​In a darkened corner of the Miami Beach Convention Center, just a few yards removed from where he'd made a promotional appearance for AT&T, former Miami wide receiver Reggie Wayne — a program legend — gushed about the exploits of Hurricane freshman Malachi Toney, an electric wideout in his own right. "Him coming in, doing those things — not only doing it, but doing it at an elite level — man, it’s fantastic," Wayne told me in January, two days before Toney led Miami onto the field in the national championship game against Indiana. "Whenever you get somebody like that as a freshman creating havoc like that, it does nothing but just put Miami on everybody’s minds all day and all night." Even in a losing effort, Toney proved capable of haunting the Hoosiers to a degree most first-year players can only dream about. He caught 10 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown to put a lasting exclamation point on a campaign few college football fans will soon forget. Toney received first-team All-ACC honors and was named the conference's Rookie of the Year after leading the entire country in receptions (109) and total touchdowns as a receiver (10), runner (1) and passer (2). Special is one of the only adequate words to describe the way Toney performed. As the 2026 season approaches, fans everywhere are wondering which newcomers might captivate college football the way Toney did, the way Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith did the year prior en route to winning the national championship. So with that, here are 10 potential impact freshmen capable of shaping the upcoming season: * Recruiting rankings and historical data courtesy of 247Sports. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 235 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 29 overall, No. 2 TE There were so many reasons for head coach Lincoln Riley to rejoice when Bowman gave his verbal commitment to USC on May 30, 2025, dousing even more lighter fluid on an already incandescent recruiting stretch for the Trojans. A five-star prospect and the No. 29 overall player in the country, Bowman became the poster child for Riley’s retooled approach that dedicated significantly more time and resources to in-state prospects than at any point in his tenure. Not only was Bowman a highly coveted local product who played high school football less than an hour from the LA Memorial Coliseum, but he was also representative of the mended relationship between Riley’s staff and powerhouse Mater Dei High School, a recruiting oasis for power-conference programs. Sitting second behind Notre Dame signee Ian Premer in this year’s tight end hierarchy, Bowman already has a Big Ten-ready frame that lends itself to positional versatility in Riley’s creative offense. He also enters a relatively wide-open passing attack that needs to replace four of its five leading targets from last season: WR Makai Lemon (79 catches; 1,156 yards; 11 TDs), WR Ja’Kobi Lane (49 catches; 745 yards; 4 TDs), TE Lake McRee (30 catches; 450 yards; 4 TDs) and TE Walker Lyons (20 catches, 223 yards, 2 TDs). There’s an opportunity for Bowman to earn immediate targets from veteran quarterback Jayden Maiava. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220 poundsSchool: St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, MarylandRanking: No. 5 overall, No. 1 edge Amid a dismal stretch of back-to-back seasons in which Maryland produced identical 4-8 overall records and unsightly 1-8 marks in conference play, an impressive run on the recruiting trail has kept head coach Mike Locksley afloat. Locksley, the former offensive coordinator at Alabama, strung together six consecutive top-40 classes from 2020-25 to inject a downtrodden program with much more high-end talent. He signed four players rated among the top 10 recruits in program history during that stretch — OLB Terrence Lewis, WR Rakim Jarrett, S Nick Cross and edge rusher Chop Robinson — while also identifying a quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa who finished as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader with 11,256 yards. Locksley outdid all of that last December when he secured the signature of Elee, a five-star edge rusher holding additional scholarship offers from Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC and Notre Dame, among others. Elee instantly became the highest-rated prospect to ever sign with the Terrapins, narrowly edging former Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs in 2012. The expectation is that Elee should earn immediate playing time for a defense that has lost five players to the NFL Draft over the last two years and ranked 10th in the Big Ten for sacks last season. Height: 6-foot-6Weight: 321 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 25 overall, No. 3 OT Beginning with the first recruiting class head coach Jedd Fisch put together after leaving Arizona for Washington ahead of the 2024 season, his desire to flood the trenches with bigger bodies was readily apparent. He wanted taller offensive linemen, lengthier defensive linemen and frames capable of adding significant mass on both sides of the ball. "Remember," Fisch said at Big Ten Media Days that summer, "we're going to always recruit guys that can play in the NFL. The NFL doesn't like small." Which is probably why, in the not-so-distant future, scouts and general managers alike will become quite fond of Greene, a stud offensive tackle who flipped his commitment from Oregon to Washington last spring. Greene’s frame wouldn’t look out of place in an NFL training camp, despite the fact that he’s only 18. There are sky-high expectations surrounding Greene, who is the sixth highest-rated recruit in program history — and the highest-rated offensive lineman to join the Huskies since Nathan Rhodes in 2002. He received rave reviews from teammates and coaches while working at left tackle during spring practice, the position vacated by veteran Carver Willis, a fourth-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft. Green is expected to be Washington’s opening day starter at left tackle to protect the blindside of star quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a potential Heisman Trophy contender. How close the Huskies come to reaching the College Football Playoff might hinge on Greene’s development. