How good is your college football team going to be this season? And how does it stack up against every other Football Bowl Subdivision program? The Athletic’s college football staff is here with our mega preview of all 138 teams ahead of kickoff of Week 0 on Saturday.
Let’s leave an offseason of legal battles and eligibility battles behind and catch up on what you need to know on the field and whether every team will be better, worse or the same as last season. The ranking for each team is from Chris Vannini’s The Athletic 138, and the College Football Playoff and conference championship odds are from Austin Mock’s predictor model.
Note: Use the conference names and team logos on the bottom navigation bar to jump around the country.
ACCBoston College Eagles
2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 ACC)
Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.3%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 95th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same.
Pedigree: The Eagles were an ACC middleweight for most of the past 20 years, with the Matt Ryan era the only exception. There have been dips, but Boston College has always bounced back immediately to another .500-ish season. Is the program invested enough in football to write another comeback story?
Why they’re interesting: It’s not clear the Eagles are. Boston College lost high-profile transfers to Indiana (leading rusher Turbo Richard) and Arizona State (top receiver Reed Harris), plus others to Penn State, UCLA and Vanderbilt. It did add former reserves from Georgia, Notre Dame and Florida State, but the Eagles feel adrift from the rest of the conference.
Who is the coach? Bill O’Brien is one of just six FBS head coaches who have also been NFL head coaches. Only he and UNC’s Bill Belichick have won multiple NFL playoff games. It all makes the 56-year-old Boston native a seeming coup for the Eagles. But without NIL commitment, that experience might not matter.
Who is the QB? Boston College will bet on Saginaw Valley State transfer Mason McKenzie (No. 103 in QB Tiers), who threw for 2,086 yards and rushed for another 942 last season at the Division II level while accounting for 27 total touchdowns. A year ago, Ole Miss struck gold with Trinidad Chambliss from Ferris State, a conference rival of Saginaw Valley State. The Eagles would settle for bronze.
Key player: Safety KP Price made the first-team All-ACC preseason squad after starting 26 consecutive games. The returning captain led Boston College in tackles (94) and interceptions (2) last season.
Game to circle: Sept. 11 vs. Rutgers. With a schedule that includes 11 Power 4 programs, Boston College has to get one in the nonconference if it wants to take a modest step forward. The Scarlet Knights are the best bet.
— Pete Sampson
California Golden Bears
2025 record: 7-6 (4-4 ACC)
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.4%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 37th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better by one or two victories.
Pedigree: Cal has not won an outright conference championship since 1958 and hasn’t played in a New Year’s Six bowl game since the Rose Bowl the same year. The Bears last finished a season ranked in the AP Top 25 in 2006. Cal, though, has played in three consecutive bowl games and recruited last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, out of high school before he left for national champion Indiana.
Why they’re interesting: The Bears are a popular sleeper team pick in the ACC because they have a young star quarterback in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele whom they’ve surrounded with quality, veteran offensive weapons via the transfer portal. Aside from that, the “Calgorithm” online fan base is a lot of fun — and there’s hope in Berkeley one of their own former players can finally get the program over the hump.
Who is the coach? Tosh Lupoi, 45, begins his first season as a head coach after establishing himself as one of the nation’s top recruiters and defensive assistants at Oregon. Lupoi played defensive line at Cal and began his coaching career with the Bears before working at Washington and Alabama and making NFL stops with the Browns, Falcons and Jaguars.
Who is the QB? Sagapolutele (No. 14 in QB Tiers) started 13 games last year as a freshman. He threw for 3,454 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and his completion percentage, yardage and touchdown totals were all the second most by a freshman in Cal history behind only Jared Goff in 2013.
Key player: Edge rusher Solomon Williams. Cal lost many of its most accomplished defensive players, including All-American cornerback Hezekiah Masses and leading tackler Cade Uluave. Williams, a third-year transfer from Texas A&M, is expected to start opposite Jayden Wayne, Cal’s one returning starter up front.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 vs. UCLA. The Bears open against their longtime rival in the first football meeting between the schools since UCLA left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.
— Manny Navarro
Clemson Tigers
2025 record: 7-6 (4-4 ACC)
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 9.9%
Odds to win the ACC: 3.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 33rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly better.
Pedigree: The Tigers lived at the top of the sport from 2015 to 2020 with six consecutive Playoff appearances and two national titles. With seven total CFP appearances, Clemson is tied with Ohio State for second-most since 2014 behind Alabama. But this decade has been harder for Clemson, with the Tigers missing the Playoff four times in the last five years.
Why they’re interesting: A two-time national championship-winning coach, Dabo Swinney faces scrutiny after Clemson had its worst record since 2010 despite having nine players drafted in April. Swinney fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and brought Chad Morris (previously at Clemson from 2011 to 2014) back into the fold to see if he can recreate some of the magic from the program’s past. Though Clemson has taken a few transfers, Swinney remains reluctant to lean heavily on the portal.
Who is the coach? Swinney, 56, enters his 18th full season as the Tigers’ head coach and is already the winningest coach in both ACC and Clemson history.
Who is the QB? Christopher Vizzina (No. 53 in QB Tiers) was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023 and spent his first three seasons sitting behind Cade Klubnik. He enters the season with 596 career passing yards, four touchdowns and an interception in limited action.
Key player: Linebacker Sammy Brown. The Tigers need Brown (No. 21 in the Freaks List, No. 57 in our top 100 players) to stay healthy and productive, as they are thin at linebacker. Brown led Clemson with 106 tackles last season, including 13.5 for loss.
Game to circle: At LSU in Week 1. There is no better early litmus test, with two programs (and coaches) that have used wildly different roster-building strategies. Clemson has lost three straight openers, including 17-10 vs. LSU last year.
— Grace Raynor
Dabo Swinney and Clemson are unranked in the preseason AP poll for the first time since 2011. (David Jensen / Getty Images)
Duke Blue Devils
2025 record: 9-5 (6-2 ACC)
Location: Durham, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.7%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 59th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: Duke will never not be a basketball school, but the football program — which has one ranked finish since 1960 — has had a nice run lately, going 35-18 over the past four seasons and winning the ACC title last December for the first time since 1989.
Why they’re interesting: The most impactful poaching of the offseason was done to Duke when quarterback Darian Mensah and top receiver Cooper Barkate were last-day portal entrants and ended up at ACC rival Miami. Huge losses to a team that looks pretty solid in a lot of other areas. The biggest questions are in the portal-rebuilt secondary and unproven receiving corps.
Who is the coach? Manny Diaz, 52, heads into Year 3 at 18-9. A defensive whiz, he has done a nice job rebuilding his reputation and stock as a head coach after a bumpy three years at Miami (21-15).
Who is the QB? Sixth-year transfer portal addition Walker Eget (No. 56 in QB Tiers) came aboard after Mensah backed out of a contract and bolted for Miami. The former San Jose State quarterback threw for 3,051 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. He also missed all of spring recovering from a torn ACL. Eget isn’t Mensah, but Duke won nine games with Maalik Murphy at quarterback in this system in 2024 and coaches are confident the Blue Devils can be at least as good with Eget.
Key player: Defensive end Kevin O’Connor. The fourth-year player could be in line for a breakout season coming off the edge in a Diaz defense that produces a lot of negative plays. Sophomore Bryce Davis is the higher-ceiling talent, but O’Connor stood out in spring.
Game to circle: The Blue Devils visit Miami and their former quarterback on Nov. 14. The Hurricanes look loaded again and are the favorite in the ACC under Mario Cristobal, who replaced Diaz in an awkward transition. This would go down as one of the sweeter victories in Duke history if the Blue Devils can spring the upset.
— Ralph D. Russo
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 ACC)
Location: Atlanta
Odds to make the CFP: 2.3%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 40th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: The Yellow Jackets, who split the 1990 national championship with Colorado, have won the ACC just once since 1998, but they have had periods of consistent success. They went to bowl games every season from 1997 to 2014.
Why they’re interesting: The offense is rebooting with a new coordinator and a very notable quarterback — Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza’s younger brother, Alberto. Georgia Tech rose as high as No. 7 in the polls after an 8-0 start last season but lost four of its final five games to finish unranked for the 11th straight season. This team has lots of new faces but is a popular dark horse ACC contender.
Who is the coach? Brent Key, 48, was promoted to interim coach in early 2022 after Geoff Collins was fired and earned the permanent job after going 4-4. He played offensive line for the school from 1997 to 2000 and worked as Alabama’s offensive line coach under Nick Saban for three seasons.
Who is the QB? Mendoza (No. 62 in QB Tiers) takes over for human battering ram Haynes King, who carried the ball 430 times in three seasons as starting quarterback. Mendoza played sparingly behind his brother for national champion Indiana last season.
Key player: Running back Justice Haynes is No. 63 in our top 100 players. The Michigan transfer, who started his career at Alabama, averaged 7.1 yards per carry and racked up 857 yards with 10 touchdowns in seven games before an injury ended his season. He came home to Atlanta and figures to be a massive piece of an offense under new coordinator George Godsey that won’t stray far from Key’s physical, run-heavy approach.
Game to circle: Oct. 31 at Pitt. Georgia Tech plays Colorado and Tennessee in nonconference play, but the road date at Pitt on Halloween might help sort who’s an ACC contender and pretender.
— David Ubben
Florida State Seminoles
2025 record: 5-7 (2-6 ACC)
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 8.5%
Odds to win the ACC: 2.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 49th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: Florida State has three national championships, 16 ACC championships and three Heisman Trophy winners. The Seminoles went 13-0 and won the ACC in 2023 but became the first undefeated power-conference champion excluded from the four-team Playoff. The program has fallen sharply over the past eight years, missing a bowl game five times after making one in 36 consecutive years.
Why they’re interesting: The coach who led the team to an ACC championship and the doorstep of the Playoff three years ago has faced massive backlash from the fan base after going 7-17 the past two years — and yet still has $50-plus million left on his contract, which runs through 2031. FSU refitted the roster with 23 transfers, but none of them included a star quarterback.
Who is the coach? Mike Norvell, 44, enters his seventh season at FSU and his 11th as a head coach. He led Memphis to the 2019 American Conference championship before taking over in Tallahassee, where he has two double-digit-win seasons sandwiched in between four losing campaigns.
Who is the QB? Ashton Daniels (No. 60 in QB Tiers) has played in 37 career games with 23 starts at Stanford and Auburn, throwing for 4,783 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 1,397 yards and 11 scores. He’s also thrown 22 interceptions.
Key player: Wide receiver Duce Robinson is No. 31 in our top 100 players. The 6-foot-6 senior, who previously played at USC, earned first-team All-ACC honors after leading the Seminoles with 56 catches for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
Game to circle: Sept. 7 vs. SMU. The spotlight will be burning hot and bright on Norvell and the program on Labor Day. Upsetting SMU — picked to finish second in the ACC in the preseason — could relieve some pressure.
— Manny Navarro
Louisville Cardinals
2025 record: 9-4 (4-4 ACC)
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Odds to make the CFP: 13.9%
Odds to win the ACC: 7.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 18th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Cardinals haven’t made the Playoff since it launched in 2014, but they’ve had a good, solid program in the 21st century (an eight-win average since 2000) that has proven capable of punching above its weight and has recently raised its level.
Why they’re interesting: Louisville could be a Playoff contender. There’s good talent at key positions, and Jeff Brohm has delivered consistent results despite annual roster turnover. There are new co-defensive coordinators, but the defense is deep, with difference-makers at all three levels and explosive playmakers at the offensive skill positions.
Who is the coach? Brohm, 55, is an alumnus who set school records as Louisville’s quarterback from 1989 to 1993 and has the program on solid footing since taking the head-coaching job before the 2023 season. He’s 94-56 in 12 years with stops at Western Kentucky and Purdue before returning to the Cardinals, where he’s 28-12.
Who is the QB? Lincoln Kienholz (No. 54 in QB Tiers) is an Ohio State transfer who was highly sought after. He backed up Julian Sayin last year and is light on experience (133 career snaps in 12 games), but teams were bullish on his ability, especially his athleticism. He should add a dimension to Louisville’s offense that wasn’t there with Miller Moss.
Key player: Louisville retained running back Isaac Brown (No. 49 in our top 100 players) after a brief flirtation with the transfer portal. The third-team All-ACC pick has 2,057 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in his two seasons and is one of the more talented backs in the country. Three of Louisville’s four losses last season came when Brown was injured.
Game to circle: A win in the conference home opener against SMU on Sept. 19 could give Louisville legitimate early-season momentum. The Cardinals are 0-2 against the Mustangs since they joined the ACC, and it’s one of their toughest ACC games (Louisville doesn’t play Miami, Clemson or Virginia).
— Sam Khan Jr.
Miami Hurricanes
2025 record: 13-3 (6-2 ACC)
Location: Coral Gables, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 70.8%
Odds to win the ACC: 57.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 7th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better — if you take the perspective that the program has never won the ACC before and should make the CFP field again.
Pedigree: Miami was the team of the 1980s and has two Heisman winners and five national championships to its credit — most recently in 2001. The “U” still hasn’t won a league title since it last played in the Big East (2003), but it made a stirring run to the national title game last season.
Why they’re interesting: Few programs were reviled nationally more than Miami during its heyday because of player showboating. The fact that the program spent more than $40 million on its roster, including more than $6 million to swipe the starting quarterback from the defending league champions this offseason, provides plenty of fodder for the cavalcade of Miami haters to rise up.
Who is the coach? Mario Cristobal, 55, enters his fifth season at his alma mater with a 35-19 record, including back-to-back, 10-plus-win seasons and a Playoff appearance. He’s 15-14 against ranked opponents in eight seasons at Oregon and Miami. His teams have been ranked at one point in each of the last eight seasons but have also lost at least one game to an unranked opponent.
Who is the QB? Darian Mensah (No. 4 in QB Tiers) bolted ACC champion Duke late in the transfer portal window after leading the Blue Devils to their first conference title since 1989. He’s 18-9 as a starter between his time at Tulane and Duke.
Key player: Wide receiver Malachi Toney (No. 5 in our top 100 players) led the FBS with 109 catches as a freshman and played a big role in Miami’s run to the national championship game. Toney lines up everywhere on Miami’s offense and makes plays. He went 10th in our draft of Heisman candidates.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Notre Dame. The CFP committee dropped the Irish out of last year’s field because of a season-opening loss to the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. If Cristobal’s team stumbles even once prior to this showdown, Miami could be fighting for its Playoff life when it visits South Bend.
— Manny Navarro
NC State Wolfpack
2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 5.9%
Odds to win the ACC: 2.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 48th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly better, even though last year’s top two wideouts and leading rusher transferred to USC, Alabama and Texas.
Pedigree: NC State hasn’t won 10 games since the Philip Rivers era but rarely goes into the tank. The Wolfpack would be one of the overlooked winners of a future super-sized College Football Playoff, having appeared in the final CFP Top 25 five times in the past decade. But they’ve never finished ranked in the AP top 10.
Why they’re interesting: The Wolfpack miss Miami, Clemson and SMU in ACC play, ideal conditions for paving a backdoor path to their first conference title game in Charlotte.
Who is the coach? Somehow, Dave Doeren is one of the five longest-tenured coaches in the FBS, despite a 9-31 record against Top 25 teams and zero ACC title game appearances in 13 seasons. Doeren, 54, has developed a knack for producing hot streaks that break the tension just when it seems like he has run his course in Raleigh. This fall, with a gettable schedule and impatience rising again, would be a good time to find another one.
Who is the QB? CJ Bailey (No. 17 in QB Tiers) reportedly spurned transfer portal interest from deep-pocketed programs and has a chance to be the first NC State starting quarterback to spend his entire college career in red and white since Mike Glennon, who last played in 2012. Eight of his nine interceptions last fall came in ugly losses to Duke, Notre Dame and Miami, but his tantalizing tools have the Wolfpack dreaming big.
Key player: In the tradition of Blake “The Belldozer” Bell at Oklahoma, backup quarterback Will Wilson has become a fan favorite after excelling as a short-yardage battering ram during his freshman season. The 6-1, 228-pound Wilson ran the ball nine times on fourth down and converted on eight of them, and he punched in four of his team-high 10 rushing touchdowns in a cathartic Thanksgiving blowout of archrival North Carolina.
Game to circle: Oct. 31 vs. Cal. Bailey vs. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele could be the sneaky QB duel of the year in the ACC. Bet all your Halloween candy on the over.
— Eric Single
North Carolina Tar Heels
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 ACC)
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.5%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 75th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Maybe better?
Pedigree: UNC hasn’t won the ACC since 1980 but played for the title in 2022. Last year was just the fourth time it didn’t play in a bowl game since 2007. UNC has cracked the top 10 of the AP Top 25 in four seasons this century but has ended the year ranked only twice since 1997.
Why they’re interesting: Will the grand experiment work, or is Bill Belichick not long for the college game? Belichick is back for Year 2 and hired Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator after Petrino’s brief return to Arkansas. He’s got a new quarterback, too, while general manager Mike Lombardi is on leave.
Who is the coach? Belichick, 74, had never coached in college football but had won six Super Bowls before a highly publicized breakup with the New England Patriots and a year out of football in 2024. Last season was UNC’s worst since 2018, Larry Fedora’s final year in Chapel Hill.
Who is the QB? Billy Edwards Jr. (No. 68 in QB Tiers) was a late addition via the transfer portal. He arrives after a knee injury ended his 2025 season at Wisconsin. He’s in his sixth season but has only stayed on the field during his 2024 season at Maryland, when he threw for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine picks.
Key player: Senior defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude is back after notching 12 tackles for loss, earning second-team all-ACC honors and finishing second in the conference with 10.5 sacks. Five of those sacks came in UNC’s two ACC wins.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 at Duke. Last year, Belichick and UNC lost to every in-state rival for the first time since 1989.
— David Ubben
Pittsburgh Panthers
2025 record: 8-5 (6-2 ACC)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Odds to make the CFP: 6.7%
Odds to win the ACC: 2.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 38th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: The Panthers have made 39 bowl appearances and are routinely one of the ACC’s top teams at pumping out NFL prospects. Coach Pat Narduzzi has had just two losing seasons with the program since he was hired ahead of the 2015 season, though he is 2-6 in bowl games. But Pitt, which won a national title in 1976, has had six ranked finishes in the past 42 seasons and last finished in the top 10 in 1982.
Why they’re interesting: The Panthers lost their top receivers and their top two linebackers from 2025 and were picked to finish ninth in the ACC’s preseason poll. But the Panthers brought back their quarterback and leading rusher, and nothing is ever boring with the blunt Narduzzi at the helm.
Who is the coach? Narduzzi, 60, took over in December 2014 and won the ACC championship in 2021. He has produced 32 NFL Draft picks and at least one pick in each of the past 11 drafts. His 80 wins rank second-most in program history, behind Jack Sutherland’s 111 from 1924 to 1938.
Who is the QB? Mason Heintschel (No. 23 in QB Tiers) finished his freshman season with eight starts, going 201-of-316 passing for 2,354 yards and 16 TDs. He’ll need to improve his accuracy after also tossing eight picks.
Key player: Running back Ja’Kyrian Turner. Despite starting just five of 12 games in 2025, Turner led the Panthers in rushing as a freshman with 140 carries for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, including 201 yards in a win at Georgia Tech.
Game to circle: At Miami on Oct. 24. The Panthers could be out of the ACC race by then, but there will be drama either way. Narduzzi didn’t hold back at ACC media days when he said Miami tried to swipe Heintschel before landing Darian Mensah from Duke.
— Grace Raynor
SMU Mustangs
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 ACC)
Location: Dallas
Odds to make the CFP: 22.1%
Odds to win the ACC: 13.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 17th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, with an expectation of returning to the Playoff.
Pedigree: SMU got the NCAA’s Death Penalty in the 1980s for what today might be deemed as underpaying players. It took a long time to recover, but the 21st century has built to this, the most exciting time for SMU football since … Eric Dickerson’s gold Trans Am. SMU made the Playoff in 2024, the same year it moved into the ACC.
Why they’re interesting: When the Mustangs get cooking on offense, they’re tons of fun. This happened at times in 2025 — a 35-24 win at Clemson and a 38-6 rout of Louisville, for example — and SMU also upset Miami. In 2026, the Mustangs seek the consistency of 2024.
