There’s no position in sports that’s debated more than quarterback. And for the first time in years, there’s plenty of debate about who the best quarterback in the NFL is.

After Patrick Mahomes’ and the Kansas City Chiefs’ underwhelming 2025 season, there’s no consensus on who is the No. 1 quarterback in the league. Matthew Stafford is the reigning MVP winner, while Josh Allen played at an elite level again last season following his MVP win in 2024. Then there are the likes of Lamar Jackson, who is a two-time MVP winner, and Joe Burrow, who has been statistically dominant when healthy.

So, which quarterback is actually the best in the league entering the 2026 campaign? Here is how the six of us ranked the 10 best quarterbacks. 

Jared Goff has statistically been a top-five passer since he joined the Lions in 2021. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Greg Auman: Goff finished second in the NFL last year behind only Matthew Stafford in both passing touchdowns (34) and passing yards (4,564). He’s topped 4,400 passing yards four years in a row, and his 130 passing touchdowns since 2022 are 13 more than any other quarterback. 

What’s missing? Goff only has two playoff wins in five years in Detroit, so the best thing he can do to elevate his status is beat other top quarterbacks head-to-head in January. If Detroit is healthy on defense and a reshuffled offensive line can work, it’ll be a playoff team again and potentially a dangerous one. 

Detroit’s last two games are at Chicago and Green Bay, so it very well might be that its playoff run starts in Week 17. Can Goff outduel Caleb Williams and Jordan Love on the road down the stretch?

Justin Herbert’s first six seasons have been historic, but he’s still missing success in the postseason. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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Eric D. Williams: At 6-foot-6 and 236 pounds and blessed with one of the strongest arms in football, Herbert possesses all the physical tools to be considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. The Oregon product also has the stats to back up that claim. Herbert’s 24,820 passing yards through the first six seasons of his career are second in league history. He is the only player ever to eclipse 4,000 yards in each of his first three years and his 31 games with 300-plus passing yards rank tied for second in the NFL since 2020.

Still, Herbert has failed to get it done in the postseason, going 0-3 so far in the playoffs. The Chargers believe the addition of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will unlock a higher level of play for Herbert and the Bolts’ offense, which will lead to a deep postseason run in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s third season with the team.

Jordan Love hasn’t dominated in traditional stats to start his career, but he’s been one of the NFL’s most efficient passers. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Henry McKenna: I’m happy we have Love on this list. I’m not sure that Love’s statistical breakthrough season is coming this year, given that he still doesn’t have a bona fide WR1. But I will say that his breakthrough season — from a decision-making and consistency standpoint — was last year. His game was clunky and filled with easy mistakes in 2024, perhaps because of pressure or perhaps because of injuries. But in 2025, he looked like the NFL’s best decision-maker, capable of managing games from throw to throw and drive to drive. He didn’t throw a million passes, but he generated the explosives when they presented themselves and largely took what the defense gave him. 

I’m expecting another impressive year on film and in advanced statistics, even if I can’t promise he’s a top-10 fantasy QB.

Dak Prescott had his fourth 4,000-yard passing season in 2025. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

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Ben Arthur: While playoff success has eluded him, Prescott has long been considered a top-10 quarterback. The 33-year-old this past season led the NFL in completions for the second time in his career (404) and registered his fourth 4,000-yard passing season. The former fourth-round pick ranked in the top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns, EPA (expected points added) per dropback and completion rate over expected in 2025. 

Notably, Prescott is one of the NFL’s most aggressive passers. He led the league in tight window rate for the third time in the last four years last season. Entering his second year with the CeeDee Lamb-George Pickens tandem at receiver, the four-time Pro Bowler is positioned to continue putting up big numbers in 2026. 

Drake Maye either led the NFL or was in second in many quarterback stats in 2025, including completion percentage. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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McKenna: The guy made it to the Super Bowl in his second year. Admittedly, he got trounced immediately after arriving in the big game. But it was a testament to his ascendance in a season when he finished second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford. 

Last year, Maye was outstanding in just about every measurement. You want wins? He had 14 in the regular season and three more in the postseason. You want touchdowns? He scored 35 total last year. You want efficiency and advanced stats? He completed 72% of his passes and finished with an EPA per dropback of .25 (first in the NFL). 

Last season was an ascent comparable only to what we’ve seen from Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Now the question is whether — with a tougher schedule — Maye can maintain what he’s built. Whether he can meet this new standard. That uncertainty is what’s keeping him out of the top five.

Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing in 2024, but a toe injury caused him to miss most of the 2025 campaign. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

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Auman: Burrow had five playoff wins and a Super Bowl appearance in his first three years in the league, but the Bengals have now missed the playoffs three years in a row. That’s on a terrible defense and Burrow’s bad injury luck. Can both change in 2026? The Bengals are the AFC’s Cowboys, led by a prolific quarterback and two elite receivers but hobbled by a bottom-five defense. 

Can Burrow stay healthy and get back to his dominant 43-touchdown form in 2024? That, and even a mediocre defense, will put the Bengals back in the playoffs and give Burrow a chance to reset himself among the elite quarterbacks in the league, not by reputation, but on production. Their schedule is super-easy, with only five games out of 17 against the top half of our most recent power rankings.

Lamar Jackson is one of three active quarterbacks who have won multiple MVP awards. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Arthur: Jackson missed four games last season due to injury, but he remains on the shortlist of superstar quarterbacks when healthy. In 2024, his last full season, the two-time MVP led the NFL in touchdown rate, yards per attempt and passer rating. He also added 915 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on a league-high 6.6 yards per carry that year. 

