The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Orioles breaking through to capture elusive championships?! The United States men’s national team making noise at the World Cup?! Fernando Mendoza serving as the savior of the New York Jets?!
We asked our FOX Sports writers to look into their crystal balls to see what 2026 will bring in the sports world.
Here are their 26 boldest predictions for the upcoming year:
Smith has been the best player in the country for two consecutive years, according to everyone except voters for major college football awards. He singlehandedly flipped Ohio State into a national title team in just four games in 2024, and he did it as a true freshman. In 2025, he finished sixth in the Heisman voting, the only wideout to receive enough votes to make the top 10, and voters of the Biletnikoff didn’t pick him. Well, 2026 is the year for all arguments for age and lasting impact on the sport laid to rest and to crown Smith for the player he has been since he entered the sport. – RJ Young
[Read more: Inside Jeremiah Smith’s rise to stardom]
(Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs)
A mere 31 years after they misplaced the final of their 4 straight Tremendous Bowls within the early Nineties, the Payments convey a title to Title-less City, and defeat the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LX. Pressured to play three straight playoff video games on the highway after shedding the AFC East to the Patriots, the Payments will truly cruise by way of the AFC playoff subject with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs mercifully out of the best way. Payments followers will then not solely flock to Santa Clara, Califronia, for the large sport, however they’ll pack their soon-to-be demolished stadium in Orchard Park, New York for an outside viewing celebration (in a blizzard, in fact). It’ll nonetheless be snowing two days later when greater than 1,000,000 Payments followers line Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo to look at snow plows carry their conquering heroes in a parade they’ve been ready for all their lives. – Ralph Vacchiano
3. USA Makes 2026 World Cup Semis
With all due respect to FOX Sports activities colleagues Landon Donovan, Brad Guzan, Stu Holden, Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas, I used to be shocked that none of these greats has the U.S. surviving the quarterfinals. Certain, reaching the Spherical of 16 like they did on the 2022, 2014 and 2010 World Cups will now require profitable a knockout sport due to the expanded subject — one thing the USMNT has performed as soon as in 10 World Cup appearances all-time.
However as a seeded staff with a completely manageable draw, the co-hosts are the favorites to win Group D, guaranteeing they face a third-place finisher within the new spherical of 32. Enjoying at residence, with your entire nation on the bandwagon, the U.S. can’t accept extra of the identical. Momentum builds at World Cups. When a staff will get sizzling, they will journey the wave far longer than pure expertise says they need to.
It prices nothing to dream. Below a coach who as soon as led perennial underachievers Tottenham to a Champions League last, the bar have to be set larger. Mauricio Pochettino already has. He’s telling anybody who’ll hear that the World Cup trophy itself is inside attain. Every thing must go completely to achieve even the semis. They’d want some luck to make it that far. However to paraphrase Pochettino: Why can’t they? – Doug McIntyre
[Read more: USA Can Dream the ‘Impossible’]
4. Faculty Soccer Playoff Expands to 24 Groups
It merely has to simply to maintain stakeholders and followers completely happy. Acrimony engulfed the game following Lane Kiffin’s determination to depart Ole Miss to change into head coach at LSU simply as he’d completed main the Rebels to their best-ever season (11-1) and their first berth within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. His determination meant that main a staff 4 video games away from enjoying for the nationwide championship wasn’t as vital as his $13.28-million contract in Baton Rouge.
