The coaching carousel ran rampant this past offseason.

Lane Kiffin jumped from one SEC team to another. Kyle Whittingham will try to restore Michigan’s prowess. A handful of top programs are betting their future on up-and-coming former Group of Six coaches. 

Coaching changes will affect the 2026 college football season. Here’s a look at the moves that could have the greatest impact. 

Lane Kiffin will take on his fifth Division I head coaching gig with LSU in 2026. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)

Kiffin left Ole Miss in November after leading the Rebels to an 11-1 record. After five years at Ole Miss, Kiffin’s departure created chaos around a feel-good College Football Playoff run for the Rebels. Kiffin hopped to SEC rival LSU, his fifth stop as a Division I head coach and third in the SEC. Kiffin recruited Arizona State transfer QB Sam Leavitt to join him as he tries to revitalize a Tigers’ program that hasn’t won the SEC since 2019 with Joe Burrow in the pocket.

Chesney followed the footsteps of Curt Cignetti, going from the Sun Belt’s James Madison to the Big Ten, and he settled at UCLA. In 2025, Chesney led the Dukes to a 12-1 season, including a Sun Belt title and a CFP appearance. He’ll try to turn around a Bruins program that went 8-16 under DeShaun Foster in its first two seasons of B1G football. UCLA’s roster consists of 63 newcomers, 42 of them transfers – 10 of which came from JMU with Chesney. 

Whittingham succeeds Sherrone Moore at Michigan, where he’ll try to clean up a mess and help the Wolverines return to the form they were in when they won the 2023 national championship. Whittingham spent 23 years as Utah’s head coach, leading its program to two Pac-12 championships. 

After 12 years at Penn State, James Franklin will take over Virginia Tech’s football program.  (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

After James Franklin’s 12-year run at Penn State abruptly ended in the middle of last season, he landed at Virginia Tech a month later. Franklin got right to work, flipping 10 Penn State commits to Virginia Tech. Franklin still has a tall task at hand as the Hokies haven’t won 10 games since 2016. 

After a lengthy search, Penn State replaced Franklin with Matt Campbell. Campbell was known for doing a lot with a little at Iowa State, where he qualified for eight Bowl Games in 10 seasons. Now with the Nittany Lions, he’ll have a few more resources backing him up. Campbell took Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht to help set a foundation at State College. 

Jon Sumrall is one of two coaches, along with UCLA’s Bob Chesney, to take his mid-major team, Tulane, to the CFP, and earn a Power-4 head coaching gig. (Photo by Dustin Markland/Getty Images for ONIT)

Sumrall parlayed Tulane’s CFP appearance into a head coaching position with Florida. Sumrall has a rocket strapped to his career, as he got his first Division I head coaching gig with Troy in 2022, and four years later is in the SEC. Florida hasn’t won 10 games since 2019. 

Golding took over at Ole Miss ahead of the CFP after Lane Kiffin left for LSU at the end of the 2025 regular season. Golding lifted Ole Miss to the semifinals with wins over Tulane and Georgia, before the Rebels lost to Miami (FL). Golding retained quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, and will try to build on a season in which the Rebels won the most games in program history. 

Stein earned his first Division I head coaching gig with Kentucky after three seasons as Oregon’s offensive coordinator. He’s taking on an uphill battle as Kentucky’s athletics department prioritizes basketball, and its football team has only won 10 games twice in the last 10 years. Stein, though, has the gumption to fundraise, and will have to rely on that as he tries to find consistent success in Lexington.

Will Stein returns to his homestate Kentucky to be the Wildcats head coach. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)

Golesh jumped from G6 to P4 after lifting South Florida to a third straight winning season in 2025. He’ll take over an Auburn program that hasn’t had a winning season since the COVID-19 shortened 2020. Golesh took USF quarterback Bynum Brown with him to Auburn, and together they’ll try to compete in the SEC. 

Hartline has become famous for building Ohio State into WR-U. Being the head coach of a G6 program is a whole ‘nother task. Hartline will have to prove that his positional development chops translate to overseeing an entire roster at a USF program that’s had three straight winning seasons.  

Who is going to be punting the ball for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026?

The head-to-head Vikings roster battle sees a pair of players competing for a single spot. Veteran Johnny Hekker is the favorite as somebody who has accomplished a lot in his years. Rookie Brett Thorson is trying to prove capable of holding down the job. Who is going to get the nod?

The P1 Vikings Roster Battle

To begin, consider some the favorite’s basic stats from the 2025 season:

• Johnny Hekker: 46.8 Y/P, 40.3 NY/P, 7 TBs (9%), and 22 IN20 (28.2%)

Put simply, those numbers are quite poor. Gone are the days, perhaps, where Hekker was an annual All Pro at punter. He won the award four times for the first team and two times for the second team, getting all of these distinctions between 2013 and 2018. In the NFL, that’s a lifetime ago.