Entering his age-29 season, the mobility that has made Jackson arguably the best dual-threat quarterback of all time could start to diminish. It’ll be paramount for the four-time Pro Bowler to continue making massive strides as a passer. In 2024, the former first-round pick registered his first 4,000-yard passing season. 

Matthew Stafford won his first MVP in 2025, leading the league in touchdown passes in passing yards. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Williams: Stafford deservedly won a close competition over Drake Maye for the NFL MVP award last season — the first time the 38-year-old signal caller took home the trophy in his illustrious, 18-year career. Stafford lit up the scoreboard for L.A.’s offense in 2025, leading the league in touchdown passes (46), passing yards (4,707) and finishing second in passer rating (109.2). Stafford threw a league-high 32 touchdowns and just one interception against the blitz during his MVP season.

Stafford missed most of training camp last year with a balky back, so can he make it through a full season healthy again? The Rams drafted Ty Simpson in the first round as insurance, but he’ll likely not be ready to lead this team, heavily favored to win the Super Bowl. So, it will be up to head coach Sean McVay to keep Stafford upright. Stafford played a full, 17-game season for the first time last year since 2021.

Patrick Mahomes still rankgs first in league history in passing yards per game (285.2), even after an underwhelming 2025.  (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Arthur: Mahomes may be the “GOAT” of this era, but his passing numbers in recent years have been nowhere near as spectacular as they were at the start of his career. He’s also coming off the first major injury of his career: a torn ACL. In 14 games last season, he completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

The reality, though, is that he remains one of the most gifted and creative quarterbacks of all time. He ranks first in league history in passing yards per game (285.2) and passing success rate (51.9%). His postseason success is also unparalleled among his peers: three Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVPs, five Super Bowl appearances and seven AFC Championship Game appearances. 

If Rashee Rice is healthy and focused, Mahomes will have his best wide receiver room in years. Having reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in the backfield takes pressure off him as well. 

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – JANUARY 11: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after the play against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida.  (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

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Ralph Vacchiano: If Allen could just win one championship, he might end up being in the conversation with Patrick Mahomes as the greatest quarterback of their generation. And really, he should be anyway. He’s finished in the top five in MVP voting four straight years, and five of the last six. That also includes four finishes in the top four. 

Allen still has the strongest arm in the game and is a lock to run for 500 yards and double-digit touchdowns every year. He may not be putting up the gaudy numbers he did earlier in his career, but he’s still averaged 3,700 passing yards and 27 touchdowns the last two seasons with a questionable arsenal of weapons and no true No. 1 receiver. Allen was also the MVP in 2024 and might have ended up finishing higher than third last year if the Bills could have prevented him from getting sacked a career-high 40 times. 

This year, the Bills upgraded his receiving corps a little with D.J. Moore and he could get an even bigger boost with his old offensive coordinator Joe Brady now running things his way as the Bills head coach. Allen is 30, so he isn’t exactly running out of time. But there is definitely a feeling in Buffalo and around the league that his time may be right now.

 

 

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College football returns Saturday with four Week 0 games worth watching, headlined by Memphis at UNLV at 10 p.m. ET on FOX. Dan Mullen’s Rebels open Year 2 against a Memphis team making its debut under Charles Huff.

Here’s how to watch the Week 0 slate, plus the biggest storylines for North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, No. 14 USC’s opener and the season’s first ACC matchup.

College Football Week 0 Top Games Schedule

Memphis at UNLV

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

College football’s first FOX game of 2026 gets the late window in Las Vegas. Memphis and UNLV have never met, giving Week 0 a fresh matchup between programs with new-era expectations.

Charles Huff makes his Memphis debut opposite Dan Mullen, who begins his second season at UNLV. Rebels running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas enters the year as the Mountain West’s preseason all-conference selection at his position. The game also marks UNLV’s first regular-season appearance on FOX.

Other Big College Football Games

North Carolina vs. TCU

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• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: Noon ET
• TV: ESPN
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle
• Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Week 0 opens overseas with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It is the first international game in North Carolina history and TCU’s first game outside the United States. The matchup also gives the teams a second consecutive season-opening meeting.

North Carolina running back Demon June arrives on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. TCU counters with safety Jamel Johnson, a Bednarik Award watch-list selection who gives the Horned Frogs a proven playmaker on the back end.

San Jose State at No. 14 USC

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Stream: Peacock
• Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

USC is the only AP-ranked team in this four-game guide, opening at No. 14 in the preseason poll. The Trojans begin at home against a San Jose State team led by Ken Niumatalolo.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava enters the season with Big Ten preseason honors and control of the USC offense. San Jose State gets an immediate national-stage test before moving into the rest of its September schedule.

 College Football Related Stories

NC State at Virginia

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN, with an alternate presentation on ACC Network
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle
• Location: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia

The first ACC game of the season stayed in Week 0 after receiving an NCAA waiver, even after the matchup moved from Rio de Janeiro to Charlottesville. It will be the 1,400th game in Virginia football history.

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey enters the year as a team captain and a Walter Camp and Maxwell Award watch-list selection. Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson is the only returning semifinalist from the 2025 Butkus Award field.

