GUESS WHOS BACK?!?!

Defending 2025 national champions... National champs in 2024 and 2023.... That’s three straight for those not gifted in the ways of the abacus. No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2026 preseason AP poll marking the first time since 1987 that two teams from the same conference hold the top two spots. Oh, and neither of those top 2 are the aforementioned Hoosiers. 18 money-making machines teams, spanning from sea to shining sea. Is it safe to say we’re living in the era of the Big Ten (better known as the B1G, possibly in an effort to distract you from the fact that it’s nearly double its namesake)?

Cue the SEC apologists.

While they summon their inner Paul Finebaums, let me cordially welcome you to One Tru Champ (OTC), the greatest tradition in sports, with all respect to the Master’s.

Like the CFP, OTC has been plagued by dominance. We reverently start the season chasing TWO-time defending champion, Dallas2697. I genuinely have no idea who this masked crusader is, but he better bring his A-game, because… speaking of expansion and world dominance, Commish informs me that mergers and acquisitions have occurred during the offseason, and, like the mighty B1G, our ranks are slated to grow dramatically, by 10-15 competitors for the 2026 college football season. Game on. 

For those of you I’ve not had the chance to meet, think of me as the OTC equivalent of Pat McAfee. Beloved or hated, nothing in between. I’m here to hype the greatest sport on earth and publicly shame you when you shank a field goal on national TV, or at least post low score for the week.

That’s right, folks. Summer break is over. The microscope is coming into focus. Maybe you spent these last eight months futilely lowering your handicap on the links. Maybe you learned the national anthems of all 48 nations competing in the expanded World Cup. Maybe you just incoherently mumbled the lyrics to Dai Dai, transfixed for hours by Shakira’s hips, occasionally Googling her age (49) as you wonder if she’s too old for you (nope - fair game). Just me?

Welp, time to drop Shakira for Lane Kiffin’s latest yoga instructor. It’s football season, baby! Will the B1G defend and four-peat? Will North Dakota State be a playoff Cinderella? Will the reborn Pac-12 rise from the ashes, or will it be nothing more than an inconsequential blast from the past? Will this FINALLY be the year for Notre Dame (lol, doubtful)? Will the amount of money being spent on college football exceed national GDP? Anything can happen these next four months.

Visit your nearest palm reader. Solidify your ChatGPT prompts. Slide into the DMs of your favorite analyst. Whatever it takes to out-prognisticate your peers.

But most importantly, get your dues to the Commish. Let’s make this pot the biggest yet. Reactivate your entry (or join anew). And set yourself a weekly recurring calendar reminder, or tempt the wrath of the pen in the weekly write-up. We don’t take kindly to forgotten picks.

We start as many, 0-0 one and all. But only one will be enshrined in the history books. Only one can become the 2026 One Tru Champ.

THE FIRST SET OF GAMES KICKOFF AT NOON ON SEPTEMBER 5th!!!

                   (ONLY 2 WEEKS AWAY!!!!)