The following article discusses the teams, coaches, players, and coaches with most to prove in college football in 2026. The focus is on those with expectations that things can improve, and that things better get better for them in the future. These include teams looking for College Football Playoff berths, players who need to bounce back from down years and coaches who are on the hot seat. Clemson's Dabo Swinney, particularly on defense, has been heavily invested in the team's efforts to fix a stagnant offense. Meanwhile, Alabama's Kalen DeBoer is facing a significant challenge, starting with an inexperienced quarterback and new defensive front seven. The article also mentions USC's Lincoln Riley, who has been asked for patience as he upgrades the front office and other areas of the program, and its challenging Big Ten schedule includes home games against Oregon, Washington and Ohio State and trips to Indiana and Penn State.