Team Stories

Notre DameRecruitingNo. 5Rodney Dunham (EDGE, #12 nationally) arrives as Marcus Freeman's best class in five years — but with 6% QB production returning, the question lingers over a program that knows what.ReplacedRead the story →BYUProgram outlookTop 15%3-yr power ratingSitake's 26-11 run has BYU in dynasty-caliber territory for the first time since its title era, but the market projects just 8.5 wins this season.Read the story →LSUProgram outlookTop 18%3-yr power ratingLSU has slipped from elite-tier consistency — the first time below the top-14% tier since 2024, and Brian Kelly’s fourth season raises the question of whether the program can sustain.ReplacedRead the story →GeorgiaRecruitingNo. 6Ekene Ogboko (#33 nationally, OT) arrives as Georgia's top recruit, but with 16% QB production returning and Florida signing a top-17 class, the SEC's most storied program faces its sharpest test yet.Read the story →Texas TechMarket movesJoey McGuire's fourth season opens with a 12-2 record and a #29 talent rank, yet the market now sees Texas Tech as a long shot for Big 12 title contention.ReplacedRead the story →MissouriProgram outlookEli Drinkwitz enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, but the playoff path shifting raises questions about whether Missouri can sustain its SEC foothold.AnsweredRead the story →CaliforniaMarket moves5.5 ▼ 1Tosh Lupoi begins his tenure with a 7-6 record and a win total drop below bowl eligibility, raising questions about sustaining momentum in a program defined by its legacy and transition.ReplacedRead the story →North CarolinaProgram outlookBill Belichick begins his second season at North Carolina, inheriting a 4-8 losing record and a program that balances basketball tradition with football experimentation.AnsweredRead the story →MarshallProgram outlookTony Gibson begins his second season at Marshall, tasked with sustaining momentum after a 5-7 losing record and navigating an outside ruling that reshapes the program's season.AnsweredRead the story →CincinnatiProgram outlookScott Satterfield enters his fourth season at Cincinnati, where a 7-6 record and uneasy fan belief signal the pressure to validate the Big 12 move after a CFP run as.ReplacedRead the story →OregonProgram outlookDan Lanning's fifth season begins with a 13-2 winning record, but the program's uneasy fan belief state questions whether Oregon can sustain its national power status amid NIL-driven roster shifts.ReplacedRead the story →FBS-wideCoordinatorsThe coordinator carousel: 9 changes across FBS this cycle.See the coordinator board →MarylandMarket moves5.5 ▲ 1Mike Locksley enters his 7th season with a 4-8 losing record and a #52 talent rank, raising the question of whether this rebuild can finally translate to more than 5.5 wins.ReplacedRead the story →LouisvilleMarket moves8.5 ▲ 1Jeff Brohm, in his third season at Louisville, inherits a 9-4 winning record and a program that seeks to outlast its Lamar Jackson legacy with rising market confidence.AnsweredRead the story →San José StateMarket moves4.5 ▼ 1Ken Niumatalolo begins his second season at San José State with a 3-9 losing record and a #109 talent rank, raising questions about sustaining the program's 2020 identity amid a 1.0-win total drop.AnsweredRead the story →Western KentuckyProgram outlookTyson Helton enters his sixth season with a 9-4 record, anchoring a program whose identity hinges on redefining what historic Kentucky football means beyond Lexington.ReplacedRead the story →UTSAProgram outlookNo. 62SP+UTSA enters 2026 — the 7-6 record and top-quintile returning production contrast with the 62nd SP+ rank, highlighting the tension between momentum and the challenge of sustaining it under Jeff Traylor.Read the story →ClemsonProgram outlookNo. 34SP+Clemson enters 2026 — the 12-spot SP+ drop from 2024 raises one question: can a program that built a dynasty in a town nobody knew how to find sustain top-quintile.ReplacedRead the story →UCFRecruitingNo. 54Scott Frost's second straight top-30 portal class targets RB and IOL — positions that could stabilize a 5-7 roster with just 31% production returning.AnsweredRead the story →USCRecruitingNo. 1Mark Bowman (TE, #23 nationally) headlines USC's first top-ranked class in five years — a rebuild under Lincoln Riley with 15% QB production returning, as Notre Dame's top-5 haul looms over the rivalry.AnsweredRead the story →ArkansasRecruitingNo. 