The Two Sides of the 2026 Season
Every college football season produces a set of players who define the conversation around the sport. In 2026, two sophomores — one on offense, one on defense — are uniquely positioned to be those players. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin arrived in Columbus with the weight of expectations after transferring from Alabama, and his fall camp reports have been universally positive. Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, the highest-rated returning defensive player in the country at 97 overall in CFB 27, is already drawing comparisons to some of the best corners in Fighting Irish history.
Together, they represent the two sides of the ball that will determine the 2026 College Football Playoff race: a quarterback who can take over a game through the air and a cornerback who can shut down half the field.
Julian Sayin: Bigger, Stronger, Ready
Sayin, the former five-star recruit who originally signed with Alabama before following the coaching change to Ohio State, started 10 games for the Buckeyes in 2025 as a true freshman. His numbers — 3,142 yards, 24 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 65.3% completion rate — were solid but not spectacular, and the offseason narrative was that Ohio State needed its quarterback to take a leap to match the program's championship aspirations.
According to multiple reports from Ohio State's fall camp, Sayin has done exactly that. He has added 12 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame, now weighing 215 pounds, and his arm strength has noticeably improved. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has been effusive in his praise, noting that Sayin's command of the offense — particularly the RPO elements and the deep passing game — has accelerated faster than any quarterback he has coached at this stage of development.
Ohio State's offense is loaded around him. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (99 overall, the first 99-rated player in CFB 27 history) is the best receiver in the country, and the Buckeyes return four of their top five pass-catchers from a year ago. The question is whether Sayin can elevate the offense from very good to elite — and whether he can do it in the biggest games, including a November trip to Ann Arbor and a likely playoff run.
Leonard Moore: The Shutdown Corner Notre Dame Has Been Waiting For
On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore enters his sophomore season as the highest-rated defensive back in the country. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound cover corner from Warner Robins, Georgia, started all 14 games as a true freshman, recording 11 pass breakups, 4 interceptions and a defensive touchdown. His 97 overall rating in CFB 27 reflects his real-world impact: quarterbacks who threw in his direction in 2025 posted a passer rating of just 48.2, the lowest mark in the country among corners with at least 400 coverage snaps.
New Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, promoted from defensive coordinator after Marcus Freeman's departure to the NFL, has made Moore the centerpiece of his defensive scheme. 'Leonard has the ability to take away a side of the field,' Freeman said in a recent press conference. 'That's rare. You don't have to scheme around him — you can scheme with him, and that changes everything about how we call a game.'
Moore's skill set is a perfect fit for modern college football. In an era of spread offenses and four-receiver sets, a corner who can win on an island without safety help is the most valuable defensive asset in the sport. Notre Dame's schedule includes matchups against Ohio State, USC and Clemson — all teams with elite wide receivers — giving Moore a national stage to prove he is the best defensive player in the country.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The CFP race is wide open entering 2026. Ohio State opens at No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. Notre Dame is a consensus top-10 team. If Sayin and Moore deliver on their promise, both programs become legitimate championship contenders — and the storyline of the season becomes the sophomore from Ohio State throwing against the sophomore from Notre Dame.
Their paths could cross in the playoffs. The 12-team format means that even if one team stumbles in the regular season, a playoff run is still possible. For now, the spotlight is on fall camp, where both players are proving that their freshman seasons were not a flash of potential but the beginning of something much bigger.
Building Around Them in CFB 27 Dynasty
Ohio State and Notre Dame are both elite Dynasty starts in College Football 27, and Sayin and Moore are the foundational players to build around. If you start a Buckeyes Dynasty, the blueprint is simple: protect Sayin, feed Jeremiah Smith, and let the offense carry you. The 2026 roster has 99-rated Smith, 94-rated Sayin, and a stable of running backs that make the offense nearly unstoppable. For a Notre Dame Dynasty, Moore is the building block on defense — pair him with a strong pass rush and your secondary becomes the strongest unit on the field. Both teams are set up for a generation of success if you manage the recruiting pipeline correctly.