Who is the coach? Rhett Lashlee is 38-16 in four seasons, including two 11-win seasons. The 43-year-old had the Mustangs on the verge of playing in the ACC title game — and for a second straight Playoff bid — last season, but a 38-35 heartbreaker at Cal ruined those hopes. Lashlee stayed at SMU this offseason despite a job opening at Arkansas, his alma mater.
Who is the QB? Kevin Jennings (No. 15 in QB Tiers) is a throwback, a quarterback who will end up spending five years all at one program, three as the starter. He was eighth in the FBS with 3,641 passing yards and 17th with 26 touchdown passes last season. He also threw 13 picks, and his rushing yards dropped to 55 from 354 in 2024. SMU needs his full game, with fewer mistakes, to get where it wants to go.
Key player: Senior running back Kendrick Raphael’s ACC tour brings him to Dallas, after two seasons at NC State and a breakout 2025 at Cal. He rushed for 943 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and should be a big help to Jennings.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 at Louisville. Miami, Clemson and Georgia Tech are absent from the schedule, which should bode well for hopes of getting to the ACC title game. And it makes Louisville the highlight of conference play.
— Joe Rexrode
Stanford Cardinal
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 ACC)
Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.4%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 94th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly better, but lots of unknowns.
Pedigree: Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw oversaw the program’s proudest era from 2009 to 2018, winning the Pac-12 three times and finishing in the top 12 of the AP poll six times. The program also claims national titles from 1926 and 1940.
Why they’re interesting: This is Stanford’s third head coach in three seasons. Cardinal legend Andrew Luck oversees the program as the general manager to whom the head coach reports. After Troy Taylor was fired, Luck turned to his former coach, Frank Reich, for one interim season. Now, he turns to his friend and fellow former Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard to try to secure the program’s first full winning season since 2019.
Who is the coach? Pritchard, 39, returns to his alma mater after coaching Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders. He was at Stanford for a decade before leaving for the Commanders and was an analyst when Luck was quarterback. This is his first season as a head coach.
Who is the QB? Davis Warren (No. 119 in QB Tiers) left Michigan last season and will start. He struggled in 2024, throwing for 1,199 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games. He didn’t play last season after tearing his ACL in Michigan’s bowl game to close 2024.
Key player: Senior linebacker Matt Rose made 106 tackles last season, with eight tackles for loss. The Ohio native earned second-team All-ACC honors.
Game to circle: Nov. 21 at Cal. The Cardinal snapped a four-game losing streak in the Big Game last year, but this year’s game could have a bowl berth at stake.
— David Ubben
Syracuse Orange
2025 record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.3%
Odds to win the ACC: 0.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 78th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: It’s been a mostly rough century for a program that has much more tradition than young folks may realize, including the 1959 national title and a stellar run in the 1990s. Syracuse has just six winning seasons since it went 10-3 under Paul Pasqualoni in 2001. Third-year coach Fran Brown has one of those, his 10-3 debut in 2024.
Why they’re interesting: Not much is expected out of Syracuse, which was picked 14th in the ACC media preseason poll after losing its final eight last year. But there’s a case to be made for an upper-division finish — or at least a feisty spoiler role — if quarterback Steve Angeli stays healthy. Cal, Louisville, Clemson, SMU and Notre Dame all visit the JMA Wireless Dome.
Who is the coach? The 44-year-old Brown brought tons of energy and success to the job in 2024 after two seasons coaching defensive backs for Kirby Smart at Georgia. Ohio State transfer quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 4,779 yards and the Orange won eight one-score games, including a shocker over Miami. Last year’s team lost Angeli early and lost nine games by multiple scores.
Who is the QB? Angeli (No. 44 in QB Tiers), a senior and Notre Dame transfer, was lighting it up in Brown’s offense and leading the nation in passing last season (1,317 yards and 10 touchdowns in four games) before an Achilles tear ended his season. He had 245 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter of an eventual win at Clemson when he suffered the injury. Syracuse was 3-1 and would not come close to winning again. Angeli is cleared to play, but will he be the same?
Key player: Defensive back play is Brown’s specialty, and he has a potential first-round talent this season in junior cornerback Chris Peal. Brown previously coached Peal as a freshman at Georgia.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 at North Carolina is a big one, in part because Syracuse’s late-season woes helped Bill Belichick collect one of his only two ACC (and Power 4) wins in his 2025 debut season. If the Orange want to go bowling, they’ll need this revenge game in Chapel Hill.
— Joe Rexrode
Virginia Cavaliers
2025 record: 11-3 (7-1 ACC)
Location: Charlottesville, Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 9.6%
Odds to win the ACC: 3.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 34th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Probably worse.
Pedigree: UVA reached the ACC title game for the second time in school history last season, losing in overtime to Duke and narrowly missing the Playoff. That ended a five-year bowl drought, but the Cavaliers haven’t won the ACC since 1995 and have just one other ACC title, in 1989.
Why they’re interesting: Rather than jettison Tony Elliott after an 11-23 run in his first three seasons, UVA invested in the roster and got 11 wins for the money. It has to rebuild the offensive backfield, but the Cavaliers can push to win 10 games again this year with some good luck and a healthy roster. They have the most experienced roster in the country.
Who is the coach? Elliott, 46, had his breakthrough season last year after a difficult first three years at Virginia. He won a pair of national titles under Dabo Swinney at Clemson and won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant in 2017.
Who is the QB? Former Penn State and Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula (No. 46 in QB Tiers and No. 91 in the Freaks List) transferred to UVA after a leg injury late last season in a loss to Vanderbilt. He threw for 1,941 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions and also ran for 297 yards and six TDs. He’ll replace Chandler Morris, who helped spark last year’s turnaround.
Key player: Senior linebacker Kam Robinson returns after making 64 tackles and scoring a pair of touchdowns on his interceptions. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss. He finished second to Rueben Bain Jr. in ACC Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 at SMU. Can Virginia challenge for the conference again? The Cavaliers don’t face Miami or Louisville.
— David Ubben
Virginia Tech Hokies
2025 record: 3-9 (2-6)
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 6.9%
Odds to win the ACC: 2.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 47th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, with hopes of a full-on renaissance in the next few years.
Pedigree: The Frank Beamer era at Virginia Tech — which included 16 ranked finishes in a 19-year span, seven in the top 10 with a BCS title game advance — put this program in a lofty position. But a Sugar Bowl loss under Beamer to end the 2011 season was the last major bowl game for the Hokies, who have had two ranked finishes since.
Why they’re interesting: This is one of the most interesting stories in college football. James Franklin, fired at Penn State despite 104 wins in 11 1/2 seasons, has arrived to bring back the glory days and redeem himself. Virginia Tech has lacked investment, attention and personality. It lacks them no more.
Who is the coach? Franklin, 54, was canned six games into the 2025 season, a year after he led Penn State to two CFP wins and nearly to the title game. That was many years and many agonizing losses in big games in the making. But Franklin has been a talent-collecting, program-building force since he got to Vanderbilt in 2011. Virginia Tech craves the opportunity to squander a big game.
Who is the QB? Sophomore Ethan Grunkemeyer (No. 45 in QB Tiers) followed Franklin to Virginia Tech from Penn State, after impressing mostly in Franklin’s absence. He replaced injured starter Drew Allar after the loss to Northwestern, when Franklin was fired. Grunkemeyer went 4-3 from there, nearly engineering an upset of Indiana and throwing for 260 and two scores in a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.
Key player: Count on Franklin to recruit and develop elite pass rushers, and count on Missouri transfer edge Javion Hilson, a top-50 recruit, to be featured in 2026 and potentially be Franklin’s next QB terrorizer alongside returning star tackle Kemari Copeland (No. 7 on the Freaks List).
Game to circle: Pittsburgh’s visit on Oct. 2 represents the first big home game under Franklin, and “Enter Sandman” should hit especially hard under the lights. It’s also a reunion of Franklin and former rival Pat Narduzzi, though Pitt and Penn State last played in 2019.
— Joe Rexrode
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2025 record: 9-4 (4-4)
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.9%
Odds to win the ACC: 1.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 50th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same.
Pedigree: Former coaches Jim Grobe (2001-2013) and Dave Clawson (2014-2024) turned one of the losingest programs of the 20th century into a regular bowl team that won an ACC title in 2006 and played for another in 2021. Clawson’s successor, Jake Dickert, showed he can win, too, with a nine-win debut season.
Why they’re interesting: Wake was easily the most overlooked surprise team last season, when the Demon Deacons improved from 4-8 in 2023 and ’24 to 9-4 with a Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Mississippi State. The question is whether the Power 4’s smallest university (5,600 undergrads) can keep it up year-to-year amid the never-ending NIL arms race.
Who is the coach? Five years ago, Dickert, 42, was an unknown defensive coordinator at Washington State. But when head coach Nick Rolovich was fired midseason in 2021, Dickert ascended to interim coach and then the full-time job, leading the Cougars to three bowls in four seasons. After Wazzu got exiled to realignment purgatory in 2023, Dickert left a year later.
Who is the QB? Gio Lopez (No. 48 in QB Tiers), who you may remember as Bill Belichick’s QB1 in his first season at North Carolina. The former South Alabama starter largely struggled through the Tar Heels’ 4-8 season, and the two sides parted ways afterward. At Wake, he’s been reunited with his South Alabama OC, Rob Ezell, who resurrected journeyman Robby Ashford’s career last season.
Key player: Wake lost considerable production on offense, but fifth-year senior edge rusher Langston Hardy — who was third in the ACC with 17 TFLs last season — leads a defense full of carryover that finished No. 9 nationally in yards per play allowed (4.6).
Game to circle: Sept. 18 vs. Miami. A Friday night home game against last year’s No. 2 team in the country at 31,500-seat Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium? That’s the stuff of field-stormings.
— Stewart Mandel
Big 12Arizona Wildcats
2025 record: 9-4 (6-3 Big 12)
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Odds to make the CFP: 11.3%
Odds to win the Big 12: 4.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 28th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Arizona won its only Pac-10 championship in 1993 and has played in 10 bowl games since 2008. The Wildcats have played in the Fiesta Bowl three times — most recently in 2014 — but no other major bowl games. Last year’s nine-win season was only the eighth in program history.
Why they’re interesting: The Wildcats have the Big 12’s most experienced starting quarterback, but almost everything around him has changed. After a disastrous 4-8 season in 2024, the Wildcats improved to 9-4 last year, and another strong season would establish Brent Brennan’s turnaround as something more sustainable than a one-year rebound.
Who is the coach? Brennan, 53, enters his third season at Arizona. He is 47-60 in nine years as an FBS head coach, including seven at San Jose State, where he led the Spartans to the 2020 Mountain West championship. Brennan was rewarded after last season with a contract extension, which pays him $4.7 million annually through 2030.
Who is the QB? Noah Fifita (No. 10 in QB Tiers) returns for his fourth year as Arizona’s starter. He threw for 3,228 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. Fifita owns Arizona’s single-season and career touchdown-pass records and enters 2026 within 828 yards of Nick Foles’ school career passing-yardage record.
Key player: Linebacker Taye Brown. The third-team All-Big 12 selection was Arizona’s second-leading tackler (93) and is one of the few established veterans returning to a defense undergoing significant reconstruction. With four NFL Draft picks no longer in the secondary, Brown will be responsible for organizing a defense filled with transfers and inexperienced players.
Game to circle: Nov. 28 vs. Arizona State. Arizona has won three out of four with a 23-7 victory for the Territorial Cup last season, but Kenny Dillingham’s program is still viewed as the big brother in-state, having won the Big 12 championship in 2024.
— Manny Navarro
Arizona State Sun Devils
2025 record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Odds to make the CFP: 7%
Odds to win the Big 12: 3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 45th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same — not in the top tier of the Big 12 but can play with or beat those teams on the right day.
Pedigree: Arizona State was typically viewed as a program that flashed moments of promise but never sustained success. The Sun Devils have won only four conference titles since 1980: three in the Pac-12 (1986, 1996, 2007) and one in the Big 12 (2024). Their 2024 Playoff trip marked their only top-10 finish since 1996.
Why they’re interesting: The Sun Devils were an intriguing program in the Pac-12 but have improved their lot in life during realignment and should now be a consistent conference title contender in the Big 12.
Who is the coach? Kenny Dillingham, 36, is viewed as one of the best young head coaches in the country and turned down interest from Michigan to stay at his alma mater. He’s 22-17 in three seasons with the Sun Devils, but the program was in a dark place when he took over following the Herm Edwards debacle. He’s energized the fan base, has delivered a conference title and Playoff trip and clearly cares about elevating Arizona State football.
Who is the QB? Dillingham is viewed as a QB whisperer, and after Sam Leavitt bolted for LSU, his next project is Cutter Boley (No. 40 in QB Tiers). Boley, who threw for 2,160 yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at Kentucky last season, has work to do as a passer and needs to better protect the ball. But if Dillingham believes in him, there’s potential there.
Key player: There’s optimism about the receiving corps — despite the loss of first-round pick Jordyn Tyson — due in large part to the arrival of Omarion Miller from Colorado. Miller caught 45 passes for 808 yards (18 yards per) as a junior.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 at Texas Tech. Yes, there’s a Week 2 game at Texas A&M, but the game against the Red Raiders has conference stakes as the past two league champions square off.
— Antonio Morales
Baylor Bears
2025 record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Location: Waco, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 5.3%
Odds to win the Big 12: 2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 55th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: It’s been an up-and-down six seasons for head coach Dave Aranda since he took over for Matt Rhule in 2020. The 2021 team went 12-2, winning the Big 12 title game and the Sugar Bowl, and the 2024 squad won eight games. But there’s been no consistency under Aranda, who posted a losing record his other four seasons at the helm and is squarely on the hot seat.
Why they’re interesting: Former five-star recruit and Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway is an intriguing change-of-scenery storyline, and Aranda could be a midseason firing candidate if the team gets off to a slow start.
Who is the coach? Aranda, 49, rose up the coaching ranks as a star defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU. He looked destined for the same ascendance as a head coach after the 2021 season at Baylor, but with fans growing restless and a new athletic director in place, Aranda needs to at least reach bowl eligibility — and probably more — to keep his job. He’s 36-37 overall.
Who is the QB? Despite brief flashes, Lagway (No. 42 in QB Tiers) has yet to live up to his five-star billing after two seasons at Florida in which he completed 62 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. He comes to Baylor as a legacy recruit, the son of former Bears running back Derek Lagway Sr., and replaces the productive Sawyer Robertson, who led the Big 12 in passing yards. Both sides are hoping a refresh can unlock Lagway’s high-ceiling potential.
Key player: Fourth-year running back Dawson Pendergrass was Baylor’s second leading rusher in 2024 (671 yards, 6 TDs), but a preseason foot injury sidelined him for all of 2025. Pendergrass is back healthy with a chip on his shoulder and a chance to be the Bears’ lead back.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 vs Auburn. The Bears open the season with a neutral-site showcase against the Tigers in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Auburn got the better of Baylor in Waco in last year’s season opener.
— Justin Williams
BYU Cougars
2025 record: (12-2, 8-1)
Location: Provo, Utah
Odds to make the CFP: 21.9%
Odds to win the Big 12: 11.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 11th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: One could argue the Cougars are coming off their most accomplished year since the 1984 national championship season. After a decade adrift in college football independence, BYU has found its footing at the Power 4 level with back-to-back double-digit-win seasons, including a berth in last year’s Big 12 title game. Since 2020, BYU has won at least 10 games four times.
Why they’re interesting: Not everything from previous seasons carries over, but BYU had six come-from-behind victories in 2025 with a freshman quarterback; five of them were double-digit deficits. Now, conventional wisdom points to a formerly green QB dealing with that in Year 1 will only make BYU more versed in the art of adversity. Let’s see if that’s the case in 2026.
Who is the coach? The coaching carousel had a very brief layover in Provo. Penn State nearly snatched BYU alumnus Kalani Sitake after talks between the two sides intensified to the point of a near-deal. But Sitake stayed, earning significant added money for himself, his coaching staff and NIL endeavors. The Cookie Man was determined to help make it happen.
Who is the QB? The QB with both the name and the number that attracts immediate attention, Bear Bachmeier (No. 30 in QB Tiers) was impressive as a freshman signal-caller leading a Playoff-caliber roster in 2025. Can he elevate in 2026? He utilized his 6-2, 230-pound frame in the run game often, accounting for 11 rushing TDs. But with a less-decorated receiving corps in 2026, Bachmeier’s downfield passing threat must improve.
Key player: A solid running back is a quarterback’s best friend. Senior LJ Martin returned to Provo for his senior year after a breakout season in which he earned the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award with 1,305 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Notre Dame. You thought I’d pick Utah, but getting a Playoff-ready Fighting Irish team at LaVell Edwards Stadium midway through the season is the perfect measuring stick for this team.
— Christopher Kamrani
Cincinnati Bearcats
2025 record: 7-6 (5-4 Big 12)
Location: Cincinnati
Odds to make the CFP: 3.7%
Odds to win the Big 12: 1.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 70th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? A little worse.
Pedigree: It’s been a tough transition to the Big 12 since the Bearcats became the first (and only) Group of 5 program to reach the four-team Playoff in 2021. Scott Satterfield has improved his win total each of his three seasons, but the program has won just once after the month of October during his tenure.
Why they’re interesting: It’s a largely revamped roster for the Bearcats, but it should also be one of the best offensive lines in the conference. Despite getting the program back to a bowl game last season for the first time since his hiring, 2026 could be a make-or-break campaign for Satterfield.
Who is the coach? Satterfield, 53, has a reputation as a talented play caller and offensive coach, and the Bearcats led the Big 12 and were in the top 10 nationally in yards per play last season. But the defense has not always been complementary, and Satterfield has plenty of fans to still win over. He’s 15-22 overall and 9-18 in Big 12 play with Cincinnati.
Who is the QB? JC French IV transferred in from Georgia Southern after Cincinnati lost Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech. French (No. 79 in QB Tiers) doesn’t have the size and arm strength of his predecessor, but he’s an experienced player whose 5,882 yards over three seasons are the most in Georgia Southern program history, along with 38 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Key player: Left tackle Joe Cotton and left guard Evan Tengesdahl (No. 88 on the Freaks List) were both starters on a Joe Moore Award semifinalist line in 2025, with Tengesdahl earning All-America honors. They will need to protect French and give him time to operate with a largely new set of skill position players.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs Texas Tech. No return for Sorsby after all after admitted gambling infractions ended his college career, but the saga sparked plenty of animosity between the two fan bases.
— Justin Williams
Colorado Buffaloes
2025 record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12)
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.1%
Odds to win the Big 12: 0.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 77th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: Better, although they can’t be much worse.
Pedigree: Colorado won a national title and had four top-10 finishes in the 1990s but has been the definition of mediocre since. The Buffs have had losing seasons in 17 of the past 20 years and only twice in that stretch finished in the Top 25.
Why they’re interesting: If nothing else, Deion Sanders has made them nationally relevant. It’s never boring, and he did back up a lot of the hype by taking over a one-win program and making the Buffaloes respectable by Year 2, including developing generational talent two-way Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Sanders dealt with bladder cancer before last season and underwent surgery. He had been away from his team for three months in the offseason and lost a lot of weight and his energy. After going 3-9, Sanders replaced both coordinators and added a lot of experienced players in the portal.
Who is the coach? The 58-year-old Sanders had a wild three-year run in Boulder bookending two 1-8 seasons in Big 12 play around going 7-2 in 2024. A lot of observers are surprised he decided to stay with the Buffs after his sons and Hunter departed after the 2024 season, especially given his health issues. Whether this reboot goes as well as his first one in Boulder remains to be seen, but the coach is excited about it.
Who is the QB: JuJu Lewis (No. 49 in QB Tiers). The 18-year-old sophomore graduated high school a year early and played in four games last year, starting two as the Buffs rotated three QBs. The 6-1, 185-pounder completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four TDs and zero INTs in 2025. Lewis isn’t a dynamic runner, but his arm talent made him a four-star recruit.