Disbelief and anger filtered all through the game when Notre Dame determined to forgo enjoying within the postseason altogether after the Preventing Irish discovered they weren’t chosen for the CFP. This will’t go on. However it should until the CFP board of managers repair it, and one of the best ways to try this is to double the sphere. – RJ Younger
5. Baltimore Orioles Win World Sequence
Baltimore owns the sixth-longest championship drought in Main League Baseball, however that is all about to vary in 2026 when the Orioles win the World Sequence. It might be their first title since 1983, after they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies and eventual Corridor-of-Famer Cal Ripken Jr. was a 23-year-old placing the ending touches on his first profession MVP Award. The O’s are lengthy overdue for a visit again to the Fall Basic, and now they lastly look primed to achieve baseball utopia. Their aggressive offseason actually took flight this winter after they signed first baseman Pete Alonso and his 264 profession residence runs to a monster deal: $155 million for 5 years. Now, they’ve one of many filthiest lineups in baseball, and who is aware of, it simply is perhaps adequate to dethrone the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. Perhaps the blockbuster transfer that introduced Alonso to the Birds was their lacking piece. – Deesha Thosar
6. New York Jets Go All-In on Fernando Mendoza
Packaging their two first-round picks in 2026 (and fairly presumably far more), the Jets will commerce into the highest three of the NFL Draft to pick Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He isn’t the no-brainer franchise quarterback that generally leads off a draft class, however Mendoza’s prototypical dimension, mobility, lightning-quick launch and management make him this 12 months’s surest factor on the sport’s most vital place. – Rob Rang
[Read more: Is Mendoza a ‘Game Manager’ or a ‘Game Changer’?]
7. Ryan Day Leaves Ohio State for the NFL After One other Nationwide Title
From pitchforks and profanity following a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan in 2024 to an indomitable legacy that shall be remembered favorably by followers for generations to come back. That’s what awaits Ohio State head coach Ryan Day within the not-so-distant future when he rides the stellar tandem of quarterback Julian Sayin and vast receiver Jeremiah Smith to a different nationwide championship subsequent season. It will likely be, at a minimal, his second title in a three-year span and will probably full a three-peat relying on what occurs within the coming weeks together with his present squad. At that time, with a résumé solely a handful of coaches can match, Day shall be prepared to depart school soccer behind for the prospect to chase a good larger prize within the NFL. He may even convey a couple of of his former gamers with him. – Michael Cohen
8. Philip Rivers Performs One Extra Season … With the Chiefs
In the event you thought the unretirement of the 44-year-old Rivers was a short-term factor, you underestimate the competitiveness of knowledgeable athlete. And now that Rivers is getting one other style of NFL life, he’s going to seek out it powerful to provide it proper again up. So after falling in need of serving to the Daniel Jones-less Colts to the playoffs, Rivers will ship out feelers to let groups know he desires to maintain enjoying at the very least yet one more season. And that’s when he’ll get a shocking supply: Come to Kansas Metropolis and be a placeholder till Patrick Mahomes returns from his torn ACL. The possibility to probably play for Andy Reid and possibly even journey alongside on a Tremendous Bowl quest shall be an excessive amount of to move up. Plus, he’ll get to increase his NFL medical health insurance for his gigantic household for an additional 12 months. – Ralph Vacchiano
9. Younger Crimson Sox Star Roman Anthony Wins AL MVP honors
(Photograph by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
Certain, if we have been going to choose the likeliest candidate from this 12 months’s crop of Rookie of the Yr finalists to contend for an MVP trophy in 2026, it could make sense to start out in Sacramento, the place Nick Kurtz simply produced one of many best rookie seasons ever for the Athletics. However that’s not pondering daring sufficient. As an alternative, Anthony’s elite mixture of all-around expertise will come collectively so rapidly that he vaults previous the likes of Yankees star Aaron Choose and Royals slugger Bobby Witt Jr. to take residence AL MVP honors in his second MLB season. Anthony slashed .329/.419/.512 over his last 56 video games with the Crimson Sox, showcased elite plate self-discipline and completely obliterated the ball with a 60.3 % hard-hit charge that might have led MLB had he certified. If he can get the ball within the air extra usually to faucet into his large energy potential, the rise to superstardom may occur quick. – Rowan Kavner
10. Will Energy Captures 2026 INDYCAR Title
