Sep 2, 2026 · 51 min
Klatt tests college football’s next national face
10 Burning Questions going into the 2026 Season
The 2026 season could reshape the balance between the Big Ten and SEC while elevating a new generation of stars and contenders.
- 1The Big Ten’s recent edge over the SEC faces a fresh test as Klatt assesses the season’s championship field.
- 2Texas, Arch Manning, LSU, and Lane Kiffin emerge as central figures in the debate over 2026’s contenders.
- 3Klatt asks whether Fernando Mendoza can become college football’s defining figure, following stars such as Robert Griffin III and Joe Burrow.
Don't miss
Klatt’s examination of whether Fernando Mendoza can become college football’s next defining figure stands out as the episode’s clearest cultural question.
The brief
Joel Klatt frames the 2026 season around ten questions: whether the Big Ten can hold its edge, how many teams can win the title, and whether the sport is stronger than ever.
The preview weighs Texas, Arch Manning, LSU, and Lane Kiffin alongside the broader search for legitimate national championship contenders and conference risers.
Klatt then turns to the sport’s next defining player, comparing the attention once commanded by Joe Burrow, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, and Fernando Mendoza.
The central tension is whether one team can match its “all gas and no brakes” identity while a new star takes ownership of college football’s spotlight.
The episode’s standout question is whether Fernando Mendoza can become the sport’s current central figure, rather than merely another name in the Heisman conversation.