Biggest NCAA Football Storylines for the 2026-27 Season: Return of the Pac
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sun Jul 19, 2026, 7:30 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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College football is less than six weeks away from being on our screens on a Saturday morning, with eight games featured on the Week 0 slate. It's time to start getting ready for the return of some pigskin, so let's get juiced up by checking out some of the biggest NCAA Football storylines heading into this season upcoming season!
Check out the best odds on the market and tons of picks for the NCAA Football Season.
Biggest NCAA Football Storylines for the 2026-27 Season
The Pac-12 returns this year with eight members for the NCAA Football season
No. 1 – The Return of the Pac
The Pac-12 Conference is officially back in action, giving all of us some exciting Pac-12 After Dark this season. However, there are only going to be eight teams, despite the league's name. Two of the original members who did not get invited when everyone left the party a few years ago are included, as the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars stuck with the conference even when she went away. They are joined by a plethora of teams, most of whom come from the Mountain West, with one new member from the Sun Belt as well. Listed below are the betting odds to win the first year of the new Pac-12.
Odds to Win Pac-12 Conference
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- Boise State Broncos* +150
- San Diego State Aztecs* +350
- Texas State Bobcats** +500
- Washington State Cougars* +750
- Fresno State Bulldogs* +800
- Utah State Aggies* +1000
- Oregon State Beavers +3000
- Colorado State Rams* +4000
* New Member from Mountain West
** New Member from Sun Belt
Gonzaga will join these teams for the NCAA Basketball season, leaving the WCC. Stay tuned for our PAC-12 Conference preview, with our picks to win the league.
No. 2 – Lane Kiffin Leads LSU
Can Lane Kiffin revive LSU after their 7-6 record last year?
Lane Kiffin loves the attention. We all know this. But he made headlines last January for leaving the Ole Miss Rebels, who were in the middle of a National Championship run, to sign on as the Head Coach for SEC Rival, the LSU Tigers. I have to imagine Kiffin wanted to coach the rest of the season, but it's more than likely that the Athletic Department told him to "kick rocks" in more colorful language.
Regardless, Kiffin brought in Sam Leavitt of Arizona State to be his quarterback, and signed Kansas State wideout Jayce Brown to come catch some passes. The two could be a dangerous duo in Baton Rouge this year and we are definitely in for some fireworks on Saturday, September 19, as Kiffin returns to Oxford when the Rebels host LSU.
The Tigers are currently 2.5 point road dogs on a few books that are already offering lines for that matchup.
No. 3 – Curt Cignetti Reloads in Bloomington
Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers are reloaded and looking to win a second straight National Championship
The Indiana Hoosiers are fresh off an undefeated season and a National Championship. Curt Cignetti is now 26-2 as Head Coach of the Hoosiers, losing only to Ohio State and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff First Round. This team is ready to roll for a repeat. After Fernando Mendoza leaves with a Heisman trophy, another hopeful steps into his shoes. Josh Hoover, gunslinger formerly for TCU, looks to be the next guy up for Indiana.
Hoover has thrown for at least 3,400 yards in his past two seasons for the Horned Frogs (3,949 in 2024), and has 56 passing touchdowns, six more on the ground, but 25 interceptions. If Cignetti can get him comfortable in his system quickly, and get him to be a little more cautious with the football, +1600 for Hoover to win the Heisman could be worth something.
Of course this college football season will be littered with more stories, but these are a few of my favorite heading into this season. Kick off is only five more Saturdays away!
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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