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 295 poundsSchool: University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, LouisianaRanking: No. 3 overall, No. 1 ATH How important was it to preserve the commitment from this five-star defensive tackle to newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin, whose prolonged "will-he-or-won’t-he" saga regarding a possible departure from Ole Miss put the Tigers’ recruiting class in jeopardy last December? Important enough for Kiffin, who was cursed off the tarmac by frustrated Rebels’ fans, to arrange some face time with Brown hours after arriving in Baton Rouge. A picture of Kiffin and Brown, whose high school is located on the LSU campus, quickly made the rounds on social media. Brown had been verbally pledged to the Tigers since July 10, at which point Brian Kelly was still in charge, and whether he would re-open his commitment following the coaching change represented a key storyline ahead of the early signing period. Kiffin and his then-piecemeal coaching staff succeeded in convincing Brown to sign with LSU on Dec. 5, the final day of the early window, giving the Tigers a crown jewel in a recruiting class that finished 11th nationally. Though Brown checked in at No. 3 overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings, he was viewed as the top overall prospect by ESPN, giving the Tigers their first No. 1 recruit since running back Leonard Fournette in 2014. Brown, who will concentrate on playing defensive end for LSU, earned All-State and All-America honors as both an offensive and defensive linemen in high school. He also won state championships in shot put and discus as a member of the track and field team. Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 195 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 14 overall, No. 2 WR Nearly three years have passed since Henry first committed to Ohio State, delighting the Buckeyes and then-wide receivers coach Brian Hartline with yet another wideout for the sport’s best pipeline at that position. With so much time between Henry’s initial commitment and last December’s early signing period, when he could finally put pen to paper, the recruiting efforts from Hartline and head coach Ryan Day were as much about retention and maintenance as they were initial attraction. Then, Hartline left to become the head coach at South Florida on the same day the signing window officially opened, tossing one last wrench into Henry’s recruitment. Conference rival Oregon decided to mount a late push. The Ducks did enough to give Henry pause, leading him to delay his final decision by two days and triggering consternation around Ohio State. Ultimately, though, Henry followed in the footsteps of so many blue-chip receivers in recent years and reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes. He enrolled early to participate in offseason workouts and then delighted fans during the spring game by catching four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. The departure of veteran wideout Carnell Tate, who became the program’s sixth receiver drafted in the first round since 2022, opened a clearer path toward early playing time for Henry. He and unquestioned No. 1 target Jeremiah Smith could form one of the most physically imposing receiver tandems in the country. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 215 poundsSchool: Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North CarolinaRanking: No. 10 overall, No. 3 QB For the second time in the last four recruiting cycles, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel landed a five-star quarterback with the requisite size and skill to contribute immediately. His first such signee was Nico Iamaleava, whose career quickly became synonymous with one of the sport’s first eye-popping NIL deals, an agreement reportedly worth $8 million. Iamaleava went on to spend two seasons with the Volunteers and led them to the College Football Playoff in 2024 before transferring to UCLA. He remains the highest-rated quarterback signee in program history. Right behind him, though, is Faizon, a budding star with scholarship offers from seemingly every blue blood in the country: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, to name a few. The only quarterbacks ranked ahead of Faizon in the 2026 class were Keisean Henderson, who signed with Houston, and Jared Curtis, who signed with Vanderbilt. With Heupel declining to name a starter during spring practice, the competition between Faizon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre is expected to continue into fall camp. MacIntyre only logged 11 snaps last season while serving as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Joey Aguilar and backup Jake Merklinger, who transferred to UConn. Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 205 poundsSchool: Jackson High School in Jackson, AlabamaRanking: No. 15 overall, No. 2 RB Alabama produced three draft picks across the opening two rounds of this year’s NFL Draft in offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 12 overall), quarterback Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall) and wide receiver Germie Bernard (No. 47 overall), but in many ways, that collection of personnel only underscored the offensive imbalance that plagued the Crimson Tide last season. Despite running the ball 466 times — tied for 59th nationally and seventh-most in the SEC — head coach Kalen DeBoer’s team ranked 125th in rushing yards per game (104.1) and 126th in yards per carry (3.4). Running back Jam Miller, a seventh-round pick by the New England Patriots, was the only tailback to eclipse 284 yards. When Indiana limited the Crimson Tide to just 23 rushing yards in a lopsided CFP quarterfinal, the offense reached an unsightly nadir. DeBoer and his staff know they’ll need to run the ball more effectively in 2026 to avoid a third consecutive four-loss season, which hasn’t happened at Alabama since the early 1980s. Tailbacks Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and AK Dear are all back for another year, but Crowell is the player generating plenty of early buzz. Even after reclassifying, Crowell is still the fourth-best running back recruit in program history behind Najee Harris (2017), Trent Richardson (2009) and Trey Sanders (2019). He’s expected to be an immediate contributor this fall. Height: 6-feetWeight: 210 poundsSchool: Louisa County High School in Mineral, VirginiaRanking: No. 12 overall, No. 1 RB Even though Sherrone Moore was fired after the early signing period had come and gone — he was dismissed on Dec. 10 when Michigan announced it found "credible evidence" of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer — there was still plenty of re-recruiting for the newly hired Kyle Whittingham to maneuver. Those efforts almost certainly revolved around Hiter and five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows (No. 9 overall, No. 4 edge), two ultra-high-end prospects the Wolverines pursued by mirroring the strategy that landed them former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood during the previous cycle. Hiter drew rave reviews from teammates and coaches during spring practice, with Whittingham going so far as saying the true freshman will earn significant playing time from the outset of his career. The departure of starting tailback Justice Haynes via the transfer portal — he landed at Georgia Tech after carrying 121 times for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury last fall — creates an immediate opening for Hiter in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. Veteran Jordan Marshall, who carried 150 times for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, including four consecutive 100-yard games from mid-October to mid-November, is expected to enter fall camp atop the depth chart to form one of the league’s best pairings at that position. Height: 6-foot-8Weight: 330 poundsSchool: Nixa High School in Nixa, MissouriRanking: No. 2 overall, No. 1 OT By the time Miami upset Ohio State in the quarterfinals of last year’s College Football Playoff, it became clear that the Hurricanes’ combination of immense size and strength along the offensive line made them legitimate national championship contenders. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who became a first-round pick by the New York Giants, was listed at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds. Left tackle Markel Bell, who became a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, was listed at 6-foot-9 and 345 pounds. Together, they leaned on undersized edge rushers and defensive tackles alike until Miami had mauled its way to a title game appearance. Ordinarily, replacing such high-level offensive tackles would be a daunting task for most coaching staffs. But Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, an offensive line coach by trade, scored what was unquestionably the biggest recruiting win of his burgeoning tenure when he signed five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, considered by many to be the best player in the country. Cantwell, who will likely start immediately at left tackle, is the highest-rated offensive line signee in program history and the second-best prospect to join Miami in the recruiting rankings era, trailing only linebacker D.J. Williams in 2000. He should play a pivotal role in protecting transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, formerly of Duke, for a program that expects to reach the playoff for a second straight season. Height: 6-foot-3Weight: 230 poundsSchool: Nashville Christian School in Nashville, TennesseeRanking: No. 4 overall, No. 2 QB Rumblings surrounding what many considered a potentially paradigm-altering flip began to swirl several days before the early signing period last December. Could SEC afterthought Vanderbilt, which had finished above .500 just once in the preceding 11 seasons and only four times this century, really convince five-star quarterback Jared Curtis to renege on a verbal commitment to national powerhouse Georgia? Those kinds of things don’t usually happen in college football, even when the player in question is being wooed by a hometown team. Which is why it was still relatively shocking when rumor became reality on Dec. 2 and Curtis, who’d been committed to Georgia for more than a year, spurned the Bulldogs in favor of Vanderbilt. He signed with the Commodores one day later. Fast-forward to the present and Curtis, the only five-star signee in program history, is squarely in contention to become a day-one starter this fall. Reports from spring practice suggest that he matched or exceeded the lofty expectations heaped onto him by fans and analysts alike, flashing an enticing combination of arm strength and athleticism that should get him on the field this fall. His primary challenger is senior Blaze Berlowitz, a former three-star prospect and New Mexico State transfer entering his third season with the Commodores. Berlowitz made six appearances in 2025 but has never started a game for Vanderbilt. It seems unlikely that he will hold off Curtis much longer. Read More

