We’re so, so close. On Saturday, we can put the lawsuits, legislation and other offseason storylines behind us and focus on actual football. It truly is a glorious time.For all of its flaws, college football is still tremendously popular. And when new fans jump in the boat, they might need a team to throw their support behind.We’re here to help those folks — and maybe the ones whose favorite programs have caused them to have a wandering eye — with our annual bandwagon fan’s guide to the 2026 college football season.We are highlighting one team from each conference. The predictions for each team come from colleagues Stewart Mandel and Chris Vannini, who projected each Power 4 and Group of 6 conference for the upcoming season.ACC: Cal2025 record: 7-6
2026 prediction: Tied for 4th in the ACCWhy you should get on board: The Golden Bears have a great foundational piece in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, arguably the nation’s best young quarterback. Coach Tosh Lupoi, a Cal alum and the former defensive coordinator at Oregon, has brought a lot of energy to the program. He improved the roster through the transfer portal, particularly at the skill positions to build a better supporting cast for Sagapolutele. There’s a lot to like about Cal right now, especially in a conference that’s relatively wide open once you get past Miami.Why you shouldn’t: It’s difficult to put your full faith in Cal. It looked like the Golden Bears were going to break through in 2020, then the pandemic struck and the program never really regained that momentum. In 2024, the Bears started 3-1, hosted “College GameDay” and built a 25-point lead against a top-10 Miami team, only to blow the lead, lose the game and finish the season 6-7. It just feels like something always happens when the program might break through. Not to mention, this is Lupoi’s first head coaching job, so that’s a major unknown, and it’s been a few years since the offensive and defensive coordinators coached in college.Bottom line: Cal will be the college football hipster’s favorite team this season because Sagapolutele is extremely entertaining and the Golden Bears will probably have a bunch of late-night games, so the diehards will be tuned in. If you’re expecting a conference championship, you’re probably looking in the wrong spot, but Cal should be fun and has the potential for a really promising season if things break right.Favorite college football offseason additionsAntonio MoralesBig 12: Oklahoma State2025 record: 1-11
