The Bottom Six: Big Ten Preview Part 1

The Bottom Six: Big Ten Preview Part 1

Jake and Will kick off their 2026 Big Ten season preview series with the bottom six teams in the conference — and there are more compelling storylines here than you might expect. The guys break down teams 13 through 18 with projected records, conference records, and the one burning question defining each program heading into the fall. Rutgers needs a defensive identity under new coordinator Travis Johansen after finishing dead last in the Big Ten giving up 36 points per conference game. Northwestern brings in Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator and opens a brand new $850 million stadium — but faces the hardest schedule stretch in FBS football. UCLA's Bob Chesney makes the same jump Curt Cignetti made from JMU to the Big Ten, with Nico Iamaleava getting his best shot yet to show his first-round talent. Maryland's Mike Locksley is coaching for his job with sophomore quarterback Malik Washington as his best and only argument. Pat Fitzgerald brings credibility to a Michigan State program that hasn't been to a bowl since 2021. And Purdue enters the season with an 18-game Big Ten losing streak — the most remarkable stat in college football right now. Part 2 coming soon.

Before the Storm

Spring is over. The storm is coming. Before the conference previews kick off, Jake and Will break down everything that happened this offseason — coaching carousels, coordinator shuffles, the new single-window transfer portal, NIL battles headed to Congress, CFP expansion rumors, a super league gaining momentum, and a loophole that may have just broken the portal wide open. It was a busy offseason. We cover all of it. The Walk-On Redshirts — college football the way it should be talked about.

No Fly Zone: Ranking the best Defensive Backs

No Fly Zone. We're ranking the best defensive backs in college football heading into the 2026 season — and Will and I couldn't agree on anything. Who's the most unthrowable corner in the country? Which safety is the most complete player in the secondary? And which freshmen already played like they've been doing this for years? We're going deeper than the box score — completion percentages, pick-sixes, coverage grades — to figure out who the most dangerous defensive backs in the country really are entering 2026. Ten players. One honorable mention. Zero agreements. The Walk-On Redshirts drops new episodes every week. Follow the show so you never miss a ranking.

The Linebacker Debate

Who is the best linebacker in college football heading into 2026? We built our Top 10 lists independently and compared them — and we couldn't be more different. Xavier Atkins or Sammy Brown at No. 1? Is Anthony Hill Jr. a top 5 linebacker or does he not even crack the list? Where do Rolijah Hardy, Rasheem Biles and Whit Weeks land? We break it all down with the stats and reasoning to back it up. The Linebacker Debate is on — and we're not backing down. Find us at thewalkonredshirts.com and follow us on Twitter at @walkonredshirts and Instagram at @thewalkonredshirts. Drop your linebacker rankings in the comments — who is your No. 1?

Living on the Edge: Our Top 10 Pass Rushers for 2026

College football's most dangerous position just got a full breakdown. This week Jake and Will each built their own independent top 10 lists of the best returning edge rushers heading into the 2026 season -- and the debates are real. Colin Simmons is the easy name at the top, but after that things get messy fast. Do you trust Dylan Stewart's ceiling despite the injury questions? Is Clev Lubin the most underrated player in college football right now? Where does Princewill Umanmielen land after following Lane Kiffin to LSU for his third school in three years? And can John Henry Daley come back from an Achilles and still be the same explosive pass rusher he was before it ended his season? Jake and Will don't agree on much below the top spot, so expect some fireworks when the lists come out. Follow us on X: x.com/walkonredshirts