15Pittman's top-2 portal haul in the SEC addresses K, OT, and CB — key areas for a 2-10 team with just 36% production returning.Read the story →IndianaProgram outlookTop 6%3-yr power ratingCignetti's second season arrives with a 27-10 arc and a market already pricing in 10.5 wins — the most improbable leap of the playoff era.ReplacedRead the story →TennesseeRecruitingNo. 8With Faizon Brandon (QB, #7 nationally) arriving, Tennessee's top-8 class confronts a rival Alabama's top-2 haul — a program rewriting its story with 2% QB production returning and five NFL exits to fill.AnsweredRead the story →LouisianaProgram outlookNo. 105SP+Louisiana collapsed 52 spots in SP+ — the 6-7 record and #91 talent rank reveal a stark disconnect from the Napier-era dominance that still defines the Ragin' Cajuns' identity in the Sun Belt.Read the story →Georgia SouthernProgram outlookNo. 103SP+Georgia Southern dropped 27 spots in SP+ — the 7-6 record and top-quintile returning production contrast with the 2025 ranking, raising questions about Clay Helton’s ability to sustain momentum in the Sun Belt.Read the story →Miami (OH)Program outlookNo. 82SP+Miami (OH) dropped 14 spots in SP+ — the 7-7 record and #87 talent rank reveal a gap between expectations and execution, challenging Chuck Martin to restore the 'Cradle of.Read the story →TCUProgram outlookNo. 37SP+TCU enters 2026 — the 12-spot SP+ drop from 2024 raises one question: can Sonny Dykes’ 4th season sustain the 9-4 winning record that made a national title game appearance feel possible?Read the story →SMUProgram outlookNo. 23SP+SMU enters 2026 — the 11-spot SP+ drop from 2024 raises one question: can Rhett Lashlee’s 4th season sustain the 9-4 winning record and Pony Express identity after a CFP appearance?AnsweredRead the story →UConnCoachingJason Candle inherits a 9-4 program and 96% QB production returning, but UConn's identity as a basketball school still hangs over whether football can be more than a footnote.ReplacedRead the story →South FloridaCoachingHartline, who led Ohio State to a national title, inherits a 9-4 South Florida roster with 100% production returning — the third coach in five years faces the challenge of.ReplacedRead the story →StanfordCoachingTavita Pritchard inherits a 4-8 roster and a program that hasn't won a conference title since 2013 — the admissions office identity clashes with a rebuild demanding results, not just tradition.ReplacedRead the story →AuburnCoachingGolesh inherits a 5-7 roster and a 22% production return at Auburn, where the program's third head coach in five years must prove the SEC West's scheduling dilemma isn't a recurring crisis.Read the story →FloridaCoachingSumrall, who previously led Tulane, inherits a 4-8 roster and 55% returning production — Florida's weight of history demands more than just a first-year fix.ReplacedRead the story →MichiganCoachingWhittingham, who led Utah to a 9-4 record, inherits a 40% production return and a program that hasn't won a national title since 1997 — the identity anchor is the weight, not the numbers.ReplacedRead the story →OklahomaProgram outlookNo. 14SP+Oklahoma jumped 19 spots in SP+ — the gap between the ranking and its 10-3 record is the story Brent Venables has to answer in Big 12 this year.ReplacedRead the story →Iowa StateCoachingRogers, who previously coached at Washington State, inherits an 8-4 roster with 58% production returning — Iowa State’s love for its underdog identity clashes with the pressure to sustain a rare winning season.Read the story →Arkansas StateProgram outlookNo. 100SP+Arkansas State enters 2026 — the 7-6 record and #88 talent rank signal a rare upward trajectory, yet the program's identity as a historic Sun Belt dynasty remains unproven in.Read the story →South CarolinaProgram outlookNo. 49SP+South Carolina collapsed 35 spots in SP+ — the 4-8 record and lack of returning production raise one question: can Shane Beamer reverse the slide before the program’s next 11-win season?ReplacedRead the story →SyracuseProgram outlookNo. 115SP+Syracuse collapsed 70 spots in SP+ — the 3-9 record and bottom-quintile returning production raise one question: can Fran Brown’s second season salvage the historic-northeast-football identity before it fades?AnsweredRead the story →UCLARecruitingNo. 21Foster's first full portal class in Year 2 addresses OT and LB while replacing Marshall and Johnson — UCLA's patience with roster rebuilding meets its alumni pedigree.ReplacedRead the story →Ohio StateMarket movesRyan Day's 8th season opens with a 12-2 record and #5 talent, yet fan belief remains uneasy, questioning if the program can sustain its national power status amid shifting market expectations.ReplacedRead the story →WashingtonProgram outlookNo. 