Key player: Running back DeKalon Taylor. The Buffs finished last in the nation in rushing in Sanders’ first two seasons and ranked No. 104 last year. New OC Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense finished No. 7 in rushing in his second season at UNLV after ranking No. 44 in his debut. In Taylor, a 5-8, 180-pound transfer from FCS Incarnate Word who missed most of last season with injury, the Buffs have a dynamic all-around back who should complement Alabama transfer Richard Young, a bigger back. “He’s a 4.3 (40) guy,” Marion said of Taylor. “He’s like a Darren Sproles type.”
Game to circle: Sept. 19 at Northwestern. The Buffs’ Big 12 schedule didn’t break so well; they don’t face Iowa State and Kansas, two schools that figure to be near the bottom. They open at a Georgia Tech team that just won nine games. But the Wildcats went 11-14 the past two seasons. If Colorado hopes to become a bowl team, it needs to win this one.
— Bruce Feldman
Conner Weigman and Houston improved from 4-8 to 10-3 last season. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Houston Cougars
2025 record: 10-3 (6-3 Big 12)
Location: Houston
Odds to make the CFP: 10.9%
Odds to win the Big 12: 4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 19th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? After a top-four finish in the Big 12, there is potential to contend in a similar fashion.
Pedigree: Houston’s win-loss record looks like a semi-circle with 12 wins in 2021, 10 in 2025 and 16 combined victories in the middle three seasons. A win against LSU in the Texas Bowl last season capped a strong turnaround after a pair of 4-8 seasons. The Cougars are now seeking back-to-back ranked finishes for the first time since the prolific Andre Ware/David Klingler teams of 1988-90.
Why they’re interesting: Now in their third Big 12 campaign, the Cougars look like a squad capable of competing against power-conference teams. Coach Willie Fritz has elevated the talent through traditional recruiting, retention and the portal. Landing the nation’s No. 1 prospect, quarterback Keisean Henderson, was a real coup.
Who is the coach? Everywhere Fritz has coached has become better almost instantaneously. That’s from junior college to Division II to FCS to taking Tulane to a Cotton Bowl win to boosting the Cougars to a No. 19 final ranking last year. Fritz, 66, owns a 251-129-1 career record in 32 seasons.
Who is the QB? Conner Weigman (No. 28 in QB Tiers) returns after a strong fourth year in which he threw for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns while running for 700 and 11 scores in his Houston debut after transferring from Texas A&M. Henderson should also see time as a freshman.
Key player: Slot receiver Amare Thomas returns after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. Thomas caught 67 passes for 966 yards and 12 TDs last fall has a knack for making contested catches.
Game to circle: Sept. 18 at Texas Tech. The two Texas schools have built a basketball rivalry, and it has potential to spill into football. They open Big 12 play in a Friday night showdown that has championship implications.
— Scott Dochterman
Iowa State Cyclones
2025 record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Odds to make the CFP: 1.5%
Odds to win the Big 12: 0.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 98th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. It’s an obvious rebuilding season.
Pedigree: The Cyclones enjoyed their greatest era under Matt Campbell, who guided them to bowl eligibility in eight of the last nine years and two Big 12 title-game appearances. Last year in Campbell’s final season before leaving for Penn State, Iowa State finished 8-4 but turned down a bowl appearance. The program has four all-time ranked finishes, and two of them came under Campbell in 2020 and ’24. The Cyclones are still searching for their first conference championship in more than a century.
Why they’re interesting: Iowa State flipped over its roster to make it almost unrecognizable from 2025. The Cyclones brought in 84 new players and lost at least 55 players, including 36 to Power 4 rosters. Only three likely starters on each side of the ball return from 2025, and they combined for four total starts.
Who is the coach? Jimmy Rogers, 39, takes over his third different program over the last three seasons. A year ago, Rogers guided an overhauled Washington State roster to a 6-6 mark and near upsets of Ole Miss and Virginia. In 2023, Rogers led South Dakota State to an FCS crown and took the Jackrabbits to the semifinals in 2024.
Who is the QB? Jaylen Raynor (No. 50 in QB Tiers) transferred from Arkansas State, where he threw for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 423 yards and seven scores. He had 305 yards of total offense for Arkansas State in its 24-16 loss at Iowa State last fall. With the massive overhaul following Campbell’s departure, Raynor is indispensable in ISU’s transitional period as both a dual-threat weapon and a leader.
Key player: Outside of Raynor, running back Aiden Flora might be the Cyclones’ most indispensable player. A former walk-on, Flora was named second-team All-Big 12 return specialist last season. With Iowa State’s top two running backs off to other schools, Flora is the likely starter but it’s not by default. He’s had a terrific training camp.
Game to circle: Nov. 28 vs. Kansas State. Both schools have new coaches but enter the season with different trajectories. It marks the 110th consecutive season the ag schools will face off in a series known as Farmageddon, but they’re slated to cycle off one another’s schedule in 2027.
— Scott Dochterman
Kansas Jayhawks
2025 record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Odds to make the CFP: 4.7%
Odds to win the Big 12: 1.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 74th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: Kansas has only eight all-time Top 25 finishes, hasn’t won a conference championship since 1968 and bottomed out in the 2010s as the nation’s worst power program. But the Jayhawks have climbed to respectability over the past four seasons, even if they slipped back under .500 each of the past two years.
Why they’re interesting: Teams rarely lose decorated quarterbacks and get better, which means the Jayhawks should be due for a regression with No. 2 all-time leading passer Jalon Daniels gone. Then again, Lance Leipold has historically been successful working alongside offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who has rejoined Leipold’s staff after a stint at Penn State. Kansas also added Colorado/Kansas State transfer Dylan Edwards (1,072 career rushing yards) at running back.
Who is the coach? Leipold, 62, is quietly one of the game’s most successful coaches. He built a Division III dynasty at Wisconsin-Whitewater with six national championships in eight seasons, helped Buffalo finish ranked in 2020 and resuscitated Kansas, including nine wins in 2023.
Who is the QB? Cole Ballard (No. 108 in QB Tiers) is the presumptive favorite after appearing in 15 games over his previous three seasons with the Jayhawks. The other homegrown veteran is Isaiah Marshall, who started once last season and finished the year with 160 rushing yards on 15 carries. Option 3 is Rice transfer Chase Jenkins, a dual-threat talent who set an Owls record by completing 69 percent of his passes last season.
Key player: Defensive end Leroy Harris III was an honorable mention All-Big 12 performer after leading the Jayhawks with 4.5 sacks and eight pass breakups. There’s an even higher ceiling for Harris, who transferred up from Chattanooga last season.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. Arizona State. The Union Jack Classic pitches this as a matchup of “two powerhouse teams with rich traditions.” Um, OK. Regardless, the Jayhawks’ conference opener takes place at London’s Wembley Stadium. The odd Week 3 setting will show us what we can expect from KU.
— Matt Baker
Kansas State Wildcats
2025 record: 6-6 (5-4 Big 12)
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Odds to make the CFP: 10.9%
Odds to win the Big 12: 4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 46th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The talent is akin to a year ago, but the record will likely look better against a schedule that avoids Big 12 heavyweights Texas Tech, BYU and Utah.
Pedigree: Historically one of the worst programs in the FBS through the 1980s, Kansas State long ago put away doormat status after breaking through under Bill Snyder. Even with just one 10-win season in the past 13 years, the Wildcats’ six wins last year made them bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive year and 14th out of 16. The school turned down a postseason opportunity in the wake of Chris Klieman’s retirement last year.
Why they’re interesting: The new coach, Collin Klein, at 36, is just months older than Will Stein of Kentucky and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, the youngest Power 4 head coaches. After two years at Texas A&M as the play caller for Mike Elko, Klein plucked an Aggie, Jordan Peterson, to run the defense. Can they bring a bit of the A&M magic from 2025 to Manhattan?
Who is the coach? Klein finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting as a K-State QB in 2012. He was an accomplished runner, and his offenses at K-State in 2022 and ’23 and for the past two seasons at Texas A&M featured physicality. Expect him to bring that style back to the Wildcats after they failed to produce a 1,000-yard back last year for the first time since 2020.
Who is the QB? Senior Avery Johnson (No. 37 in QB Tiers) is a former Klein recruit and pupil. Johnson started all 25 games over the past two years and set a K-State record with 25 touchdown passes in 2024. He brings savvy and an athletic skill set.
Key player: Senior Garrett Oakley has caught 13 touchdowns, the school record by a tight end. He’s a weapon, especially when paired at the position with sophomore Linkon Cure, an elite athlete.
Game to circle: Kansas on Oct. 17 in Manhattan. K-State has won 17 consecutively in this rivalry and would like to keep the streak going under Klein.
— Mitch Sherman
Oklahoma State Cowboys
2025 record: 1-11 (0-9 Big 12)
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.3%
Odds to win the Big 12: 0.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 22nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? There is not a team better positioned to improve after it all came crashing down around Mike Gundy.
Pedigree: The Cowboys had been one of the most consistent programs in the country for most of Gundy’s 21-year tenure, with 18 straight winning seasons and eight double-digit-victory seasons. The end was ugly with four total wins in the past two years, but there is no reason the Cowboys shouldn’t be able to get into the upper half of the Big 12 regularly.
Why they’re interesting: The most massive roster turnover in the Power 4, OSU features 89 new players. New coach Eric Morris brought in 60 transfers, about a third from his North Texas team that went 12-2 last season, including the Mean Green’s star quarterback (Drew Mestemaker), leading receiver (Wyatt Young) and leading rusher (Caleb Hawkins). Could Oklahoma State go from worst team in the Power 4 to Big 12 title game contender?
Who is the coach? Morris, 40, is from the Mike Leach coaching tree and 46-34 in six seasons as a Division I head coach. He has developed a reputation for having a keen eye for quarterbacks, landing Patrick Mahomes as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and then Cam Ward while head coach at FCS Incarnate Word.
Who is the QB? Mestemaker is Morris’ latest find. He led the nation in yards passing (4,379 yards) and yards per attempt (9.5) as a sophomore at North Texas last season. It’s been a remarkable rise — to No. 6 in QB Tiers — from not starting any varsity games at quarterback in high school to entering his third college season as a player NFL scouts are eyeing as a potential first-round draft pick.
Key player: Defensive end James Williams had a nice season at Nebraska in 2024, transferred to Florida State in 2025 and wasn’t as effective, but could emerge as Oklahoma State’s best pass rusher.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Colorado. Homecoming to start the back half of the season against Coach Prime’s Buffs should be a good gauge of how Year 1 is going for Morris. The Cowboys have only six home games and need to get the winnable ones.
— Ralph D. Russo
TCU Horned Frogs
2025 record: 9-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 8.2%
Odds to win the Big 12: 2.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 27th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: TCU has been one of the 21st century’s most consistent winners while moving up conferences. The Horned Frogs have won nine games in each of the past two seasons and reached the national championship game in 2022. After decades adrift, they’ve reached 23 bowl games since 1998, with seven top-10 finishes, though they haven’t won a conference championship since 2014.
Why they’re interesting: The Horned Frogs have shown a high ceiling, with a Rose Bowl win and No. 2 final ranking in 2010, a No. 3 finish in 2014 and the national title game a few years ago. They haven’t returned to that form in the past few years, but TCU has the potential to break through, and the Big 12 could be more open this year.
Who is the coach? Sonny Dykes, 56, enters his fifth season after coming across town from SMU. The son of former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, Sonny took TCU to the national championship game and has posted a winning record in six of his last seven seasons as a head coach, but he’s won 10 games only twice in 15 seasons at TCU, SMU, Cal and Louisiana Tech.
Who is the QB? After losing Josh Hoover to Indiana, TCU added Harvard transfer Jaden Craig (No. 38 in QB Tiers), who threw for more than 6,000 yards with a 52-12 TD-INT ratio in the Ivy League. At 6-3, 230 pounds, he has prototypical size and has high expectations.
Key player: Safety Jamel Johnson will anchor the defense after racking up five interceptions and 96 tackles a year ago. He’s a preseason All-Big 12 honoree, and on a defense that must replace much of its linebackers and cornerbacks, Johnson will be asked to shoulder the load.
Game to circle: Nov. 26 at Texas Tech. These two teams could be playing for a place in the Big 12 championship game.
— Chris Vannini
Texas Tech Red Raiders
2025 record: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 71.6%
Odds to win the Big 12: 55%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 9th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse, but still plenty good enough to win the Big 12.
Pedigree: The Red Raiders have moved into an entirely new neighborhood in college football after spending most of the post-Mike Leach era as a second-tier Big 12 team. Texas Tech is a big spender in the NIL era. The result was its first Big 12 title, first AP top-10 finish and first Playoff appearance last year.
Why they’re interesting: You might have heard the Red Raiders landed one of the most highly sought-after transfers in quarterback Brendan Sorsby, only for him to be declared ineligible for violating NCAA gambling rules. The whole ordeal put Texas Tech at odds with the Big 12, its conference rivals and just about the entirety of college sports. There is a whole lot of “us against them” going on in Lubbock.
Who is the coach? Joey McGuire’s job changed drastically in the past couple of seasons. The former Texas high school coach hired to ignite in-state recruiting oversees a program funded to compete nationally on the field, in recruiting and in the transfer portal. He is 35-18 in four seasons at Texas Tech. Winning the Big 12 is expected and McGuire, 55, will likely be judged on how the Red Raiders do against CFP-caliber opposition.
Who is the QB? Red Raiders coaches and staff insist that if Will Hammond, last year’s promising No. 2 behind Behren Morten, had been healthy going into the offseason, they would not have gone after Sorsby. Hammond played in eight games last season, throwing seven touchdowns and running for five before tearing his ACL. He’s expected to be ready to play Week 1.
Key player: Edge Adam Trick had 8.5 sacks last season for Miami (Ohio) and will be counted on along with San Diego State transfer Trey White to help replace the dominant pass-rush duo of David Bailey and Romello Height.
Game to circle: The Big 12 opener Week 3 at home against Houston has already received a lot of attention because Tech booster and board chair Cody Campbell complained about it being moved to Friday night. An early Big 12 test on an accommodating schedule.
— Ralph D. Russo
UCF Knights
2025 record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 3.7%
Odds to win the Big 12: 1.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 69th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: This program, which debuted as an FBS independent in 1996, found big success under George O’Leary and peaked with Scott Frost’s 13-0 season and claimed national title in 2017. So far, Big 12 membership hasn’t been kind — UCF is 15-22, 7-20 in conference play, in three seasons.
Why they’re interesting: Frost’s attempt to re-establish himself as a head coach is the main story line here. One 5-7 season in his return to UCF shouldn’t have any minds made up, but the need for an emphatic response feels urgent.
Who is the coach? Frost, a two-time national champion as a quarterback at Nebraska, returned home to Lincoln after that 13-0 season. But he had been a head coach for only two seasons. It didn’t go well at Nebraska (16-31, fired three games into his fifth season). It didn’t go as well as hoped in Frost’s latest “return home,” after a season as a Los Angeles Rams analyst. The 51-year-old is 40-45 with questions persisting.
Who is the QB? Reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III (No. 43 in QB Tiers) transferred from James Madison to UCF after throwing for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight picks, while running for 589 and 15 touchdowns last season for the Dukes in their run to the CFP. Oh, and he spent his first two seasons under the tutelage of Curt Cignetti. That has to mean something, right?
Key player: Massive defensive tackle Horace Lockett (6-6, 355) was a significant presence last season after transferring from Georgia Tech, but a pectoral injury ended his season after four games. Then he got into the portal, but he ended up back at UCF. A full season of Lockett could be (literally and figuratively) huge.
Game to circle: BYU, the homecoming opponent? That seems aggressive, but it’s Oct. 24 and that’s the only Saturday home game in the month. It’s also the most attractive home game on the schedule and an opportunity for an upset that would make people notice.
— Joe Rexrode
Utah Utes
2025 record: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Odds to make the CFP: 15.9%
Odds to win the Big 12: 7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 26th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: The Utes have been one of the most consistent teams this century, with 19 bowl games since Urban Meyer arrived in 2003, including undefeated seasons in 2004 and 2008 and three top-15 finishes in the past five years. But this season brings major change with the departure of head coach Kyle Whittingham, who replaced Meyer in 2005. Longtime assistant Morgan Scalley takes over a program that still has plenty of pieces in place and a favorable schedule to make a Big 12 championship run.
Why they’re interesting: It’s a new era. After 21 seasons in charge, Whittingham was somewhat nudged out, but he ended up at Michigan after Sherrone Moore’s dramatic firing, and Whittingham took some key Utah pieces with him, including offensive coordinator Jason Beck and star defensive end John Henry Daley. What will Utah look like under Scalley, and does Whittingham’s resurfacing put more pressure on the Utes to win?
Who is the coach? Scalley, 46, was the 2004 Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year for the Utes, and he spent 2006-25 on Whittingham’s staff, moving up from an administrative assistant to defensive coordinator to head coach in waiting.
Who is the QB? Devon Dampier (No. 22 in QB Tiers) was terrific in his first season transferring from New Mexico, with 34 total touchdowns and five interceptions, adding up to 3,325 total yards. He’ll have a new offensive coordinator in Kevin McGiven, who spent 2025 at Utah State, but the Utes had one of the best offenses in the country last year and could again.
Key player: Montana State offensive tackle transfer Cedric Jefferson highlights a concern for this year: The entire starting offensive and defensive lines are new, including losing two first-round picks on the offensive line. Utah was always strong in the trenches under Whittingham, and the Utes need to find difference-makers there. The 6-foot-5 Jefferson could anchor a new offensive line.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 vs. BYU. The Holy War is one of college football’s best rivalries, and last year’s game saw BYU pull out a three-point victory en route to a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. The game this year could once again determine who plays for the conference title.
— Chris Vannini
West Virginia Mountaineers
2025 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Location: Morgantown, W. Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.5%
Odds to win the Big 12: 0.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 63rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Almost certainly better, perhaps considerably better.
Pedigree: West Virginia has been reliably fielding bowl teams since the ’80s, beginning with longtime coach Don Nehlen, and catapulted to Big East titles and BCS bowls in the 2000s. But the Mountaineers have rarely escaped mediocrity since joining the Big 12 in 2012, surpassing six wins just once since 2019.
Why they’re interesting: It’s the second season of Rich Rodriguez’s second tenure in Morgantown, and Mountaineers fans hope history will repeat itself now that he’s had a chance to remake the roster. Back in his first stint, which began in 2001, West Virginia improved from 3-8 in Year 1 to 9-4 in Year 2.
Who is the coach? Rodriguez, now 63, was one of the early pioneers of the spread-to-run offense. His mid-2000s West Virginia teams with quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton reached two BCS bowls and nearly made the 2007 national championship game. After he flamed out at Michigan (2008-10), going 15-22, he resurrected his career by taking Arizona (2012-17) to a Pac-12 title game and Jacksonville State (2022-24) to two conference titles.
Who is the QB? After shuffling through four starting QBs last season, Rodriguez brought in Oklahoma’s Michael Hawkins Jr. (No. 72 in QB Tiers), the type of dual-threat weapon synonymous with his offenses. In five career starts (four as a freshman), Hawkins showed an ability to extend plays and convert third and fourth downs but struggled at times with accuracy and turnovers. Sophomore Scotty Fox Jr., who made six starts last season, will compete for the job.
Key player: New running back Cam Cook was the nation’s leading rusher last season (1,659 yards, 16 TDs) while at Jacksonville State, after spending his first two seasons at TCU. Rodriguez (who did not coach Cook at Jax State) calls him the “bell cow” at running back.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers’ Big 12 opener comes against the recharged Cowboys, led by star QB Drew Mestemaker. Maybe we get a 48-45 shootout.
— Stewart Mandel
Big TenIllinois Fighting Illini
2025 record: 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Location: Champaign, Ill.
Odds to make the CFP: 6.7%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 30th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse (barely), but they have a favorable schedule.
Pedigree: Illinois has recorded consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time in program history and consecutive winning Big Ten records for the first time since 1992-93. It’s not a historical power (just nine seasons of nine-plus wins, no top-10 finishes since 1989), but the Illini are enjoying a good recent run.
