Tag: 2026

St. Bonaventure's Dylan Dunst tackles Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons during the fourth quarter of the CIF-State Division 1-A state championship bowl at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. St. Bonaventure lost 20-14.

5-star QB Ryder Lyons commits to BYU over Oregon

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons committed to BYU on Tuesday, choosing the Cougars over his other finalist, Oregon.

The 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 5 quarterback in the 2026 class and No. 19 overall in the nation.

For Oregon, landing a 5-star prospect isn’t unusual, but it is for the Cougars. Per 247Sports, he is the highest-ranked commitment for BYU since offensive lineman Ofa Mohetau pledged in 2003 and also the third-highest recruit of the rankings era.

He made official visits to both BYU and Oregon this month.

Lyons, who plays at Folsom High School in Northern California, made his announcement Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“To be honest, I’m just so blessed,” he told McAfee. “I’m so blessed, but I’m just appreciative. It’s been incredible. It’s been a long journey. I got my first scholarship in eighth grade, so we’ve been at this for a while.”

That offer came from BYU, he told McAfee.

BYU will not have him available until the 2027 season, however. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lyons plans to take a one-year Mormon mission after graduation next spring.

In his junior season, Lyons tallied 3,011 yards, 46 touchdowns and six interceptions. He gained 585 on 118 carries and scored 14 more touchdowns.

He was the top uncommitted quarterback in the 2026 class.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the second half between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

CFP dates, times locked in; Rose Bowl moves up one hour

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The College Football Playoff announced game times for the 2026 quarterfinals and semifinals and the national championship game on Tuesday.

The CFP championship, to be played in Miami Gardens, Fla., will be played on the third Monday in January for the second straight year, Jan. 19, with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

The quarterfinals will be split between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. After the Cotton Bowl is played Dec. 31 at 7:30 ET, Jan. 1 will see a tripleheader of the Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

Notably, the Rose Bowl kicks off at 4 ET/1 PT, one hour earlier than it’s traditionally played. Famous for its midgame sunset over the stadium, the game’s new time means the sunset may occur much later in the game, or after the game ends altogether.

The Orange Bowl will kick off the tripleheader at noon ET, and the Sugar Bowl will begin at 8 ET.

The Fiesta and Peach Bowls will take their turns as semifinal hosts in 2026. The Fiesta Bowl will be played Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 ET, and the Peach Bowl will come Friday, Jan. 9 at the same time.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

TCU, North Carolina to kick off 2026 in Ireland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU and North Carolina will kick off the 2026 college football season in Dublin, Ireland.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be held at Aviva Stadium on Aug. 29, 2026.

This will be the first overseas game for both schools.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage,” first-year Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick said.

The Horned Frogs will be the designated home team, as the game originally was scheduled for Sept. 5, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“This is more than just a football game. It’s an opportunity to advance TCU’s brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime,” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said.

Georgia Tech edged Florida State 24-21 in the 2024 Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, where the announced attendance was 47,998.

This season’s matchup in the Irish capital will see Iowa State take on Kansas State on Aug. 23.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Report: Mike McCarthy not in Saints’ plans, focused on ’26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike McCarthy is out of the running for the New Orleans Saints’ head coaching job and no longer plans to coach in 2025, ESPN reported late Tuesday.

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t renew the contract of McCarthy following a 7-10 season in 2024. He was 49-35 with two NFC East titles in five seasons in Dallas. He is 174-112-2 in 18 seasons as a head coach, including 125 wins and a Super Bowl championship with the Green Bay Packers (2006-18).

McCarthy, 61, was scheduled to have a first interview with the Saints this week but instead will focus on the 2026 hiring cycle, ESPN and NFL Network reported.

He interviewed for the vacancy in Chicago earlier this month before the Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

The Saints are currently the only team without a head coach after firing Dennis Allen in November after a 2-7 start. New Orleans went 3-5 under interim coach Darren Rizzi.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has emerged as a “lead candidate,” ESPN reported. He is one of three candidates who have conducted second interviews with the Saints, along with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; A detailed view of Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet on the sideline during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Notre Dame lands 2026 4-star OL Ben Nichols

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Notre Dame received a commitment Tuesday from four-star offensive lineman Ben Nichols of Davison, Mich.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound prospect is ranked as the nation’s No. 16 interior lineman in the Class of 2026 by the 247Sports composite. He is the No. 3 recruit in the state of Michigan.

