NFL Draft: 2026 prospects to watch on College Football Playoff’s opening weekend

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It’s a jam-packed weekend of football at the professional and, well, also professional ranks! The NFL spreads its tentacles to Saturday and the College Football Playoff kicks off Friday night in Norman, Oklahoma.

As the NFL and college football seasons enter the home stretch, and we get ever closer to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, let’s take a look at the top prospects to watch during the first round of the playoff.

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(9) Alabama vs. (8) Oklahoma

My eyes are first going to go to one matchup in particular between an Oklahoma pass rusher and an Alabama tackle.

Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas

Thomas is an undersized but powerful defender that can explode off the snap. He truly is like a sawed-off shotgun with the way he can use his surprising length and pop to get underneath and push back offensive tackles and tight ends. And he’ll see plenty of snaps against …

Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor

Proctor is massive at the tackle position and his evaluation is all over the place. Which matches his up-and-down play this season. I have Proctor graded more as a back-half-of-the-first-round type player, and that is more because I am weighing his rare size (listed 6-foot-7, 366 pounds) and movement ability. Thomas’ size (or lack thereof) and quick-hitting play style is a perfect type of opponent for evaluators to watch when grading Proctor. And same for Proctor’s massive size and strength for Thomas to battle against.

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Alabama QB Ty Simpson

Simpson was a big riser in this year’s underwhelming quarterback class, but his play tapered off in the second half of the season. His willingness to push the ball and create explosive plays made him a fun watch, but his average size (6-2, 208) and inaccuracies started to crop up a bit too frequently as SEC play wore on. I think he ends up going back to school, but still worth watching because he is a true gunslinger working from the pocket.

Oklahoma QB John Mateer

Mateer is tough and will flash some cool trick shots as a passer, but he, like Simpson, got banged up this season and started to have too many inconsistencies.

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(10) Miami vs. (7) Texas A&M

Miami OL Francis Mauigoa

More focus on the trenches as we look to College Station. Mauigoa has perhaps been the most consistent offensive line prospect in this class, and he plays with a good base and hand usage. I see him more as a guard at the next level, perhaps the first one that gets drafted, but he is still a very good tackle in college and he will have a fun matchup going against the Aggies defense and …

Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell

Howell is undersized but is a fireball at the snap of the football. He can quickly give offensive tackles issues with his speed, and he’s been productive throughout his college career. Howell’s quickness against Mauigoa’s sturdiness will be an enjoyable “styles makes fights” battle.

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Miami QB Carson Beck

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko’s defensive gameplanning will be a fun test for Carson Beck and the Hurricanes offense. I see Beck as a Day 3 prospect, but when kept clean he can get on a roll as a thrower, and this will be a great matchup to watch and see how far Beck has come along as a processor and operator.

Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.

The Hurricanes have a pair of talented edge prospects, too. Bain Jr. was the most dominant defender in the country over the first half of the season, but has tapered off slightly since then. He’s a powerful defender that can kick inside as a defensive tackle on snaps (some teams even view him as a defensive tackle first, which I don’t totally disagree with). Bain Jr’s. ability to push the pocket and hold down the point of attack in the run game make him a very useful player, but his lack of high-end twitch and length might have some teams questioning his overall upside.

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Miami edge Akheem Mesidor

Mesidor is an older prospect (he will turn 25 just before the draft), but he is a violent pass rusher whose twitch and bend pop off of the screen. I see some similarities to Rams edge Byron Young in terms of background and ability with Mesidor.

Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion

Concepcion is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He could make an instant impact as a big-play receiver and returner at the next level. Concepcion is undersized (5-10, 190), but he has real ball skills as a receiver that helps him maximize his frame. He can be a nice secondary weapon in a passing attack that can help add an explosive element right away.

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(11) Tulane vs. (6) Ole Miss

Tulane has been such a well-coached team under Jon Sumrall (who took the job at Florida), but they play to the max of their abilities and it isn’t a roster filled with high-end prospects. It’s kind of the same for Ole Miss, funnily enough.

Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss

Chambliss is a hoot to watch, but will likely be staying in college football somewhere in 2026. Chambliss is worth tuning in for just from a sheer enjoyment of watching a fun college football player perspective.

(12) James Madison vs. (5) Oregon

Lots of ballplayers to watch on the home team in Eugene! On both units, too.

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Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

Sadiq is an explosive offensive weapon that’s willing to scrap as a blocker, too. He’s athletic enough to win from split out positions and is a valid weapon down the field and after the catch. Sadiq still needs to add more consistency and polish to his game, but his star moments shine as brightly as anyone in this class. His name will be called on the first night in April.

Oregon DT A’Mauri Washington

Washington is a mauler in the middle and has been a riser this season. Washington can blow up double-teams with his size (listed 330 pounds) and strength. Washington can be used as a run-down plugger, but can also fit on more attacking defenses that ask him to slant and twist after the snap.

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Oregon edge Matayo Uiagalelei

Uiagalelei could fit as a defensive end in three- or four-down fronts. He hasn’t had a big year, but still has length and his role in the run game translates to the next level.

Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon

Oregon has several talented offensive linemen on the other side of the trenches, too. In a class full of more good than great, Pregnon has risen to first-round consideration. He’s light on his feet and has improved his technique and ability to recover and anchor this season.

Oregon LT Isaiah World

World has high-end tools with real length and power in his game, but has still been an inconsistent performer this year after transferring from Nevada. He fell out of my midseason top 30 big board, but his flashes and athleticism will keep him as a prospect to watch this cycle. Somebody will take a chance.

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Oregon S Dillon Thienenman

Thienenman, another transfer (this time from Purdue), is a player that can do a little bit of everything role-wise. He’s quick to trigger downhill and just ends up around the football. I like him best in teams that base out of two-high or like to funk up their looks after the snap. I have him graded as an early Day 2 selection right now but could easily see him having some fans on the playoff teams that make up the back end of the first round.

Oregon QB Dante Moore

That’s it, right? Onto the Dukes prospects … oh wait, Dante Moore! Moore is the NFL Draft’s biggest mystery man. Not in terms of if he will go in the first round, because he will, but on whether he declares. I maintain that he should, regardless of how Oregon fares in this game or the next few weeks. I have had Fernando Mendoza (we’ll see the Heisman winner in the quarterfinals) graded so far as my QB1 this process, but it’s far from a consensus opinion on how the league and other evaluators judge these two, and really this entire class.

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Moore gets asked to do a lot in Oregon’s offense, not in terms of running but more in terms of operation and as a passer from the pocket. He is a clean thrower who can really pepper throws around when in rhythm and is comfortable with the plays, but he can be a bit safe and inconsistent on certain concepts that he doesn’t have as much time on (which makes sense, given that this is his first full year starting). His development this year has been a lot of fun to watch, and teams with a need for quarterback should be watching every Oregon game from here on out.

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