
Tennessee’s 2027 Football Class Gains Six New Commitments
In the past ten days the Volunteers have locked in three four‑star recruits, boosting their national standing and expanding a class that now totals sixteen pledges.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Kalen DeBoer across Football, Soccer.

In the past ten days the Volunteers have locked in three four‑star recruits, boosting their national standing and expanding a class that now totals sixteen pledges.

A recent poll across all 50 states identified the teams that draw the strongest dislike, with the Fighting Irish topping the list, while the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes round out the top three.

LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma enter the 2026 season under intense scrutiny as quarterback uncertainties and offensive regressions threaten their recent dominance.

Alabama’s football program has doubled down on its approach to name, image and likeness deals, insisting that it will not chase the highest financial offers that some rival schools are flashing.

Alabama opens its 2026 SEC schedule against a Kentucky team led by new coach Will Stein, 29 transfers and quarterback Kenny Minchey, while the Crimson Tide look to rebound from a season‑opening loss.

Alabama’s quarterback room, featuring Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, is poised to become one of the SEC’s most productive units in 2026, according to analyst Spenser Davis.

The annual rankings, based on performance metrics and program expectations, place Indiana’s Curt Cignetti at No. 1, while Georgia’s Kirby Smart drops to No. 2.

ESPN’s latest future power rankings place Alabama at No. 10, highlighting a mix of roster continuity, key acquisitions and lingering quarterback questions as the program looks to reclaim SEC dominance.

After an 11‑win 2025 campaign that returned Alabama to the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide enter their third year under Kalen DeBoer with a revamped offensive line and a defense seeking new playmakers. Analysts place them seventh in the SEC, sandwiched between Tennessee and LSU, and predict a season opener against East Carolina on Sept. 5.

A look at the programs expected to surge, those likely to stumble, and the storylines that will define the upcoming season.

Alabama's baseball team is headed to Omaha for the championship, its football program landed a top recruit, and a Texas Tech quarterback's court victory has ignited a conference‑wide controversy.
Lane Kiffin's up‑tempo system promises a high‑scoring offense at LSU, but quarterback health, roster turnover and five elite defensive fronts will determine whether the Tigers can translate practice explosiveness into consistent game‑day production.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt outlines the college football teams he believes will see their stock rise or fall in 2026, highlighting key coaching changes, quarterback situations and program momentum

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will meet on Oct. 10 at Bryant‑Denny Stadium, marking the third consecutive year of a rivalry that has already produced two regular‑season wins for Alabama and two bowl victories for Georgia.

CJ Cypher, a highly rated high school quarterback from Carrollton, GA, has trimmed his list to ten schools, including five SEC programs and notable national contenders. His decision will have major implications for the upcoming college football landscape.

CBS Sports ranks Alabama's upcoming stretch as the No. 7 toughest schedule in the country, featuring games against Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

A heated discussion over expanding the College Football Playoff has brought conference leaders, coaches and broadcasters into sharp focus, with revenue and scheduling at the heart of the debate.

In a Senate hearing, Nick Saban detailed how Alabama’s football collective expenditures have ballooned over five years, warning that escalating costs threaten scholarships and Olympic‑type sports.

Aden Holloway avoids felony charges through a court‑ordered program while Alabama integrates new technology and recruits top talent for future seasons.

A sophomore guard secures a pretrial intervention for a marijuana charge while the university rolls out HeatSense to monitor athletes’ core temperatures and shape its football outlook for the coming season.
Coach Josh Heupel is already turning his attention to the 2026 slate, even though the Volunteers have yet to name a starter under center. Among the most scrutinized opponents is Georgia Tech’s Alberto Mendoza, who enters his first season as a starter after serving as the backup to his Heisman‑winning brother. He will be charged with running a fresh offensive scheme in Atlanta. Texas brings a fresh storyline with Arch Manning slated for his first road test in Knoxville, a game that will pit the heir to a football dynasty against a Volunteers defense that remains a work in progress. Auburn’s Byrum Brown adds a dual‑threat dimension, having posted over 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards last season, a combination that could test Tennessee’s secondary. Alabama’s quarterback situation remains unsettled, with junior Austin Mack and former five‑star recruit Keelon Russell battling for the snap. The Crimson Tide will visit Neyland on October 17, a date that could shape the early narrative of the SEC season. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, once a top prospect for the No. 1 overall draft pick, struggled to find his footing in 2025, making his performance a potential turning point for the Gamecocks. LSU’s Sam Leavitt could instantly transform the Tigers into a playoff contender, a prospect that adds another layer of intrigue to the Volunteers’ schedule. Beyond the traditional powers, Tennessee will also face home‑grown talent in the portal: Kentucky’s acquisition of Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, a Hendersonville native, and Texas A&M’s return of Nashville native Marcel Reed. Vanderbilt may even start five‑star freshman Jared Curtis, a Nashville Christian star, further deepening the local storylines. All of these quarterbacks bring distinct challenges, and Heupel’s early preparation reflects a desire to stay ahead of the curve as the Volunteers aim to translate their momentum into another strong season.
The Crimson Tide’s quarterback room for 2026 features two inexperienced signal callers, but the program’s focus on development rather than immediate results could reshape the SEC landscape.

After Nick Saban's departure, Kalen DeBoer's early successes and the emerging talent at Alabama set the stage for a high‑stakes season.

Alabama's athletic director Greg Byrne has extended head coach Kalen DeBoer's contract through 2032 with a hefty buyout clause, sparking debate among fans and analysts about the coach's true caliber and the team's upcoming challenges.