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Brian Kelly picks Texas football as favorite for 2026 national title

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 30, 2026, 10:19 PM

Last updated Jul 30, 2026

Brian Kelly picks Texas football as favorite for 2026 national title

Summary

Brian Kelly, the former LSU coach now working as an analyst for CBS Sports, named the Texas Longhorns as the team to beat for the 2026 national title during an appearance on July 27. Kelly highlighted head coach Steve Sarkisian's ability to develop strong offenses and noted the return of redshirt junior quarterback Arch Manning as key factors in his prediction. Kelly believes reduced off-field pressure on Manning will further benefit the team's performance this season, which is set to kick off in the coming weeks.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Brian Kelly now works as an analyst at CBS Sports.
•He believes Texas is the favorite for the 2026 national title.
•Kelly praised Steve Sarkisian's offensive strategies.
•Arch Manning's return is seen as a major advantage.
•The regular season for Texas begins in the coming weeks.

Latest Updates

10:19 PMYahoo Sports — Former LSU coach Brian Kelly picks Texas football as favorite to win 2026 national title

What they're saying

"
Despite his firing at LSU last season, Brian Kelly will remain a voice within the college football universe. This year, however, rather than pacing the sidelines with a headset on, he’s working as an analyst at CBS Sports. In one of his first appearances in his new position, Kelly was asked who he favorites to […]
— Yahoo Sports

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