Jettisoned by Workforce Penske, Will Energy wins the 2026 INDYCAR title in his first season at Andretti. Energy wins three races and finishes on the rostrum in seven others to seize the championship as he goes on a revenge tour for Penske not protecting him after 17 years of dedication to the group. Energy shall be gracious in profitable his third title however admits that the third one was the sweetest as a result of it proved any doubters unsuitable. –Bob Pockrass
11. Messi, Argentina Repeat as World Cup Champs
(Photograph by Marc Atkins/Getty Photographs)
Profitable the World Cup is tough: simply eight nations have performed it within the males’s event’s virtually 100-year historical past. Doing it twice in a row? That’s virtually exceptional. Simply three groups, males’s or ladies’s, have performed it in 31 World Cups all time: the Carli Lloyd/Alex Morgan/Megan Rapinoe-led U.S. ladies in 2015 and 2019, Italy’s males manner again in 1934 and 1938, and Pele’s Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Lionel Messi cemented his legacy as soccer’s GOAT when he willed Argentina to his first World Cup title in Qatar in 2022. And whereas the 38-year-old nonetheless hasn’t confirmed that he’ll assist the Albiceleste defend their crown in 2026 within the U.S., his residence since becoming a member of Inter Miami three years in the past, solely damage will stop Messi from captaining his nation as soon as once more subsequent summer season. Certainly the prospect to make extra historical past together with his compatriots shall be irresistible: Argentina, which additionally gained the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, has an opportunity to assert 4 consecutive main trophies — one thing no nation or participant — not even Pele, nonetheless the one man to win three World Cups — has ever completed. – Doug McIntyre
The Chargers are 11-5, and so they’ve performed it with out each beginning offensive tackles and different key accidents. In addition they have simply over $100 million in 2026 cap house, third-most of any staff, and sure a second-place schedule that features residence video games towards the Jets and Raiders. Head coach Jim Harbaugh ought to have all the pieces in place to really cope with Justin Herbert, and with the Chiefs down a peg, Denver’s the primary impediment to to a possible deep run within the AFC playoffs. The Tremendous Bowl is at SoFi Stadium in Feb. 2027, in order that’s the most important home-field benefit of all. – Greg Auman
(Photograph by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
I feel Michigan is the most effective staff that I’ve watched on each ends of the ground. Its gradual begin was comprehensible, given all the brand new transfers, nevertheless it confirmed its potential on the Gamers Period Event in wins over San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by a mean of 36.6 factors. The Wolverines have the most effective frontcourt trio within the nation with ahead Yaxel Lendeborg’s versatility, middle Aday Mara’s size and ahead Morez Johnson Jr.’s rugged scoring and rebounding. They encompass their massive males with a pleasant pass-first level guard in Elliot Cadeau and shooters like guard Nimari Burnett and ahead Will Tschetter. Guard Roddy Gayle Jr. is an explosive slasher, and even freshman guard Trey McKinney has carved out a job among the many veterans. This staff has no weaknesses. – Casey Jacobsen
14. USWNT’s ‘Triple Espresso’ Reunites
Since profitable a gold medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. ladies’s nationwide staff has been in a state of improvement and progress relating to its participant pool and what the squad will appear like on the subsequent World Cup. It’s been particularly useful to get to know new and youthful gamers with the likes of the famed Triple Espresso — Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson — unavailable. Rodman has been referred to as up a few instances this 12 months however has largely been coping with accidents (there was again ache in addition to an MCL sprain), whereas Swanson and Wilson have been out on maternity depart and not too long ago welcomed child women. The USWNT should qualify for the 2027 World Cup, so I predict in some unspecified time in the future on this subsequent 12 months that we’ll see coach Emma Hayes begin to solidify her core World Cup group, which is able to imply the return of this gifted trio. – Laken Litman
15. Tennessee Titans Rent Mike McCarthy as Head Coach
Tennessee wants a seasoned head coach that’s, ideally, offensive minded, giving No. 1 decide Cam Ward continuity with scheme and playcalling as a younger quarterback. With 18 seasons of NFL head teaching expertise, McCarthy checks each bins. His expertise teaching Aaron Rodgers and dealing below Jerry Jones additionally signifies a capability to collaborate with massive personalities, which needs to be interesting to a floundering Titans’ franchise. McCarthy and Titans president of soccer operations Chad Brinker — Tennessee’s prime soccer govt — spent a decade collectively in Inexperienced Bay (2009-18), so there’s a robust connection there too. On the very least, McCarthy is a high-floor, moderate-ceiling coach that may stabilize Tennessee. – Ben Arthur
