CFB is back! Week 1 Preview!

College football’s line between the college and professional levels is becoming increasingly difficult to define. In this episode of the SEC Right Now Podcast, Kendrick and Dion break down the unprecedented situation involving former NFL players attempting to return to college football. We explain how the NCAA’s new eligibility model created the opening, why court rulings protected certain players from the 2022 recruiting class and how Lane Kiffin and LSU became the center of the controversy by pursuing former Ole Miss standouts Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. We also discuss the SEC’s attempt to ban former professional athletes, the severe penalties threatened against programs that violate the policy, the NFL’s response and why NIL and revenue sharing could make returning to college more attractive than fighting for an NFL roster spot. Then, we preview every SEC game on this week’s schedule. We break down the biggest storylines, key players, matchup advantages and upset possibilities surrounding Clemson vs LSU, Louisville vs Ole Miss, Baylor vs Auburn and all 16 SEC teams. We also give our “Right Now Picks” and explain what each program needs to prove in Week 1. Is LSU simply taking advantage of the rules, or has Lane Kiffin crossed a line? Which SEC contender is most vulnerable this weekend? And which teams will make the biggest opening statement of the 2026 season? We cover it all as SEC football officially returns.