The 2026 college football preseason is already generating buzz, as the analyst’s record shows a dip from a 99‑47 straight‑up mark in 2024 to 89‑59 a year later, yet he remains bullish on the season’s unpredictability.
Key Player Predictions
Drew Mestemaker, now quarterbacking Oklahoma State, is projected to throw for 350 yards in his upcoming game and lead the Cowboys to a 41‑27 victory over Tulsa, comfortably covering the 13.5‑point spread.
Cam Edwards, the former UConn rusher who amassed 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, has moved to Michigan State under Pat Fitzgerald, where his ground game is expected to anchor the Spartans’ attack.
Easton Messer, who led the FBS with 8.7 receptions per game in 2025, opens 2026 with 13 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown in Florida Atlantic’s opening win over Florida, underscoring his role as a primary target.
Despite a recent wobble in straight‑up winner predictions, the analyst’s overall accuracy remains strong, highlighted by a 9‑2 performance in the College Football Playoff last year.
Early Upset Highlights
Florida State’s surprising 34‑17 triumph over SMU featured quarterback Ashton Daniels and reliable kicker Gabe Panikowski, whose contributions helped the Seminoles secure a notable early‑season upset.
The schedule also spotlights five marquee matchups—Colorado at Georgia Tech, Baylor versus Auburn, Clemson at LSU, UCLA against Cal, and Louisville versus Ole Miss—each involving high‑profile transfers and quarterback uncertainties that could swing the outcomes.
As the season unfolds, the combination of veteran talent, fresh transfers, and volatile quarterback play promises a compelling start, even as the analyst’s historical accuracy suggests that forecasting remains a challenging art.