​The Chicago Bears delivered a cinematic 2025 season in Year 1 of the Ben Johnson era, which came with an NFC North title and reaching the Divisional round in the playoffs. Their 2026 regular season schedule — which was released on Thursday — shows that the Bears might be staring at an uphill battle to repeat that, playing 12 games against teams who either had a winning record or made the playoffs in 2025. However, for FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd, the Bears' schedule isn't the toughest in the league. "I was told the toughest schedule in the NFL is the Chicago Bears. I don’t see it. The Bears do not face any team off a bye. Not once. Secondly, look at the games before their toughest games. They’ll either be a game before or after where they will be a significant favorite," Cowherd said on Friday's edition of "The Herd." To Cowherd's point, the Bears host the New York Jets in Week 4 before playing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 5. They face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 before taking on the New England Patriots in Week 7. They do face the Seattle Seahawks in the following week, but their Week 15 matchup against the Buffalo Bills follows a Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins. Still, the Bears are set to take on some difficult challenges in 2026. They attempted to get ahead of that in the offseason, adding safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency to offset some losses they had on defense. They also added highly-touted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with their first-round pick. The additions on defense come after Caleb Williams' emergence as a star quarterback in Year 2. While Williams lost wide receiver D.J. Moore this offseason, tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III both showed promise as rookies this past season. To kick things off for Chicago, the Bears open the season on the road at the Carolina Panthers, and then have three-straight at home against the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and the Jets. And while that aforementioned game against the Seahawks is after a matchup against the Patriots, Chicago hosts New England on a Thursday night. So, the Bears will take on the Seahawks with an extended break. For Cowherd, the extra rest in between games and the consecutive home-field advantages make for an easier schedule than some are suggesting. "I mean the first month alone, they get three home games," Cowherd said. "That’s a nice start. Their toughest game is the game in Seattle against the Seahawks. But they even get a break there. They get extra rest from Thursday to Monday. The NFL, they want a Chicago Bears team that is in the news. It’s no gauntlet." Read More

​Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has questioned the hype surrounding Cole Palmer after his breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge in 2023-24. The Frenchman believes expectations have risen too quickly and insists the Blues still have major issues, particularly in defence. Gallas questions Palmer hype amid Chelsea struggles Palmer became the centrepiece of Chelsea’s project after arriving from Manchester City, enjoying a superb debut season with 25 goals, which brought individual recognition in the form of a PFA Young Player of the Year award win and high expectations. However, former Blues defender Gallas believes the reaction to Palmer’s rise has gone too far. Speaking about the current state of the squad, Gallas suggested the narrative around the 24-year-old attacker has become exaggerated. Gallas questions Palmer’s status Despite significant investment in the squad, the club has struggled to find defensive stability, conceding regularly and failing to establish a reliable back line. Gallas criticised both the team’s attacking and defensive output while suggesting Palmer has not maintained the same impact that sparked first season’s hype. "When you look at the Chelsea defenders, they've let in so many goals. The strikers, they've barely scored any goals," Gallas told Gallas urges Chelsea to move for John Stones Gallas has suggested Chelsea should strengthen their defense by targeting Stones, who is set to leave City this summer, instead of Marcos Senesi. "Marcos Senesi is a good defender, he's had a good season with Bournemouth, and he's 29 years old, which means he's had more experience than some of the current Chelsea defenders," he added. "But the pressure will be different at a big club, and Senesi hasn't experienced that pressure." "John Stones will be a better option for Chelsea, he knows exactly what the pressure is to play for a big club and knows the feeling of winning trophies. Also, Stones will be leaving Manchester City for free in the summer. Chelsea have to try and sign him, he would organise the back line." Defense issues and appointment of a permanent manager While Palmer has been a key attacking outlet since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s defensive struggles remain a major issue. The club has spent heavily on defenders but has yet to form a consistent partnership capable of anchoring a push for the top four. Several names have been linked with the Blues ahead of the summer transfer window. However, they are also working to appoint a permanent manager following the sacking of Liam Rosenior in April. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA's opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET). Read More

​Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has secured a record-breaking fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award following an exceptional individual campaign. The Portuguese playmaker has now surpassed the tallies of club legends Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea, cementing his status as one of the most consistent performers in the club's modern history. Red Devils captain honored Fernandes has enjoyed a resurgent campaign under the guidance of Michael Carrick, helping United secure a return to the Champions League despite early-season domestic cup exits. The 31-year-old’s influential performances, which include a remarkable 19 assists, have earned him the prestigious award for a record-breaking fifth time. This accolade places him one clear of iconic former team-mates De Gea and Ronaldo, reinforcing his status as a modern-day talisman at Old Trafford. Chasing Premier League history The Portugal international has weighed in with eight goals, but the headline-grabbing statistics surround his immense creativity. Having created 124 chances this term, the fourth-highest tally in a single Premier League campaign, Fernandes is on the verge of equalling the competition's Currently sitting on 19 league assists, the United skipper requires just one more to match the milestone of 20 set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with two domestic fixtures remaining to potentially surpass that legendary figure. Legacy amongst the greats Since arriving in 2020, Fernandes has consistently been the standout performer at the club, first winning the prize under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before achieving a personal-best 28-goal haul the following year. After Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo claimed the trophy in intervening seasons, Fernandes returned to the top of the fan vote in 2024 following FA Cup success at Wembley. By securing his latest win, he becomes only the second player after De Gea to complete a hat-trick of consecutive victories. Record-breaking finish in sight United conclude their season with a home fixture against Nottingham Forest this Sunday before travelling to Brighton a week later. These matches represent a vital opportunity for Fernandes to maintain his momentum and secure the individual assist record following a pivotal turnaround in the club's fortunes. With Champions League football safely secured for next term, the captain remains the focal point for a side looking to build on their strong finish and prepare for a significant summer of development. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA's opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET). Read More

​Yes, we already knew who every team was playing in the 2026 NFL season. However, after Thursday's schedule release, it's now a bit easier to predict the year ahead in the NFL. With dates of all 272 regular-season matchups set, we can take a closer look at the ebb and flow of schedules for specific teams and hazard a guess as to what the potential outcomes might be. Last year, I predicted the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, along with bounce-back seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. But I also believed the ever-optimistic Pete Carroll would lead the Las Vegas Raiders to respectability in his first season and the Washington Commanders would reach the Super Bowl, so I’m not exactly puffing my chest out. So, here are five bold predictions for the upcoming season with the release of this year’s schedule. It’s finally Joe Burrow’s time to shine — again. The Cincinnati Bengals have the third-easiest schedule, based on the projected win totals of their opponents. However, the Bengals had one of the easiest schedules last year and still finished 6-11. Of course, Burrow could not stay out of the training room, playing in just eight games in 2025. Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco to rescue the offense, but the defense couldn't keep up, allowing at least 30 points in serve games. So, in the offseason, the Bengals finally went all in and spent major resources to fix an ailing defense, trading with the New York Giants for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. They also signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Boye Mafe, along with safeties Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger and Ja’Sir Taylor in free agency. The Bengals added defensive linemen Cashius Howell and Landon Robinson, along with cornerback Tacario Davis, in the draft. So, the defense should be much better than No. 31 in total defense, which is where the Bengals finished last season. Along with that, the Bengals' three other AFC North rivals all have new head coaches (Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers; Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens; Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns). In all, the Bengals play nine games against teams with head coaches leading them for the first time this season (the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans are the others). Cincinnati has the advantage of most continuity in the division, including all 11 players returning for one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and one of the top quarterbacks in the league when healthy in Burrow. If the LSU product can stay upright, it’s the Bengals best shot at reaching the Super Bowl since Burrow led them there after the 2021 season. If not, the Bengals have an experienced backup with a Super Bowl ring in Flacco. New Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley are taking a long-term approach to building a winner in South Beach. That means there will be some