Loyalty in College Football: A Double-Edged Sword for Top Teams in 2026

Loyalty in college football is being scrutinized as several teams struggle in the 2026 season. Oregon and Texas A&M, both ranked in the top ten at the start of the season, have faced significant setbacks, with Oregon at 3-2 and Texas A&M at 3-3.

Oregon's head coach Dan Lanning promoted internal assistants to key positions after losing top coordinators, leading to a lack of offensive cohesion. The Ducks have suffered defeats against Oklahoma State and UCLA, with a particularly poor performance against UCLA where they committed seven turnovers. Meanwhile, Texas A&M's decision to promote Holmon Wiggins as offensive coordinator has resulted in a dismal offensive ranking, compounded by quarterback Marcel Reed's struggles.

Other teams, including Texas and Oklahoma, have also faced criticism for their loyalty to existing staff and players. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has maintained his trust in his offensive assistants despite ongoing issues, while Oklahoma's Brent Venables has opted to stick with quarterback John Mateer despite underwhelming performances. Clemson's Dabo Swinney similarly chose to remain loyal to quarterback Christopher Vizzina, whose struggles have raised questions about the team's direction.