Countdown to Kickoff: Stanford Steve's Top Teams, Favorite Coaching Hires, & 2026 Predictions

Tim Murray welcomes Stanford Steve to the VSiN College Football Betting Podcast to preview the 2026 college football season and discuss the teams, quarterbacks, coaches, and storylines that could shape the race for the national championship.

Stanford Steve reveals his 2026 national championship pick — Notre Dame — while explaining why he is so high on the Fighting Irish. The guys also break down Indiana's chances to repeat, Oregon's championship upside, Miami's potential to be even better than last season, and whether Ohio State can remain at the top of the sport.

The conversation also dives into Penn State and Matt Campbell, USC and Lincoln Riley, LSU and Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn, Stanford, and the many intriguing quarterback situations around college football. Tim and Stanford Steve also discuss the upcoming Week 1 slate, College GameDay, and which teams could emerge as legitimate College Football Playoff contenders.

Plus, they look ahead to some of the biggest games of the season and discuss which teams could be better in 2026 than they were a year ago.

Topics include:

Stanford Steve's national championship pick

Notre Dame's 2026 championship outlook

Indiana's chances to repeat

Oregon's championship potential

Miami's breakout potential

Ohio State and the Big Ten

Penn State under Matt Campbell