Manning and Kiffin headline the top 2026 college football storylines

From a quarterback carrying the weight of his family name to a deadly duo looking to win everything, this campaign will be loaded with drama.

DAZN News brings you the five biggest storylines to follow this season.

Lane Kiffin's new era at LSU begins

Lane Kiffin has already made headlines before the season has even started.

Leaving the Rebels without a coach before their first-ever playoff appearance, Kiffin made a shocking move to LSU at the end of the regular season in 2025, taking with him half of the Ole Miss staff to Baton Rouge.

Now, Kiffin is under fire for giving CB D.J. Pickett the No. 5 jersey that belonged to 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.

In a schedule that opens with Clemson on September 5 and serves up Ole Miss two weeks later, Kiffin's Tigers are going to start the season with a bang.

Arch Manning chasing greatness at Texas

It's not easy being the nephew of five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning and two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, and it's certainly not easy having to deal with the expectations the surname brings.

But Arch Manning has an opportunity to achieve what his uncles never could: win a National Championship.

To do that, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft must first help Texas overcome a disappointing 2025 campaign in which they didn't make the playoffs.

The Sayin-Smith connection at Ohio State

Few duos in the season ahead will be as dynamic as Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin

Becoming a Heisman finalist as a freshman is not a title many players hold, but Sayin is one of them, and he has every chance of being in the mix in 2026 as well.

In Smith, Sayin has arguably the best college wideout in years, a 2025 unanimous All-American and two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year.

This scary QB-WR duo will definitely be making headlines this upcoming season.

Will Hammond QB1 at Texas Tech

On January 4, Brendan Sorsby announced he was transferring to Texas Tech after two seasons at the University of Cincinnati.

Fast forward to now, and after his involvement in a gambling scandal, Sorsby can neither return to college football nor enter the NFL supplemental draft.

In Sorsby's absence, redshirt sophomore Will Hammond is ready to step up and assume the mantle of QB1.

It may be a difficult season for the Red Raiders as Hammond finds his feet, but a bowl game isn't out of reach.

Trinidad Chambliss returns to Ole Miss

While Kiffin might be gone, Rebels fans will be happy to see that Trinidad Chambliss will be back at Oxford for his sixth year of CFB.

After a drawn-out legal battle between Ole Miss, Chambliss, and the NCAA, the latter gave the 23-year-old an extra year of eligibility.

Entering the 2025 season, Chambliss started as backup QB to Austin Simmons, but subbed in as starter after Simmons suffered an injury.

Chambliss led the Rebels to their first-ever playoff appearance and played well enough to be considered among the Heisman finalists.

With Pete Golding in charge and Chambliss entrenched as QB1 from day one, Ole Miss' season is one to watch.

NFL fan too? Watch the 2026 season only on DAZN

The 2026 NFL season is almost here, bringing with it a record nine international games, and Game Pass is the only place where you can catch every snap.

Features include American commentary throughout, plus RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, Multiview, and more, with prices starting from £179.99 per year or £18.99 per month.

Every preseason game is also live and free, the perfect chance to see what Game Pass has to offer from Week 1 all the way to the Super Bowl.

Sign up for Game Pass on DAZN today and get your front-row seat to the action.