The Joel Klatt Show

Joel Klatt breaks down the biggest topics in the world of college football. Joel relies on his experience on the field, detailed film analysis and unmatched preparation to give you the most consistent, fair and best analysis in the sport. Each week, Joel dives into his Top 10 teams, answers questions and discusses the biggest storylines in college football.

How to Watch College Football Week 0

Memphis at UNLV airs on FOX at 10 p.m. ET and is simulcast on FOX One and FOXSports.com. It is the only FOX broadcast-network game in this curated Week 0 guide, so there is no overlapping regionalized FOX window to navigate.

The two ESPN matchups are available through ESPN’s current direct-to-consumer offering and supported providers. The linked FOX One / ESPN Bundle calls to action direct readers to the current bundle page. San Jose State at USC airs on NBC and streams on Peacock.

Subscriptions, authentication requirements and availability can vary by service, plan and location. Check your provider and local listings before kickoff because college football schedules remain subject to change.

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Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? That has been the question throughout training camp and the preseason for the Cleveland Browns, but it’s now answered.

Veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson will be Cleveland’s starter in Week 1, head coach Todd Monken confirmed on Monday, bumping Sanders to the backup role. Monken told reporters that he doesn’t anticipate his decision at quarterback to be a “week-to-week” decision.

“That question is not a quarterback question,” Monken said. “It is everybody’s position. Every single week we have to prove it. That’s what we do. As pros, we have to prove it every week. It doesn’t matter what position. Ultimately, we expect him to play well or we wouldn’t be starting him.”

Sanders started seven games and made eight appearances for the Browns in his rookie 2025 after falling to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl as a late substitute, despite having 10 interceptions against seven touchdowns and 1,400 yards passing and a 56.6% completion rate.

Sanders had the chance to start in part because Watson was unavailable — now that Watson is back and presumably healthy, the job is his for the first time since 2024, in the final season of a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract signed in 2022.

(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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Watson missed all of 2025 recovering from a second surgery on his torn Achilles, suffered on Oct. 20, 2024. He was limited to seven starts that season due to the injury, but that was also a continuation of how his tenure in Cleveland had gone to that point. Watson, after making three straight Pro Bowls for the Houston Texans from 2018-20, missed the entire 2021 season due to requesting a trade and multiple allegations of sexual assault. Watson was accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct by over two dozen women and faced as many civil lawsuits, which didn’t wrap up until 2024.

Watson would end up suspended for 11 games in 2022 for those allegations, his first since the Browns acquired him from the Texans in a March trade, before debuting in Week 13 in early December. Watson looked like a QB who hadn’t suited up for a couple of years rather than the one who led the NFL in passing yards in 2020, and rotator cuff injuries in 2023 limited both his production and playing time in the follow-up season.

All told with the Browns, Watson has started and appeared in 19 games, in which he’s thrown for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. This past weekend, Watson was booed by Browns’ fans for his performance against the Buffalo Bills, and postgame discussed how these same fans cheered when he tore his Achilles in 2024.

Watson told reporters on Monday that he understands the “frustration” that Browns fans might feel about him being their starting quarterback after his recent comments, which he called “emotional.”

“Just human nature, just myself being very emotional, putting a lot of time these last two years to get back and spend time in this facility, in the city, meeting a lot of different people in the community,” Watson said. “I thought I was going to get a little different response, but I think my emotions got the best of me and my comments wasn’t intending to go at any of the fans around in the city because there’s been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me.”

On Sunday, Sanders outperformed Watson by going 8-for-11 with a TD and a pick, and 74 yards passing.

Dillon Gabriel and Tayler Green are the other two quarterbacks the Browns have in the room this preseason, but the competition was always between Watson and Sanders. For now, it’s Watson who will lead the Browns.

Browns Related Stories

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In 2025, only six quarterbacks surpassed 4,000 passing yards. 

Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Drake Maye, Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence all accomplished the feat, with Stafford being the only QB to throw for more than 4,700 yards in his MVP season. 

In 2024, six QBs also exceeded the number, with Burrow leading the league with 4,918 passing yards, while Goff and Darnold found themselves on the list in consecutive seasons. 

So, which QBs will top 4,000 passing yards this season?

Let’s check out the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 24.

Matthew Stafford led the NFL in passing yards in 2025 (Harry How/Getty Images).

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QBs to Throw 4,000+ Regular-Season Passing Yards

Jared Goff: -135 (bet $10 to win $17.41 total)
Joe Burrow: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Dak Prescott: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Matthew Stafford: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
Brock Purdy: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Drake Maye: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
Trevor Lawrence: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Josh Allen: +165 (bet $10 to win $26.50 total)
Sam Darnold: +175 (bet $10 to win $27.50 total)
Caleb Williams: +175 (bet $10 to win $27.50 total)
Patrick Mahomes: +185 (bet $10 to win $28.50 total)
C.J. Stroud: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)
Justin Herbert: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total)
Jordan Love: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Baker Mayfield: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Bo Nix: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)

Here’s what to know about the oddsboard.

The Favorites: In the last two seasons, Jared Goff has been second in the NFL in passing yards, trailing only Joe Burrow in 2024 and Matthew Stafford in 2025. The Lions QB has thrown 4,000+ passing yards in six of his 10 NFL seasons, including in four straight. Goff has the shortest odds at -135 to throw for 4,000+ passing yards once again. Next on the board are Burrow and Prescott. In every season he has remained healthy, Burrow has reached this number with ease. In the other three years, when injuries forced him to miss significant time, he hasn’t come close. Health is wealth, and Burrow’s availability will likely determine whether the Bengals QB reaches this number again in 2026. Similarly, Prescott has surpassed 4,400 passing yards in three of his last five seasons, with injuries limiting him from reaching that mark in the other two. Prescott was third in the NFL last season with 4,552 passing yards. 

