A New Era of College Football Preview Magazines
ESPN is set to debut its 2026‑27 College Football Preview magazine, a 128‑page deep‑dive that will hit newsstands across the United States on June 5.
The issue distinguishes itself with three regional covers that spotlight the most talked‑about quarterbacks of the upcoming season. The West cover features Texas quarterback Arch Manning alongside USC’s Jayden Maiava and Oregon’s Dante Moore. In the Midwest/Northeast edition, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Michigan’s Bryce Underwood lead the spotlight. The South cover highlights Georgia running back Nate Frazier, Alabama’s Daniel Hill and Miami’s Malachi Toney.
Inside, the magazine offers features on breakout stars, the season’s hottest rivalries and the biggest storylines, while also previewing teams from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and the Group of Six, and projecting the preseason Top 25 and All‑American selections by Mark Schlabach.
Analysts such as Adam Rittenberg examine the most consequential coaching hires, while Bill Connelly provides a projection of the 2026 College Football Playoff bracket. The issue also includes a “Best Bets” column and insights from a deep roster of contributors including Andrea Adelson, Kyle Bonagura, Heather Dinich, David Hale, Eli Lederman, Harry Lyles Jr., Ryan McGee, Pam Maldonado, Max Olson, Pete Thamel, Jake Trotter, Paolo Uggetti and Dave Wilson.
By entering the preview‑magazine space, ESPN joins a competitive field that already includes Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele, each vying for the attention of college football fans eager for expert analysis before the first kickoff.