Meanwhile, Brett Thorson has been a promising punter in recent seasons, albeit at the college level. His great flaw has been his experience as a holder on field goal, or lack thereof.

At Georgia, all Thorson did was launch the ball. Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels has praised Thorson for having soft hands. How much of a difference is there between holding in practice and holding in the clutch moment of a game? Hekker seems supremely unlikely to struggle in this facet of the game and Minnesota doesn’t exactly have a flawless history here.

A clean, automatic field goal operation is to be coveted; ensure the kicker is always working with a crisp snap and clean hold. In theory, the Vikings’ hard-earned wisdom will weigh into the decision making.

Thorson has seen three preseason punts dropped inside the 20-yard line. He’s averaging 44.8 yards per punt within five opportunities. His longest punt of the preseason has gone for 50 yards.

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Meanwhile, Hekker is averaging 46.3 yards per punt across his six opportunities while dropping a trio of his half dozen inside the 20. His longest punt has gone for 65 yards.

Back in the 2022 offseason, the Vikings conducted a punter battle between veteran Jordan Berry and rookie UDFA Ryan Wright. In the end, the young fella won, securing the P1 job for four seasons before landing a nice payday with the Saints earlier in the 2026 offseason.

Opting for a similar path would feature Brett Thorson coming out on top. He can make his case for being that guy with a strong third preseason game, a reality that needs to include punting and holding. Even a small mistake would likely doom his chance of overcoming the favorite.

Kickoff tonight is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Cbus Super Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 26 NRL game between Gold Coast Titans and
South Sydney Rabbitohs. The game kicks off at 3:00 pm with South Sydney Rabbitohs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Gold Coast Titans vs.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday August 29, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Where: Cbus Super Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Odds

Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview

South Sydney needs an immediate response after a 45-26 loss to the Warriors reduced its buffer over ninth-placed Canterbury to two points. Gold Coast led at halftime against Cronulla before falling 30-22, its fourth consecutive defeat, and now faces another major defensive test. Latrell Mitchell has been named among the Rabbitohs’ reserves as he pushes for a return, while Jai Arrow is listed symbolically before Cameron Murray takes over at lock under an approved arrangement. Josh Patston replaces the injured Beau Fermor for the Titans. South Sydney has won 10 successive meetings with Gold Coast and has consistently found space at Cbus Super Stadium. With Cody Walker directing a dangerous left edge and Alex Johnston in strong scoring form, the visitors possess the sharper combinations and greater finals incentive.

The INDYCAR season rolls into the Milwaukee Mile for its only doubleheader of 2026. The Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 opens the weekend Saturday, Aug. 29, with FOX coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 follows Sunday, Aug. 30, with FOX coverage starting at 1 p.m. ET.

Kyle Kirkwood carries the momentum after winning the Freedom 250 in Washington, while Alex Palou arrives with a 91-point championship lead and a chance to clinch his fifth title this weekend. Both 250-mile races take place on the historic short oval, with Sunday closing the final oval weekend of the season.

How to Watch the 2026 INDYCAR Milwaukee Mile Doubleheader

Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One
• Location: Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin

FOX coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled for 2:50 p.m. ET.

Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250

• Date: Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One
• Location: Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin

FOX coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. ET. Broadcast times are subject to change.

2026 INDYCAR Milwaukee Mile Weekend Schedule

All times Eastern.

Friday, Aug. 28

• Practice: 6 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)

Saturday, Aug. 29

• Qualifying: 11 a.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 Coverage: 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 Green Flag: 2:50 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Sunday, Aug. 30

• Warmup: 10:15 a.m. ET (FOX One)
• Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Coverage: 1 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Green Flag: 1:20 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

What to Know About the Milwaukee Mile

The Milwaukee Mile sits on the grounds of Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. The 1.015-mile oval opened in 1903, making it the world’s oldest continuously operating motor speedway. It features 9 degrees of banking in the turns.

Drivers cannot stay flat through the corners, so the short oval drives more like a road course. The track rewards cars that can rotate through the turns without giving up speed on the straights.

How Long Are the Milwaukee Mile Races?

Both races are scheduled for 250 laps and 250 miles. Saturday opens the only doubleheader on the 2026 INDYCAR schedule, while Sunday closes the weekend and serves as the final oval event of the season.

Who Is Leading the INDYCAR Championship?

Palou enters Milwaukee with 553 points, 91 ahead of Kirkwood. Christian Lundgaard is third with 443 points, followed by David Malukas with 411 and Pato O’Ward with 399.

Three races remain, including both Milwaukee events, and Palou can clinch his fifth INDYCAR championship during the doubleheader.

Who Won the Most Recent Milwaukee Mile Race?

Christian Rasmussen won at Milwaukee in 2025 after passing Palou with 16 laps remaining. It was Rasmussen’s first INDYCAR victory.