Mahomes’ Bounceback: Surprisingly, Patrick Mahomes has led the league in passing yards just once, throwing for a career-high 5,250 yards in 2022. Last season, Mahomes posted a career-low 3,587 passing yards as he dealt with an inconsistent offensive line and receiving corps before missing the final three games of the season with a torn ACL. The two-time MVP has since been fully cleared and is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Broncos. Before falling short of 4,000 yards in both 2024 and 2025, Mahomes surpassed that mark in each of his first six seasons as a starting QB, including four seasons with more than 4,700 yards. The three-time Super Bowl champion is +185 to get back over 4,000 passing yards in 2026.

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Welcome to the Quarterback Notebook, where I’ll be covering the past week in NFL quarterbacking — from the most interesting passers, plays and storylines, to some other stuff that caught my eye while watching film.

In this preseason edition of the notebook, I’ll make the case for Fernando Mendoza to start in Las Vegas, weigh in on the Rams’ backup quarterback competition, examine the Drew Allar hype, and more. 

Let’s talk quarterbacks.

The Raiders plan to subject us to a full season of Kirk Cousins as part of Fernando Mendoza’s developmental plan. While that’s disappointing, the reasoning is easy to understand. We’ve seen bad supporting casts stunt a young quarterback’s development. And if you’ve looked at the Raiders’ offensive depth chart at any point this summer, you know it lacks the supporting talent that most rookie passers need to have a successful campaign. 

After watching Mendoza’s first two preseason games, though, the Las Vegas brain trust, led by Tom Brady, should feel confident that Mendoza isn’t like most rookies. He’s already showing the polish and refinement coaches want to see from developing quarterbacks before handing them the keys to the offense.

Rookie Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak certainly isn’t treating him like a rookie quarterback with his playcalling. In games against the Cardinals and Texans, Kubiak essentially threw Mendoza into the schematic deep end, with very few schemed-up throws, like screen passes or run-pass options, and a healthy dosage of big-boy dropback concepts that even veteran passers can find difficult to execute.

Fernando Mendoza talks with Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak after their preseason game against the Houston Texans. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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Mendoza has certainly shown some signs of his youth, especially when his first read doesn’t pop open, but the good has easily outweighed the bad.

I’ve been most impressed with Mendoza’s eyes. They always seem to go to the right spots based on the coverage. The Raiders have dialed up a lot of “pick a side” concepts that see Mendoza read the safeties and pick a side of the field to work based on the coverage shell. That’s not exactly 400-level quarterbacking, but young QBs routinely botch those reads, and Mendoza has had no such issues so far.

If you’ve ever heard Mendoza talk about quarterbacking, that’s hardly surprising. The dude is a robot who sounds like his brain is synced with an AI chatbot trained on coach axioms and old Bill Walsh playbooks.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how crafty Mendoza has already proven to be. This throw from the preseason opener against Arizona is a good example of Mendoza working outside of the scheme to make a play.

There isn’t much of a window there with the Arizona linebacker dropping underneath the deep stop route, so Mendoza looks outside to hold the defender out of the throwing lane just long enough to zip a ball past him. From the end-zone angle, you can see that Mendoza is looking to the outside of the defender before throwing the ball back inside of him.

Now that is 400-level quarterbacking.

Here’s another throw you don’t often see from rookie quarterbacks, with Mendoza hitting a backside “drift” route after Arizona covers up his frontside read.

That’s a staple play-call in Kubiak’s scheme, which is heavily influenced by his former boss, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. If you can’t make that throw, you can’t play in this offense. That Mendoza already seems to have it down is a sure sign that he’s game-ready. If I were to nitpick that play, I would point out Mendoza’s awkward footwork as he works to the backside. He can’t get his base under him as he makes the throw.

But that’s exactly why he should be on the field getting reps. Mendoza already has the mental acuity to play NFL quarterback. He just needs to get comfortable executing against a live defense. That won’t happen on the bench.

That 35-yard connection between Bo Nix and new Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle set off an internet debate over the quality of that throw. 

My take: It’s complicated.

All things considered, the throw itself is fine. Sure, Nix slowed Waddle down and probably cost him a long touchdown, but we can’t ignore the pass rush’s effect on the pass. Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is bearing down on Nix and gets a hand up to disrupt his throwing motion. He has to snap it off early and can’t get a proper follow-through.

That’s probably why Next Gen Stats had the completion probability at just 46%, even with Waddle running wide open down the seam. The throw wasn’t the layup that it looks like if you’re only focusing on the catch point.

But that’s not where the analysis should end. Nix had the time and space to slide up in the pocket into a cleaner throwing platform, which would have lowered the pass’ degree of difficulty considerably.

Pocket management has been the most glaring issue in Nix’s game early in his career, and that has had a downstream impact on his accuracy, as it did in this instance. If the third-year quarterback is going to make the leap Denver is hoping for this season, he’ll have to clean up this one particular issue. 

Stetson Bennett vs. Ty Simpson Is A Matter Of Taste

There hasn’t been much separating Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson this preseason as they battle for the right to back up reigning MVP Matthew Stafford. Simpson was the better quarterback in the first game, but Bennett hit back in game two, leading the Rams to 20 points on five drives against the Saints while L.A.’s first-round pick was merely fine. With just one more week left in the preseason, the competition still appears to be wide open.