Why they’re interesting: The Illini are moving up the Big Ten food chain. After 10 consecutive sub-.500 seasons from 2012-21, they’ve had three eight-plus-win seasons in the last four years. Also, the retooled defense under new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck (former Montana head coach) will be worth watching. Plus, there’s the biggest scoreboard in college football.
Who is the coach? Bret Bielema, 56, is 37-26 in five years at Illinois. He has won in the Big Ten before, going 68-24 in seven years at Wisconsin and taking the Badgers to two Rose Bowls. Bielema’s five-year stint at Arkansas (29-34 from 2013-17) wasn’t great, but he has a long enough track record over 17 years (134-84) that you know what you’re getting.
Who is the QB? Katin Houser (No. 41 in QB Tiers) is an East Carolina transfer who threw for 5,306 combined yards and 37 touchdowns in 19 starts the past two seasons. He offers some Big Ten experience, having started seven games at Michigan State in 2023. Last season, Houser had the 20th-best off-target rate in the FBS, per PFF.
Key player: Fifth-year defensive back Matthew Bailey (27 career starts) leads an experienced secondary that will be the strength of the Illini defense (that position group was a reason Bielema wanted to tweak the defensive scheme). Bailey led Illinois in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Nobody on the team has taken as many snaps in an Illini uniform (2,123).
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Oregon. The Illini have notched home wins over ranked teams each of the past two years. The home date against the Ducks will likely be their first such opportunity this year.
—Sam Khan Jr.
Indiana Hoosiers
2025 record: 16-0 (9-0 Big Ten)
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Odds to make the CFP: 68.5%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 23.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 1st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse — it’s hard not to be after going 16-0 — but only slightly.
Pedigree: Indiana entered last season as the losingest program in major college football history. It went on to win one of the unlikeliest national championships ever. The Hoosiers have been historically awful but were historically awesome last season. They have four all-time top-10 finishes, two of which have come in the past two years.
Why they’re interesting: Last season’s Indiana team was arguably the best story in the history of college football. How can the Hoosiers possibly follow that up? We can’t wait to watch.
Who is the coach? Curt Cignetti, 65, took over the IU program ahead of the 2024 season and brought his model of turning overlooked prospects into superstars along with him. Cignetti won 11 games in Year 1 and 16 in Year 2 after rising from Indiana University of Pennsylvania to Elon to James Madison to the Hoosiers. He’s the most likable no-nonsense curmudgeon in the sport. Just Google him.
Who is the QB? With Fernando Mendoza off to the Las Vegas Raiders after going No. 1 in April’s NFL Draft, the Hoosiers will turn to TCU transfer Josh Hoover (No. 12 in QB Tiers). He was among the most coveted players in the portal, but in replacing the Heisman Trophy winner, he’ll have to protect the ball better after throwing 29 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in 2025. He’s thrown 33 career interceptions.
Key player: Left tackle Carter Smith is No. 8 in our top 100 players. Offensive linemen aren’t flashy to watch, but in addition to protecting Hoover’s blind side, Smith should be the anchor of this offense after earning consensus All-America honors in 2025.
Game to circle: The Hoosiers host Ohio State on Oct. 17 in what could be the biggest game in Memorial Stadium history. They proved they were legitimate national championship contenders when they beat the Buckeyes 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game last December. The rematch in Bloomington — where the Hoosiers haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 1988 — should be a ton of fun.
— Grace Raynor
Iowa Hawkeyes
2025 record: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Odds to make the CFP: 12.2%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 1.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 24th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: Iowa hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 2004, but it is one of only four programs to win at least eight games in each of the past 10 full seasons. During that span, the Hawkeyes have beaten every Big Ten team (excluding recent additions) at least once, claimed three Big Ten West titles and won at least 10 games four times.
Why they’re interesting: Dare I say, offense? The Hawkeyes have climbed from the scoring pit of despair (15.4 points per game in 2023) to average 29.3 points per game last year. They have pass-catching weapons in sophomore tight end DJ Vonnahme and junior receiver Reece Vander Zee, coupled with an explosive running attack.
Who is the coach? Kirk Ferentz, 71, is the dean of college football coaches and the winningest coach in Big Ten history. He owns a 209-128 record in 28 seasons at Iowa, and his teams have been bowl eligible in 24 of the past 25 seasons.
Who is the QB? It’s an all-out competition between sophomore Jeremy Hecklinski (No. 106 in QB Tiers) and junior Hank Brown. Collectively, they have little experience. Hecklinski, who transferred from Wake Forest last summer, threw one pass last year. Brown, who started two games at Auburn before transferring to Iowa in spring 2025, has 642 career passing yards.
Key player: Defensive back Zach Lutmer (No. 38 in the Freaks List, No 89 in our top 100 players) is the latest potential All-American under defensive coordinator Phil Parker. A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Lutmer mans the hybrid cash role (safety/nickel) but can play all five secondary positions. A vicious hitter, Lutmer finished with 71 tackles (5.5 for loss), three interceptions (including a touchdown) and broke up seven passes.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 at Michigan. The Big Ten opener is massive for both programs in their hopes of reaching the Playoff. Considering Iowa hosts Ohio State the following week, then travels to Washington six days later, the Ann Arbor trip has must-win consequences.
— Scott Dochterman
Maryland Terrapins
2025 record: 4-8 (1-8 Big Ten)
Location: College Park, Md.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.7%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 73rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, because Maryland kept nearly all of its top players.
Pedigree: Maryland has yet to reach nine victories or record a winning conference record since it joined the Big Ten in 2014. It has finished just one of the past 20 seasons ranked in the AP poll. This season marks the 25th anniversary of the Terps’ most recent appearance in a major bowl game.
Why they’re interesting: Maryland has won an FBS-best 18 consecutive games against nonconference foes. It plays Virginia Tech and old foe James Franklin in Week 3. But more notably, the Terps lost their final eight games a year ago. Can they flip the script in league competition?
Who is the coach? Mike Locksley is 37-49 in seven seasons at Maryland and 17-48 in Big Ten play. He went all in on devoting resources to retain the core of young talent that started well and came close twice more in October losses last season. Locksley, 56, is signed through 2027. He’s in a must-win situation this season.
Who is the QB? Malik Washington (No. 21 in QB Tiers) ranks among the most promising young quarterbacks in the country. He threw for 2,963 yards, a Maryland freshman record, and 17 touchdowns in 2025 — and he can run too (303 yards, four TDs). With Clint Trickett on board as OC, look for Maryland to use Washington even more as a runner.
Key player: Sidney Stewart stayed in College Park after he set the Maryland freshman record for TFLs with 10.5. His seven sacks led the Terps, and he’ll anchor a talented group of pass rushers that includes five-star freshman Zion Elee.
Game to circle: Virginia Tech on Sept. 19 in College Park. It’s difficult to prioritize a non-league game, but the incentive is high to start 3-0 and to beat Franklin, who won nine of 11 meetings against Maryland while at Penn State.
— Mitch Sherman
Michigan Wolverines
2025 record: 9-4 (7-2 Big Ten)
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Odds to make the CFP: 21.2%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 3.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 16th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Michigan is the bluest of the blue bloods. The Wolverines have 1,021 victories, the most of any FBS program, and claim 12 national championships, including their 2023 College Football Playoff title.
Why they’re interesting: No program had a more tumultuous offseason than Michigan. The Wolverines lucked into Kyle Whittingham, one of college football’s most dependable coaches, after the Sherrone Moore era ended in disaster. Can Whittingham pull off a late-career glow-up and get the best out of uber-talented quarterback Bryce Underwood?
Who is the coach? Among active FBS head coaches, only Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney have more career coaching victories than Whittingham’s 177. Whittingham had eight seasons of 10 wins or more and only three losing seasons in 21 years as Utah’s head coach. He also has something to prove after a less-than-amicable parting with the program he built.
Who is the QB? Whittingham has thrown his full support behind Underwood (No. 31 in QB Tiers), who started all 13 games as a freshman. The Wolverines need a big step forward from the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025. Underwood is among the most physically gifted players in college football and hasn’t come close to hitting his ceiling after throwing for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Key player: Defensive end John Henry Daley (No. 51 in our top 100 players) was an All-American last year at Utah (11.5 sacks, second most in the Big 12) despite a late-season injury that sidelined him for much of the offseason. He’s reportedly healthy now, which is great news for a Michigan defense that must replace a big chunk of last year’s sack production.
Game to circle: It’s Ohio State, the game Michigan circles every year. Whittingham is dialing down the vitriol in this rivalry, but there will be plenty in the air when Michigan visits the Horseshoe on Nov. 28 after the Buckeyes ended a four-game losing streak in the series last year.
— Austin Meek
Kyle Whittingham is now at Michigan after going 177-88 in 21 seasons at Utah. (Jaime Crawford / Getty Images for ONIT)
Michigan State Spartans
2025 record: 4-8 (1-8 Big Ten)
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.5%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 72nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly better, though very much in rebuilding mode.
Pedigree: Michigan State enjoyed remarkable success in the 2010s under former coach Mark Dantonio, and successor Mel Tucker delivered a top-10 season in 2021. But it’s been four straight losing seasons since, with Tucker fired in 2023 over sexual misconduct allegations and replacement Jonathan Smith lasting just two seasons, in which he went 9-15.
Why they’re interesting: Pat Fitzgerald makes his return to the Big Ten. The longtime Northwestern coach (2006-22) was out of college coaching for three seasons following his abrupt dismissal over hazing allegations within his program. After Northwestern absolved him of wrongdoing in a wrongful termination settlement, Michigan State saw the outgoing Midwest lifer as a refreshing antidote to introverted Californian Smith.
Who is the coach? Fitzgerald was a College Football Hall of Fame linebacker for Northwestern (1993-96) who became the school’s head coach at just 31 when mentor Randy Walker suffered a fatal heart attack. He led the program to 10 bowls, three 10-win seasons and two Big Ten title games, but the bottom fell out at the end, going 3-9 in 2019 and ’21 and 1-11 in his last season.
Who is the QB? After Aidan Chiles (now at Northwestern) went in the portal, third-year sophomore Alessio Milivojevic ascended to QB1. He started the Spartans’ last four games in 2025, and though his team went 1-3, Milivojevic (No. 69 in QB Tiers) showed promise, throwing 10 TDs and 3 INTs.
Key player: UConn transfer Cam Edwards could be a workhorse running back for OC Nick Sheridan. The senior ran for 1,240 yards and 15 TDs last year on a UConn team that won nine games. He totaled 2,960 yards over his four years there.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Michigan. This is the one Michigan State fans circle every year. Though Fitzgerald may also be circling Oct. 17 vs. his alma mater.
— Stewart Mandel
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2025 record: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.9%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 39th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, because the quarterback is more experienced.
Pedigree: An early power that won five national titles in the 1930s and ’40s, Minnesota hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 1967. The Golden Gophers have had only one ranked finish since 2003, but they’ve reached a bowl game in five consecutive seasons and have won at least eight games in four of those seasons. While the ceiling hasn’t been high, P.J. Fleck has raised the floor.
Why they’re interesting: The Gophers are remarkably consistent. They’re certainly not in the top half of the Big Ten when it comes to resources, but they find a way to field a winning program. Can they achieve another sleeper breakthrough like their 11-2 run in 2019?
Who is the coach? There’s often talk about what job Fleck will take next, but this is his 10th season at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have appeared in seven bowl games and have averaged seven wins per season under his guidance. Even though realignment made life in the Big Ten harder, Fleck still runs a steady ship.
Who is the QB? Drake Lindsey (No. 29 in QB Tiers) was an unknown a year ago but put together an encouraging debut season as the starter. He passed for 2,382 yards and 18 touchdowns and has generated some excitement in the NFL scouting world. Now armed with experience, it’s expected Lindsey will improve as he enters his second season leading the offense.
Key player: Defensive lineman Anthony Smith (No. 19 in our top 100 players, No. 40 in the Freaks List) was first-team All-Big Ten in 2025 after he led the conference with 12.5 sacks. How will one of the best defensive players in the league build on his breakthrough season?
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Mississippi State. Minnesota hasn’t played an SEC opponent in the regular season since 1959 (Vanderbilt). The Golden Gophers’ other non-league games are against Eastern Illinois and Akron, so if they beat the Bulldogs, they should start 3-0 and build momentum for a manageable Big Ten schedule that doesn’t include Ohio State or Oregon and calls for Michigan to come to Minnesota.
— Antonio Morales
Nebraska Cornhuskers
2025 record: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Odds to make the CFP: 4.2%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 58th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Improving, but the schedule is daunting.
Pedigree: Nebraska ranks ninth in college football history with 931 wins, although the past 25 years have produced only four seasons with more than nine. The Huskers endured a seven-year postseason drought that has ended with back-to-back seven-win seasons. Still, they’ve lost 30 consecutive games against AP-ranked foes, and a program that once had 33 ranked finishes in a row (1969-2001) hasn’t finished in the AP poll since 2012.
Why they’re interesting: It has to shift sometime, right? The heartbreak and missteps of the past 15 years — parallel with Nebraska’s time in the Big Ten — have earned the Huskers a shot at authoring one of the sport’s great redemption stories. Why not this year, when it’s largely unexpected after a late-season collapse in 2025?
Who is the coach? Matt Rhule enters his fourth season at Nebraska at 19-19 and has a contract through 2032 after being mentioned for the job at his alma mater, Penn State, last October. He’s 2-10 in November and contributed nine of those 30 ranked defeats. Rhule has reworked his coaching staff, with defensive coordinator Rob Aurich among nine new or elevated assistants.
Who is the QB? Five-star recruit Dylan Raiola transferred to Oregon after two seasons, and Anthony Colandrea (No. 39 in QB Tiers) arrived at Nebraska after accounting for 4,108 yards of total offense and 33 touchdowns as a gunslinger under Dan Mullen at UNLV. Colandrea has proven accurate and athletic over three seasons as an FBS starter. His experience includes two years at Virginia.
Key player: The center, Justin Evans (No. 88 in our top 100 players), returns for his third season in a starting role on the O-line interior. He took over in the middle a year ago and serves as the leader of a group up front that appears significantly upgraded. Nebraska’s offense can only go as far as the line allows.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Indiana. The reigning champs visit Memorial Stadium. What an opportunity for Nebraska, especially if it enters Week 6 at 5-0.
— Mitch Sherman
Northwestern Wildcats
2025 record: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Location: Evanston, Ill.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.1%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 60th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same, be it 4-5 or 5-4 in the Big Ten.
Pedigree: After a rough stretch over former coach Pat Fitzgerald’s last four seasons (3-9 in 2019 and ’21 and 1-11 in ’22), the Wildcats have won bowl games in two of David Braun’s first three seasons. The program has had occasional highs but last won the Big Ten in 2000 and has five ranked finishes in the past 29 seasons.
Why they’re interesting: In a surprise makeover, Braun landed former Oregon, UCLA and NFL head coach Chip Kelly to be his new offensive coordinator and Kelly’s former Bruins assistant, Jerry Neuheisel, as the quarterbacks coach. Kelly, who won a national championship as OC at Ohio State in 2024 before a short-lived stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, will attempt to revitalize an offense that has not finished in even the top 90 nationally since 2017.
Who is the coach? The 41-year-old Braun, formerly North Dakota State’s defensive coordinator, became interim head coach in 2023 following Fitzgerald’s dismissal over a hazing scandal. (The school settled a wrongful termination suit with Fitzgerald last fall.) Braun got the permanent gig for leading the Wildcats on a turnaround from 1-11 to 8-5 that first year. They regressed to 4-8 in 2024 before returning to the postseason last year.
Who is the QB? Aidan Chiles (No. 70 in QB Tiers), who replaces SMU transfer Preston Stone, becomes the latest in a long string of transfer QBs for Northwestern, which has not had a multiyear starter since 2018. He’s flashed talent but underwhelmed in his two seasons as Michigan State’s starter, throwing 23 TDs and 14 INTs after starting his career at Oregon State.
Key player: Former South Dakota State receiver Griffin Wilde emerged as the Wildcats’ most reliable weapon last season, catching 71 passes for 880 yards and eight TDs. All those numbers were the most by a Northwestern receiver since Austin Carr in 2016.
Game to circle: Oct. 2 vs. Penn State. After two-plus years playing in a tiny temporary stadium, Northwestern will debut brand-new $875 million Ryan Field for this Friday night showdown.
— Stewart Mandel
Ohio State Buckeyes
2025 record: 12-2 (9-0 Big Ten)
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 70.7%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 36.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 2nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? College football’s most recession-proof program rarely gets worse, though the schedule is harder.
Pedigree: Ohio State is one of the premier programs in the sport and is just two years removed from its ninth national championship. Ohio State has not lost more than two games in a season since 2011 and has finished in the AP top 10 each of the past 12 seasons.
Why they’re interesting: Ohio State was voted No. 1 in the preseason AP and coaches polls despite losing eight defensive starters and the most NFL Draft picks (11) for the second year in a row. The Buckeyes return a Heisman finalist at quarterback, Julian Sayin, and arguably the best player in the country, receiver Jeremiah Smith. Those two alone can catapult an offense that returns nine starters from a year ago and will be looking for more consistency.
Who is the coach? Despite losing both postseason games in 2025, Ryan Day, 47, remains one of the best coaches in the sport. He has an 82-12 record, has yet to lose more than two games in a season and ended the four-game rivalry losing streak to Michigan that stood as his biggest blemish.
Who is the QB? Sayin (No. 5 in QB Tiers) is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, even if opinions differ on whether he’s a game-changer or a game manager. He finished fourth in the Heisman vote and was the most accurate quarterback in the country, completing 77 percent of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first year starting after originally signing with Alabama before Nick Saban retired.
Key player: The obvious answer is Smith, the two-time All-American receiver who is No. 1 on The Athletic’s top 100 players list and No. 2 in Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. So let’s also highlight sophomore running back Bo Jackson, who tallied 1,090 yards and six touchdowns in his freshman season.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 at Indiana. The schedule is grueling — at Texas, at Iowa, at USC, vs. Oregon and vs. Michigan stand out too — but this October matchup should be the biggest home game in Indiana history. In a potential top-five matchup, the last two national champions will meet in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten title game.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Oregon Ducks
2025 record: 13-2 (8-1 Big Ten)
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Odds to make the CFP: 67%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 22.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 4th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? A bit better.
Pedigree: Oregon is the paradigm for an upwardly mobile program. Most of Oregon’s success has come over the past three decades as the Ducks went from the middle of the Pac-10 to the top of the Pac-12 and now the upper tier of the Big Ten. Back-to-back trips to the CFP have established the Ducks as a team to be reckoned with and perhaps the best program without a national title.
Why they’re interesting: Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana have delivered three consecutive national championships for the Big Ten. Can Oregon make it four? The Ducks’ championship window isn’t closing anytime soon, but the return of quarterback Dante Moore creates the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around every year. After blowout losses in the CFP the past two years, the Ducks need to show they can be at their best in the biggest games.
Who is the coach? Dan Lanning is 48-8 at Oregon and is climbing the list of the best coaches who have yet to win a national championship. That’s not a bad place to be, but no coach wants to stay there forever. Eventually, the 40-year-old Lanning will need a postseason run like the one Ryan Day had in 2024 to validate that gaudy winning percentage.
Who is the QB? Moore (No. 2 in QB Tiers) is a Heisman Trophy favorite and a contender for QB1 in this year’s draft class. The UCLA transfer could have been a top-five pick after throwing for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns last season but opted to spend another year in college. He’s had only one full season as a starter, so his best football is still in front of him.
Key player: Safety Koi Perich (No. 73 in our top 100 players) is one of the most versatile players in the Big Ten. His move from Minnesota to Oregon gives him a chance to showcase his skills on a national championship contender, just as Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman did a year ago. He should be heavily involved in the return game and has the ability to moonlight on offense, too.
Game to circle: Oregon at Ohio State on Nov. 7 could be the game of the year in the Big Ten. We’ll see if the Ducks and Buckeyes can top their epic 2024 game, which the Ducks won in the final seconds.
— Austin Meek
Penn State Nittany Lions
2025 record: 7-6 (3-6 Big Ten)
Location: State College, Pa.
