College Football News: Week 7 Brings Loaded Schedule, CFP Changes, and More

Week 7 of this season arrives with an absolutely loaded schedule of games. This may be the best regular-season weekend of the 2026 season.

But a stacked set of college football lines isn’t the only thing in play this Saturday. Here’s a quick look across the college football landscape as we head into a huge weekend of results: 

History In Bloomington

There are a lot of big games this weekend, including games between top 15 teams. But none are bigger than this one.

Indiana is ready to host Ohio State in a battle that will shape the remainder of this Big Ten season. This head-to-head clash between the last two national champions is likely the most anticipated home football game in the history of Indiana football.

Right now, the market rates Ohio State football odds as the favorite, even on the road. But don’t count out Curt Cignetti just yet. Even if the Hoosiers haven’t quite looked the part this year, the old master will likely have a few tricks up his sleeve for this game.

A Major Opening for the Big 12

Saturday’s weekly College GameDay predictions will come via Provo, as BYU prepares to host Notre Dame in a major regular-season clash. 

This game is important for both BYU and Notre Dame, as both can stake a powerful claim to College Football Playoff inclusion with a win.

More than that, though, this game will be used as a sweeping referendum on the value of the Big 12, with major playoff implications to follow down the line.

BetMGM’s futures odds currently imply the Big 12 is likely to get two teams into this year’s playoff, which would be a first. That’s still likely even if Notre Dame wins at BYU, as it’s expected to. But if BYU can earn the head-to-head win, it’ll be a rare data point in favor of the Big 12 that could be dividends for years to come. 

Playoff Expansion Inches Closer

Several college football media members reported this week that the College Football Playoff is finalizing details to expand the postseason to 24 teams. 

This would likely be the final move in a series of expansions that have taken the college football model from a two-team championship picture in the early 2010s to a 24-team competition in the late 2020s. 

Critics point out that a postseason with 24 teams devalues the regular season. This is not untrue, to some extent, but it’s also an observation that’s been made about previous rounds of playoff expansion. 

The TV money of a 24-team playoff appears to be too attractive for the decision-makers to protect the current 12-team status quo. If the change is made, expect the College Football Playoff odds market to get more accessible but less lucrative. 

JMU Announces Move to the American Conference

James Madison was an FCS team as recently as 2021, but its funding and infrastructure have quickly made it one of the top G6 programs in college football. It’s arguably the most consistent FBS program in the entire Mid-Atlantic region. 

With the Sun Belt preparing to raise its exit fees, JMU decided now was the best time to floor the accelerator on a conference move. 

The Dukes will join the American no later than 2028, which will give the conference another top G6 contender to pair with Memphis, South Florida, and Tulane.