The Worst College Football Take of 2025?... And What We Learned | College Football 2026

The Worst College Football Take of 2025?... And What We Learned | College Football 2026

2025 Big Ten predictions, Oregon Football, Illinois Football, and the lessons that can help us make better 2026 Big Ten predictions are all discussed in this breakdown of what I believe was the worst college football take of 2025. In this video, I revisit a CBS Sports 2025 Big Ten Power Rankings segment from last summer, focusing on one prediction that stood out immediately: ranking Illinois ahead of Oregon. I break down exactly why that prediction failed, where the evaluation process went wrong, and what it teaches us about projecting college football teams. Along the way, I explain how to identify the traits of a true breakout program and why programs like Indiana Football under Curt Cignetti can, rarely, rise into the sport's upper tier while others fall short. Whether you're making Big Ten predictions, evaluating preseason rankings, or projecting College Football Playoff contenders, this video explores the principles that separate great predictions from bad ones. College Football with Sam's goal is to give you joy and mold you into the most educated fan. Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE NOTIFICATION BELL so you can help yourself by being notified when we release new content and go live. Comment your thoughts so we can have a fun and productive conversation! My email (for sponsorship opportunities or questions): collegefootballwithsam@gmail.com Special thanks to Brycen Moore (contact: bam1229.bm@gmail.com ), Jacob Schnieder (contact: jaketheosch17@gmail.com ), and Jack Williams (contact: jackwilliamsg@gmail.com ) for helping with graphic design! Discord: https://discord.gg/tZVaUJ3WhZ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFBwSam TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegefootballwithsam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegefootballwithsam/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CFBwSam Merchandise Store: https://cfbwithsam.threadless.com/ Spotify Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yYwJCRbhqTmyst5howpAM?si=c326220726014c90 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-football-with-sam/id1692426655 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3486a0b3-4706-43bf-95c2-01ccb3a16343/college-football-with-sam 0:00 Why I'm Making This Video 2:00 Brief Review of CBS Sports' 2025 Big Ten Power Rankings 5:30 The Myth of "Close games are good actually" 11:00 Illinois Was Not A "Physical" Team In 2024 & 2025 13:00 This Same Logic Is Underrating Washington Football This Year 14:15 My Atrocious Takes 16:15 Returning Key Units / Production Does Not Guarantee Success 19:00 Insane Take: Oregon Is "Volatile" 21:25 Why Oregon Was NEVER Going To GO 8-4 25:15 Only Use Returning Production In Combination With More Important Data 27:10 Running Backs (With Rare Exception) Do Not Matter A Lot 29:15 Why Illinois Could NEVER Overcome Oregon's Advantages 32:30 McFadden THANKFULLY Makes Good Points 34:50 Why Dan Lanning Getting Blown Out By Ohio State & Indiana Does Not Matter Much 40:53 Giving Flowers To McFadden 41:23 Oregon's 2024 Season Was An ELITE Coaching Job 45:23 No Preseason Research Said Illinois Would Be Favored Over Oregon 47:53 Why Illinois Ahead of Oregon Is BAD 49:53 Bringing Back A Mediocre Team Does NOT Make Them A Contender #collegefootball #oregonfootball #illinoisfootball #indianafootball #ohiostatefootball #bigtenfootball #collegefootballwithsam

Big Ten Predictions & Questions | Underrated Teams | Indiana, Oregon, & Ohio State Previews

2026 Big Ten predictions, Top 25 Big Ten questions, underrated teams, Indiana football, Oregon football, Ohio State football, Michigan football, USC football, Notre Dame football, top college football head coaches, and bold predictions are the focus of the 81st College Football with Sam live show. Who wins the Big Ten in 2026? Does Indiana repeat, or will Ohio State, the favorite, win it for the first time since 2020? Does Oregon win its second in three seasons? What about Michigan, USC, or Washington? Some of my 5- and 10-reason videos are back in session as I look at USC's future under Riley and why Notre Dame and Michigan should make big improvements. Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State are also under the microscope as team predictions are back in season. Finally, what are some college football bold predictions, and which teams will improve and which will regress in 2026? College Football with Sam's goal is to give you joy and mold you into the most educated fan. Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE NOTIFICATION BELL so you can help yourself by being notified when we release new content and go live. Comment your thoughts so we can have a fun and productive conversation! My email (for sponsorship opportunities or questions): collegefootballwithsam@gmail.com Special thanks to Brycen Moore (contact: bam1229.bm@gmail.com ), Jacob Schnieder (contact: jaketheosch17@gmail.com ), and Jack Williams (contact: jackwilliamsg@gmail.com ) for helping with graphic design! Discord: https://discord.gg/tZVaUJ3WhZ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFBwSam TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegefootballwithsam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegefootballwithsam/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CFBwSam Merchandise Store: https://cfbwithsam.threadless.com/ Spotify Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yYwJCRbhqTmyst5howpAM?si=c326220726014c90 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-football-with-sam/id1692426655 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3486a0b3-4706-43bf-95c2-01ccb3a16343/college-football-with-sam 0:00 Skip This 7:30 Penultimate Big Ten Predictions 44:00 Top 25 Big Ten Questions 1:24:30 Break 1:30:45 10 Underrated Teams Entering 2026 2:02:00 2026 Indiana Football Team Preview 2:21:00 2026 Ohio State Football Team Preview 2:40:30 2026 Oregon Football Team Preview 2:57:00 Break 3:06:45 10 Reasons Lincoln Riley Wins With USC 3:21:15 5 Reasons Michigan Improves In 2026 3:30:00 5 Reasons Notre Dame Is A CFP Lock 3:39:00 Better or Worse In 2026: Wisconsin and Clemson 3:57:15 Bold Prediction About Oklahoma State #collegefootball #indianafootball #ohiostatefootball #oregonfootball #michiganfootball #uscfootball #nebraskafootball #notredamefootball #bigtenfootball #collegefootballwithsam

Top 10 Toughest Schedules & Biggest Games | Better or Worse? | Bold Predictions

On the 80th live show of College Football with Sam, I discuss my top 10 toughest schedules and biggest games entering the 2026 season. Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss have some of the nation's toughest schedules, and many of them play in the season's top matchups. My favorite matchup of the season right now is Oregon at Ohio State, followed closely by Ohio State at Indiana and Ohio State at Texas. I also discuss whether or not Nebraska is better than last season in a new series, review a bold prediction about Michigan, and talk about some of the recent news surrounding Texas Tech and the Big 12. College Football with Sam's goal is to give you joy and mold you into the most educated fan. Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE NOTIFICATION BELL so you can help yourself by being notified when we release new content and go live. Comment your thoughts so we can have a fun and productive conversation! My email (for sponsorship opportunities or questions): collegefootballwithsam@gmail.com Special thanks to Brycen Moore (contact: bam1229.bm@gmail.com ), Jacob Schnieder (contact: jaketheosch17@gmail.com ), and Jack Williams (contact: jackwilliamsg@gmail.com ) for helping with graphic design! Discord: https://discord.gg/tZVaUJ3WhZ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFBwSam TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegefootballwithsam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegefootballwithsam/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CFBwSam Merchandise Store: https://cfbwithsam.threadless.com/ Spotify Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yYwJCRbhqTmyst5howpAM?si=c326220726014c90 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-football-with-sam/id1692426655 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3486a0b3-4706-43bf-95c2-01ccb3a16343/college-football-with-sam 0:00 Introduction 3:15 Top 10 Games For 2026 53:00 Top 10 Schedules For 2026 1:42:00 No... Not Anyone Can Be Indiana 2:08:00 How Julian Sayin Can Be The No.1 QB 2:20:00 What Lincoln Riley Needs To Do To Succeed 2:30:30 Better Or Worse?: Nebraska #collegefootball #indianafootball #ohiostatefootball #oregonfootball #michiganfootball #uscfootball #miamifootball #texastechfootball #collegefootballwithsam

