The college football season is nearly halfway finished, and enough games have been played to see which programs have addressed glaring needs from 2025. Some top programs and surprise risers have fixed their weaknesses, while some fading contenders have not. Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, Northwestern and Utah were among the teams with major flaws last year, including rushing attacks, offenses and run defense.
Alabama appears to have rebuilt its run game. In 2025, the Crimson Tide averaged just 3.4 yards per carry (T-125th nationally) and 104.1 rushing yards per game, their lowest rushing average since at least 1956. This season, through six games, Alabama has averaged 182.2 rushing yards per contest, ranking 44th nationally. The Tide added veteran transfers Racin Delgatty and Jayvin James to a young offensive line, brought in tight end Josh Ford as a physical blocker, and leaned on quarterback Keelon Russell's mobility. A backfield led by junior Daniel Hill and freshmen Trae'shawn Brown and EJ Crowell has also been hard for defenses to wrap up.
Duke offers another example of a successful fix. The Blue Devils finished 2025 last in the FBS in several pass defense categories, including 3,875 passing yards allowed. Yet they still captured their first outright ACC title since 1962. Their most significant development this season has come from a retooled secondary, complementing breakout pass rushers Bryce Davis and Tyshon Reed, who helped the defense rank 14th in points allowed at 14.4 per game.
The evaluation excluded full overhauls under first-year coaching staffs and programs that simply replaced elite players with equally elite ones. Still, the transfer portal and revenue-share era make roster repair easier than ever, while the cost of a misstep has grown. As Week 7 approaches, the programs that addressed their needs are better positioned in the College Football Playoff race, while those that fell short face steeper climbs.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing