Seven college football programs face bleak seasons as Ohio State joins the list of struggling teams
Sports Illustrated highlights seven Power Five programs whose 2026 campaigns have faltered, noting Ohio State's first back-to-back double-digit losses since 2011 and outlining the challenges each team faces.
Sports Illustrated's latest "Yard Dash" column identifies seven Power Five football programs whose 2026 seasons appear to be collapsing or already dead. Ohio State, which entered the year ranked No. 1, has slipped to 6–3 overall and 4–2 in the Big Ten after consecutive regular-season defeats to USC and Oregon, both by double digits – a pattern not seen since 2011. The outlet attributes the decline largely to defensive lapses and special-teams breakdowns, noting a 45% third-down conversion rate allowed against top opponents.
LSU, now 6–3 and 3–3 in SEC play, has failed to secure a marquee win under Lane Kiffin, with its most notable victory coming over a 5–4 Auburn team. Mississippi, also 6–3, suffered heavy losses to Florida and Georgia, and its offense struggled for the first time in 2026, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss not throwing a touchdown pass.
Missouri, sitting at 6–3, missed a chance to beat Texas after a controversial fumble call and a blocked punt, while Florida, now 5–4, has endured a series of sizable defeats after an early-season surge. Michigan, at 5–4, recorded a scoreless stretch of 57 minutes against Michigan State and has been unable to reach 20 points in most games.
Nebraska, also 5–4, has lost four straight and recently dismissed offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Texas A&M, at 4–5, posted 457 yards of offense in a loss to South Carolina but has managed only two passing touchdowns in six SEC contests.
The column also notes three teams that have revived their playoff hopes: Oregon, now 6–3 after beating Northwestern and Ohio State; USC, 7–2 after a victory over Ohio State; and South Carolina, 6–3 and positioned among the SEC's top three-loss teams. The article concludes with a speculative playoff bracket featuring Georgia, Utah, UCLA, Notre Dame and other contenders.