FOX has unveiled three premier college football matchups for the fall, each set to significantly influence the 2026 national championship picture. The lineup includes Oklahoma vs. Michigan, Michigan vs. Ohio State, and the Big Ten Championship Game. These contests are expected to feature ranked teams, a College Football Playoff semifinalist, and a Heisman Trophy contender.
The Big Ten has dominated college football recently, claiming the last three national titles. Once again, the conference is poised to be at the forefront. Here are my bold predictions for these three marquee games on FOX.
Sept. 12: Oklahoma at Michigan
Bold prediction: The result will shape early-season perceptions in the Big Ten–SEC debate.
With the Big Ten’s hold on college football stronger than ever and the SEC still defining its place as the sport’s second-best conference, a Michigan victory in this highly anticipated non-conference clash could prove pivotal. The Big Ten is expected to “just mean more,” but Oklahoma has never lost to Michigan in two meetings and historically performs well against Big Ten opponents. No Big Ten team owns a winning record against the Sooners, and head coach Brent Venables already has wins over Nebraska and Michigan from last season.
Michigan enters a new chapter under its third head coach in four years, aiming to solidify its identity as the program that broke through during the Big Ten’s three consecutive national championship run. Oklahoma, meanwhile, has more College Football Playoff appearances than Michigan but has never won a postseason game, even when hosting one last December against an SEC opponent (Alabama) it had beaten on the road the previous season.
Given that the CFP selection committee increasingly values non-conference matchups between Power 4 programs, especially from the top conferences, the winner here could earn an edge in the playoff race.
Nov. 28: Michigan at Ohio State
Bold prediction: The Michigan-Ohio State game will feature at least one Heisman finalist.
This rivalry has included at least one CFP participant in each of the last seven years, produced five of the last seven Big Ten champions, and featured two of the last three national champions. It remains must-watch not only for its history but for its direct impact on the national title race. Even with Kyle Whittingham now at Michigan, the game’s significance won’t diminish.
Both programs have new offensive coordinators—Arthur Smith at Ohio State and Jason Beck at Michigan—which could bring schematic changes. However, the talent on the field won’t drop. Each roster boasts at least one player with legitimate Heisman potential, and a future finalist will be on the field. This year, Ohio State aims to achieve something it hasn’t since 2014: winning The Game, the Big Ten Championship, and the national title. That question will start to be answered on Nov. 28.
Dec. 5: Big Ten Championship
Bold prediction: The Big Ten Championship will reveal a CFP semifinalist.
The Big Ten champion has reached the CFP semifinals every year since 2019—a streak not even the SEC can match. Whether it was Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, or Indiana, the league champion has consistently been among the final four teams, both by the selection committee’s ranking and on the field. The question this year is whether any team can dethrone reigning champion Indiana.