Rams head coach Sean McVay’s final decision will give us a clue as to how the offense might run if Stafford has to miss time during the season. Simpson has been the cleaner of the two, completing nearly 80 percent of his passes, while Bennett has been the more ambitious quarterback with a much higher average air yards per attempt (8.7 yards to 4.7). 

The rookie hasn’t logged a single deep attempt, according to Next Gen Stats, which tells me the Rams haven’t taken the training wheels off for Simpson. Nearly a quarter of his throws have been to the flat, per Next Gen Stats, with many of those coming after play-action fakes. Los Angeles has been spamming bootlegs throughout the exhibition games, and it’s helped pad Simpson’s completion percentage.

The play-call menu has been more expansive when Bennett is out there, with more straight dropbacks and passing concepts that allow the 28-year-old to scan the entire field. It looks more like the offense we’ll see Stafford run during the regular season with Bennett on the field.

The Simpson offense has looked more like McVay’s early days in Los Angeles when he was calling plays for a young Jared Goff. McVay was eager to part ways with Goff and level up his passing game with Stafford. Unless the Rams coach wants to return to the pre-Stafford offense, Bennett will be the next man up if Stafford goes down. If he wants a steadier hand and a safer offense, Simpson could steal the backup job.

Simpson has the higher upside, but I’d roll with Bennett for now. He’s willing — but not always able — to make the tougher perimeter throws, like this audacious touch throw he made in the win over New Orleans.

And McVay lauded Bennett’s scrambling after he rushed for two touchdowns Saturday night. That second-reaction ability adds another layer to the Rams’ offense that even the league’s MVP can’t provide.

The Steelers have already made it clear that Drew Allar’s rookie season will be a redshirt year, so there’s no need to rush into debates on how the third-round pick’s career will turn out. But with Allar putting a handful of flashy throws on tape over the first weeks, including this perfectly weighted ball down the sideline against the Jets, there’s been a rush to anoint him as Pittsburgh’s long-term answer at quarterback.

I guess we’ll be spending these last few weeks before the regular season debating the future of a quarterback who was largely an afterthought during the draft cycle. So, let’s get into it.

That’s admittedly a sweet-looking throw, with Allar dropping it in a bucket near the sideline 38 yards downfield. The play loses some of its luster when you zoom out to the all-22 angle and see that tight end Lake McRee was running into acres of open grass and provided his quarterback with a wide margin for error.

That’s a throw you’d expect most NFL quarterbacks to make — and there are plenty of them who would have made things a bit easier on the receiver, which has been a theme through the two preseason games. Pittsburgh’s receivers have burned Allar with a few drops, but the rookie throwing outside the frame of his target has contributed to some of those missed connections.

If I were a Steelers fan, I’d also be giddy about Allar’s start — but I’d be just as concerned with some of the red flags. 

Allar’s tendency to drift back in the pocket rather than stepping up is chief among them. The rookie has the arm talent to make throws while fading back, but he’d make things a lot easier for himself if he threw with a firm base more consistently. Good quarterbacks don’t make things harder for themselves. The good ones find a way to make the difficult things look easier play after play.

It’s not surprising that Allar has made some impressive throws. His pre-draft scouting report touted him as a quarterback with a talented arm who had issues reading coverage and maintaining proper throwing mechanics. We’ve seen plenty of those weaknesses over the past two weeks. After two up-and-down preseason games, there’s no need to update that scouting report on what he could be.

Allar has yet to show us anything we (and the NFL teams that let him fall to the third round) didn’t already know. The Steelers should continue to develop him, but the team’s search for its next franchise quarterback isn’t over just yet.

Other Preseason Takes

With over a hundred quarterbacks taking reps in the preseason, it’s impossible to cover everything in this notebook, so here are five quickfire thoughts and takes on some quarterbacks around the league.

1. Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are competing for the Falcons’ starting job, but undrafted free agent Jack Strand, a standout Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead quarterback, might be the best quarterback on the roster.

2. Jordan Love’s MVP odds are far too low. The Packers are going to be in some shootouts, and based on what he showed in Denver on Friday night, he may have leveled up his game.

3. If the offensive line keeps Geno Smith clean like it did Friday, the Jets’ offense is going to be a lot better than you think.

4. I’m still not ready to give up on Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, whose preseason tape has been a lot better than the numbers imply. Teams like Miami, Cleveland and Atlanta should give the Colts a call if Riley Leonard ends up winning the QB2 job behind Daniel Jones in Indy.

5. Joe Milton has been my favorite watch of the preseason. He’s more than just a strong arm. Dak Prescott is one of the better quarterbacks in the league, but the Cowboys’ offense won’t fall off a cliff if he has to miss time this season.

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Kyle Kirkwood doesn’t need to look at the standings to know what he needs to do to challenge for the 2026 INDYCAR title. 

He cut 42 points off of Alex Palou’s lead, thanks to winning the Freedom 250 and Palou’s 20th-place finish. But he still left Washington a distant 91 points behind. 

Palou would need a total collapse over the final three races to not win his fifth title. There’s a doubleheader at Milwaukee this weekend and then the season finale the following week at Laguna Seca. 

“I’m just going to go out there and try and win every single race and see where it goes from there,” Kirkwood said in his post-race news conference. “It’s starting to pan out.

