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6 Must-See College Football Revenge Games in 2026
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- 6 Must-See College Football Revenge Games in 2026
Revenge games come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, they are simply an opportunity for a team to avenge a loss from the season before. But with the proliferation of transfer portal player movement and coaching changes — especially in the same conference — there are more and more opportunities for revenge on the college football calendar.
As you might expect, one game rises above the rest in this regard after a high-profile divorce between a particular coach and his former school played out in public last season. As fate would have it, Lane Kiffin is headed back to Ole Miss in the fall as LSU 's head coach.
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Naturally, that's the most hyped revenge game set for 2026, and one of the best we've seen in some time. Not all revenge games have those same stakes and circumstances. Others are tied to player movement, particularly quarterbacks leaving for a conference rival. And some go by the more traditional definition as rematches between teams that met in 2025.
Athlon identified the six best revenge games to look forward to in 2026.
An Ole Miss fan dressed as Santa holds a sign making fun of Lane Kiffin during the Rebels' playoff against Tulane at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Dec. 20, 2025.© Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
LSU vs. Ole Miss
Week 3 — Sept. 19 (Oxford, Miss.)
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Games don't get much more spiteful than this. And thankfully, the schedule-makers aren't making us wait for one of the most anticipated games of 2026 . Lane Kiffin's SEC opener as the Tigers' new head coach — and as public enemy No. 1 in Oxford — is at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
A quick refresher: Kiffin left the Rebels high and dry amid the best season in program history to take the top job at rival LSU. Then Ole Miss and new coach Pete Golding went on an unlikely run to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Kiffin convinced several players (Princewill Umanmielen, Devin Harper , Winston Watkins and TJ Dottery) and coaches (namely, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.) to follow him to Baton Rouge, raising the stakes for their return.
Even beyond the newfound vitriol bubbling between two fan bases that already weren't very fond of one another, this should be an excellent game. LSU comes in at No. 11 in Athlon's way-too-early top 25 . Ole Miss isn't far behind at No. 13. Both teams also made out like bandits in the transfer portal (Golding returned fire by plucking Carius Curne and JT Lindsey from the Tigers' roster).
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College Football Playoff 2026: Athlon's Way-Too-Early Picks and Predictions
Remember the warm welcome Tennessee fans gave Kiffin in his return to Knoxville more than a decade after he left? That might look tame by comparison to how the Rebels receive Kiffin.
Ohio State vs. Indiana
Week 7 — Oct. 17 (Bloomington, Ind.)
A little over a year ago, I spoke with former Hoosiers quarterback Trent Green ahead of a highly anticipated bout between his alma mater and the Buckeyes. "It's hard to say it's a rivalry when it's been so one-sided," he told me before the game, which Ohio State won, 38-15, to extend its streak in the series to 29.
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Last fall, though, Indiana struck back. The Hoosiers toppled the top-ranked, Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game, 13-10, en route to an undefeated season and their first title . Indiana coach Curt Cignetti lost many of the stars from that storied team, including Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza . However, the Hoosiers stocked up in the transfer portal to make another run at the conference championship and a CFP appearance.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day brings back several players who appeared in that heavyweight fight, including Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and star receiver Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State quietly hasn't won the Big Ten since 2020, and the folks in Columbus have surely had enough of all the Hoosiers hype. The Buckeyes hold the top spot in Athlon's early rankings , while Indiana comes in at No. 3 . Beyond this midseason clash, these teams might end up playing for the Big Ten title again in December.
Duke quarterback Darian Mensah warms up before his team's game against UConn in East Hartford, Connecticut, on Nov. 8, 2025.© David Butler II-Imagn Images
Duke vs. Miami
Week 11 — Nov. 14 (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
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There are layers to this budding rivalry. The Blue Devils won the ACC — something the Hurricanes still haven't done — in 2025 with five losses, an oddity that led the league to change its tiebreaker system. Still, it was Miami that represented the conference in the CFP and made it all the way to the national championship game. There's also the matter of Mario Cristobal replacing former 'Canes coach Manny Diaz, who's now in charge at Duke .
