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Mike Craven

@cravenmike.bsky.social

Senior college football writer at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football | Buy my book on college football published by Texas Monthly: https://www.texasfootball.com/store/product/dave-campbell-s-guide-to-texas-college-football

3,460 Followers  |  225 Following  |  449 Posts  |  Joined: 24.07.2023
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Posts by Mike Craven (@cravenmike.bsky.social)

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Ranking the Best Offensive Linemen in College Football for 2026 The top offensive linemen in college football for 2026 include Texas' Trevor Goosby, SMU's PJ Williams, Texas Tech's Howard Sampson and Houston's Shadre Hurst.

Ranking the Top 10 offensive linemen in the state for the 2026 season.

Texas, Houston, and SMU have two each as the gulf between the P4 and the G6 widen in the trenches.

#HookEm #PonyUp #GoCoogs

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

09.03.2026 13:56 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Ranking the 10 Best Quarterbacks for the 2026 College Football Season Texas FBS quarterback rankings 2026: Arch Manning tops our list as we analyze the best returning college football QBs in Texas heading into spring practice.

Ranking the QBs in Texas made me realize something: I have no idea what to think of Marcel Reed.

Arch, Sorsby, Kevin Jennings feel like Tier 1. I can hear arguments for all the other spots.

My list: www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

02.03.2026 14:18 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Ranking the Toughest 2026 College Football Schedules Ranking the toughest college football schedules in 2026 featuring the Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Houston Cougars, Baylor Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Ranking the P4 schedules in Texas from the Longhorns' gauntlet to the Red Raiders' expressway.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

26.02.2026 14:38 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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God’s Plan: DJ Lagway’s Journey Comes Full Circle at Baylor Once the face of Florida’s future, injuries and change forced DJ Lagway into the portal. Now, the Texas native is home at Baylor, ready to rewrite his story.

Derek Lagway says he wishes his son, D.J., redshirted last season at Florida and that the plan was never to leave the Gators when they hired a new coach.

But in a full-circle moment, they’re both happy how it turned out.

#SicEm

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

25.02.2026 15:26 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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God’s Plan: DJ Lagway’s Journey Comes Full Circle at Baylor Once the face of Florida’s future, injuries and change forced DJ Lagway into the portal. Now, the Texas native is home at Baylor, ready to rewrite his story.

“Being a 19-year-old kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders and not being able to do the thing that you love to do is really hard.”

D.J. Lagway went through a lot at Florida. He believes it prepared him for his next chapter at Baylor.

#SicEm

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

24.02.2026 15:00 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
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The 7 Most Important College Football Coordinator Hires for 2026 From playoff hopefuls to rising G6 contenders, these seven coordinator changes could determine whether Texas programs surge, stall, or surprise in 2026.

From Will Muschamp at Texas to Will Windham at Texas State, I break down the most important coordinator hires across the state this offseason.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

23.02.2026 18:24 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
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Hard for me not to put Patrick Mahomes on my Mount Rushmore. A formative figure in Texas football history.

19.02.2026 00:02 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Neal Brown Embraces Blind Trust in Rebuilding North Texas Neal Brown’s second act begins in Denton, where lessons from West Virginia and a year at Texas fuel a fresh approach to roster building and championship expectations.

“This portal was the ultimate blind trust.”

How Neal Brown is already using lessons learned at West Virginia and during his “halftime” at Texas in 2025 to build his first North Texas roster.

#GMG

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

18.02.2026 16:00 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Five Storylines That Will Define the 2026 Texas College Football Season Arch Manning’s evolution, Texas Tech’s favorable slate, Texas A&M’s CFP push, Houston’s surge and Texas State’s new stage make 2026 a defining year across Texas football.

*Texas A&M's road back to the CFP and if Marcel Reed can improve against elite competition.

*Texas State's spot in the new Pac-12 pecking order.

*Houston as a trendy Big 12 pick

Those are just three of the storylines that'll define the offseason.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

17.02.2026 15:43 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Five Storylines That Will Define the 2026 Texas College Football Season Arch Manning’s evolution, Texas Tech’s favorable slate, Texas A&M’s CFP push, Houston’s surge and Texas State’s new stage make 2026 a defining year across Texas football.