Odds to make the CFP: 29.3%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 3.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 29th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Penn State is an iconic program that’s perpetually knocking on the door without actually getting into the party. James Franklin averaged nine wins in his 12 seasons, which ultimately wasn’t enough when his preseason No. 2 team started 3-3 last fall. Is it reasonable to expect more from new coach Matt Campbell at a program with one conference title since 2008?
Why they’re interesting: We’ll see if the Iowa State way — and a big chunk of the Iowa State roster — can produce immediate success at Penn State. Campbell brought 24 players from his former school, including quarterback Rocco Becht, tight end Ben Brahmer and running back Carson Hansen. With no Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana on the schedule, Penn State is primed for a bounce-back season.
Who is the coach? Campbell, 46, stayed at Iowa State long enough to lose the up-and-coming label, but sustaining success in Ames is its own category of achievement. Campbell won at least seven games in eight of his 10 seasons, including an 11-3 finish in 2024. It was only a matter of time before he got a shot in the Big Ten.
Who is the QB? Becht (No. 24 in QB Tiers) is a durable, experienced quarterback who started every game the past three seasons at Iowa State. Statistically, the 2025 season wasn’t his best: Becht threw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns after topping 3,000 yards and 20 TDs the previous two years. At minimum, he should give Penn State a chance to compete.
Key player: Linebacker Tony Rojas (No. 26 in the Freaks List) missed much of last season with a torn ACL after starting every game during Penn State’s run to the CFP semifinals in 2024. His return is great news for new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who left USC for his alma mater.
Game to circle: There’s a good chance Penn State will be 5-0 when USC visits on Oct. 10. If the Nittany Lions can win that one, they will have a great shot at staying in the CFP race all the way to the end.
— Austin Meek
Purdue Boilermakers
2025 record: 2-10 (0-9 Big Ten)
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.5%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 97th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better. It can’t be worse.
Pedigree: Jeff Brohm’s 17 wins in 2021 and 2022 marked the best two seasons for the program since Joe Tiller won 18 in 1997 and 1998 with some help from Drew Brees. In 2000, he won the Big Ten for the school’s only conference title since 1967. Since Tiller’s retirement in 2008, the program has been to just six bowl games. Four were under Brohm in his six seasons. Purdue is 7-29 since he left.
Why they’re interesting: Barry Odom made a change at DC, bringing Kevin Kane back to Purdue after he spent last season at Minnesota. The three wins in the past two seasons are the worst since 1941-42, made worse by in-state rival Indiana ascending to the sport’s mountaintop in that same span. The offense must improve after finishing 100th in yards per play. A pair of USC transfers on the offensive line and an Iowa State transfer at receiver could make an impact.
Who is the coach? Odom’s second act as a Power 4 head coach picked up with a tough Year 1 at Purdue after arriving via UNLV, where he went 19-8 and won his division twice. The 49-year-old former Missouri head coach endured just his second losing season as a head coach and enters Year 2 looking for his first Big Ten victory and overseeing a program that’s lost 18 consecutive Big Ten games.
Who is the QB? Ryan Browne (No. 111 QB Tiers) arrived in the summer after spending the spring at North Carolina and split time with speedy Malachi Singleton. He’s back (and Singleton transferred) but will have to improve after throwing nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season while completing under 60 percent of his passes. In Big Ten play, he threw just four touchdowns and eight picks.
Key player: Hawaii native linebacker Charles Correa made 96 tackles a season ago, 12th most in the Big Ten after following Odom from UNLV.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Minnesota. The Boilermakers need a Big Ten win, and they’ll host the Golden Gophers at midseason after trips to UCLA and Illinois. The losing streak could end there.
— David Ubben
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2025 record: 5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)
Location: Piscataway, N.J.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.6%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 79th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Rutgers might be the birthplace of college football, but the football program has three ranked finishes — none in the top 10 — ever and is just 52-93 overall and 22-84 in conference play since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The Scarlet Knights have made a bowl game in two of the past three years but are still searching for their first winning Big Ten record.
Why they’re interesting: Will Rutgers ever capture the previous magic it had under Greg Schiano in the 2000s? Schiano is entering an important season after winning just five games in 2025 against Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Norfolk State, Purdue and Maryland. Rutgers does return a pair of All-Big Ten skill position weapons in 1,200-yard rusher Antwan Raymond and 1,000-yard receiver KJ Duff.
Who is the coach? The second stint of Schiano at Rutgers hasn’t gone as well as the first run, which peaked with an 11-2 record in 2006 and two other seasons with nine wins. Schiano, 60, is 99-108 in 17 seasons at Rutgers, including 31-41 since returning in 2020.
Who is the QB? Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan (No. 107 in QB Tiers), who began his career at Alabama, beat out AJ Surace for the starting job. Lonergan started nine games at Boston College, throwing for 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Key player: Duff (No. 22 on the Freaks List, No. 44 in our top 100 players) will give either quarterback an impact player to get the ball to. Duff finished third in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 1,084 and seven touchdowns as a sophomore and is Dane Brugler’s No. 7 draft-eligible underclassman receiver.
Game to circle: Sept. 11 at. Boston College. This is the first swing game for the Scarlet Knights. If Rutgers wants to get back to a bowl, it must begin with a win against the Eagles. If not, finding enough wins against the conference schedule will be difficult.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
UCLA Bruins
2025 record: 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten)
Location: Los Angeles
Odds to make the CFP: 3.6%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 65th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: UCLA has finished ranked 32 times — 18th most — but the Bruins haven’t had many highs of late. Their last 10-win season was in 2014, and they’ve had more losing seasons (seven) than winning seasons (four) since then. Their last conference championship was in 1998 in the Pac-10.
Why they’re interesting: They have a talented quarterback, a proven winner in Bob Chesney as their new head coach and 42 new players, including 10 who followed the head coach from his previous school, which made the Playoff out of the Sun Belt. Can that produce instant results for a program that’s gone 8-16 in the past two years?
Who is the coach? Chesney, 48, arrives from James Madison, where he went 21-6 in two seasons. Chesney has won at the Division III, Division II and FCS levels, working his way up to a successful first go in the FBS. He’s 132-53 in 16 years but now will work in the Power 4 for the first time.
Who is the QB? Despite a tough 2025, Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava (No. 25 in QB Tiers, No. 68 in the Freaks List) showed some flashes of the high-end talent that has long enticed coaches and scouts. He returns to Westwood for his second year as the starter. His passing numbers were mediocre (1,928 yards, 13 TD, seven INTs) but impacted by a subpar supporting cast. He led the team in rushing (505 yards) and should take a step forward under a more stable coaching staff.
Key player: Oklahoma transfer Sammy Omosigho is expected to be the Bruins’ starting mike linebacker and a major piece of the UCLA defense. Omosigho, entering his fourth year, is a physical, fast, instinctual player who was productive in a rotational role with the Sooners last season (50 tackles, eight pressures, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 477 snaps).
Game to circle: Sept. 5 at Cal. There are bigger-named teams on the schedule, but the season opener is a big opportunity for a strong first impression for Chesney, the new staff and the roster. If the Bruins can win that one, it would set them up for a strong September and go a long way toward securing bowl eligibility.
— Sam Khan Jr.
USC Trojans
2025 record: 9-4 (7-2 Big Ten)
Location: Los Angeles
Odds to make the CFP: 29.3%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 14th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but the schedule is more difficult.
Pedigree: USC has been stuck in the seven- to nine-win range for the past three years. For a program with limitless potential and a decorated past that includes 11 national title claims and a record eight Heisman Trophy winners, the Trojans have won just one conference title since 2008 and have yet to make a Playoff appearance.
Why they’re interesting: USC has been led by four head coaches who have led programs to the Playoff, but none of those four achieved that with the Trojans. No coach has figured out how to win consistently at USC since Pete Carroll left in 2010. Now, Lincoln Riley will attempt to do it with longtime TCU coach Gary Patterson (181-79 in 21 seasons) as the new defensive coordinator.
Who is the coach? Riley, 42, stunned everyone when he left Oklahoma for USC, and he’s got the program in better shape than what he inherited. But he still hasn’t won at the elite level he was expected to upon his arrival. As he enters Year 5, he might not have much time left to prove he can. After finishing in the top 10 in all five seasons at OU, he’s yet to do it at USC despite coaching Caleb Williams to the Heisman in 2022.
Who is the QB? Jayden Maiava (No. 9 in QB Tiers) threw for 3,711 yards and 24 TDs in his first full year as USC’s starting quarterback. Now he’s in his third season in Riley’s system and should be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country. But Maiava will have to build chemistry with an inexperienced group of receivers.
Key player: Cornerback Jontez Williams. USC wasn’t very active in the transfer portal, but Williams was a critical addition for Patterson. The Iowa State transfer will look to bolster a secondary that provided little resistance in some of the Trojans’ biggest games last season.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. Oregon. Riley has spent all offseason proclaiming that USC’s championship window is finally open. A heavyweight matchup against the Ducks, who have been the best program on the West Coast for the past decade-plus, will be the true test of that.
— Antonio Morales
Washington Huskies
2025 record: (9-4, 5-4 Big Ten)
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Odds to make the CFP: 16.9%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 23rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Ever-so-slightly … worse.
Pedigree: One could argue no program has had a more impressive last decade and received less attention for it. Along with its regional West Coast rival Oregon, Washington has shouldered the load for an entire portion of the country that has underachieved in this era. The Huskies made two CFP appearances during the four-team Playoff era and even reached a title game.
Why they’re interesting: Despite this being the program’s third year in the Big Ten, they already project as a top-half team despite losing a ton of talent to the NFL. Last year’s 9-4 team had stars like WR Denzel Boston, RB Jonah Coleman and CB Ephesians Prysock. The Huskies’ swift adaptation to a much more difficult life in an unforgiving conference is a testament to the foundation built by former coaches like Chris Petersen and Kalen DeBoer.
Who is the coach? Jedd Fisch. His name was swirling about in the rumor mill for high-profile openings like Florida and Michigan. Fisch stayed in Seattle, where he will take over offensive play-calling duties in 2026. Before coming to Washington in 2024, Fisch spent three seasons at Arizona, leading the Wildcats to a 10-3 campaign in 2023, and was a longtime NFL and college assistant.
Who is the QB? Demond Williams Jr. He announced his intention to enter the transfer portal after re-signing with the program, which set off a messy chain reaction of potential litigation. In the end, like Fisch, Williams (No. 20 in QB Tiers) is still in purple and has the potential to be one of the breakout stars of the 2026 season. Williams completed 70 percent of his passes a year ago. With Fisch calling plays, will that improve even more?
Key player: Senior safety Alex McLaughlin exemplifies everything defensive play callers want in a modern back-end player: tall, lengthy, elite tackler and a nose for the ball. The 6-2 safety led the Huskies in tackles in 2025 with 94 after transferring from Northern Arizona.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at USC. Perhaps no one has a more unforgiving two-game stretch than UW with Indiana and Oregon to close out the year, but a trip to the Coliseum will tell us a ton about these Huskies in Year 3 in the Big Ten.
— Christopher Kamrani
Wisconsin Badgers
2025 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Location: Madison, Wis.
Odds to make the CFP: 4.5%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 54th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: A program that made 21 straight bowl games and played for six Big Ten championships since 2011 just wrapped up consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1992.
Why they’re interesting: Head coach Luke Fickell enters Year 4 squarely on the hot seat, knowing he has to get the Badgers back on course if he wants to keep his job. Wisconsin is finally investing in a competitive football roster, resulting in 30-plus transfers joining this offseason, with double-digit starters expected from that group. Plus, the schedule looks much easier than 2025, when Wisconsin faced four of the 12 College Football Playoff teams.
Who is the coach? Fickell, 52, was a celebrated hire for the Badgers prior to the 2023 season, still fresh off a stellar run at Cincinnati that included leading the Group of 5 Bearcats to the four-team CFP. But he’s gone just 17-21 overall and 10-17 in Big Ten play in three seasons at Wisconsin. Fickell admits he was reluctant to embrace the sport’s roster-budget reality, but he’s all in this season with a new-look depth chart and young leadership.
Who is the QB? Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph (No. 36 in QB Tiers) brings a legit dual-threat skill set to Madison, something that meshes with the ethos of Wisconsin football and second-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Joseph threw for 2,264 yards and ran for another 1,007 with 34 combined touchdowns as a junior, and he played well against power-conference competition.
Key player: Sophomore linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano emerged as the Badger bash brothers last season, giving the team a much-needed jolt late in the schedule. The duo joined the starting lineup and sparked ranked wins over Washington and Illinois while embracing leadership roles, giving Wisconsin a toughness and edge it has lacked in recent seasons.
Game to circle: Sept. 6 vs. Notre Dame at Lambeau Field. A prime-time, Labor Day weekend season opener will be a tough litmus test for the Badgers, but it’s also an opportunity for Fickell and company to change the narrative.
— Justin Williams
SECAlabama Crimson Tide
2025 record: 11-4 (7-1 SEC)
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 36%
Odds to win the SEC: 11%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 15th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Last year was the 100th anniversary of Alabama’s first national championship, under Wallace Wade. The program claims 17 more, won by the likes of Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings and Nick Saban, who retired after the 2023 season with six rings in Tuscaloosa, along with three more CFP title game appearances.
Why they’re interesting: From the outside, the pressure seems to be on Kalen DeBoer in Year 3 to at least make a long Playoff run. But Alabama’s administration gave DeBoer an offseason contract extension including a raise. Will that faith be rewarded, or will the pressure only ratchet up?
Who is the coach? DeBoer, 51, was Curt Cignetti before Cignetti: Google him and learn that he’s won at every stop and is 124-20 in his 11-year head coaching career. But he’s only 20-8 at Alabama, with one Playoff appearance, which resulted in a quarterfinal drubbing at the hands of Cignetti’s Indiana team.
Who is the QB? Austin Mack, who appeared in four games as Ty Simpson’s backup last year, knows DeBoer’s system, having followed him from Washington after the Huskies’ 2023-24 CFP run. But DeBoer is betting on the upside of Keelon Russell (No. 33 in QB Tiers), a five-star recruit who has had a year to learn the playbook and won the job in preseason camp.
Key player: Ryan Coleman-Williams (No. 39 in the Freaks List) has the talent to be the best receiver in the country, and he looked like he would be after his freshman season. Then came last year’s sophomore slump. If he rebounds — and he’s still only 19, far from a finished product — it would be a huge lift to the new quarterback and a young offense.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Georgia. This is an important narrative game for DeBoer: Losing at home to Georgia, and for the second time in a row to Kirby Smart’s team, would be bad. It’s also the start of the most difficult stretch of the season: at Tennessee, home against Texas A&M, at LSU, at Vanderbilt.
— Seth Emerson
Arkansas Razorbacks
2025 record: 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
Odds to make the CFP: 2%
Odds to win the SEC: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 76th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: A bit better, though it would be hard to be much worse.
Pedigree: The Razorbacks have a rich football history, winning 13 Southwest Conference titles, including five in the 1960s. Things have been much more difficult in the SEC, and they have finished ranked just once in the past 14 seasons (No. 21 in 2021). Since Bobby Petrino’s spectacular flameout following the 2011 season, Arkansas has won four games or fewer eight times and has had just one season with a winning record in SEC play.
Why they’re interesting: They fell apart last year, sinking to the bottom of the SEC, but they were actually pretty close to having a decent year, losing six games by a touchdown or less; five were decided by a field goal. Can a new coaching staff get it flipped back around?
Who is the coach? Ryan Silverfield, who beat the Hogs last year while the head coach at Memphis, did a good job navigating through some turbulence early in his tenure with the Tigers after taking over for Mike Norvell. The 46-year-old went 29-9 in his last three seasons at Memphis.
Who is the QB? KJ Jackson (No. 63 in QB Tiers) won a preseason battle with AJ Hill, who followed Silverfield and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey from Memphis. The 6-4, 225-pound Jackson, who is adept at the RPO game, completed 33 of 54 passes for 441 yards over five games for Arkansas in 2025 and started the finale against Mizzou.
Key player: Wide receiver Chris Marshall, a four-star recruit who began his career at Texas A&M, has had a rocky road to Fayetteville, but he can be a difference maker for an offense that desperately needs one. Last year, he had 30 catches for 574 yards and two touchdowns for Boise State.
Game to circle: Oct. 31 vs. Missouri. The Hogs, who have lost 11 straight SEC games, figure to be an underdog in all nine of their league games. This might be their best chance. Both teams will be coming off idle weeks.
— Bruce Feldman
Auburn Tigers
2025 record: 5-7 (1-7 SEC)
Location: Auburn, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 14.3%
Odds to win the SEC: 2.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 36th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but likely only by a couple of wins.
Pedigree: Auburn is a decorated program with two uncontested national championships (1957, 2010), three Heisman winners and eight SEC titles — including three since 2004. But the Tigers have had only one 10-win season (2017) since last reaching the national championship game in 2013 and are on their third head coach since Gus Malzahn was fired following the 2020 season.
Why they’re interesting: Auburn’s offense has sputtered for several seasons. Their new head coach was once a successful SEC coordinator, and he has brought an experienced starting quarterback and a lot of other pieces with him from a pretty good G6 program. There appears to be enough returning talent on defense to get to a bowl game for the first time in three years.
Who is the coach? Alex Golesh, 42, enters his first season at Auburn after going 23-15 in three years at South Florida. Golesh inherited a USF program that had won only four games over the previous three seasons and led the Bulls to three consecutive bowl appearances. He signed a six-year, $44.25 million contract to take over on the Plains.
Who is the QB? Byrum Brown (No. 19 in QB Tiers and No. 49 in the Freaks List) was one of the country’s most productive rushing quarterbacks when healthy at USF. Coupled with a talented and experienced Tigers backfield, Auburn’s rushing attack could prove to be a real threat.
Key player: Linebacker Xavier Atkins (No. 22 in our top 100 players) earned second-team All-America and first-team All-SEC honors last season after transferring from LSU and enters 2026 as Auburn’s highest-profile defensive returnee. He must anchor a defense that lost several important veterans and will be asked to survive the added workload from Golesh’s fast-paced offense.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. Florida. Not only is it the SEC opener for both teams, but it’s also Florida’s first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2011. With ex-Tulane coach Jon Sumrall coaching the Gators, it’s also the first opportunity both new coaches get to make a statement about which rebuilding program is off on the right foot.
— Manny Navarro
Florida Gators
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 SEC)
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 11%
Odds to win the SEC: 2.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 31st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Florida has three Heisman winners, three national championships and eight SEC championships to its name, but it hasn’t won the SEC since 2008. The program’s last double-digit-win season came in 2019 under Dan Mullen.
Why they’re interesting: The Gators are pairing a vibrant young coach who has proven he can turn Group of 6 programs into winners with a roster with more talent than last season’s record suggests. Florida also added 10 starters off other FBS rosters among this offseason’s 29 transfers. It has enough veteran skill talent and defensive upside to get back to a bowl game after missing out twice in the last three seasons.
Who is the coach? Jon Sumrall, 44, begins his first season at Florida after going 43-12 in two years at Troy and two years at Tulane. He won consecutive Sun Belt championships at Troy, took Tulane to consecutive American Conference championship games and led the Green Wave to the 2025 College Football Playoff.
Who is the QB? Aaron Philo (No. 55 in QB Tiers) and Tramell Jones Jr. entered preseason camp locked in a competition, with Philo emerging as the Week 1 winner. Philo was the favorite because of his experience and previous relationship with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner at Georgia Tech. Philo and Jones have one career start between them.
Key player: Running back Jadan Baugh (No. 29 in our top 100 players) ran for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns last season despite Florida’s woes elsewhere on offense and was voted second-team preseason All-SEC. Baugh will be critical to keeping the Gators out of obvious passing situations with an inexperienced starting quarterback.
Game to circle: Oct. 31 vs. Georgia. The Bulldogs have won five straight in the series and remain the rival Florida has to beat to prove it truly is an SEC and Playoff contender. Sumrall might not pull it off in Year 1 — in Atlanta instead of Jacksonville because of stadium construction — but he also can’t allow Kirby Smart to embarrass him.
— Manny Navarro
Georgia Bulldogs
2025 record: 12-2 (7-1 SEC)
Location: Athens, Ga.
