Our weekly roundup of the biggest college sports news is solely focused on college football this week.
Between a flurry of late adds, quarterback competitions coming down to the wire and more, there’s plenty to dissect. So let’s get right into it.
Fifth-year madness
The 2026 season is only days away, and a recent court ruling extending the NCAA’s recent five-year eligibility period to the class of 2022 has added late chaos.
On Monday, 2026 undrafted free agent tight end Dae’Quan Wright was released by the Cleveland Browns, and per reports, he’s expected to join the LSU Tigers after clearing waivers. The Tigers — wasting no time to taking advantage of the situation — also added defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this offseason as an undrafted free agent.
“They’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play for someone else,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said on Monday. (h/t ESPN)
More signings are likely in the coming days — even after the NCAA’s win in federal court on Friday — thanks to a series of lawsuits favoring athletes filed in state courts, including in Louisiana.
All this courtroom legal drama makes us pine for the days when college football was instead decided on the field.
Faizon Brandon joins rare company
Tennessee Volunteers coach Josh Heupel took the expected (although no less bold) route by naming Brandon, a five-star true freshman, as his starting quarterback.
As On3 college football insider Chris Low noted before the decision was formally announced, Brandon is only the second true freshman since 2004 to be named starter at Tennessee entering the season, joining Brent Schaeffer, who beat out another true freshman, Erik Ainge.
