College football midseason report: Best coach, worst moment and what to watch in the second half

A midseason look at the 2026 college football season focuses on uncertainty at the top, standout individual production, and key questions heading into the second half. No. 1 Miami is the third different team to claim the top spot in the AP Top 25 in as many weeks. The article identifies Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State as best player after 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 TDs, plus four scores in three games versus ranked teams. It notes his workload may be tougher without quarterback Julian Sayin, with Luke Fahey expected to step in. Miami is graded as best team, averaging 48.5 points under Mario Cristobal, with Darian Mensah leading FBS passing efficiency at 204.2. UCLA’s Bob Chesney is named best coach after a 6-0 start.