16. Indiana Runs It Again, Wins Again-to-Again Huge Ten titles
It’s loopy to consider the success head coach Curt Cignetti has already had in simply two seasons at Indiana. In Yr 1, the Hoosiers went 11-1 within the common season and made the Faculty Soccer Playoff. In Yr 2, he led his staff to a 13-0 common season document and a Huge Ten championship. Switch quarterback Fernando Mendoza gained the Heisman Trophy and IU secured the No. 1 general seed within the CFP. It is a staff that’s actually a favourite to win the nationwide championship and whereas a few of the expertise will head to the NFL, Cignetti has confirmed he can work the switch portal to his benefit. There are already tons of high quality quarterbacks within the portal and there’s no cause to not suppose Cignetti will construct a robust, nationwide title-contending staff once more subsequent season. – Laken Litman
Coach Kevin O’Connell admitted he and Rodgers spoke final offseason when the veteran QB in the end landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. On the time, the Vikings have been dedicated to J.J. McCarthy, a former prime 10 draft decide. However after a 12 months of motion (and two years within the league), McCarthy nonetheless seems a methods away from main the group to a playoff berth. And so O’Connell will go after Rodgers for actual this time. The Vikings will promote it as an opportunity for McCarthy to develop off the sphere for an additional 12 months whereas Rodgers runs the present. And possibly that’ll work out for everybody concerned. However O’Connell’s status is constructed upon QB play. He can’t threat it with one other 12 months of what McCarthy did in 2024. Which may simply get the coach fired. –Henry McKenna
18. Pete Alonso Leads MLB in House Runs in First Season in Baltimore
If this prediction involves fruition, it could be a good more durable tablet to swallow for a Mets fanbase already reeling after watching a trio of fan favorites (Alonso, middle fielder Brandon Nimmo, nearer Edwin Díaz) depart this winter. However Alonso’s coming off a 12 months through which he recorded profession highs in each hard-hit charge and common exit velocity, and “Walltimore” in left subject at Camden Yards is a factor of the previous. The Orioles’ determination to maneuver within the left-field fence final season reworked the ballpark again into one of many extra favorable venues for righty mashers. Alonso hit 38 residence runs final season; primarily based on his anticipated residence run whole, he would have hit 45 if he performed all of his video games in Baltimore. Now, that whole gained’t possible be sufficient to surpass the likes of Aaron Choose, Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh in 2026, nevertheless it doesn’t take a lot to examine the potential for a home-run surge in Alonso’s first season together with his new membership. – Rowan Kavner
19. Chiefs Attain Playoffs Regardless of Mahomes’ Harm, Kelce’s Retirement
(Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)
In the event you suppose Mahomes is down and out, you’re sorely mistaken. We noticed the Chiefs thrive in tight video games in 2023 — solely to fall brief in them in 2024. The 2026 marketing campaign needs to be a steadier 12 months, even with the quarterback possible lacking the primary month on account of an ACL damage. Coach Andy Reid will be sure that they’ve a QB who can deal with the offense (possibly Philip Rivers, as Ralph advised above). And the Chiefs ought to get again into the playoff combine with a roster that ought to see main turnover this offseason, together with the departure of Kelce. May he play one other 12 months? Certain. However he had a tough time committing to a return this 12 months. It’ll solely get tougher subsequent 12 months. His retirement will convey concerning the finish of an period for the Chiefs. Nevertheless it shouldn’t be the top of their dynasty. – Henry McKenna
20. Solely One QB Goes within the First Spherical of the NFL Draft
Regardless of a number of groups needing a franchise quarterback amid a weak free agent class, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza would be the solely quarterback chosen within the first spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft. That assertion may increase eyebrows as a result of variety of groups in quest of a QB1, however the 2026 class lacks the blue-chip quarterback prospects to warrant first-round consideration. Whereas Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Oregon’s Dante Moore may enter the dialog, their lack of inexperience as collegiate starters may immediate them to attend till 2027 to make the leap to the NFL. The preseason hype led us to consider the 2026 quarterback class had the potential to be epic, nevertheless it seems like a “one-man” present at this level. – Bucky Brooks
[Read more: Ranking the 18 Best QB Prospects Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft]
