Scout Notebook: Championship Weekend Standouts, NFL Draft Updates

All Access Football Scout Notebook takes you inside 'Championship Weekend,' with a look at top performers climbing up NFL Draft big boards. Plus, tis the season, as underclassmen begin to declare.

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SCOUT NOTEBOOK: 137 DAYS UNTIL THE 2026 NFL DRAFT

Welcome to the December 8, 2026 edition of AAF Scout Notebook. In today’s newsletter we shine the spotlight on the Power-Four conference championship matchups, with a look at some of the top standouts eligible for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

Before we get to the big game performers, we have updated various lists pertinent to this year’s draft class, including our 2026 Underclassmen Tracker. Plus, up-to-the minute updates on all-star game invitations, with over 100 prospects officially announced for the January circuit.

Be sure to keep it locked all week to All Access Football for more notes from championship weekend, courtesy of the NFL Draft Bible scouting department. We will be providing expanded ‘Draft Watch’ updates for all eight teams in action from the Power-Four this past weekend. Starting next week, All Access Football exclusive bowl game coverage begins, as we keep you abreast on the names you need to know during the NCAA postseason.

2026 NFL DRAFT UNDERCLASSMEN TRACKER NOW LIVE

The All Access Football Underclassmen Tracker went live on Sunday, as we keep you up to date with the latest early entrants for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Thus far, we have identified one dozen players who have indicated that they will declare. While an official announcement has yet to been issued, all indications are that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love could be the next underclassmen to announce his intent, after the Fighting Irish refused to accept their bowl game invitation.

SENIOR BOWL ROSTER A QUARTER OF THE WAY FILLED

There have been a total of 35 Panini Senior Bowl invites publicly announced, with the most recent prospects including Michigan defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, Iowa cornerback TJ Hall and TCU safety Bud Clark. The event plans to invite a total of 140 players. You can view the entire list at our ongoing Panini Senior Bowl Tracker.

EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL RECRUITMENT INTENSIFIES

The East-West Shrine Bowl lost a handful of invites to the Panini Senior Bowl this week, including UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell, San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson and Stephen F. Auston cornerback Charles Demmings, bringing the total number of invites down to 23 players. You can view them all at our ongoing East-West Shrine Bowl Tracker.

NEW AMERICAN BOWL MAKES BIG SPALSH WITH LATEST INVITES

It has been a busy week for American Bowl invitations with some notable new announcements such as Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor, BYU redshirt junior guard Austin Leausa, along with Michigan defensive linemen Damon Payne and TJ Guy. The inaugural game is also now up to 35 invites announced, you can view them all at our ongoing American Bowl Tracker.

FIRST WAVE OF HULA BOWL INVITES ANNOUNCED

The first batch of Altrus HealthShare Hula Bowl invites are in and it includes a baker’s dozen of prospects such as Notre Dame wideout Will Pauling, Georgia Southern playmaker Camden Brown and Louisville edge rusher Wesley Bailey. We will continue to update the latest add-ons with our ongoing Altrua Healthshare Hula Bowl Tracker.

SCOUT NOTEBOOK: CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND DRAFT WATCH

Our first of several scouting report updates surrounding conference championship weekend is now available below. Today, we feature one prominent draft-riser from each of the Power-Four title games, with evaluations provided by AAF founder Ric Serritella, along with their latest draft status projections and insider intel.