What storylines will dominate the next seven months of college football discourse in the state of Texas?

1. Texas is a national title contender...no, really.
2. Texas Tech's schedule
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

16.02.2026 22:19 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Five Storylines That Will Define the 2026 Texas College Football Season Arch Manning’s evolution, Texas Tech’s favorable slate, Texas A&M’s CFP push, Houston’s surge and Texas State’s new stage make 2026 a defining year across Texas football.

5 storylines that will dominate the CFB offseason here in Texas

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

16.02.2026 17:01 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Dallas Cowboys to hire SMU Defensive Coordinator SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons is expected to leave for an NFL job as the Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker coach.

SMU DC Scott Symons is off to the NFL. The Mustangs' rise over the last few years was directly correlated with the improvements of their defense under Symons.

Big hire upcoming for Rhett Lashlee. #PonyUp

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

13.02.2026 15:11 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Over 40 Texas College Players Invited to 2026 NFL Combine Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Texas lead the state in NFL Draft Combine invitees, as the Lone Star State is sending nearly 50 players to Indianapolis for the event.

Over 14 percent of the prospects invited to the NFL Combine played college football in Texas. That's 46 of the 319 who were invited.

Full list here: www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

11.02.2026 18:01 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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No Waiting Game: Eight 2026 Signees Poised to Make Instant Impact College football freshmen that could make an immediate impact in 2026 include Texas' Jermaine Bishop, Texas A&M's KJ Edwards and Texas Tech's LaDamion Guyton.

I chose eight players from the 2026 recruiting cycle who could make an instant impact in CFB across the state of Texas this season.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

09.02.2026 19:09 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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AGGIE WAR POD: National Signing Day 2026 Recap Podcast Episode · Dave Campbell's College Podcast Network · 02/05/2026 · 59m

New episode of Aggie War Pod with @cravenmike.bsky.social and myself is out:

- Changes in significance of National Signing Day
- Aggie Portal Class
- Incoming high school class

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

05.02.2026 18:22 — 👍 1    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 0
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2025 Attendance Trends for FBS Programs in Texas Attendance for college football games for the SMU Mustangs, North Texas Mean Green, and Houston Cougars are soaring, while concerning drops at UTEP, Baylor are hard to ignore.

2025 attendance trends for the 13 FBS programs in Texas.

Eight of our programs saw a rise in attendance compared to the 5-year average with SMU, North Texas, and Rice leading the way.

UTEP and Baylor saw biggest drop.

More data here: www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

05.02.2026 19:28 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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K’Lavon Chaisson’s Journey from North Shore to Super Bowl LX Galena Park North Shore product K'Lavon Chaisson won a state championship with the Mustangs and a national championship with the LSU Tigers. He can add Super Bowl champion to the list on Sunday with t...

K'Lavon Chaisson won a state championship at North Shore and a national championship at LSU. He can add Super Bowl champion if the Patriots win on Sunday.

Not bad for a player who walked away from football as a sophomore in high school.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

04.02.2026 16:47 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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NSD Show: Picking Five Signees Who'll Make Quickest Impact + Five Under-The-Radar Signees Podcast Episode · Dave Campbell’s College Football Podcast · 02/04/2026 · 50m

National Signing Day Pod

@carteryates.bsky.social and I pick 7 impact signees at the P4 for 2026 and 5 under-the-radar pickups across Texas at the G6 level.

🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

04.02.2026 15:16 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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A Different Route: Tariq Woolen’s Unlikely Path to the NFL Once a backup wide receiver at UTSA, Tariq Woolen’s late position change unlocked a path few saw coming, one that carried him from obscurity to the NFL and the Super Bowl stage with the Seattle Seahaw...

"I promise if you give me two years, I'll get you to the league."

How a position change and the mentorship of Nick Graham helped Tariq Woolen transform into one of the top CBs in the NFL and the third Roadrunner to play in a Super Bowl.