Buying The Big Ten | Big 12 & ACC Contenders | Selling LSU | Bold Predictions

On the 79th live show of College Football with Sam, I review more bold predictions and discuss why I am buying the Big Ten beyond 2026. I believe the top-end coaching talent in the Big Ten has set it apart, and that shortly, the conference will also be competing with the SEC in terms of depth. LSU's place in the sport and Big 12 and ACC contenders are also discussed today. College Football with Sam's goal is to give you joy and mold you into the most educated fan. Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE NOTIFICATION BELL so you can help yourself by being notified when we release new content and go live. Comment your thoughts so we can have a fun and productive conversation! My email (for sponsorship opportunities or questions): collegefootballwithsam@gmail.com Special thanks to Brycen Moore (contact: bam1229.bm@gmail.com ), Jacob Schnieder (contact: jaketheosch17@gmail.com ), and Jack Williams (contact: jackwilliamsg@gmail.com ) for helping with graphic design! Discord: https://discord.gg/tZVaUJ3WhZ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFBwSam TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegefootballwithsam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegefootballwithsam/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CFBwSam Merchandise Store: https://cfbwithsam.threadless.com/ Spotify Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yYwJCRbhqTmyst5howpAM?si=c326220726014c90 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-football-with-sam/id1692426655 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3486a0b3-4706-43bf-95c2-01ccb3a16343/college-football-with-sam 0:00 Introduction 4:30 Can Penn State Win the Big Ten? 24:30 Why Jeremiah Smith is CFB's Best Player 35:00 How Elite are Oregon's Corners? 51:00 Threats to Texas Tech in the Big 12 1:09:30 Threats to Miami in the ACC 1:35:45 USC's Defensive Line is Important 1:45:00 SELL Lane Kiffin & LSU 2:15:00 BUY the Big Ten 2:37:00 Bold Prediction about UCLA #collegefootball #indianafootball #ohiostatefootball #oregonfootball #michiganfootball #uscfootball #miamifootball #texastechfootball #collegefootballwithsam

Big Ten & SEC Quarterback Rankings | Buying Oregon & Indiana Stock | Bold Predictions

On the 78th live show of College Football with Sam, I discuss a bold prediction for Ohio State's wide receiver room. I also rank the top ten quarterbacks in the Big Ten and SEC conferences and explain why I am buying so much Oregon & Indiana stock for seasons to come. Matt Rhule and Nebraska, along with USC and Penn State's paths to win the Big Ten, are discussed. College Football with Sam's goal is to give you joy and mold you into the most educated fan. Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE NOTIFICATION BELL so you can help yourself by being notified when we release new content and go live. Comment your thoughts so we can have a fun and productive conversation! My email (for sponsorship opportunities or questions): collegefootballwithsam@gmail.com Special thanks to Brycen Moore (contact: bam1229.bm@gmail.com ), Jacob Schnieder (contact: jaketheosch17@gmail.com ), and Jack Williams (contact: jackwilliamsg@gmail.com ) for helping with graphic design! Discord: https://discord.gg/tZVaUJ3WhZ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFBwSam TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegefootballwithsam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegefootballwithsam/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CFBwSam Merchandise Store: https://cfbwithsam.threadless.com/ Spotify Page: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yYwJCRbhqTmyst5howpAM?si=c326220726014c90 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-football-with-sam/id1692426655 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3486a0b3-4706-43bf-95c2-01ccb3a16343/college-football-with-sam 0:00 Introduction 3:00 Big Ten Quarterback Rankings 24:00 SEC Quarterback Rankings 43:30 USC's Path To Winning The Big Ten 1:06:45 Does Indiana Have CFB's Best WR Room 1:29:00 Does Bryce Underwood Deserve Hate? 1:40:30 Should Matt Rhule Be On The Hot Seat? 1:49:00 Buying Oregon Stock 2:16:00 Buying Indiana Stock 2:35:40 Bold Prediction Involving Ohio State #collegefootball #indianafootball #ohiostatefootball #oregonfootball #michiganfootball #georgiafootball #uscfootball #texasfootball #collegefootballwithsam