These 3 games intrigue me the most for Week Zero non-power teams
Sac St travels to EMU for its first MAC conference game.
North Dakota St(MWC) host Jax St(CUSA)
Memphis flies to Vegas to face UNLV. Is Jackson Arnold, former Oklahoma and Auburn QB, the answer for the Rebels.
July 1, 2026
Wondering who the Sac St starting QB will be? Carson Conklin, a transfer from Fresno State,and Jackson Sharman, a transfer from Idaho State, are competing to be the starting quarterback.
July 11, 2026
Nathan Hayes will likely be the Bison starting QB in its home opener vs Jax St. NDSU has a lot of traveling this season including an MWC game at Hawaii on 11/14
July 15, 2026
MWC Media days: Pre-season pick for Special Teams PoY WR Jackson Williams (NDSU). 🤔 First Bison season in a 1A conference,
Rob Harley , NIU interim HC, got the job when HC Thomas Hammock became the Seattle Seahawks RB coach in February.
I forgot about this.
July 17, 2026
In 2025, Nick Minicucci, Delaware QB, led CUSA in passing yards (3,683) and was second team CUSA. He'll be Arlington TX for Media Day on July 20. Nice to see the kid return for 2026
July 18, 2026
UTSA HC Jeff Traylor hired Rick Bowie from WKU to call the offensive signals for QB Owen McCown. Worth keeping an eye on!
July 19, 2026
Noah Kim (QB,EMU), the MAC's leading passer last season has two solid targets, Nick Devereaux and Joshua Long, for the Eagles bid to surprise some opponents this season.
July 20, 2026
Clay Helton has been decent (27-25)at GASO since 2021. Does he turn the corner and get the Eagles in the SBC title race. Max Johnson, a much traveled QB, is their likely starter
Bynum and Tyson are their top players on D.
They have tough OOC games: at Clemson and hosting Houston.
Kind of wondering what's happened that Evan Crenshaw(Troy) pre-season pick for SBC best punter started his career at CCU.
July 23, 2026
AAC Media Day today: USF hosts FIU in its season opener. Van Buren (who transferred from LSU) has the edge due to better mobility in his battle with Kromenhoek (from Mississippi State) for the starting QB spot vacated by Byrum Brown(who transferred to Auburn).
Hartline's staff hinted they may use both QBs in the right situation.
July 25, 2026
UNLV hosting this year and the return game is set for Memphis in 2029. Stokes is slightly ahead of Air Noland on the Memphis QB depth chart
July 27, 2026
Casey Woods, former SMU OC, is the MOSU HC. Locklear from UTEP and Belin IV from Duke are vying to be the starting QB. WKU is Bears first CUSA opponent. September OOC schedule includes TAMU, SMU, and Marshall.
July 29, 2026
Rainbows open at Stanford and QB Alejado will be working with new wideouts since Jackson Harris and Brandon White transferred. Tre Griffiths, a transfer from OK St to Hawaii, may help fill that void.
Some folks think Hawaii can finish second in the MWC
July 31, 2026
AAC week 1 tough openers. ECU @ Bama, UAB @ ILL, NTX at IU. OKST travels to Tulsa which could be an interesting intrastate game
Aug 3, 2026
2026 MAC head coaches preseason poll went with WMU as the favorite. MOH visits them on Nov 17 in what could be a key game.
MAC. BGSU HC Eddie George needs a healthy Austyn Dendy at RB for the full season
Aug 6, 2026
UTEP(MWC) @ OK, @ MICH, & hosting the OSU Beavers in September OOC action.
Aug 9, 2026
Keeping my eyes on Juice Vereen(TE) for Colorado St who followed HC Jim Mora there.
Aug 10, 2026
Hartline has a four star center Jordan Harrison in camp who may start for USF. Bulls face Army in week 2, and also have Tulane and Memphis on their schedule this season.
Aug 12, 2026
Patrick Martin is back and practicing with South Bama and will split reps with Keenan Phillips in the Jags backfield.
Aug 15, 2026
Navy won 21 games in the past two seasons which ties them with Boise State and UNLV for the most among non -power schools.
Notre Dame, UTSA, Memphis, & Army look like the toughest games on its 2026 schedule.
Aug 24, 2026
Of the three week zero games that involve power/non power conference matchups. Hawaii has the best chance of an upset. Rainbows plays Stanford.(ACC)
I don't see SJSU beating USC(Big10) or NMSU defeating Florida St(ACC)
Conklin named the starting QB for Sacramento State in MAC opener @EMU on week zero
Aug 27, 2026
Last year WKU won at home against Nevada in the first matchup between those teams. This year WKU plays @ NEV on 9/5
Bryson Rodgers(WR) wasn't used a lot at Ohio St so he followed Coach Hartline to USF. He accelerates well.
Aug 29, 2026
Jackson Arnold will split time with Alex Orji at quarterback for UNLV in its opener against Memphis
Aug 30, 2026
Memphis scored the final 17 points of the game in a win over UNLV. NDSU rolled Jax St
