the regular season will decide whether he becomes the first Chicago Cubs player to win the MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016. 

Many expected the 24-year-old centerfielder to come back down to earth after his blistering month of June (1.249 OPS in 26 games). But PCA has been able to hold on and extend his surge at the plate, in large part due to his improved plate discipline. He increased his walk rate from 4.5 percent last year to 11.4 percent this year, building a convincing case that his career year is real and possibly here to stay. He held an OPS above 1.000 in both July and August, and if he can keep it up in September, we can consider the MVP award his to lose.

Every at-bat Alvarez takes this month will be heavily monitored as the slugger looks to become the first hitter to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012. He’s tied with Junior Caminero in home runs with 37. Alvarez’s .316 batting average leads the AL, with Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson right behind him, hitting .310. And Alvarez leads the AL with 94 RBI, though Pete Alonso is hovering right behind him with 92 RBI of his own. 

Alvarez cooled off considerably in August, crushing just two home runs in 27 games last month. No one is blaming him, as he’s been able to stay healthy all year after playing just 48 games last season due to injury, and fatigue tends to settle in during the dog days of the baseball calendar. There’s a reason nobody has achieved the Triple Crown in 14 years. Perhaps the Astros’ pennant race will provide Alvarez with the final push he needs to do it. Houston entered Wednesday with a one-game lead over the Rangers for the AL West division title, and they’re finally over .500.

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