Odds to make the CFP: 65.1%
Odds to win the SEC: 28.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 3rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same, but maybe better in the CFP.
Pedigree: Since ending a 41-year national championship drought, Georgia went and won another one and has remained dominant in the regular season the past three seasons (33-3). The Dawgs are coming off back-to-back SEC championships, but they’ve come up short of the CFP semifinals each of the last three seasons.
Why they’re interesting: They’re the preseason SEC favorites (via the media vote) for a reason: talent all around, especially on a young defense that got better as last season went on, a returning starting quarterback (Gunner Stockton) and one of the best coaches in college football, if not the best.
Who is the coach? Kirby Smart, 50, is now 117-21 as head coach of his alma mater, with four SEC championships, two national championships and five CFP appearances. He has kept the program in the top tier through an old-school approach (defense, run the ball, use NIL to retain players rather than find new ones in the portal) with dashes of pragmatism, whether it was opening up the passing game or taking some transfers.
Who is the QB? Gunner Stockton (No. 11 in QB Tiers) looked great at times last year, carrying the team to wins against Tennessee, Ole Miss and Texas. There’s a reason he finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting. But there are times he seems over-reliant on his scrambling ability, such as in the Playoff loss to Ole Miss. If Stockton, in his second full year as the starter, can pass downfield consistently this year, he might get invited to New York.
Key player: Sophomore defensive tackle Elijah Griffin (No. 95 in the Freaks List) wasn’t a starter last year and may not be right away this year. But the former five-star recruit has the potential to be the dominant interior defensive lineman who could take this defense to a level it hasn’t reached since the days of Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 at Alabama. This is the third straight year Smart has gotten a shot at his old team in the regular season. He got revenge for last year’s late September loss with an SEC championship, and this would be a chance to bury the narrative. (And perhaps bury Kalen DeBoer.)
— Seth Emerson
Kentucky Wildcats
2025 record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.1%
Odds to win the SEC: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 64th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: After eight straight bowl game appearances under Mark Stoops, the Wildcats have had back-to-back losing seasons and were struggling to keep up competitively and financially in the SEC. The program is hoping for a reset with a new head coach.
Why they’re interesting: Kentucky native and former Oregon wunderkind offensive coordinator Will Stein was hired this offseason, and he has plenty of support and optimism behind him. The Wildcats are all in, including a first-of-its-kind, revamped athletic department that is working to increase revenue and NIL funding in order to compete with the SEC top dogs.
Who is the coach? Stein, 36, is a former Louisville walk-on quarterback who spent the last three seasons lighting up the scoreboard in Eugene under Dan Lanning. (The Ducks were top 10 nationally in scoring offense and yards per play last season.) He’s angling to bring that same potency — and confidence — to UK, including a Cignetti-esque moment at SEC media days. Asked why he believes Kentucky can win in football, Stein responded, “Because of me.”
Who is the QB? The Wildcats flipped Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey (No. 34 in QB Tiers) from Nebraska during transfer portal season. The four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class played only 105 snaps over three years with the Fighting Irish, but Stein and new offensive coordinator Joe Sloan are hoping to unlock his dual-threat potential.
Key player: Kentucky was a big winner of the offseason, including a top-10 portal class that features a fortified offensive line. That should help open some lanes for Texas running back transfer CJ Baxter, who shined as a freshman for the Longhorns in 2023 but battled injuries the past two seasons.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Alabama. The Crimson Tide come to town in Week 2, which will offer an early measuring stick.
— Justin Williams
New LSU QB Sam Leavitt threw for 4,652 yards in two years at Arizona State after starting his career at Michigan State. (Scott Clause / USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)
LSU Tigers
2025 record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Odds to make the CFP: 24.2%
Odds to win the SEC: 6.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 8th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The answer better be “better.’
Pedigree: LSU has won three national titles this century (2003, 2007, 2019) under three different coaches, and it also won the 1958 crown. But the Tigers are 47-29 since the Joe Burrow-led perfect season.
Why they’re interesting: The Tigers signed the No. 1 transfer portal class, including arguably this cycle’s top quarterback (Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt), offensive lineman (Colorado’s Jordan Seaton) and defensive lineman (Ole Miss’ Princewill Umanmielen). Also: They’re coached by Lane Kiffin.
Who is the coach? Kiffin, you might have heard, left Ole Miss before the Playoff to take over rival LSU. The 51-year-old is 116-53 as a head coach and has been defined by high-scoring offenses, controversial exits and sarcastic cracks. Although he moved within the SEC, expectations are much higher at LSU than at Ole Miss, where he went 55-19. His salary ($13 million) is a lot larger, too, putting him near the top nationally.
Who is the QB? Leavitt (No. 8 in QB Tiers) starred during Arizona State’s surprise CFP run in 2024 (29 total touchdowns, 3,328 total yards), but a foot injury limited him to seven games last season. Kiffin said at SEC media days that he feels good about his quarterback’s health; if that holds true, Leavitt should be one of the top passers in the SEC.
Key player: Whit Weeks (No. 68 in our top 100 players)was an All-SEC linebacker in 2024. It’s not a coincidence that the Tigers’ worst defensive stretch of last season happened when he was sidelined with a leg injury. LSU was 6-2 in games he started and 1-4 when he was out.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 at Ole Miss. As if Kiffin’s return to Oxford wasn’t spicy enough, Ole Miss recently sued two players (Umanmielen and Devin Harper) over unpaid buyouts after they followed Kiffin to LSU. Add in the fact that both teams are CFP contenders, and this will be one of the sport’s most intense environments in years.
— Matt Baker
Missouri Tigers
2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Odds to make the CFP: 9%
Odds to win the SEC: 1.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 35th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but the schedule may not allow it to matter.
Pedigree: With zero conference titles since the Big 8 in 1969, some might be surprised to know this program has seven seasons with 10 wins or more since 2007, to go with three Cotton Bowl wins. Two of those seasons, and one of those Cotton Bowl wins, came in the past three years under Eli Drinkwitz.
Why they’re interesting: In the 12-team Playoff world, however long it lasts, Missouri is one of those solid programs on the fringe, fighting for a new level of relevance. The 2025 Tigers fell out early with heartbreaking October losses to Alabama and Vanderbilt. If the passing game can be more dynamic as a complement to the power running game and attacking defense, 2026 Mizzou could be interesting for longer.
Who is the coach? One 12-1 season at Appalachian State got Drinkwitz, 43, the Missouri job, and he has put together an old-school rebuild — not that there’s been any shortage of transfer portal arrivals and departures. But 17-19 in Drinkwitz’s first three seasons made way for 29-10 in his next three. He has tweaked adversaries with the same verve from Day 1.
Who is the QB? Austin Simmons (No. 26 in QB Tiers) was supposed to be the one to lead Ole Miss to big things in 2025, but an early-season ankle injury gave unknown backup Trinidad Chambliss an opportunity he wouldn’t relinquish. If Drinkwitz has what Lane Kiffin thought he had in Simmons, watch out.
Key player: Ahmad Hardy (No. 28 in our top 100 players) was second in FBS with 1,649 rushing yards last season, but he was struck in the left leg by a bullet at a concert in May. He has been cleared medically, but there’s no clarity yet on when he’ll actually play again. Though Jamal Roberts is a strong alternative, the Tigers need Hardy back and at his best.
Game to circle: Texas A&M visits on Oct. 10, and the Aggies were extremely rude visitors a year ago, rolling 38-17 in Columbia. That’s the day the Tigers need to declare whether they’re serious or not. Even if they are, ensuing weeks feature Ole Miss, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma. Yikes.
— Joe Rexrode
Mississippi State Bulldogs
2025 record: 5-8 (1-7 SEC)
Location: Starkville, Miss.
Odds to make the CFP: 3.7%
Odds to win the SEC: 0.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 68th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Bulldogs are one of the SEC’s historical losers but enjoy the occasional uprising (Dan Mullen, Jackie Sherrill, Allyn McKeen with a pre-war run in the early 1940s). The late, great Mike Leach built quickly to the 9-4 season of 2022. Can the Bulldogs compete in the era of full-on player payment?
Why they’re interesting: They’re fun. A lot of fun. Even during a 2024 season that went mostly to script, the Bulldogs pulled off a dramatic upset of Arizona State and pushed Texas and Tennessee to overtime in eventual shootout losses.
Who is the coach? Jeff Lebby, 42, is a disciple of the Art Briles offense — Lebby was at Baylor from 2008 until Briles’ ouster in 2016, and Briles is his father-in-law. From there, Lebby coordinated offenses for Josh Heupel, Lane Kiffin and Brent Venables, and he’s 7-18 in two seasons of his attempted turnaround in Starkville. Now he’s hired back his predecessor Zach Arnett as defensive coordinator in hopes of transforming that side of the ball from sieve-like to only moderately leaky.
Who is the QB? It’s time more people knew about Kamario Taylor (No. 32 in QB Tiers). The guess here is many more will after 2026. The 6-4, 230-pound sophomore offered tantalizing glimpses playing behind Blake Shapen for most of last season. He has all the tools, plus a coach and system that will enhance them.
Key player: Much hype has accompanied the arrival of one of the Bulldogs’ top portal additions, edge Amaree Williams from Florida State. He’s not huge (6-4, 240), but he might fit perfectly in Arnett’s defense.
Game to circle: Does the SEC scheduling computer go out of its way to punish the league’s projected bottom dwellers? Five of the top seven in the media preseason poll are on Mississippi State’s slate. But the Bulldogs can help the SEC’s desperate “We’re deeper!” narrative by winning at Minnesota on Sept. 12.
— Joe Rexrode
Oklahoma Sooners
2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Location: Norman, Okla.
Odds to make the CFP: 27.4%
Odds to win the SEC: 8.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 10th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better. Little stands in the way of a return to the Playoff.
Pedigree: Blue blood all the way through. Oklahoma’s 960 wins rank sixth in college football history, and the Sooners are rarely irrelevant. Their two losing seasons under fifth-year coach Brent Venables sit among eight seasons in the past 11 years with 10 wins or more.
Why they’re interesting: Last year’s CFP appearance was the Sooners’ first since 2019 and fifth overall. Does it mean 2024’s disastrous 6-7 finish was an aberration? The Sooners beat five ranked opponents, including three by one score, and their schedule is again brutal, including three CFP teams from a year ago plus Michigan and Texas.
Who is the coach? Venables, who is 32-20 at OU, has found more solid footing by leaning into his strength as a defensive mastermind. The Sooners were ultra-disruptive on defense last year under the 55-year-old former OU and Clemson defensive coordinator.
Who is the QB? John Mateer (No. 16 in QB Tiers and No. 70 in the Freaks List) came with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State last year and had a promising debut season disrupted by a September hand injury. Healthy and hulking out in offseason workouts, he is set up for stardom in his final season of college football.
Key player: Senior safety Peyton Bowen anchors a loaded secondary that aims to create more chaos after the Sooners recorded nine interceptions a year ago.
Game to circle: Who are we kidding? It’s Texas in Dallas on Oct. 10. The Longhorns have won the past two meetings. The Red River Rivalry needs no extra spice, but Sooners wide receiver Parker Livingstone may provide it this year. He was Arch Manning’s roommate at Texas and posted 29 receptions for 516 yards last season before being shown the door as the Longhorns made room for top transfer Cam Coleman.
— Mitch Sherman
Ole Miss Rebels
2025 record: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Odds to make the CFP: 19.8%
Odds to win the SEC: 5.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 12th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: There’s an argument that Ole Miss is enjoying the second-best era in program history, after 1959-62, from which it claims three national titles (though it never finished No. 1 in the AP or coaches polls). The Rebels won six SEC championships between 1947 and 1963 but have none since then. This past season, however, they were the last SEC team standing, and they have ambitions to stay top-level without Lane Kiffin.
Why they’re interesting: Take your pick. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is a potential Heisman candidate. Pete Golding is in his first full season in charge after taking over for the Playoff run. The program will be endeavoring to show Kiffin he made a mistake — in person in Week 3.
Who is the coach? Golding, 42, had never been a head coach when he was elevated to replace Kiffin after the Egg Bowl. Now he has won two more Playoff games than Kiffin has.
Who is the QB? Chambliss came out of nowhere — actually, Division II Ferris State — to not only take the starting job but emerge as a difference maker. His playmaking carried Ole Miss to the quarterfinal win over Georgia, and he starts this season No. 1 in The Athletic’s QB Tiers.
Key player: Kewan Lacy (No. 17 in our top 100 players) disputes the idea that running backs aren’t difference-makers anymore. He’s elusive, he’s explosive and he gets yards after contact. As a sophomore, he tied for the school record with 1,567 rushing yards.
Game to circle: What else? Sept. 19 vs. LSU, when Kiffin comes back to town. It’s not only the most anticipated game in recent Ole Miss history — it’s the most anticipated game of the college football season.
— Seth Emerson
South Carolina Gamecocks
2025 record: 4-8 (1-7 SEC)
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 11.9%
Odds to win the SEC: 2.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 32nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but better enough?
Pedigree: We’re more than a decade past a historically middling program’s glory days under Steve Spurrier — three straight 11-win seasons from 2011 to ’13 — though hopes were high entering last season that new heights might soon be attained. They weren’t. But in the decade since Spurrier retired, this has been a bowl team more often than not.
Why they’re interesting: The Gamecocks managed to return their top stars after the major disappointment that was 2025. The question is whether they did enough in the transfer portal to fix a leaky offensive line. The defensive line, with healing Dylan Stewart (back), Tennessee transfer Caleb Herring and top recruit Julian Walker, should be spicy.
Who is the coach? Shane Beamer is the SEC coach on the hottest seat, or so it would seem. Seat temperature these days is highly correlated with return on investment, and South Carolina was supposed to be a Playoff team in 2025 after a 9-4 showing in 2024. Beamer’s got dudes again. The 49-year-old son of Virginia Tech Hall of Famer Frank Beamer is 33-30 with one mayo-slathered bowl win in five seasons.
Who is the QB? LaNorris Sellers (No. 18 in QB Tiers and No. 37 in the Freaks List) figured to be entering his last season at South Carolina a year ago, because he was supposed to be a high NFL Draft pick. A concussion that knocked him out of an early-season loss to Vanderbilt was the start of a season of (slight) decline from his breakout 2024. He needs more consistency and some help up front. NFL folks remain intrigued, at least.
Key player: NC State transfer left tackle Jacarrius Peak is a key to the progress of a group that allowed 43 sacks in 2025. He hurt a knee playing basketball in February and missed spring ball, and it’s unclear if Peak — and standout defensive end Dylan Stewart (No. 14 in the Freaks List, No. 7 in our top 100 players), who’s recovering from a back injury — will be ready for the start of the season.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 at Alabama. All due respect to visiting Mississippi State a week earlier, but this should be South Carolina’s first test and an opportunity to make a statement and change up those SEC coach hot seat rankings.
— Joe Rexrode
Tennessee Volunteers
2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Odds to make the CFP: 15.9%
Odds to win the SEC: 3.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 20th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: The Vols’ last SEC title and national title came in 1998, but since an underwhelming 12-year stretch split among four head coaches (Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt), Tennessee has raised its level back to regular relevance. The program’s 30-9 run from 2022 to ’24 included its first College Football Playoff berth.
Why they’re interesting: A lot of changes. Pricey defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is one of several new faces brought in to fix a leaky run defense. The Vols have big-time playmakers on offense but will hitch their wagon to a young, inexperienced quarterback.
Who is the coach? Josh Heupel, 48, enters Year 6 with three seasons of nine or more wins — a mark Tennessee hit just twice in the 13 years prior to his arrival. The 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up at Oklahoma operates an explosive veer-and-shoot offense that has given the Vols a more stable identity.
Who is the QB? Freshman Faizon Brandon (No. 75 in QB Tiers), a top-10 national recruit, beat out sophomore George MacIntyre, who has just nine career pass attempts. Brandon is 6-4, 215 pounds, and has immense physical talent. The Vols kicked around some options in the transfer portal, including Sam Leavitt, but ultimately added a depth option in Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
Key player: Running back DeSean Bishop (No. 100 in our top 100 players) is one of the most productive returning backs in the Power 4. He was one of six Power 4 backs who rushed for 1,000 yards on fewer than 200 carries in 2025, and his 6.15 scrimmage yards per touch was third-best among returning SEC backs.
Game to circle: Texas visits Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26 to open conference play. If the Vols can pull off an upset of one of the most talented rosters in the country, they’ll need to be taken seriously as a CFP contender.
— Sam Khan Jr.
Texas Longhorns
2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Location: Austin, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 49.9%
Odds to win the SEC: 19.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 6th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? They need to be better, or there might be problems.
Pedigree: The Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2023 and 2024, before a three-loss regular season left them out of the CFP last year. This run comes after a long stretch of mediocrity from 2010 to 2021 following consistent winning under Mack Brown in the 2000s, including the 2005 national title.
Why they’re interesting: From its confidence to its money to its role in conference realignment, Texas always draws attention, and the Horns have what is likely the most well-known player in the sport. The Longhorns added several top-level transfers to this year’s roster (wide receiver Cam Coleman and running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers), while bringing back players like defensive lineman Colin Simmons, with the goal of winning the program’s first national title since Vince Young led the way.
Who is the coach? Steve Sarkisian, 52, took over in 2021 with plans to build a program in the mold of Alabama, where he’d previously coached. It took a few years, but Sark has turned the Longhorns into a top-10 outfit. Can he win the big one?
Who is the QB? Arch Manning (No. 7 in QB Tiers). You’ve probably never heard of him. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning enrolled as a five-star prospect with all the hype in the world. After two seasons as a backup, he took the reins last year to mixed results. But Manning improved as the season progressed and enters 2026 with Heisman hype and No. 1 NFL Draft pick potential.
Key player: Texas paid big to land Cam Coleman, who is one of the most skilled pass catchers in the country and No. 10 in our top 100 players. His size and athleticism have terrified defenses and impressed scouts, but mediocre QB play at Auburn held him back. Manning and Coleman could make for the best QB-WR duo in the country.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Ohio State. One can argue that last year’s loss to Ohio State kept the Longhorns out of the Playoff (Sarkisian has said it plenty). Ahead of a difficult SEC schedule, a win against the Buckeyes would set the tone and provide more margin for error. A loss could lead people to wonder whether Sarkisian can actually take Texas over the hump.
— Chris Vannini
Texas A&M Aggies
2025 record: (11-2, 7-1 SEC)
Location: College Station, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 26.3%
Odds to win the SEC: 7.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 13th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: College Station drools over the idea of the Aggies’ long-awaited arrival as an SEC elite. A&M finished tied for first place in the SEC last year and earned a first-round Playoff game at Kyle Field. It was not memorable. In the last 30 years, the Aggies have had just three double-digit-win seasons. They last won a conference title in 1998 (Big 12) and a national title in 1939.
Why they’re interesting: Quarterback Marcel Reed had a breakout year in 2025, showcasing his dual-threat abilities and setting the stage for a Heisman campaign this fall. He had an even better offseason when you talk about being in good company: He met Lionel Messi and gave him one of his jerseys. Fittingly, it was a No. 10.
Who is the coach? If they gave out awards to coaches for media transparency, Mike Elko would get it. At SEC media days, he was asked how he plans on motivating this year’s Aggies to one-up the accomplishments of 2025. Elko’s response: “I show them our trophy case, and it’s empty.” It’s a mic-drop statement, because for all the belief within the fan base that the Aggies are always on the doorstep, they still have a ways to go. Elko, 49, isn’t afraid to embrace it.
Who is the QB? Reed’s offensive coordinator Collin Klein went home to become Kansas State’s head coach, and former co-offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins has taken over full-time. Reed (No. 13 in QB Tiers) threw for 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 picks in 2025, with a completion percentage (62.1) that must improve for the Aggies to go deeper in the postseason.
Key player: A&M lost KC Concepcion to the NFL, but Mario Craver (No. 62 in our top 100 players) is back after catching 59 passes for 917 yards in the Aggies’ much-improved passing attack. He is poised for an even better 2026 season.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 at Alabama. The SEC road schedule is not kind to A&M, which also plays at LSU and Oklahoma.