#Seahawks
www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

03.02.2026 20:12 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Could the State of Texas' Historic First-Round NFL Draft Streak End in 2026? Texas high school football has had at least two first round picks in 17 straight NFL drafts, but 2026 mock drafts suggest that historic run may be in jeopardy.

The state of Texas has produced at least 2 first round #NFLDraft picks in 17 straight drafts.

Could 2026 end the streak? The mock drafts suggest it might.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

03.02.2026 18:10 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Grading Sam Houston's Transfer Portal Class Sam Houston attacked the portal after a 2–10 debut under Phil Longo, adding nearly two dozen transfers with an emphasis on the trenches and upside plays across the roster.

Phil Longo needed to improve the roster heading into Year 2 at Sam Houston and he did that with a solid 25-man class that includes 14 from the P4 ranks.

Love what the Kats did in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

29.01.2026 21:27 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
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Grading the Texas State 2026 Transfer Portal Class Texas State reloads through the portal as G.J. Kinne adds nearly 20 transfers, eight from the Power Four, positioning the Bobcats to contend immediately in the new-look Pac-12.

Grading the Texas State transfer portal class.

G.J. Kinne is one of the top talent evaluators in CFB and his Bobcats added a solid mix of P4 upside and G6/FCS production to a talented roster ahead of the Pac-12 move.

#TXST

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

29.01.2026 15:20 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Grading Rice's 2026 Transfer Portal Class After a bowl trip in Scott Abell’s first season, Rice went portal shopping in a big way, adding 21 transfers headlined by QB Jacurri Brown to fuel hopes of a breakthrough AAC run in 2026.

Grading the Rice Owls transfer portal class.

Scott Abell & Co. were more active in this window than last year, especially in the secondary.

A look at key additions and potential sleepers.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

28.01.2026 18:45 — 👍 5    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 2
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Grading UTSA's Transfer Portal Class After losing stars on both sides of the ball, UTSA leaned on the portal to rebuild around Owen McCown. We break down the Roadrunners’ B-grade class and its 2026 AAC outlook.

A closer look at the UTSA transfer portal class.

Overview, Key Additions, Sleepers, and a complete Transfer List.

#BirdsUp

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

27.01.2026 22:30 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Grading the North Texas 2026 Transfer Portal Class After losing much of its core, North Texas turned to the portal to reshape the roster. Neal Brown’s first Mean Green class leans on P4 talent, depth, and defensive production.

North Texas has signed nearly 50 players from the transfer portal as Neal Brown pieces together his first Mean Green squad.

We break it down and identify three key additions and two sleepers. #GMG

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

27.01.2026 14:40 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Breaking Down TCU's 2026 Transfer Portal Class TCU bets on continuity over chaos in the portal, adding quality pieces around a proven core as the Horned Frogs quietly position themselves as a Big 12 dark horse for 2026.

Breaking down TCU's transfer portal class. #GoFrogs lost the fewest number of transfers and signed the fewest number of transfers in Texas this cycle.

Sonny Dykes is zigging while everyone else is zagging. Will it work?

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

23.01.2026 15:16 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Breaking Down SMU's 2026 Transfer Portal Class SMU leans on portal experience to replace departing stars, bolster the two-deep, and keep momentum rolling after 31 wins over the last three seasons and a fast start in the ACC era.

SMU transfer portal class breakdown.

The Mustangs aren’t as portal reliant as they used to be because high school recruiting has improved on the Hilltop, but I like what they did at the skill positions and on defense.

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

23.01.2026 14:50 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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10 Best Transfer Portal Signings of 2026`a From Cam Coleman signing with Texas to Texas Tech landing superstar quarterback Brendan Sorsby, here are the 10 best transfer portal additions in Texas for 2026.

The 10 best transfer signings in Texas

www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

22.01.2026 18:55 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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The first 2026 Power Poll for Texas

My reasoning: www.texasfootball.com/article/2026...

21.01.2026 15:28 — 👍 6    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

No state has ever had more than three teams ranked in the final AP Poll.

Texas landed SIX on the final one from 2025.

7. Tech
8. A&M
12. Texas
22. Houston
24. North Texas
25. TCU

Insane year.

20.01.2026 16:50 — 👍 9    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 1