“I can’t control what Palou does. Maybe, in very small circumstances, you can. In the sense of where he finished today or where he was going to finish today, there is no controlling that because you’re in the lead. We just had a very fortunate day in the points championship.”

Kyle Kirkwood is committed to trying to win every race that he can.

–>

Eying his fourth consecutive title, Palou just needs to finish eighth in each of the final three races to win the title (and that would require Kirkwood to win each of the last three races plus the pole plus lead the most laps). He has three finishes of worse than eighth in the first 15 races this season.

“Never super comfortable until it’s done, right?” Palou told me and another reporter after the race. “Obviously, today sucks more for this race than the championship. The good amount of points that we had [allowed] us to have days like today so we can focus on Milwaukee and try to win it.”

Washington fit into the Kirkwood wheelhouse because it was a new street course. He also won the most recent new street race at Arlington. 

Palou’s day in Washington got off poorly from the start when the Chip Ganassi Racing driver lost the lead to Kirkwood at the start of the race. 

Then on his first pit stop, Palou accidentally hit the tire that was set out for a Mick Schumacher stop. He later tapped the wall, bending a toe link. The link eventually broke about 20 laps later and he hit the wall, needing repairs to finish the race. 

“When I smacked Mick’s tire, it obviously was not on purpose, and that put us on the back foot,” Palou said. 

Alex Palou’s bad day at D.C. probably won’t stop him from winning the 2026 INDYCAR title.

–>

At the beginning of the year, Kirkwood and Andretti Global were in transition with new leadership and with the addition of veteran driver Will Power. 

The impact of Power and new team principal Ron Ruzewski (one of the Penske executives released last year amid the qualifying attenuator controversy) is evident, as Andretti has looked like one of the stronger teams late in the season.

“Ron, from every aspect, has helped this team,” Kirkwood told me after the race. “It’s proven. And quite honestly, he showed us it’s the little things that count. Whether it’s pit stops, it’s development, it’s us as drivers. … There is no big-ticket item. There never is.

“And he’ll tell you that. It’s the little things that matter and that’s what we’ve been doing a lot better this season.”

They most likely won’t catch Palou right now, but they can set the stage for championships in the future.

“If we were sitting here 40 points out or something like that, it would be a different conversation,” Ruzewski said in the winner’s news conference. “It’s still 90 points out. I think to echo what Kyle said, we just have to go out there at this point and try to put numbers up on the board.

“That being said, the best thing we can do is put all three of our cars in front of Palou. That’s really what we’re trying to do, is not just have Kyle win races but have Marcus [Ericsson] and Will on the podium or in front of Palou. That’s the only way we have a chance. If we can get all three on the podium every week, that’s what we’re going to try and do every week.”

Moving Up

Kyffin Simpson continues to show improvement each year.

–>

Arguably one of the most impressive improvements on the INDYCAR side this year has been Kyffin Simpson, who finished 21st in the standings as a rookie in 2024 and then 17th last year.

Despite a wreck in qualifying Saturday, he finished fifth at Washington and sits 13th in the standings, just one spot behind teammate Scott Dixon.

“This track just kind of grew on me more and more,” Simpson told FOX Sports after the race. “I kept having more and more fun with it and had an exciting race.”

The same could probably be said for his season.

Zilisch’s Double Trouble?

Connor Zilisch is saying no to the double … for now.

–>

Rick Hendrick said “never say never,” but he has no plans to partner with an INDYCAR team for new hire (as of 2028) Connor Zilisch to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Hendrick had partnered with Arrow McLaren for Kyle Larson’s two attempts at the Indy-Charlotte double.

“I’m done with that,” Hendrick said during a virtual news conference. “I’ve learned to never say never, but it would take a lot of convincing for me to do that again.”

Zilisch has indicated his willingness to do it. There’s always the possibility Trackhouse could try to partner with someone next year, but Zilisch indicated he’s focused on Cup.

“It’s something down the road that I’ve always dreamed of,” Zilisch said. “But at the end of the day, I need to focus on what I’m doing on Sundays here before I really focus on stepping outside my comfort zone.”

In The News

NASCAR will head back to Chicagoland (pictured) but will not race on the streets of Chicago in 2027.

–>

— NASCAR will not have an event on the streets of Chicago in 2027. After racing there from 2023-2025, NASCAR has not landed on the funding it wants for the event. It will race again at its Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. 

—The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will have a points race at Bowman Gray Stadium next year, with the event slated for Aug. 20. The series also will make a return two weeks later to Canadian Tire Motorpsorts Park (Mosport).

— Regan Smith will drive the Kaulig Racing No. 25 RAM truck at Bristol. He will also race it at Charlotte.

— Shell will introduce an updated 100 percent renewable fuel mix for INDYCAR in 2027. It is a 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the renewable fuel standard average gasoline baseline. It will be sourced in Indiana and produced in Illinois.

Clinched

In the truck season finale and the Cup’s next-to-last regular-season race at New Hampshire, several drivers clinched spots in the Chase.

Cup: Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Carson Hocevar, William Byron and Daniel Suarez clinched to join Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.

Truck: Grant Enfinger, Daniel Hemric, Ben Rhodes and Tyler Ankrum clinched spots in the Chase, joining the six who already had clinched. Those six are Layne Riggs, Kayden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski and Gio Ruggiero.