13SP+Washington leaped 45 spots in SP+ — the 9-4 record and #37 talent rank suggest momentum, but Jedd Fisch’s second season will test whether the program’s contender altitude can be sustained in the Pac-12.AnsweredRead the story →NebraskaProgram outlookNo. 46SP+Nebraska enters 2026 — the 7-6 record and #20 talent rank suggest momentum, yet the 25-year national title drought looms as the unspoken challenge for Matt Rhule's third season.ReplacedRead the story →New MexicoProgram outlookJason Eck begins his tenure with a 9-4 record, signaling a shift in New Mexico's identity as the program navigates its next phase under his leadership.AnsweredRead the story →IllinoisProgram outlookNo. 24SP+Illinois enters 2026 — the 9-4 record and No. 24 SP+ ranking signal a reset, but the program’s identity hinges on whether Bielema can sustain the modern ceiling set in 2024.Read the story →UABProgram outlookTrent Dilfer enters his third season at UAB with a 4-8 losing record to overcome, as the program's identity hinges on reviving the legacy of its 2017 resurrection and 2018 Conference USA title.ReplacedRead the story →BaylorRecruitingNo. 13Baylor's highest-ranked portal class on record arrives as Dave Aranda confronts a 5-7 losing season, with QB DJ Lagway and CB Devon Jordan addressing gaps in a program rooted in faith and defensive identity.Read the story →Kansas StateCoachingCollin Klein inherits a 69% production returning roster after replacing Chris Klieman — the program's identity demands stability, not just a new name on the sideline.ReplacedRead the story →Missouri StateProgram outlookCasey Woods begins his first season at Missouri State, inheriting a 7-6 record and a program still finding its identity after a rapid succession of coaches and a historic bowl debut.Read the story →Ole MissRecruitingNo. 2Lane Kiffin's fifth consecutive top-25 portal class rebuilds nearly everything at once — 4% of QB production returns, and the market projects a 7.5-win season despite the upheaval.AnsweredRead the story →KentuckyCoachingWill Stein inherits a 5-7 roster and a 27% production return, but the program's identity as a football school now demands more than just rebuilding — it demands proving it belongs.Read the story →ToledoProgram outlookJason Candle enters his 9th season with an 8-5 record, anchoring Toledo's identity as a historic MAC stalwart amid evolving fanbase expectations.ReplacedRead the story →TulaneCoachingWill Hall, who led Southern Miss to an 11-3 season and a #17 AP ranking, inherits a 15% production roster at Tulane — the program's third head coach in five.AnsweredRead the story →North TexasProgram outlookTop 63%3-yr power ratingEric Morris' 12-2 season vaulted North Texas into dynasty territory, but the market projects just 6 wins — a skepticism gap after a historic G5 run.ReplacedRead the story →Mississippi StateRecruitingNo. 23Bralan Womack (S, #30 nationally) arrives as Mississippi State's highest-ranked class since 2019 — a lifeline for a program with 32% QB production returning and a 5-8 record to overcome.AnsweredRead the story →North Dakota StateMarket moves8.5 ▼ 1Tim Polasek begins his first season at North Dakota State with a 12-1 record under his belt, but the program's win total dipped to 8.5, raising questions about sustaining FCS success in FBS.Read the story →West VirginiaRecruitingNo. 25Rich Rodriguez's first class at West Virginia is the program's highest-ranked haul since 2022 — but with 16% QB production returning, it's the most extreme rebuild in a state where.AnsweredRead the story →UtahProgram outlookTop 24%3-yr power ratingUtah has reached elite-tier consistency — the 23-13 record over three seasons raises the question of whether Kyle Whittingham's 10th year can sustain a top-14% power rating with the market.AnsweredRead the story →WyomingProgram outlookWyoming's 4-8 record this season contrasts with its 2017 11-2 peak, highlighting the challenge of recapturing the altitude-driven, high-octane identity that once defined Laramie football.AnsweredRead the story →James MadisonCoachingNapier, who led Florida to a 12-2 season and #19 AP ranking, inherits a 78% returning roster but faces the challenge of stabilizing a program that has had three coaches in five years.ReplacedRead the story →Southern MissCoachingBlake Anderson, who previously coached at Utah State, inherits a 7-6 roster with 90% production returning — Southern Miss hasn't won a conference title since 2010, and the stakes are clear.ReplacedRead the story →Colorado StateCoachingJim Mora, who previously coached at UConn, begins his first season at Colorado State with 50% production returning and a program that hasn't reached a milestone since the Jay Norvell era.ReplacedRead the story →OhioCoachingJohn Hauser inherits a 9-4 program with 65% production returning, but the 126th talent rank and 97% QB continuity demand he prove historic Southeast Ohio football can thrive beyond legacy names.ReplacedRead the story →New Mexico StateProgram outlookNo. 123SP+New Mexico State enters 2026 — the 4-8 record and #130 talent rank contrast sharply with the 2023 10-5 season that defined its historic Southwest-borderland identity under Jerry Kill.AnsweredRead the story →Sam HoustonProgram outlookNo. 135SP+Sam Houston collapsed 37 spots in SP+ — the 2-10 record and 1% returning production highlight a stark contrast to the program's FCS-to-FBS ascent, testing Phil Longo's ability to stabilize.AnsweredRead the story →Middle TennesseeProgram outlookNo. 127SP+Middle Tennessee enters 2026 — the program's top-quintile returning production contrasts sharply with its 3-9 record, and Derek Mason's second season will determine if historic-Tennessee-G5-football can be rekindled.AnsweredRead the story →LibertyProgram outlookNo. 102SP+Liberty collapsed 31 spots in SP+ — the 4-8 record and 1% returning production contrast sharply with the 2023 13-1 Fiesta Bowl run, exposing the fragility of Jamey Chadwell's rebuild after Hugh Freeze's departure.Read the story →South AlabamaProgram outlookNo. 114SP+South Alabama collapsed 53 spots in SP+ — the 4-8 record and 102nd talent rank highlight the steep climb Major Applewhite faces in his second season to reverse the slide.ReplacedRead the story →Kennesaw StateProgram outlookNo. 89SP+Kennesaw State leaped 43 spots in SP+ — the 10-4 record and Jerry Mack's first season create a split screen between rising expectations and the challenge of sustaining momentum in the Big South.AnsweredRead the story →Florida InternationalProgram outlookNo. 107SP+Florida International enters 2026 — the 7-6 record and No. 107 SP+ mark contrast with the program’s 2002 founding and Riccardo Silva Stadium legacy, raising questions about sustaining its identity in Conference USA.AnsweredRead the story →MassachusettsProgram outlookNo. 136SP+Massachusetts enters 2026 — top-quintile returning production contrasts with a 0-12 record, and Joe Harasymiak’s first season will define whether UMass reclaims the version of itself that earns respect in FBS.AnsweredRead the story →Kent StateProgram outlookNo. 130SP+Kent State enters 2026 — the 5-7 record and bottom-quintile returning production highlight the steep climb ahead for Mark Carney in his first season at the helm.AnsweredRead the story →NevadaProgram outlookNo. 116SP+Nevada enters 2026 — the 3-9 record and 119th talent rank highlight a program that hasn't been this low since the early 2000s, and Choate's second season is the first.AnsweredRead the story →Florida AtlanticRecruitingNo. 78Kittley's second straight top-10 portal class continues FAU's identity-defining rebuild with Johnson and Garcia II filling critical CB and WR gaps after a 4-8 season.AnsweredRead the story →Hawai'iProgram outlookTimmy Chang enters his fourth season with a 9-4 record, navigating a program identity defined by Pacific-island-football tradition and the challenge of sustaining momentum in the Mountain West.Read the story →Georgia StateRecruitingNo. 47McGee's top-14 portal class jumps 33 spots nationally after a 1-11 season, diagnosing offensive line as the core problem with Smith Jr. and Mascoll arriving to fix it.ReplacedRead the story →Oregon StateProgram outlookTrent Bray's second season opens with a 2-10 losing record, underscoring the challenge of rebuilding a program that must avoid Pac-12 collapse while navigating a transitional schedule.AnsweredRead the story →VirginiaRecruitingNo. 16Beau Pribula (QB) arrives as Virginia's top transfer in a top-2 ACC portal class — a program steeped in tradition now addressing a 13% QB production return with a new era under Tony Elliott.Read the story →Utah StateProgram outlookBronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with a 6-7 losing record to inherit, as the program's identity hinges on recapturing the 2012 era's altitude and bowl success.AnsweredRead the story →Florida StateRecruitingNo. 