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- Notre Dame vs. Miami rekindles a 1988-level showdown — without the old stereotypes
- A calmer coaching carousel than many expect
- Jeremiah Smith remains the nation’s best player — and still won’t win the Heisman
- UCLA reaches the CFP with a previously third-string quarterback
- Nebraska sneaks into the playoff picture
- Group-of-six players will top national offensive leaderboards in most categories
Midseason, Sports Illustrated writers offered a set of bold predictions about how the next two months could reshape the college football landscape — from surprise playoff qualifiers to individual award upsets. Below are the staff’s top calls and the game-by-game stakes that could make them come true.
Notre Dame vs. Miami rekindles a 1988-level showdown — without the old stereotypes
When these programs meet later this season, it could feel like a throwback to the 1988 meeting that propelled Notre Dame to a title. Both teams are on pace to arrive undefeated, and the matchup pairs Miami’s high-flying offense — averaging roughly 555 yards per game — against Notre Dame’s stingy unit, which is allowing about 214 yards per game.
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The game at Notre Dame Stadium would carry more than bragging rights. A win could nearly lock up a top-four spot in the College Football Playoff, while a loss would not be terminal the way it has been for contenders in some past seasons. Sports Illustrated’s writers hope for a late, high-drama finish — perhaps another one-score thriller settled by a decisive two-point attempt — and urge coverage that avoids the reductive hero/villain framing that marred the original rivalry.
A calmer coaching carousel than many expect
Despite several high-profile coaches sitting on hot seats, the end-of-season hiring shuffle may be quieter than pundits predict. Athletic departments are increasingly sensitive to escalating payrolls and buyouts, a factor likely to temper frantic mass firings and bidding wars.
Still, some programs appear headed for change. Maryland’s Mike Locksley and Rutgers’s Greg Schiano look particularly vulnerable. Florida State’s Mike Norvell has escaped trouble before but could face rising pressure after a rough loss to Louisville. Other coaches are stabilizing their situations: Dave Aranda is off to a positive start at Baylor (4–1), Shane Beamer recently notched a key win for South Carolina, Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin looks more competitive after offseason investments, and Lincoln Riley has shown he can win away from home (USC listed at 6–1 in current coverage).
Overall, the pattern today feels closer to a measured market — a handful of firings and targeted hires — rather than last year’s headline-grabbing frenzy.
Jeremiah Smith remains the nation’s best player — and still won’t win the Heisman
Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith has turned from a conversational “best” to the consensus top player in college football. Through six games he has compiled 11 touchdowns and about 916 receiving yards, numbers approaching his output from last season (12 TDs, 1,243 yards).
Opposing defenses have been forced to adjust, often bringing extra coverage or consistent double teams. That attention has not kept him from dominating, but Sports Illustrated analysts predict voters will favor late-season storylines that typically benefit signal-callers. Quarterbacks such as Miami’s Darian Mensah, Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and others could produce late bursts that reshape the Heisman narrative.
Smith’s path is made harder by a schedule that has lost some marquee shine — games at USC, Oregon and Michigan no longer carry the same gravitational pull — so he may need eye-popping final-month statistics to overcome the narrative drift toward quarterbacks.
UCLA reaches the CFP with a previously third-string quarterback
UCLA’s season suddenly has new complications: starter Nico Iamaleava, who left the Week 6 upset of Oregon with an injury, is expected to miss the rest of the year. Many will dismiss the Bruins now, but Sports Illustrated predicts they can still reach the Playoff with Ty Dieffenbach — until recently their third-string option — leading the offense.
Dieffenbach has shown poise in a difficult road environment and will be aided by a defense that creates opportunities and a rushing attack that controls the clock. Those complementary phases can make life easier for a quarterback with limited experience — Dieffenbach had only nine career starts at the FCS level before this season — and first-year coach Bob Chesney has already established a culture that could sustain the team through the setback.
With only one remaining game versus a ranked opponent on the slate, the Bruins’ remaining schedule gives them a real shot to convert resilience into a second straight playoff appearance under Chesney.
Nebraska sneaks into the playoff picture
Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers (5–1) are quietly building a résumé that could carry them to the CFP. Their remaining slate includes winnable games — Washington at home on Halloween, Illinois on Nov. 6 and Rutgers on Nov. 14 — and three tougher tests: a trip to Oregon, Ohio State at home on Nov. 21 and Iowa on Black Friday.
If Nebraska can take two of the three tougher matchups, especially if one is a win over Ohio State, the Huskers should be in strong position for a top-four bid. Observers point to a roster without glaring deficiencies and an ability to defend and manage key opponents as reasons Nebraska belongs in the conversation.
Group-of-six players will top national offensive leaderboards in most categories
Power-conference players headline many box scores, but several standout performers from Group of Six programs are pacing national categories. Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson and receiver Jesse Legree have been a prolific pairing, combining for 12 touchdowns in six games. Atkinson’s per-game yardage (roughly 376.2 yards) leads the FBS by a wide margin, while Legree’s average of about 24.5 yards per catch gives him an edge among receivers.
On the ground, Boise State’s Dylan Riley holds a slight lead in rushing yards over Missouri’s Jamal Roberts, with Duke’s Nate Sheppard also in the mix despite playing fewer games. The trickiest category for Group of Six contenders is rushing touchdowns; West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. and Florida’s Jadan Baugh currently top that leaderboard with 12 each, and no G6 player has yet reached that mark. Still, backs such as North Texas’s Jahiem White, Memphis’s Jaylin Carter and Army’s Cale Hellums remain capable of affecting the race.
Those performances suggest the statistical leaders at midseason will include more players from outside the Power Four than many expect, even if a few key categories remain contested.