Picture This

Social Spotlight

They Said It

“Maybe it will get in the Toowoomba Chronicle. They might put it in, a picture of me shaking President Trump’s hand. It’s pretty crazy.”
— Will Power

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The Panthers’ running back room is full of questions entering the 2026 season, but one of those has seemingly been answered. Coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the expectation is that injured back Chuba Hubbard will be ready for Week 1, per the Associated Press.

Hubbard is expected to be the starting running back with Jonathon Brooks the second option, but a strained hamstring suffered during training camp has kept Hubbard from appearing in a single preseason game to this point. Due to that – and Hubbard not yet focusing on cutting due to the Panthers’ caution, per Canales’ own admission – the duo will work in a running back by committee approach to begin the year, per The Athletic. 

A calf injury limited Hubbard in 2025, which cost him starts in favor of Rico Dowdle: Hubbard appeared in 15 games but started just the first six, and went from averaging 13.2 attempts and 47 yards per game to 6.1 rushes and 25.4 yards per over his last nine appearances.

NFL Related Stories

Dowdle, though, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, opening space back up for Hubbard, as well as the returning Brooks. A second-round pick in 2024, Brooks appeared in just three games as a rookie before the 21-year-old suffered a second torn ACL and missed the rest of that season and the subsequent one recovering. Now healthy, he is listed as the second back on the Panthers’ depth chart, ahead of Trevor Etienne, AJ Dillon and Anthony Tyrus III, though, Brooks has just eight carries so far this preseason.

In 2024, his last healthy season, Hubbard had 250 rushing attempts for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 games, all starts. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he has spent his entire career with the Panthers, 

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The 2026 Big 12 football season is set to deliver global expansion, fresh rivalries and can’t-miss games from start to finish. The conference’s 16 programs will each play nine league games, and the season kicks off with a pair of trips overseas before building toward a new Friday night championship game at AT&T Stadium. Here’s your complete guide to the schedule, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and how to watch every game.

When Does the 2026 Big 12 Football Season Start?

The Big 12 opens its season in Week Zero on Saturday, Aug. 29, when TCU faces North Carolina in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. That game kicks off at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET) on ESPN.

Most of the league gets going the following week. Three Big 12 teams open on Thursday, Sept. 3, with UCF hosting Bethune-Cookman, Colorado traveling to Georgia Tech and Utah welcoming Idaho. The rest of the conference kicks off Sept. 4-5, including Missouri at Kansas on Friday, Sept. 11 and Houston at Texas Tech on Friday, Sept. 18, both slated for FOX.

2026 Big 12 Schedule

(All times Eastern)

Dates, kickoff times and TV assignments are subject to change. Games without an announced kickoff time or network are listed as TBA.

Week 0

Saturday, Aug. 29

• North Carolina vs. TCU – noon ET (ESPN)

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3

Friday, Sept. 4

• LIU at Kansas – 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Saturday, Sept. 5

The Joel Klatt Show

Joel Klatt breaks down the biggest topics in the world of college football. Joel relies on his experience on the field, detailed film analysis and unmatched preparation to give you the most consistent, fair and best analysis in the sport. Each week, Joel dives into his Top 10 teams, answers questions and discusses the biggest storylines in college football.

Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11

[–>
• Missouri at Kansas – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 12

Week 3

Friday, Sept. 18

• Houston at Texas Tech – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 19

Week 4

Saturday, Sept. 26

 College Football Related Stories

Week 5

Saturday, Oct. 3

Week 6

Friday, Oct. 9

• Iowa State at BYU – 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 10

Week 7

Saturday, Oct. 17

Week 8

Saturday, Oct. 24

Week 9

Friday, Oct. 30

• Baylor at UCF – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 31

Week 10

Friday, Nov. 6

• TCU at Arizona – 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, Nov. 7

Week 11

Friday, Nov. 13

• Houston at Colorado – 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, Nov. 14

Week 12

Friday, Nov. 20

• Iowa State at UCF – 6 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 21

Week 13

Thursday, Nov. 26

• TCU at Texas Tech – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Nov. 27

• West Virginia at Utah – 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 28

Big 12 Championship

Friday, Dec. 4

• Big 12 Football Championship Game – 8 p.m. ET (ABC)

Big 12 members will also play 13 non-conference games against Power Four opponents and Notre Dame in 2026, including Cincinnati hosting Boston College, Kansas hosting Missouri, Oklahoma State welcoming Oregon and Utah facing Arkansas, all in the season’s first two weeks.

2026 Big 12 Championship Game

The 2026 Big 12 Football Championship will be played Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) on ABC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game launches a new Friday-Saturday rotation for the title game designed to boost national exposure.

Where Can I Watch Big 12 Football Games? What Channel Will They Be On?

Big 12 football games will be spread across FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and TNT Sports (TNT and HBO Max) throughout the 2026 season. FOX and FS1 carry a heavy slate of marquee matchups, including “Big Noon Kickoff” games such as the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium.

The Big 12 Football Championship Game will air on ABC.

How Can I Stream Big 12 Football or Watch Without Cable?

Select games will stream on ESPN+, while TNT Sports games are also available on HBO Max. Fans can get FOX, FS1 and more in one subscription with FOX One. Streaming services such as YouTube TV or Fubo can also be used to watch participating broadcast and cable networks.

How Can I Watch Big 12 Football for Free?

If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch games airing on FOX for free.

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The 2026 Big Ten football season is loaded with marquee matchups, rivalry games and a conference that has won the last three College Football Playoff titles. Here’s your complete guide to the schedule, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and how to watch every game.