16With Chauncey Kennon (CB, #41 nationally) arriving, Florida State faces extreme turnover after a 5-7 season — its top-16 class competes in a conference where rival Florida also signed a top-17 haul.ReplacedRead the story →East CarolinaProgram outlookBlake Harrell begins his tenure with a 9-4 record anchoring a program shifting its identity, as East Carolina fans build confidence in a new era under the former offensive coordinator.AnsweredRead the story →Jacksonville StateProgram outlookCharles Kelly's first season at Jacksonville State arrives with a 9-5 record and a fanbase uneasy about sustaining the program's recent bowl-winning momentum.AnsweredRead the story →MinnesotaProgram outlookP.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, navigating a fanbase in transition as Minnesota seeks to redefine its historic-program-resurrected identity in the Big Ten.Read the story →Coastal CarolinaCoachingBeard, who previously coached at Missouri State, inherits a 6-7 roster and 97% returning production — the program's third head coach in five years means the identity anchor is whether.ReplacedRead the story →Virginia TechCoachingFranklin, who led Penn State to a national title, inherits a 3-9 roster and 50% returning production — Virginia Tech's identity as a program with a 1999 hangover hangs in the balance.ReplacedRead the story →Georgia TechProgram outlookNo. 35SP+Georgia Tech leaped 31 spots in SP+ — the gap between the ranking and its 9-4 record is the story Brent Key has to answer in the ACC this year.ReplacedRead the story →Texas StateProgram outlookG.J. Kinne enters his third season at Texas State with a 7-6 record under his belt, as the program's identity continues to shift toward a more established FBS presence.Read the story →PittsburghProgram outlookNo. 36SP+Pittsburgh jumped 14 spots in SP+ — the 8-5 record and 2021 ACC title suggest momentum, but the talent rank at #56 raises questions about sustaining this rise under Pat Narduzzi.Read the story →Oklahoma StateProgram outlookEric Morris inherits a 1-11 losing record at Oklahoma State, a program long defined by its contrast to Oklahoma, now facing identity uncertainty in his first season.ReplacedRead the story →CharlotteProgram outlookTim Albin begins his tenure at Charlotte with a 1-11 losing record to inherit, compounding the program's status as one of the weaker FBS teams.AnsweredRead the story →IowaProgram outlookTop 14%3-yr power ratingFerentz's 26-11 run has Iowa in dynasty territory for the first time since 2021, but the market's 7.5-win projection suggests skepticism about sustaining that grind.Read the story →RutgersMarket moves3.5 ▼ 1.5Schiano's sixth season arrives with a 5-7 record and win total dip from 5 to 3.5 — a historic program's reset now faces its first real test.ReplacedRead the story →NavyProgram outlookTop 37%3-yr power ratingNewberry's third season arrives with Navy's 24-12 mark in hand — the kind of consistency that keeps a triple-option program in December.Read the story →San Diego StateRecruitingNo. 56Sean Lewis' top-15 portal class targets defensive line and edge depth after losing two starters — a reset for a 9-4 program still building its identity in the Pac-12.ReplacedRead the story →Fresno StateProgram outlookMatt Entz begins his tenure at Fresno State with a 9-4 record, anchoring a program whose identity hinges on its legacy and the challenge of sustaining its recent success.AnsweredRead the story →DukeProgram outlookManny Diaz's second season at Duke arrives with a 9-5 record, but the fanbase remains uneasy as the program navigates its shifting identity between Cameron Indoor and Wallace Wade Stadium.AnsweredRead the story →TexasMarket movesSteve Sarkisian's sixth season begins with a #2 talent rank, but a 10-3 record and uneasy fan belief signal tension between promise and pressure.Read the story →RiceProgram outlookScott Abell begins his tenure at Rice with a 5-8 losing record and a fanbase uneasy about reversing the program's decline.AnsweredRead the story →MiamiRecruitingNo. 9With Jackson Cantwell (OT, #4 nationally) arriving, Cristobal's top-9 class faces extreme rebuild — 9 NFL exits and 6% QB production returning as Miami redefines its legacy amid near-total roster turnover.AnsweredRead the story →PurdueMarket moves2.5 ▼ 1Barry Odom's second season at Purdue begins with a 2-10 losing record and a win total down to 2.5, raising questions about whether the Cradle of Quarterbacks can reverse its slide.AnsweredRead the story →