Nichols chose coach Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish over Tennessee, Penn State and Wisconsin.

“Historically they’re the best offensive line program anyone can go with,” Nichols told On3.

“… I love the coaches. Coach Freeman, Coach (Joe) Rudolph, all those guys are really cool. Great academic school as well. Those are the top factors that stuck out to me.”

Nichols is the third four-star commitment for Notre Dame’s 2026 class, joining linebacker Thomas Davis (Matthews, N.C.) and quarterback Noah Grubbs (Lake Mary, Fla.).

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs cheerleaders walk in with the team during the dawg walk before the game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

4-star 2026 WR Vance Spafford commits to Georgia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Vance Spafford, the No. 10-ranked wide receiver in the 2026 class, committed to Georgia on Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Spafford picked the Bulldogs over offers from Oregon, Nebraska and Ole Miss.

In the first nine games of the regular season for 10-0 Mission Viejo (Calif.), the four-star prospect caught 44 passes for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The 247Sports composite also ranks Spafford as the overall No. 10 player in California and No. 65 in the nation.

Spafford told 247Sports he was sold on Georgia after a trip to Athens.

“The football team is made up of the best of the best,” Spafford said. “When I went on my visit there earlier this season, I just noticed how amazing their offensive line was, how much time Carson Beck had to throw, so why not join a team that is going to throw the ball like that? The program will always attract the best players and it’s got a winning culture, so that’s something that really was hard to turn down for me.

“The SEC is the best football in the nation. When you’re at Georgia practicing against the best every day, it prepares you to play against the best and it’s the closest to being in the NFL, which is where I want to go. I want to be challenged every day.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the red carpet before the NFL Honors show at Resorts World Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Atlanta to host Super Bowl LXII in 2028

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta will host Super Bowl LXII in 2028, the NFL announced Tuesday.

It will be the second Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, following Super Bowl LIII in February 2019, and the fourth for Atlanta. Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994 and SB XXXIV in January 2000 were played at the Georgia Dome.

The announcement came at the fall league meeting in Atlanta.

“Renowned for its hospitality and rich sports and entertainment culture, Atlanta is a world-class event destination and a natural fit for Super Bowl 62,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “(Falcons owner) Arthur Blank has been a transformative figure in the Atlanta community, playing a crucial role in leading the bid to bring the Super Bowl back to the city. I have been fortunate to witness firsthand how Arthur continues to drive community engagement and economic development in the Atlanta community through his unwavering commitment to sports and philanthropy. We look forward to working with him, the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Sports Council and all of our partners on the ground to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the world in 2028.”

The next big game, Super Bowl LIX, will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will host the 2026 game, with the 2027 Super Bowl set for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Fans stop to take photos with the College Football National Championship trophy at Meijer in Ypsilanti, Mich. on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. The trophy is going on a tour for fans to see presented by Dr. Pepper.

CFP committee discusses 14-team playoff for 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With the ink not yet dry on the new 12-team playoff format that will begin in 2024, the College Football Playoff management committee discussed the idea of a 14-team playoff, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

Any additional expansion wouldn’t happen until 2026, if at all. The idea was discussed during CFP meetings in the Dallas area on Wednesday.

“Fourteen teams is a possibility,” Mike Aresco, CFP committee member and outgoing commissioner of the American Athletic Conference, told some reporters.

The CFP on Tuesday just approved a 5+7 model for the upcoming season, featuring the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams.

Under the 12-team playoff format that begins in the fall, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four for the CFP tournament and will receive a first-round bye. Teams seeded five through 12 will play each other in the first round at the home of the higher-ranked team.

It’s unclear what a 14-team format would look like, per the reports.

Aresco announced his retirement in December and will leave after May 31.

–Field Level Media