For the past three weeks, the lights have been bright and microphones have been hot, as the buzz around college football has been anything but quiet as each of the FBS conferences have unofficially kicked off the season with their respective media days.

The conference media day circuit opened July 7 at The Star in Frisco, Texas and has criss-crossed the country ever since: from Las Vegas to New Orleans, from Charlotte to Arlington, and from Detroit to Tampa and St. Petersburg. Coaches have taken the podium. Players have spoken about expectations. And we all have started to feel the anticipation that the offseason has not much left before Week 0 action takes the field.

Some recurring themes college football fans and media have heard throughout the month:

• A new season means new voices are everywhere and programs across the country are looking for a fresh start as they open fall camps with new coaches at the helm. The podiums at each conference media day have reflected this theme: new philosophies, and new standards with all sights set for the ultimate prize in a playoff appearance and a CFP National Championship.


• The quarterback rooms will decide a lot. From transfers settling into new locker rooms to returning starters carrying real expectations, the theme has been consistent from stop to stop on the conference media day tour.


• The sport keeps getting bigger. This fall, the college football slate is headed across the pond with regular-season matchups in Dublin and London bringing the game and all of its excitement to new audiences.


• The path to the Playoff starts early. Every coach and player who has represented their programs at conference media days reinforced similar messages that the work in August will be what earns them the chance to appear in the CFP come late December and January.

One stop on the conference media day circuit remains with the schedule closing out July 28–30 in Chicago. When that final podium clears and talkin' season concludes, all eyes will turn toward the start of fall camp, when the countdown to the 2027 CFP National Championship gets real.

Continue to keep it locked on the CFP's official social media channels for everything from the road, and check back next week for a full look at the summer that set the stage.