21. Quarterback Kyler Murray Joins Mike McDaniel in Miami
After stuffing him on the injured reserve listing with a foot damage for the second half of the season, the Arizona Cardinals seem able to grant the shifty quarterback Murray his launch, permitting him to maneuver on to greener pastures. The opportunity of becoming a member of an offensive guru like McDaniel, with legit offensive weapons like De’Von Achane, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as potential teammates could be interesting to the Oklahoma product. Enjoying for the Dolphins retains Murray in a warm-weather local weather, and Murray could be an excellent match for McDaniel’s system, giving him essentially the most gifted signal-caller he’s had in Miami. – Eric D. Williams
22. Michael Jordan Named NASCAR Model Ambassador
(Photograph by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
Basketball Corridor-of-Famer and 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan, in an try and unify NASCAR after the contentious lawsuit that consumed the game in 2025, accepts a job as NASCAR Model Ambassador. He agrees to make 5 appearances on behalf of NASCAR on what is taken into account a nationwide stage or media platform. He can’t discuss whether or not his staff is getting cash or not. – Bob Pockrass
23. New York Mets Righty Nolan McLean Wins Cy Younger Award
Not solely will the New York Mets’ breakout beginning pitcher win his first profession Cy Younger Award in 2026, however which means he’ll even be in line to win Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr honors. Sure, that is simply how excessive his projections are for subsequent season. The 24-year-old righthander is coming off a robust debut within the massive leagues, together with his 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in eight begins and 48 innings pitched drawing comparisons to legendary former Mets rookies like Jacob deGrom… and even Corridor of Famer Nolan Ryan. Although it is manner too early in McLean’s profession to go that daring, it is not so far-fetched to prognosticate how dominant he shall be in his first full season within the majors subsequent 12 months. So, be careful, Paul Skenes. There’s one other elite righty within the league coming to your trophy. – Deesha Thosar
24. Robert Saleh Takes Over as Coach for the Cleveland Browns
Saleh would supply Cleveland with some much-needed management and stability if given the chance to function a head coach once more, ought to the Browns resolve to maneuver on from Kevin Stefanski. Saleh completed 20-36 throughout his time with the Jets after a midseason firing in 2024, which doesn’t look so unhealthy given the state of that franchise now. Saleh must herald a legit offensive coordinator with a background in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system to work with whoever the Browns select to go together with at quarterback. Saleh had constructive issues to say about Shedeur Sanders earlier this 12 months, however the Browns have two first-round picks and can possible attempt to discover their franchise quarterback within the draft. And with an already robust protection, Saleh may have a possibility to show issues round rapidly in Cleveland. – Eric D. Williams
25. Rick Pitino Wins Title With St. John’s in ’26-27 Season, Retires on High
(Photograph by Porter Binks/Getty Photographs).
A shocking loss in final 12 months’s Spherical of 32 reduce brief what many believed may have been a fairytale season for St. John’s, which gained each the Huge East common season and Huge East Event titles below second-year head coach Rick Pitino. The Crimson Storm retooled their roster by way of the switch portal however appear a participant or two in need of competing for a nationwide championship throughout the 2025-26 marketing campaign. Fueled by back-to-back shortcomings, Pitino and billionaire donor Mike Repole compile a brilliant staff for the 2026-27 season that brings St. John’s its first nationwide championship in program historical past. It will likely be Pitino’s third nationwide title general — he gained beforehand at Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013 — and the capstone achievement that lastly ushers him into retirement, the place he’ll be remembered as one of many best coaches in school basketball historical past. – Michael Cohen
26. Chiefs Land Ohio State Defensive Standout Caleb Downs
The Chiefs have to prioritize bolstering the offensive talent positions this offseason, however I don’t see them hesitating if Downs falls of their lap this spring. The very best defensive again in school soccer, the Buckeyes star would give Steve Spagnuolo a flexible chess piece at security that’s already well-versed in NFL ideas, having performed below Matt Patricia at Ohio State. As fearsome pass-rusher Chris Jones continues to become old, pairing Downs with Trent McDuffie within the again finish would supercharge a Kansas Metropolis protection constructed round robust secondary play. –Ben Arthur
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