Then there's the kicker: Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah transferred to Miami at the 11th hour, a move that led to a lawsuit and settlement that left Duke in dire straits under center. Diaz and the Blue Devils will surely have revenge on their mind when they march into Miami in the fall, but the acquisition of Mensah (and his top receiver Cooper Barkate) ensures the 'Canes have a roster ready to run an ACC that's seen perennial powerhouses Clemson and Florida State fall by the wayside.
This will be the second season in a row Mensah will get to face his previous team. After transferring from Tulane to Duke last offseason, Mensah and the Blue Devils lost to the Green Wave early in the year. With Mensah at quarterback, Miami comes in at No. 8 nationally in Athlon's preseason rankings . Conversely, Duke is projected to finish in the bottom half of the ACC .
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Georgia vs. Ole Miss
Week 10 — Nov. 7 (Oxford, Miss.)
It's still up in the air whether Trinidad Chambliss will be the Rebels' quarterback next season as his eligibility case continues to play out . Regardless, Ole Miss has quietly emerged as the Bulldogs' kryptonite in recent years. Other than Alabama, the Rebels are the only SEC team to beat Georgia in the past five seasons.
Ole Miss sent coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs packing in an epic CFP quarterfinal game in December. And although Georgia defeated the Rebels in the 2025 regular season, Ole Miss upset the Bulldogs back in 2024. The preseason position for Golding's group hinges largely on Chambliss' status; at the moment, the Rebels are No. 13 in Athlon's rankings . Meanwhile, UGA is No. 2 in the nation with quarterback Gunner Stockton back.
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The Bulldogs have won back-to-back SEC titles, and no team in college football has more wins this decade. Still, they've gone one-and-done in their last two CFP trips and haven't won a playoff game since they trounced TCU in the national championship three years ago. Given the timing of this game, it could have an outsized impact on the SEC race and CFP seeding . For what it's worth, Ole Miss has won two in a row against Georgia in Oxford.
Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone catches a pass during his team's game against Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 11, 2025.© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Texas vs. Oklahoma
Week 6 — Oct. 10 (Dallas, Texas)
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The Red River Rivalry doesn't need any extra fuel. It got some anyway when Longhorns receiver Parker Livingstone — Arch Manning 's roommate — transferred to Oklahoma .
Texas has enjoyed the upper hand in the series in recent years, taking four of the last five in dominant fashion. Though the Longhorns bested the Sooners 23-6 in October, OU got the last laugh with a CFP appearance. Despite its head-to-head win, Texas was left on the wrong side of the bubble.
The hype for the Longhorns may well have been a season early. After opening 2025 as a title contender, the 2026 team may have the goods to deliver on those expectations. Coach Steve Sarkisian's group is Athlon's No. 3 team . But with quarterback John Mateer back, and Livingstone having traded burnt orange for crimson and cream, the Sooners should not be slept on. Coach Brent Venables' squad comes in at No. 10 and has the talent to turn the recent tide of a lopsided rivalry.
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Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati
Week 8 — Oct. 24 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
There's hardly any history to speak of between the Red Raiders and Bearcats, who have only been in the same conference since 2023 and played just twice. But there will be some bad blood when Texas Tech heads to Cincinnati this season with former Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby leading the team out of the tunnel.
Sorsby found his footing at Cincinnati after starting his career at Indiana. He helped lead the team to its best season under coach Scott Satterfield. Still, Sorsby left for the Red Raiders in the transfer portal to quarterback the early favorite to repeat as Big 12 champions.
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With Sorsby in tow, Texas Tech is Athlon's No. 9 preseason team. The Bearcats, on the other hand, are left in a tough spot as a projected Big 12 bottom dweller . The Red Raiders are expected to benefit from a light schedule once again. Accordingly, Satterfield and Co. would love nothing more than to trip up an ascending contender and their former quarterback-turned-foe.
Related: College Football Top 25 for 2026: Athlon's Way-Too-Early Picks
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Related: The 8 Most Intriguing Teams in College Football for 2026
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