Who Won the Most Recent INDYCAR Race?

Kirkwood won the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on Aug. 23. Watch the full highlights from the most recently completed INDYCAR race below.

Follow the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 and Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on FOX Sports for the latest race information and results.

Fans across the country will be treated to multiple must-see matchups taking place on Saturday as part of the Week 0 college football schedule. Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Hells are set to battle the TCU Horned Frogs at noon ET in Dublin, Ireland, while NC State takes on Virginia in an early-season ACC showdown at 3:30 p.m. Other notable matchups on the Week 0 college football schedule include USC vs. San Jose State, Hawaii vs. Stanford, New Mexico State vs. Florida State and Memphis vs. UNLV. Claim the newest Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS, trade $25, and get $25 in trading bonus credits:

All of the updated Week 0 college football prediction market prices are listed below, and SportsLine’s advanced computer model has all the college football trading advice and CFB predictions you need to make the best Week 0 college football trades now.

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times, has turned its attention to the latest college football prediction markets and locked in predictions for every CFB matchup. You can also learn how to trade prediction markets and see the latest prediction markets legal states before locking in your college football predictions. Claim the Underdog Predicts promo code CBS and get up to $1,000 in bonus funds here:

Week 0 college football prediction markets

NC State ($0.37) vs. Virginia ($0.65)

The Wolfpack have dominated this rivalry in recent years, winning four consecutive meetings and six of the last seven overall. However, Virginia is coming off a record year, setting a school record 11 wins last season. The Cavaliers have won eight of their last nine season openers, while NC State has lost each of its past four games on the road. 

Virginia is set to start quarterback Beau Pribula on Saturday, who went 7-3 as a starter at Missouri last season. He finished the 2025 campaign with a 67.4% completion percentage, 1,941 passing yards, and 17 total touchdowns. The SportsLine Projection Model is calling for Virginia to secure a 30-24 victory over NC State. 

The Cavaliers winning by more than 5.5 points is trading at $0.45 per share at Kalshi. Virginia to win by fewer than 5.5 points or lose the game outright is trading at $0.56. Claim the newest Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS, trade $25, and get $25 in trading bonus credits:

Memphis ($0.37) vs. UNLV ($0.64)

Both Memphis and UNLV featured high-powered offenses last season. UNLV averaged 34.1 points per game in 2025, while the Tigers scored 32.5 points per contest. However, Memphis is dealing with massive roster turnover. The Tigers have just one returning starter, tied for the second fewest in FBS, and a school-record 53 incoming transfers in 2026. 

Meanwhile, UNLV is seeking a school-record fifth consecutive season-opening win, and head coach Dan Mullen has a track record of success. Mullen secured the most wins (10) by a UNLV head coach in his first season in 2025. SportsLine’s model is projecting a hard-fought battle on Saturday night, with UNLV securing a 35-31 victory.

The Rebels winning by more than 6.5 points is trading at $0.46 per share. UNLV to win by fewer than 6.5 points or lose the game outright is trading at $0.56. Trade on college football here with the Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS and get a $20 bonus after a $10 deposit:

Week 0 college football prediction market prices

Not every golfer gets to play Cypress Point. And almost no one gets to do so while cruising on a cart with music blasting from a Bluetooth speaker.

Tommy Morrison is a rarity. He can tell you exactly what that’s like.

The 22-year-old University of Texas alumnus, who is currently enjoying a rocket-shot debut season as a touring pro, enjoyed a full dose of Cypress Point last year while representing the United States in the 2025 Walker Cup. Just being on the team was a dream come true. Throw in the storied venue, and the experience became surreal.

“It was probably the coolest week I’ll have in my golfing life,” Morrison said during a recent appearance on GOLF’s Subpar podcast.

The U.S. team arrived in Monterey the week before the matches, playing Pebble Beach on Monday. After that, Morrison said, it was Cypress Point “sunrise to sundown.”

That meant plenty of time to soak up one of the world’s most revered courses — on four wheels, with a soundtrack.

Among the perks, Morrison recalled, was brezing around the back nine with a Bluetooth speaker “playing as loud as I could.”

“I don’t think anyone has done that,” Morrison added.

Then came the competition.

Morrison was paired with Jackson Koivun in Saturday’s alternate-shot session. Koivun striped their opening drive down the fairway. Morrison’s next shot? Not quite as pure.

“I knifed a wedge over the green,” he said, grinning.

Morrison and Koivun lost their match to Tyler Weaver and Connor Graham, but that was just a small bump on an otherwise smooth road. The Americans dominated Sunday’s singles matches to cruise to a 17-9 victory and retain the Walker Cup.

And then it was over.

Co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz lamented that the Walker Cup lasts just two days; both suggested the event be expanded to three.

Morrison agreed.

“It goes by too fast,” he said.

Like youth itself.

You can listen to the entire episode here.