— Christopher Kamrani
Vanderbilt Commodores
2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Odds to make the CFP: 5.2%
Odds to win the SEC: 0.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 51st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. The Heisman runner-up is gone from the program’s first 10-win team.
Pedigree: Vanderbilt endured 25 consecutive losing seasons from 1983 through 2007 but has been to eight bowl games since. However, only three of those bowl seasons featured more than seven wins: back-to-back 9-4 records under James Franklin in 2012 and ’13 and last year’s breakthrough 10-3 campaign. The Commodores have had a winning SEC record only three times since 1960.
Why they’re interesting: Was Vanderbilt a two-hit wonder behind quarterback Diego Pavia, or has Clark Lea built something that can last in Nashville? Lea has been afforded unprecedented support from the university, but there are still so many obstacles to overcome at the only private school in the SEC.
Who is the coach? Lea, a 44-year-old former walk-on fullback at Vanderbilt, is 26-36 overall and 11-29 in the SEC in five seasons. He went winless in conference play in two of his first three years but is 9-7 since. He signed an extension in the offseason after being pursued by Penn State, among other schools.
Who is the QB? Lea has tabbed senior Blaze Berlowitz to start the first game, but it’s hard to envision freshman Jared Curtis (No. 57 in QB Tiers), a five-star prospect whom the Dores flipped from Georgia, not taking over at QB at some point early in the season. Curtis, who was ranked No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite, is the highest-ranked signee (by far) in program history.
Key player: Vanderbilt will need senior Junior Sherrill to emerge as an All-SEC-caliber wideout. The Nashville native led the team’s wide receivers with 54 receptions last year for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. NC State. After opening up with Austin Peay and Delaware, Vanderbilt’s first test will come when the Wolfpack visit Nashville in Week 3.
— Mitch Light
IndependentsConnecticut Huskies
2025 record: 9-4
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 102nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. A third consecutive nine-win season seems unlikely with a new staff and what looks like a trickier schedule.
Pedigree: After ending the 2010 season in the Fiesta Bowl, UConn bottomed out as one of the worst programs in the nation, with a dozen consecutive losing seasons (excluding 2020). But the Huskies went 18-8 over the last two years before coach Jim Mora left for Colorado State.
Why they’re interesting: UConn’s turnover has been extreme, even by 2026 standards, announcing 65 new players in January alone. Mora took at least 16 Huskies with him to Colorado State, and 21 players followed new UConn coach Jason Candle from Toledo. All that turnover makes the Huskies an interesting case study, like Oklahoma State, Penn State and Auburn: How quickly can a program evolve when a new coach keeps his old players at his new stop?
Who is the coach? Jason Candle, 46, was the winningest coach in Toledo history (81-44), with zero losing seasons and two MAC championships. His consistent success in a conference low on sustainability made it somewhat surprising he didn’t jump to a bigger job earlier. If he can keep winning at UConn, he’ll be a name to watch in future coaching carousels.
Who is the QB? Tennessee transfer Jake Merklinger (No. 102 in QB Tiers) is the high-profile name; he was a blue-chip recruit in the 2024 class and appeared in six games for the Volunteers. But Kalieb Osborne has an edge in familiarity after spending two seasons with Candle at Toledo. They’ve combined for seven career touchdowns, so both are relative wild cards.
Key player: K’Von Sherman also followed Candle to UConn. He was an All-MAC linebacker last season after leading the Rockets with 94 tackles and ranking in the top 30 nationally with 14 1/2 tackles for loss.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 vs. North Carolina. UConn’s independent schedule makes it hard for the Huskies to stand out, so this matchup looks big. The Huskies beat the Tar Heels in their last matchup, the 2024 Fenway Bowl, as Bill Belichick was just taking over in Chapel Hill. A similar showing would be huge for UConn’s new staff (and devastating for Belichick’s tenure).
— Matt Baker
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame were the first team left out of the Playoff last year. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2025 record: 10-2 (Independent)
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Odds to make the CFP: 76.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 5th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: One of college football’s most famous and historic programs is enjoying a modern golden age, with Marcus Freeman taking the baton from Brian Kelly. In the past nine seasons, the Irish have made the College Football Playoff three times, including a run to the national championship game two years ago.
Why they’re interesting: Is this the year? Notre Dame may challenge for its first national title since 1988. That 38-year drought is the longest in school history. Between the flak it takes for its independence, the friendly schedule, 2025’s bowl opt-out, Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr’s Heisman hopes … Notre Dame is interesting on virtually every level.
Who is the coach? Marcus Freeman, 40, is back for his fifth year, going 24-4 in the past two. Declining NFL interest last winter was critical to keep the good vibes going in South Bend. The challenge for the former Ohio State linebacker is avoiding an early-season slip; the Irish have never emerged from September unbeaten under his direction.
Who is the QB? CJ Carr (No. 3 in QB Tiers) feels like the prince who was promised, the best quarterback on campus since Brady Quinn 20 years ago. He’s not a finished product, but he’s already projected as a future first-round pick … whenever he decides to make the jump.
Key player: Ohio State transfer Mylan Graham could answer one of Notre Dame’s biggest questions: Who is catching Carr’s passes? The offense can’t really replace first-rounders Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price at running back, so it needs a big boost at receiver to function.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 vs. Miami. Perhaps you heard Miami beat Notre Dame head-to-head last year and that got the Hurricanes into the CFP over the Irish. The rematch may have Catholics vs. Convicts energy.
— Pete Sampson
AmericanArmy Black Knights
2025 record: 7-6 (4-4 American)
Location: West Point, N.Y.
Odds to make the CFP: 5.5%
Odds to win the American: 11.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 66th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Army has made a bowl game in seven of the past 10 seasons … compared to just five bowl appearances in the history of the program beforehand. It means Army football is in a good place within the American after its first two seasons post-independence.
Why they’re interesting: Two years ago, Army was a fringe Playoff team entering November until it got blown out by Notre Dame. There’s no Power 4 opponent on this year’s schedule, and the Black Knights return their quarterback plus four starters on the offensive line. Don’t be surprised if Army is mentioned in the CFP race again.
Who is the coach? Jeff Monken, 59, returns for his 13th season, with only four FBS coaches in their posts longer. He led Army into the American Conference two years ago and ran the table, although a loss to Navy stung. Monken has been floated for bigger jobs but has a good thing going at West Point.
Who is the QB? No FBS quarterback rushed for more yards than Cale Hellums (No. 77 in QB Tiers) last season. And no player averaged more carries per game. That production — 304 carries for 1,223 yards and 18 touchdowns — gives Army an ideal foundation for its option offense.
Key player: Defensive lineman Jack Bousum is just one of three returning starters on defense, and he tied for the team lead in TFLs (8.0) and sacks (4.0) last season.
Game to circle: Dec. 12 vs. Navy in East Rutherford, N.J. No further explanation needed.
— Pete Sampson
Charlotte 49ers
2025 record: 1-11 (0-8 American)
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the American: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 136th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better after a difficult 2025, but still among the nation’s worst.
Pedigree: An FBS newcomer in 2015, Charlotte has struggled since joining the American in 2023, posting a 6-18 league mark. Only once have the 49ers reached a bowl game — in 2019.
Why they’re interesting: Charlotte has a quarterback battle. In addition, coach Tim Albin has his first full recruiting class, and most of the newcomers were on campus for winter workouts and spring practice.
Who is the coach? In 2024, Albin guided Ohio to its first MAC title since 1968 and its third consecutive 10-win season. The 60-year-old longtime Ohio assistant under Frank Solich took over at Charlotte in 2025 amid heavy attrition.
Who is the QB? It’s a three-way competition among original 2025 starter Conner Harrell (who was injured after four games and ranks No. 133 in QB Tiers), seven-game starter Grayson Loftis and transfer Cole Gonzales, who played in three games at Pittsburgh last year. Gonzales is a sixth-year player, Harrell is in his fifth year and Loftis in his fourth.
Key player: The 49ers brought in receiver Jaden Barnes from App State, and he should step right in as the primary receiving threat. Barnes, a senior, caught 55 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns in just 10 games last year.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 vs. The Citadel. After losing their past nine games, the 49ers open the season with an FCS opponent, which could instill some confidence before traveling to Ole Miss the following week.
— Scott Dochterman
East Carolina Pirates
2025 record: 9–4 (6-2 American)
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.5%
Odds to win the American: 5.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 80th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. The Pirates had a strong year in 2025, but the losses are significant.
Pedigree: ECU has been known to give Power 4 programs a run for their money (especially North Carolina), but the program has won 10 games just once since 1991 and hasn’t won an American Conference title since joining the league in 2014.
Why they’re interesting: The Pirates will look much different this year with so many starters gone and a new quarterback in town. Blake Harrell is off to a great start as a head coach; will he turn into a hot commodity with another strong season?
Who is the coach? Harrell, 46, was named the interim coach in October 2024 and got the full-time gig a month later. He’s 14-5 overall with two wins over Power 4 teams in bowl games — NC State in Year 1 and Pitt in Year 2, both in the Military Bowl.
Who is the QB? Emory Williams (No. 66 in QB Tiers) transferred from Miami to replace Katin Houser, who is now at Illinois. Williams spent the past three seasons at Miami and has played in 12 career games with two starts (both as a freshman in 2023). He played in five games as Carson Beck’s backup last year and went 13-of-19 passing with no touchdowns.
Key player: Brock Spalding is the top returning receiver (42 catches for 554 yards) and will be crucial in helping Williams get comfortable.
Game to circle: The Pirates jump right into the fire with a Week 1 trip to Alabama, but the Week 2 home game against Appalachian State will provide a more accurate look at what Harrell is working with.
— Grace Raynor
Florida Atlantic Owls
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 in American)
Location: Boca Raton, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.7%
Odds to win the American: 3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 110th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The late Howard Schnellenberger started the program in 2001, guiding it to two bowl games and one Sun Belt championship in 11 seasons. Then the Owls became a sort of reclamation project for head coaches, successful in one notable case (Lane Kiffin 2017-19), not so much with Willie Taggart (2020-22) and Tom Herman (2023-24).
Why they’re interesting: The passing offense, which averaged a nation-leading 340.2 yards last year. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp (No. 59 in QB Tiers) didn’t transfer, unlike North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker and South Florida’s Byrum Brown. Receiver Easton Messer, who led the conference with 104 receptions for 1,052 yards, is also back.
Who is the coach? Zach Kittley, 34, is in his first head coaching job after serving as Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator. His first year showed how explosive the offense can be, albeit with too many mistakes, while the defense has work to do.
Who is the QB? The reason Veltkamp stuck around? Cynically, one might look at his 17 interceptions and 7.1 yards per attempt — only eighth in the conference. But he finished eighth nationally with 3,641 yards.
Key player: Running back Leonard Farrow is a transfer from Division II Fairmont State in West Virginia, where he ran for 1,438 yards. The Owls’ run game wasn’t complementary enough to the passing game last year, averaging 3.5 yards per carry — second-worst in the conference. If that improves, Veltkamp can take fewer chances and cut down the turnovers.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Navy. The conference opener against one of the American’s co-favorites, this will tell right away whether the Owls have a shot to make a move.
— Seth Emerson
Memphis Tigers
2025 record: 8-5 (4-4 American)
Location: Memphis
Odds to make the CFP: 2.2%
Odds to win the American: 6.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 62nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Memphis has been one of the most consistent Group of 6 football programs over the past decade, but the Tigers have not won a conference title since 2019.
Why they’re interesting: First-year head coach Charles Huff was hired away from Southern Miss, taking over after six seasons for Ryan Silverfield. Huff, who brought in 50-plus transfers this offseason, has one of the better-funded G6 rosters in the country, with at least $7 million in revenue sharing and likely some NIL on top of that. Memphis is on the list of programs that should contend for the G6 Playoff spot.
Who is the coach? After successful stints at Marshall and Southern Miss, Huff, 43, comes to Memphis with more resources and higher expectations than he’s had in five seasons as a head coach. Huff is 39-25 as a head coach with one conference title at Marshall in 2024.
Who is the QB? It’s a competition between D-II transfer Marcus Stokes, a one-time Florida commitment, and former top-100 prospect Air Noland, who transferred in after stops at Ohio State and South Carolina. Stokes (No. 95 in QB Tiers) won Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 at West Florida and seemed to have the edge in the position battle after spring practice.
Key player: Fifth-year defensive lineman J’Mond Tapp followed Huff from Southern Miss after starting his career at Texas and then Arizona State. The 6-3, 256-pound edge rusher led the Golden Eagles with 12 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 2025 and should set the tone for the Tigers defensively.
Game to circle: Nov. 21 at Navy. This game could have massive implications on the American conference championship and CFP races.
— Justin Williams
Navy Midshipmen
2025 record: 11-2 (7-1 American)
Location: Annapolis, Md.
Odds to make the CFP: 10.7%
Odds to win the American: 29.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 25th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same.
Pedigree: Navy’s 21 wins during the past two seasons are the most in a two-year stretch ever for the Midshipmen, a signal the program is back on solid footing after drifting in the final years of the Ken Niumatalolo era. Credit to Brian Newberry for rethinking option football as college football rules make it harder to execute.
Why they’re interesting: Can a trip to the dentist be interesting? Because that’s what it feels like for so many teams that face Navy. The Mids own bowl wins over Oklahoma and Cincinnati in the past two seasons, plus back-to-back victories over Army. The preseason pick to win the American should be favored in 11 games this season.
Who is the coach? Newberry, 52, enters his fourth year looking like a smart promotion from defensive coordinator following Niumatalolo’s awkward departure. Offensive coordinator Drew Cronic has been a breath of fresh option air as Navy led the nation in rushing yards per game last season (285.6) for the first time in six years.
Who is the QB? Braxton Woodson (No. 80 in QB Tiers) takes over full time after starting one game in each of the previous three seasons. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he’s a longer athlete running the option than some of his predecessors.
Key player: Linebacker MarcAnthony Parker is probably Navy’s most talented defender, leading the Mids with 97 tackles as Navy closed the season holding its final three opponents to under 300 yards of offense.
Game to circle: Dec. 12 vs. Army in East Rutherford, N.J. No further explanation needed.
— Pete Sampson
Navy has celebrated back-to-back rivalry wins against Army. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
North Texas Mean Green
2025 record: 12-2, 7-1 American
Location: Denton, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win the American: 0.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 88th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: The Mean Green won four consecutive Sun Belt championships from 2001-04 but haven’t won a conference title since. Last season’s 12 wins were the most in program history, but the Mean Green missed out on the College Football Playoff by losing to Tulane in the American Conference Championship Game.
Why they’re interesting: This will be a completely different team in 2026 after coach Eric Morris left for Oklahoma State and took 19 players, including star quarterback Drew Mestemaker, with him. In addition to Mestemaker, North Texas’ leaders in rushing (Caleb Hawkins), receiving (Wyatt Young), tackling (Ethan Wesloski) and sacks (Keviyan Huddleston) followed Morris to Stillwater.
Who is the coach? Neal Brown, 46, is back as a head coach after being fired from West Virginia in 2024 and spending the 2025 season as special assistant to the head coach at Texas. Brown is 72-51 overall in his career as a head coach, which included six seasons with the Mountaineers and four at Troy. He led Troy to the 2017 Sun Belt title and is 5-2 in seven career bowl games.
Who is the QB? Tayven Jackson (No. 83 in QB Tiers) comes to North Texas by way of UCF, where he started 10 games a season ago. In 11 total games, he completed 200 of 315 attempts for 2,151 yards and 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He previously spent time at Tennessee and Indiana.
Key player: Running back Jahiem White played for Brown at West Virginia. White played in only two games last season due to injury, but he’s got some pop, having rushed for 844 yards in 2024 and 842 in 2023 en route to earning Freshman All-America recognition from The Athletic.
Game to circle: At Tulsa on Oct. 1. By then, we’ll have a sense of this team’s identity heading into a prime-time Thursday matchup.
— Grace Raynor
Rice Owls
2025 record: 5-8 (2-6 American)
Location: Houston, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the American: 0.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 114th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, if slightly.
Pedigree: While Rice, now in its fourth year in the American, made a bowl game with a 5-7 record last year, the Owls haven’t finished with a winning record since 2014. As JFK once famously asked, “Why does Rice play Texas?” It’s always been a moonshot.
Why they’re interesting: Head coach Scott Abell’s gun-option offense was fun and explosive at FCS Davidson, and the Rice roster is starting to shape around that style. The Owls rushed for 300 yards in a win against UConn last year and nearly 300 against North Texas. They finished 15th nationally in rushing yards per game but 86th in yards per carry. But with a lot of rushing pieces back, this could be a step forward.
Who is the coach? Abell enters his second season after arriving from Davidson. The 56-year-old won at his previous two head coaching stops.
Who is the QB? Former blue-chip recruit Jacurri Brown (No. 101 in QB Tiers) arrives from UCF (after Miami) and could be a perfect fit for the offense. Brown has more non-sack rushing yards than passing yards in his career and played in an option offense in high school.
Key player: Running back Quinton Jackson averaged nearly 5 yards per carry last year and was just short of 1,000 rushing yards. The senior will be relied upon in this run-heavy offense and could make for a dynamic duo if Brown lives up to the potential at QB.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Tulsa. This is a game that could show Rice’s progress (or lack thereof) against another program in Year 2 with its coach. Both programs will be battling for bowl eligibility, and this game will be key for both.
— Chris Vannini
South Florida Bulls
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 American)
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Odds to make the CFP: 6.6%
Odds to win the American: 13.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 61st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: Probably worse.
Pedigree: It’s still an upstart program that has been around for a little over a quarter century. Jim Leavitt built the program and then Willie Taggart and Charlie Strong each led the Bulls to a Top 25 finish. The Bulls bottomed out under Jeff Scott, but Alex Golesh got things back on the upswing, and the optimism is back in Tampa even after Golesh took his star QB and several other key players with him to Auburn.
Why they’re interesting: A new coach comes to Tampa with a huge rep as a recruiter and takes over a program that is coming off a nine-win season in a league where two of the three teams that finished in the Top 25 also have new head coaches.
Who is the coach? Brian Hartline. The former Ohio State star was arguably the best assistant coach in college football the past few years, leading a ridiculously talented Buckeyes receiving corps. The Bulls are hoping the first-time head coach can keep some of the area’s top talent at home.
Who is the QB? Michael Van Buren (No. 73 in QB Tiers). He had some good moments as a freshman at Mississippi State in 2024 before leaving for LSU, where he saw significant action after things fell apart for Brian Kelly last year. He beat out FSU and Mississippi State transfer Luke Kromenhoek.
Key player: TE Wyatt Sullivan. The 6-4, 245-pound senior, who began his career at FAU, should provide a reliable target to an offense that has to replace a bunch of playmakers. Last year, Sullivan started five games and led all Bulls tight ends with 18 catches for 176 yards and two TDs.
Game to circle: Nov. 12 vs. Memphis. The Tigers, who come to town for a Thursday night showdown, should be a good measuring stick for Hartline’s first team. Memphis, which also has a first-year coach, might be the most talented team on the Bulls’ schedule. The downside: USF will be on a short week, while the Tigers will be coming off a bye.
— Bruce Feldman
Temple Owls
2025 record: 5-7 (3-5 American)
Location: Philadelphia
Odds to make the CFP: 1.4%
Odds to win the American: 4.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 87th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Temple has historically struggled to compete in the FBS ranks, but the Owls enjoyed a nice pocket of success recently when they won eight games or more seven times from 2009 through 2019. That, however, was followed by a 1-6 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and four consecutive 3-9 seasons.
Why they’re interesting: Second-year coach K.C. Keeler, in one season, topped the win total previous coach Stan Drayton had in three years and has the Owls looking like a sleeper team in a competitive American.
Who is the coach? Keeler, 67, is in his second year with the Owls after going 97-39 in nine seasons at Sam Houston. He also had a successful run at Delaware, his alma mater, going 86-52 in 11 seasons, including a Division I-AA national championship in 2003.
Who is the QB? Jaxon Smolik (No. 137 in QB Tiers) is a former three-star prospect who spent three seasons at Penn State. The Iowa native is in a battle with Washington State transfer Ajani Sheppard but is expected to be the starter. Smolik has attempted four career passes.