When Does the 2026 Big Ten Football Season Start?

USC opens the season first, hosting San Jose State on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

Big Ten Week 1 runs from Thursday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 6, with 16 conference schools in action across four days. Conference play begins in earnest later in September, with two Big Ten matchups Saturday, Sept. 19, before the rest of the league opens conference play Saturday, Sept. 26.

2026 Big Ten Schedule

(All times Eastern)

Dates, kickoff times and TV assignments are subject to change. Games without an announced kickoff time or network are listed as TBA.

Week 0

Saturday, Aug. 29

• San Jose State at USC – 3 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3

Friday, Sept. 4

Saturday, Sept. 5

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Washington State at Washington – 4 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame – 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

The Joel Klatt Show

Joel Klatt breaks down the biggest topics in the world of college football. Joel relies on his experience on the field, detailed film analysis and unmatched preparation to give you the most consistent, fair and best analysis in the sport. Each week, Joel dives into his Top 10 teams, answers questions and discusses the biggest storylines in college football.

Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11

[–>
• Rutgers at Boston College – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Saturday, Sept. 12

• Wake Forest at Purdue – noon ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Penn State at Temple – noon ET (ESPN2)
• Oregon at Oklahoma State – noon ET (ESPN)
• Howard at Indiana – noon ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Oklahoma at Michigan – noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Eastern Michigan at Michigan State – 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Maryland at UConn – 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
• Mississippi State at Minnesota – 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Duke at Illinois – 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Utah State at Washington – 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Bowling Green at Nebraska – 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Western Illinois at Wisconsin – 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• San Diego State at UCLA – 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Iowa State at Iowa – 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• Ohio State at Texas – 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Louisiana at USC – 11 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Week 3

Friday, Sept. 18

• Portland State at Oregon – 10:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 19

Week 4

Friday, Sept. 25

Saturday, Sept. 26

Week 5

Friday, Oct. 2

• Penn State at Northwestern – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 3

 College Football Related Stories

Week 6

Friday, Oct. 9

• Iowa at Washington – 9 p.m. ET (FOX or FS1, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 10

Week 7

Friday, Oct. 16

• Washington at Purdue – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 17

Week 8

Saturday, Oct. 24

Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 31

Week 10

Friday, Nov. 6

• Nebraska at Illinois – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 7

Week 11

Friday, Nov. 13

• Illinois at UCLA – 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 14

Week 12

Friday, Nov. 20

• Oregon at Michigan State – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 21

Week 13

Friday, Nov. 27

• Nebraska at Iowa – noon ET (CBS)
• Minnesota at Wisconsin – 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

Saturday, Nov. 28

Big Ten Championship

Saturday, Dec. 5

• Big Ten Football Championship Game – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Where Can I Watch Big Ten Football Games? What Channel Will They Be On?

Big Ten football games are spread across FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC and BTN throughout the season, with additional games designated for FS1, ESPN2 and CBS Sports Network. FOX carries a significant slate of games all season long, from Week 1 through the Big Ten Championship Game. Fans can get FOX, FS1, BTN and more in one subscription with FOX One.

How Can I Stream Big Ten Football or Watch Without Cable?

Select games are also available on Peacock, and streaming services such as YouTube TV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV can be used to stream games airing on broadcast or cable networks.

How Can I Watch Big Ten Football for Free?

If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch every Big Ten game that airs on FOX for free, including the Big Ten Championship Game.

2026 Big Ten Schedule Notes

Kickoff times and TV designations for games later in the season will be set through the Big Ten’s standard 12-day and six-day selection windows. Some Saturday games could shift to Friday or other dates, including Black Friday, to fit national broadcast schedules. Check back for updates as more times and networks are announced.

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The 2026 SEC football season kicks off with a new nine-game conference slate and a run of marquee matchups from Athens to Dallas to Tuscaloosa. Here is your complete guide to the schedule, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and how to watch every game.

Dates, kickoff times and TV assignments are subject to change. Games without an announced kickoff time or network are listed as TBA.

Thursday, Sept. 3

Friday, Sept. 4

Saturday, Sept. 5

Sunday, Sept. 6

Friday, Sept. 11

Saturday, Sept. 12

Saturday, Sept. 19

The Joel Klatt Show

Joel Klatt breaks down the biggest topics in the world of college football. Joel relies on his experience on the field, detailed film analysis and unmatched preparation to give you the most consistent, fair and best analysis in the sport. Each week, Joel dives into his Top 10 teams, answers questions and discusses the biggest storylines in college football.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Saturday, Oct. 3

Saturday, Oct. 10

Saturday, Oct. 17

Saturday, Oct. 24

Saturday, Oct. 31

Saturday, Nov. 7

Saturday, Nov. 14

Saturday, Nov. 21

Friday, Nov. 27

Saturday, Nov. 28

Saturday, Dec. 5

SEC football games will be spread across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and SEC Network throughout the 2026 season. The SEC Championship Game will air on ABC on Dec. 5.

Select games will be available to stream on ESPN’s app through ESPN Unlimited as well as on SEC Network Plus. Select SEC nonconference games will air on FOX, and fans can get those games and more in one subscription with FOX One. Streaming services such as YouTube TV or Fubo can also be used to stream games airing on participating broadcast and cable networks.

If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch games airing on ABC for free.

FOX Sports will continue to provide full coverage and reporting on the SEC football schedule, scores and storylines throughout the 2026 season.

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