Phil Steele's 14 Most Improved 2026 College Football Teams: Going Into Week 9

The 2026 college football season is fast approaching, and analyst Phil Steele released his complete schedule difficulty rankings. Auditing non-conference marquee games and power-conference slates, Steele power ranks the 25 programs facing the most punishing paths to the 12-team playoff. From Texas, Michigan, USC, Arkansas, and Oklahoma topping the list to heavyweights like Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and defending champion Indiana navigating dangerous calendars, we break down all 25 schedules in the nation. Check out our full breakdown to see where your team lands.

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View the profile of Appalachian State Mountaineers LB Braxton Veiga on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Braxton Veiga is a LB for the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the NCAAF.

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Braxton Veiga

#42 · APP · LB

HT/WT

6’1”, 210 lbs

Birthplace

Greensboro, NC, USA

Class

Sophomore

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