bumps in the road with new quarterback Malik Willis leading them. Expect some struggles for Miami this season, going winless on the road amid a first-year rebuilding effort. That might not seem like a surprise when you consider that they have games at the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers on their slate. That slate is made even more difficult when you consider that Miami was 1-7 in games that were 45 degrees or colder at kickoff under head coach Mike McDaniel, and four of those aforementioned games take place in November or later. But the Dolphins also have road games at the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts, giving them opportunities to win games on the road. And while you might think there's a team that goes winless on the road every season, that hasn't been the case as of late. There's only been one winless team on the road in the last four seasons. On top of that, the last time Miami went winless on the road was in 2007, when the Dolphins finished 1-15. That was Cam Cameron's first and only season leading the Dolphins. (Miami hired Tony Sparano and he finished 11-5 the following year.) Miami moved on from a handful of the team’s best players this offseason in wide receiver Tyreek Hill, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, edge rusher Bradley Chubb and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots rode the third-easiest schedule in the league last year to a magical Super Bowl run. Drake Maye emerged as an MVP-worthy candidate in his second season, and the Patriots returned to their mantle as one of the dominant teams in the NFL. However, New England played only three teams that reached the playoffs during the regular season, the fewest of any team in the league. The Patriots finished 1-2 against those teams during the regular season. Well, fast-forward to this season and Vrabel is now dealing with off-the-field distractions. The Patriots are also coming off a Super Bowl where they were dominated up front on both sides of the ball, losing in ugly fashion to the Seattle Seahawks. And after enjoying a schedule that allowed them to travel no further than New Orleans in 2025, the Patriots will travel the fifth-most miles this season (27,590). The inevitable addition of No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown should help an offense that lacks explosive plays and moved on from the team’s best receiver in Stefon Diggs this offseason. But the Patriots have the sixth-hardest schedule in the league. The Patriots face nine playoff teams from last season. Only the Seahawks (10) face more. The previous two Super Bowl losers failed to have a winning record the following season, with the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs stumbling in each of the last two years. Expect the Patriots to follow a similar path. The New Orleans Saints return Louisville product Tyler Shough at quarterback in 2026 after the second-rounder showed promise as a rookie in 2025. Shough took over as the starter midseason and finished 5-4 as the team’s starter, so the Saints believe they have their franchise quarterback of the future. New Orleans certainly approached the offseason with that mindset as well. The Saints surrounded Shough with playmakers on offense, including first-round pick receiver Jordyn Tyson, an athletic tight end in the third round in Oscar Delp and underrated receiver Bryce Lane. The Saints also added running back Travis Etienne, veteran tight end Noah Fant and offensive lineman David Edwards in free agency. The Saints finished 7-10 last season and have the second-easiest schedule, based on opponents, based on the projected win totals of their opponents. New Orleans also plays in one of the easiest divisions in football in the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers won the division at 8-9 last season.  The Saints also face the fewest playoff teams this season at five. So, expect the Saints to reign supreme in the NFC South and win their first division title since Drew Brees was their quarterback. Yes, the Los Angeles Rams are the current betting favorite to win the Super Bowl. But Father Time is undefeated. Matthew Stafford is 38 years old and coming off a year when he played in all 17 games for the first time since 2021, winning the NFL’s MVP Award for the first time in his 17-year career. Can Stafford play at that level again and stay healthy? Stafford had a balky back that forced him to miss time during training camp in 2025. And oddly enough, Stafford-led teams finished below .500 in three of the four seasons after he started and won double-digit games. The only time that didn’t happen was this past season, when the Rams followed up a 10-7 record by going 12-5, reaching the NFC Championship Game and finishing four points short of reaching the Super Bowl. If Stafford does suffer an injury, the Rams no longer have an experienced backup in Jimmy Garoppolo. Instead, it’s surprise first-round pick Ty Simpson, who some scouts I spoke with around the league did not believe was a first-round pick. Los Angeles also has the fifth-hardest schedule, based on projected win totals, facing nine teams that made the playoffs in 2025. That includes two late-season matchups against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, facing Seattle twice in the final three weeks. Teams with five of the six hardest projected schedules finished under their projected win totals last year. The Rams travel the second-most miles in the league this season (35,487), including a season opener against their NFC West rival in Australia against the San Francisco 49ers. That's just the start of a five-game stretch that includes games at the Broncos and Eagles, plus a home game against the Bills. Read More