College football programs identify key players for potential breakout seasons

CBS Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 3:04 PM

Last updated Sep 1, 2026

College football programs identify key players for potential breakout seasons

Summary

As the 2026 college football season begins, several Power Four programs are monitoring individual players who represent significant variables for their teams' success. The list includes quarterbacks such as DJ Lagway at Baylor, Lincoln Kienholz at Louisville, and LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina. These athletes have been identified for their potential to either fuel a run toward the College Football Playoff or struggle under new schemes and high expectations. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is also under observation at Alabama following a sophomore season marked by dropped passes, while running back Makhi Hughes seeks to return to his previous form after reuniting with his former head coach at Houston. Performance from these individuals may determine whether their respective teams reach conference contention or face uncertainty throughout the fall schedule.

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Key Details

•DJ Lagway enters his first season at Baylor following an inconsistent freshman campaign at Florida.
•Ryan Coleman-Williams returns to Alabama aiming to improve his reliability after recording 13 drops in 2025.
•Makhi Hughes looks to regain his production levels at Houston under head coach Willie Fritz.
•Lincoln Kienholz earns a starting opportunity to lead the Louisville offense in the ACC.
•LaNorris Sellers seeks to stabilize his decision-making within the South Carolina offensive system.

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