On3 Recruits college sports digest

Thursday, October 01, 2026 If this email was forwarded to you, please subscribe. College Sports 1 Projecting potential conference realignment if the college sports bill’s 20-team cap becomes law If the Protect College Sports Act becomes law as it's currently written, it would set the rules for the next round of conference realignment. Before the Senate passed the bipartisan bill Monday, it adopted a provision capping each Power 4 conference at 20 teams. Any school moving between P4 leagues would have to spend three years as an independent first, a probationary rule that would expire after six years. With media rights deals expiring in the early 2030s, the 20-team cap offers a fascinating blueprint for what comes next. The ACC could face the most defections. It currently sits at 17 members with a lagging media rights deal, and it could need anywhere from three to nine additions. Its options stretch from the American Conference to what's left of the old Pac-12, and beyond. Notre Dame, James Madison, and UConn also stand out as strong candidates. Notre Dame, already an ACC member in most other sports, would be the ultimate prize, though the Fighting Irish have fiercely protected their football independence. JMU is off to a hot start under Billy Napier, and UConn has revived its football program while offering basketball powerhouses that would be a coup for the ACC. The biggest moves, though, happen at the top. The Big Ten has two open spots, and the SEC and Big 12 have four apiece. See which national brands would land in each league, and which heated rivalries could end up sharing a conference. STORY FROM WILSON ALEXANDER → College Football 2 College football’s Best and Worst of September: Teams, players, coaches, games, moments & more The first month of the 2026 college football season is in the books, and Chris Low is handing out September's superlatives, from the top team and player to the best coach, game, and win. It's not all praise, with superlatives for everything from worst attitude, worst narrative, and biggest disappointment to the dirtiest hit and a celebration that drew an apology from an athletic director. See every best and worst from September, including a few awards nobody wants to win. SUPERLATIVES FROM CHRIS LOW → College Football 3 Heisman officials worried about 24-team playoff’s impact on the award The Heisman Trophy has been awarded on a Saturday in early December since 1935, but a 24-team College Football Playoff could wipe out that window entirely. With conference title games expected to disappear, the playoff could start the weekend after the regular season ends. Brett McMurphy has the latest on possible scenarios the Heisman Trust could consider, plus more on other December traditions that could be facing a squeeze. FULL STORY FROM BRETT MCMURPHY → 4 College Football Lincoln Riley ‘disappointed’ in Desman Stephens’ behavior after Dante Moore targeting hit USC LB Desman Stephens II will be suspended for Saturday's game against Washington after he was ejected for an illegal hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore. Now, Lincoln Riley is addressing the incident. Read More → 5 College Football Alex Golesh reacts to former Auburn staffer’s arrest for leaking recruiting info Auburn head coach Alex Golesh was asked Wednesday about the arrest of former staffer David Jenrath, but he made it clear the situation is not something taking up his attention. Read More → Also Trending 6 Texas AD Chris Del Conte addresses 'embarrassing' conduct, celebrations from Longhorns vs. Tennessee 7 Joel Klatt reveals updated 12-team College Football Playoff bracket after Week 4 8 Brent Venables addresses John Mateer's status as Oklahoma starting quarterback 9 Tennessee renews pregame 'Happy Hour' for remainder of season at Neyland Stadium 10 Dan Lanning compares UCLA to 2025 Indiana Hoosiers Not subscribed? Get On3 | Rivals National + Team All-Access Get The App Unsubscribe Privacy Policy On3.c