The Walk-On Redshirts

2026 SEC Preview: The Bottom of the Barrel

We're starting our 2026 SEC Preview series at the bottom. Missouri, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Kentucky all have stories worth telling — rebuilds, quarterback questions, and schedules that don't do them any favors. We break down all five, give you our projected records, and make the case for where they land in our rankings. Episode 1 of 3 in our 2026 SEC Power Rankings series.

The Elite Six: Big Ten Preview Part 3

Jake and Will wrap up their 2026 Big Ten season preview series with the top six teams in the conference — and this group is as loaded as any in college football history. Oregon enters as the consensus preseason number one with Dante Moore returning for his junior season despite being a projected top NFL Draft pick. Ohio State has something to prove after a Big Ten Championship loss to Indiana and a CFP quarterfinal upset by Miami. The reigning national champion Hoosiers have to replace Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with TCU transfer Josh Hoover. Michigan enters the Kyle Whittingham era with Bryce Underwood ready to take a massive sophomore leap. Lincoln Riley is in year five at USC with his best roster yet and his last real chance to make the playoff. And Washington's Demond Williams needs to prove he can beat the elite teams after scoring just 27 combined points against Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan last season. Six elite teams. Six burning questions. One conference that's taken over college football. This is the final episode of the Walk-On Redshirts 2026 Big Ten Preview series.

Big Ten Preview Part 2: Teams 7-12

Jake and Will continue their 2026 Big Ten season preview series with teams 7 through 12 — and this group might have the most fascinating storylines in the entire conference. Iowa opens Big Ten play with three straight games against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington — one of the hardest stretches any team faces all season. Illinois is coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in program history but has 57 new faces on the roster. Wisconsin finally has a stable quarterback in Colton Joseph but Luke Fickell needs this season to save his job. Matt Campbell arrives at Penn State with 55 new players and an entire offense transplanted from Iowa State. Drake Lindsey enters year two at Minnesota with legitimate star potential. And Nebraska needs to prove it can win in November under Matt Rhule. Six teams. Six burning questions. No easy answers. Part 3 coming soon.

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.