
Five College Football Programs Poised for a Breakout 2026 Season
The author reflects on a pattern of falling for teams that often disappoint, and outlines five programs that could finally break expectations in the upcoming year.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Pat Fitzgerald across Football, Basketball.

The author reflects on a pattern of falling for teams that often disappoint, and outlines five programs that could finally break expectations in the upcoming year.
J. Batt, the newly appointed athletics director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, brings a decade‑spanning record of fundraising and strategic leadership to the University of Kentucky, where he pledges to blend revenue generation with the preservation of a championship legacy.

Pat Fitzgerald's first season as Michigan State head coach brings a mix of uncertainty and optimism, as the program confronts critical questions about its roster, scheme and potential for a breakout year.

After four consecutive losing seasons, the Spartans hope new leadership, experienced veterans and strategic transfers will finally translate into on‑field success.
Don Spillers III, a versatile safety/athlete ranked No. 63 in the 2027 class, pledged to Michigan State over Illinois, joining a recruiting haul that includes other Michigan prospects and lifts the Spartans to a No. 39 national ranking.

The Spartans aim to break a bowl drought and turn a series of subpar seasons into a competitive 2026 campaign, with high hopes and significant challenges ahead.

From a childhood memory in 1983 to a modern‑day Gator Bowl miracle, the author traces the personal threads that bind his love for South Carolina football with the legacy of Notre Dame, hoping for a future clash of titans.

The departures of athletic director J Batt and president Kevin Guskiewicz leave Michigan State without clear leadership, raising questions about the future of its sports programs.

Michigan State's athletic director is reportedly being considered for a similar role at Kentucky, raising questions about his brief tenure and the broader impact on both programs.

Michigan State’s top athletic administrator is being courted by the University of Kentucky, a prospect that hinges on a contractual buyout clause and a massive fundraising legacy.

Michigan State's head coach Pat Fitzgerald has landed his first 4‑star recruit, offensive tackle Caleb Johnson, signaling a strategic shift toward bolstering the team's front line.

Caleb Johnson, a 6‑foot‑5, 275‑pound offensive lineman, announced his commitment to Michigan State, choosing the university over Indiana, Iowa and other top programs. His pledge strengthens the Spartans' front line and signals a pivotal moment for the 2027 recruiting class.

In a major boost for the program, Michigan State secured a verbal pledge from Caleb Johnson, a highly ranked interior lineman in the 2027 class, edging out conference competitors.
Caleb Johnson, a highly rated interior offensive lineman from Noblesville, Indiana, announced his commitment to Michigan State University, choosing the Spartans over Iowa, Indiana and several Power Five programs. The pledge marks a milestone for coach Pat Fitzgerald and fills a key need on the offensive line.

Michigan State has appointed LeVar Woods as its new special teams coordinator and assistant head coach, a move that comes with a $1.1 million salary and brings a proven track record of top‑10 units from his Iowa tenure.

After a redshirt freshman season that produced three interceptions and a blocked‑field‑goal return for a touchdown, Vaught looks to build on his playmaking reputation as the Spartans aim to improve a defense that forced only five passes last year.

Michigan State’s defense, which gave up 29.9 points per game in 2025, is undergoing a major overhaul. New head coach Pat Fitzgerald and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi have assembled a group of 14 incoming transfers, including standout prospects Derrick Simmons, Devin Vaught and Kenny Soares Jr., each slated for distinct roles in a revamped scheme.

A 6‑foot‑6, 245‑pound edge rusher from Minnetonka, Minnesota, commits to Michigan State, bringing two years of eligibility and a strong Division II background.
Edge rusher Aidan Boehle pledged to Michigan State, giving coach Pat Fitzgerald a new weapon as the Spartans look to bounce back from a 4-8 season and open the 2024 schedule against Toledo.
Pat Fitzgerald, the newly appointed head coach of Michigan State’s football program, has declared his intention to capture a Big Ten title in his debut season, highlighting the team’s fresh talent and his optimism about the program’s direction.

Despite being the second‑lowest‑rated recruit in his class, Charles Taplin has surged to No. 29 in the latest top‑30 list and is now working with the first‑team offense.

A look at how three key transfers are shaping the Spartans' attack and the pressures they face in the upcoming season

Penn State enters a new era under Matt Campbell while the Big Ten's competitive landscape reshapes with top‑tier powerhouses, mid‑tier contenders, and a wave of roster changes across the league.

The departure of Mark Gronowski leaves a 2,000‑yard, 27‑touchdown void, prompting Iowa to evaluate a mix of experienced and emerging talent under offensive coordinator Tim Lester.