Key player: Tight end Peter Clarke is 6-6, 265 pounds. He has been known for his run blocking, but he’s also coming off his best statistical year as a pass catcher. A native of London, Clarke had 483 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season and will be counted on to be a bigger part of the offense in 2026.
Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Navy. Temple likely won’t compete for a conference championship this year, but to get to that point in the Keeler era, this is the type of game that it will need to win.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Tulane Green Wave
2025 record: (11-3, 7-1)
Location: New Orleans, La.
Odds to make the CFP: 3.1%
Odds to win the American: 12.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 53rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: Tulane hit it big with its last two head coaches, both of whom have gone on to Power 4 jobs. Willie Fritz resurrected a downtrodden program before heading to Houston, and Jon Sumrall — now at Florida — just led the Green Wave to a CFP berth, which just a few years ago would’ve been absurd to even say out loud. From 1988 through 2017, Tulane made a total of three bowl game appearances. Since 2018, the Wave have played in seven.
Why they’re interesting: Tulane can serve as how a Group of 6 team fares (not to mention tries to survive) after a memorable CFP run. Wide receiver Shazz Preston left to join the defending national champs, Indiana. Running back Javin Gordon is now at Tennessee. And standout defensive players linebacker Harvey Dyson III (eight sacks in 2025, transferred to NC State) and defensive tackle Tre’Von McAlpine (transferred to Kansas) left, too.
Who is the coach? Filling the shoes vacated by Fritz and Sumrall will be a stiff test for Will Hall. The 46-year-old former Southern Miss coach spent the 2025 season as the passing game coordinator for the Wave and was elevated to head coach after Sumrall left for Florida. Hall’s record at Southern Miss from 2021-24 was 14-30 overall and 8-19 in conference play.
Who is the QB? Fifth-year Houston transfer Zeon Chriss-Gremillion beat out Ball State transfer Kadin Semonza, Dagan Bruno and Trace Johnson. Chriss-Gremillion has never been a full-time starter in previous stops at Louisiana and Houston, though he has started 13 games. A dynamic runner, he might be able to replicate the potent rushing attack spearheaded by former QB Jake Retzlaff (16 rushing touchdowns in 2025).
Key player: Safety Jack Tchienchou was Tulane’s do-it-all defensive back in 2025, leading the team in total tackles (83), and he also chipped in two interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Game to circle: Oct. 16 vs. Memphis. As wide open as the American is this year, the Wave miss the preseason favorite Navy on the conference schedule. A home game against the Tigers halfway through the year is a solid midseason test.
— Christopher Kamrani
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
2025 record: 4-8 (1-7 American)
Location: Tulsa, Okla.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win the American: 1.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 111th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Tulsa has had two winning seasons in the past nine years and hasn’t won more than four games in the past three seasons. But the Golden Hurricane had a good run prior to that, winning eight or more games nine times between 2003-16 under four head coaches in three conferences. Winning here isn’t easy, but it’s been done.
Why they’re interesting: Tulsa has a young, energetic coach, a solid roster and the administrative backing and ambition to move up the food chain in the competitive American.
Who is the coach? Tre Lamb, 36, is entering his second season in charge after coming over from the FCS ranks, where he went 27-25 in five seasons. Though his record wasn’t flashy, he turned Gardner-Webb into a two-time Big South champion — its first conference titles since 2003 — and an FCS Playoff team in 2022 and ’23. He also flipped an East Tennessee State team that went 6-16 in the two seasons prior to his arrival to 7-5 in his lone year there.
Who is the QB? Baylor Hayes (No. 76 in QB Tiers) took over for good as the starter midway through last season and showed enough to solidify himself as QB1 entering 2026. Hayes (6-0, 186) is of smaller stature and doesn’t have the biggest arm but is a good scrambler who throws well outside the pocket and has no fear as a passer. He needs to be more efficient (6.8 yards per attempt) and accurate (58.9 percent completion rate), though.
Key player: Third-year cornerback Elijah Green was a first-team all-conference pick last season after leading the American with five interceptions. Green, who has 16 starts and more than 1,200 snaps in his first two seasons, returns to lead a talented Tulsa secondary.
Game to circle: Oct. 1 vs. North Texas. Tulsa, just five days after a trip to Arkansas, opens conference play against the Mean Green on a Thursday night. North Texas has a new roster and staff, but a win for the Golden Hurricane would be a tone-setter before a run of three consecutive weeks against option teams (at Navy, at Rice, vs. Army).
— Sam Khan Jr.
UAB Blazers
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 American)
Location: Birmingham, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the American: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 129th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: On the heels of a 2010s awakening under Bill Clark following a two-year pause of the program, UAB’s first three seasons as members of the American Conference coincided with a disastrous three-year tenure under Trent Dilfer. The former NFL quarterback went 9-21 before getting fired last October.
Why they’re interesting: There is a lot of new at UAB, with offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen taking over as permanent head coach after a 2-4 finish to last season, veteran assistant Todd Grantham in the fold as defensive coordinator and nearly 40 players added via the transfer portal.
Who is the coach? Mortensen, 40, is the son of the late ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and entering his first full season as a head coach. The former Arkansas quarterback led an upset over Memphis in his first game as interim coach last October.
Who is the QB? Former BYU and West Virginia transfer Ryder Burton (No. 120 in QB Tiers) is set to take over as starter after a couple spot starts for the Blazers in 2025. Like Mortensen, the redshirt junior made his debut in the upset over Memphis last season and ultimately threw for 708 yards (63.3 percent) with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in nine appearances.
Key players: UAB could have a nice backfield rotation with transfer running backs Rod Robinson II (Georgia), Bam McReynolds (ULM) and Ja’Vin Simpkins (Coastal Carolina) in the fold for an offense that ranked near the bottom of the American in rushing offense in 2025.
Game to circle: Sept. 25 vs Navy. The Blazers open conference play with a Friday night ESPN showcase against a Midshipmen team many have picked to win the American.
— Justin Williams
UTSA Roadrunners
2025 record: (7-6, 4-4 American)
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 2.9%
Odds to win the American: 11.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 52nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: UTSA has been playing football since 2011 and has already been in three conferences — the WAC (2012), CUSA (2013-22) and American (2023-current). The Roadrunners won two CUSA championships (2021-22) and have had six straight winning seasons and six straight bowl appearances.
Why they’re interesting: Because head coach Jeff Traylor is letting it rip with returning star QB Owen McCown. Traylor hired Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Rick Bowie, an Air Raid guy, to take the Roadrunners attack to another level. Western Kentucky ranked 22nd in the country in passing offense last year.
Who is the coach? Traylor has made life in San Antonio look good. Since being hired in 2020, he’s gone 53-26 and 35-12 in conference play with the two titles. Traylor coached McCown’s dad, Josh, who played nearly 20 years in the NFL, in high school in the late 1990s.
Who is the QB? McCown (No. 47 in QB Tiers) has quietly been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the country the past two years. In that span, he has thrown for 6,419 yards and 55 touchdowns with 17 interceptions.
Key player: Running back Will Henderson III (866 rushing yards, eight total touchdowns) served as a complementary back to thousand-yard rusher Robert Henry Jr., now in the NFL with the Commanders. Henderson will be able to use his elite speed as the focal point of the rushing attack.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Navy. UTSA gets the preseason conference favorites at the Alamodome, in what could be a conference title game preview.
— Christopher Kamrani
Conference USADelaware Blue Hens
2025 record: 7-6 (4-4 CUSA)
Location: Newark, Del.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.3%
Odds to win the CUSA: 7.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 99th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but the schedule is tougher, too.
Pedigree: Delaware was an FCS playoff staple before it moved up to the FBS last fall. In their first FBS season, the Blue Hens qualified for a bowl game despite their transitional status, winning the 68 Ventures Bowl over Louisiana.
Why they’re interesting: There are returnees everywhere. The Blue Hens bring back their top four rushers, leading receiver and top two tacklers. On offense, Delaware averaged 29 points a game to rank second in Conference USA, and that number likely grows this fall.
Who is the coach? Ryan Carty, a 43-year-old alum of Delaware’s 2003 FCS championship team, has guided the Blue Hens to a 33-17 mark in four seasons as head coach. Carty’s offense translated well to Conference USA; the Blue Hens led the league in passing (292.5 yards per game) and total offense (411.6 ypg) in 2025.
Who is the QB? Nick Minicucci, a junior, collected preseason Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors. Minicucci (No. 51 in QB Tiers) led Conference USA in passing yards (3,683), threw 23 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more.
Key player: Safety KT Seay became a first-team All-Conference USA selection with 91 tackles, including 62 solo stops, and three interceptions last year.
Game to circle: Oct. 2 vs. Liberty. A Friday night showdown between two of Conference USA’s top teams will set the tone for the championship hunt. It’s only Year 2 of Delaware’s FBS era, but it’s the biggest home game thus far.
— Scott Dochterman
FIU Panthers
2025 record: 7-6 (5-3 CUSA)
Location: Miami
Odds to make the CFP: 0.4%
Odds to win CUSA: 4.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 100th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: The Panthers are new on the football scene compared to most of the sport, with 2026 marking their 25th season. FIU has won one conference championship and appeared in six bowls with two wins.
Why they’re interesting: The Panthers are coming off their first winning season since 2018. They lost both quarterbacks and their leading rusher, receiver and tackler, but they’re clearly building and hoping to maintain momentum.
Who is the coach? Willie Simmons, a former head coach at Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M, took over ahead of last season and wasted no time in getting things back on track. In Year 1, the 45-year-old former Clemson quarterback took FIU to its first bowl game since 2019 and won nearly as many games (seven) as the Panthers had in the previous two years combined (eight).
Who is the QB? JJ Kohl (No. 115 in QB Tiers) comes to FIU after two years at Iowa State and one at Appalachian State. He was a four-star recruit and the nation’s No. 10 quarterback in the Class of 2023. He was effective as App State’s backup last season with 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns against two picks.
Key player: Senior defensive end Kenton Simmons racked up six sacks and was a second-team all-conference pick after transferring from junior college. Simmons and linebacker Josiah Taylor give FIU two of CUSA’s best defensive playmakers.
Game to circle: At Florida Atlantic on Sept. 19. Most of the nation will be watching former FAU coach Lane Kiffin take on Ole Miss that night, but the Panthers will be looking to secure a second consecutive win over their rival after dropping seven consecutive matchups from 2017 to 2024.
— Grace Raynor
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
2025 record: 9-5 (7-1 CUSA)
Location: Jacksonville, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 3%
Odds to win CUSA: 24.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 91st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same — one of the better teams in CUSA.
Pedigree: Jacksonville State has been in the FBS for three seasons and has won nine games each year, has appeared in the CUSA title game in each of the past two seasons and won the conference in 2024.
Why they’re interesting: There was some expectation of a decline after coach Rich Rodriguez left for West Virginia a year ago, but the Gamecocks didn’t have any drop-off with first-year coach Charles Kelly and a new staff.
Who is the coach? Kelly’s first year was an unquestioned success. As is the challenge for every G6 coach, the question is whether he can sustain success after an offseason of roster turnover and portal departures. Kelly, 58, was previously an assistant at six P4 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Colorado, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.
Who is the QB? At the very least, Caden Creel (No. 78 in QB Tiers) is a dynamic runner. He rushed for 1,075 yards and ran for 100 yards or more in seven games last season. He’ll have to shoulder more of the load without star running back Cam Cook, who transferred to West Virginia.
Key player: Linebacker Mac Sanders was a Freshman All-American after he led the team in tackles (85) and tackles for loss (11.5). The Gamecocks want to run the ball and play solid defense — they ranked third in CUSA in scoring defense and yards per play allowed last season.
Game to circle: Oct. 7 at Kennesaw State. This is a rematch of last season’s CUSA title game, and the two programs are expected to be among the best teams in the league again.
— Antonio Morales
Kennesaw State Owls
2025 record: 10-3 (7-1 CUSA)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.1%
Odds to win CUSA: 16.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 90th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly worse.
Pedigree: Kennesaw State began its program in 2015 as an FCS team, then moved up to FBS and CUSA in 2024. After going 2-10 in their first FBS season, the Owls had one of the most remarkable turnarounds of 2025, winning the conference championship.
Why they’re interesting: Can they do it again? The Owls have to replace nine offensive starters and about half the defensive snaps from last year. But they added experience in the portal, including quarterback Rickie Collins in essentially a trade with Syracuse, which got Kennesaw State’s former starting QB, Amari Odom.
Who is the coach? Jerry Mack, 45, could be a candidate for bigger jobs if the Owls have more success. Hired last year, he engineered an immediate turnaround. He also had a winning record at FCS program North Carolina Central from 2014 to 2017. In between, he worked at Rice and Tennessee and spent one year as the Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach.
Who is the QB? Mack and offensive coordinator Mitch Militello helped Odom break out as an All-CUSA first-team QB. Collins (No. 130 in QB Tiers) started his career at LSU, seeing mop-up duty during two seasons, before transferring to Syracuse, where he got his chance after Steve Angeli suffered a season-ending injury. But while Collins flashed his dual-threat potential (40-plus rushing yards in three straight ACC games), he had more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (6).
Key player: Running back Latrelle Murrell is one of 12 transfers Mack signed from non-FBS schools as he banked on lower-level experience to keep things going. Murrell had 893 rushing yards at West Georgia last season.
Game to circle: Oct. 7 vs. Jacksonville State. A rematch of last year’s CUSA championship and an early barometer for whether the Owls will shock the G6 world again.
— Seth Emerson
Jerry Mack (right) and Kennesaw State beat Charles Kelly and Jacksonville State for the CUSA title last fall. (Jason Clark / Getty Images)
Liberty Flames
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 2.6%
Odds to win CUSA: 24.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 86th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Much better.
Pedigree: The Flames made a smooth transition from FCS to FBS and stepped right into the role of contender upon entry to CUSA in 2023, winning the conference and going 13-1. Last season was their first with a losing record since moving up in 2018.
Why they’re interesting: Liberty has a chance to be one of the top turnaround teams in the FBS after finishing last season with four straight losses, all by one score. Simply, the Flames weren’t as bad as the record suggested.
Who is the coach? Jamey Chadwell, 49, has been one of the more successful Group of 6 coaches, going 64-35 in eight seasons at Coastal Carolina and Liberty with a triple-option flavored offense. Chadwell said he had surgery after last season for what he described as a serious but treatable medical condition and is feeling better than he has in years.
Who is the QB? Deshawn Purdie (No. 117 in QB Tiers) seems to be the favorite in a competition that also includes Jaylen Henderson and last year’s starter, Ethan Vasko. Purdie started two games for Wake Forest last season after playing one year at Charlotte. Henderson spent two years at Texas A&M and one at West Virginia. Vasko missed the spring with a shoulder injury.
Key player: Running back Kam Davis, a Florida State transfer, was a four-star recruit out of high school who has yet to click in two college seasons. The 225-pound junior is one of five transfer running backs Liberty brought in this year, including Kanye Udoh, an Arizona State transfer who ran for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns at Army in 2024 but tumbled down the depth chart in Tempe.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 at James Madison. JMU is rebuilding under former Florida coach Billy Napier after a Playoff appearance. The Week 1 nonconference game is a chance for the Flames to send an early message that their struggles last year were an anomaly.
— Ralph D. Russo
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
2025 record: 3-9 (2-6 CUSA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win CUSA: 3.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 130th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same, and that’s going to be a problem.
Pedigree: The Blue Raiders had a boring consistency for 18 years with Rick Stockstill as coach. Rarely very good. Rarely very bad. One of those very bad seasons came in 2023 and turned out to be Stockstill’s last. Derek Mason replaced Stockstill, and it has remained very bad.
Why they’re interesting: Another poor season and this job might come open. There is a generally held belief that this should be one of the better gigs in the conference, one that could be a decent springboard.
Who is the coach? Mason, 56, went 27-55 in seven seasons at Vanderbilt, with a few seasons in the middle of his tenure that were hopeful and competitive. His familiarity with the area made sense for Middle Tennessee, but back-to-back three-win seasons put him on a hot seat going into 2026.
Who is the QB? Roman Gagliano (No. 116 in QB Tiers) made three starts last season as a redshirt freshman and showed enough with his arm (seven touchdown passes and no interceptions) and legs (166 yards and two TDs) to be the guy heading into this season.
Key player: Offensive lineman Reese Tripp. A massive (6-7, 353-pound) transfer from Minnesota figures to slide in at left tackle and be a key piece of an overhauled unit that really struggled in 2025. If the line is better, there are some interesting running backs in Terrence Brown from Division II Saginaw Valley State and Antonio Martin from Kansas State.
Game to circle: Oct. 13 vs Delaware. The Blue Raiders open home conference play on a Tuesday against the Blue Hens, who are in only their second FBS season. Delaware beat Middle Tennessee last year. Mason really can’t afford to have that happen again.
— Ralph D. Russo
Missouri State Bears
2025 record: 7-6 (5-3 CUSA)
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win CUSA: 2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 119th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse, after losing both their head coach and starting quarterback.
Pedigree: Missouri State was not an FCS juggernaut when it jumped to the FBS last year, but competing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference turned out to be a fine tune-up for Conference USA. The Bears used a five-game winning streak last season to earn a bowl appearance — a nice accomplishment in Year 1.
Why they’re interesting: Despite losing starting quarterback Jacob Clark (undrafted free agent to the Las Vegas Raiders), the offense has the potential to be fun. New coach Casey Woods helped SMU put up good numbers as its coordinator, and new offensive coordinator Mark Cala helped UTEP show improvement over the back half of last season. The return of leading receiver Jmariyae Robinson helps, too. The Bears could be an entertaining team to watch in random weeknight matchups during October.
Who is the coach? Woods, 43, is a former Tennessee wide receiver with an interesting pedigree. He was a staffer on Auburn’s 2010 national title team, then worked for Gus Malzahn and Eli Drinkwitz before joining Rhett Lashlee at SMU. Although he’s a first-time head coach, he has administrative experience; one of his titles with the Mustangs was chief of staff. He replaced Ryan Beard, who left MSU for Coastal Carolina in mid-December.
Who is the QB? Skyler Locklear (No. 128 in QB Tiers) won the job after playing for Cala at UTEP. The Bears will have to hope the change of scenery improves his stat line (13 touchdowns, 11 interceptions). He beat out Duke transfer Henry Belin IV.
Key player: Linebacker Jared Lloyd had a team-high 77 tackles last season and anchors a rebuilt defense. Honorable mention: King Large, an appropriately named 314-pound offensive lineman who followed Woods from SMU.
Game to circle: Oct. 20 at Delaware. The Bears and Blue Hens moved up together, so this is a good measuring stick for both programs as they navigate their early FBS days.
— Matt Baker
New Mexico State Aggies
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 CUSA)
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win CUSA: 3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 117th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: Better, but it can’t get much worse.
Pedigree: The Aggies have been playing college football since the 1890s but have been to just six bowl games. They finished ranked once, in 1960, when they went 11-0 and came in at No. 17. Beyond that, this was the one FBS program smart enough to give Diego Pavia a chance coming out of New Mexico Military Institute.
Why they’re interesting: Turnovers! Last year, no team was involved in games with more of them in the regular season. This team turned it over 24 times (tied for fourth-most in FBS) and forced 24 turnovers (tied for 14th-most).
Who is the coach? Tony Sanchez. A former Aggies wide receiver, Sanchez went 85-5 at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School before he landed the UNLV job. He went 20-40 in five seasons with the Rebels. In 2024, Sanchez, now 52, succeeded his former boss Jerry Kill, who had worked wonders at NMSU.
Who is the QB? Trey Hedden (No. 138 in QB Tiers). There was a three-way quarterback battle heading into training camp, but Hedden does have two years of starting experience. A 6-3, 225-pound junior from Tampa, Fla., the strong-armed Hedden was productive for Furman, throwing for almost 3,000 yards to go with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year.
Key player: Edge Gabe Peterson. The 6-2, 255-pounder began his career at NMSU and had 55 tackles, 8 TFLs and blocked two kicks in 2023, when the Aggies won 10 games. He left for Utah State and then returned last year and made 30 tackles. He needs to become more of a force again.
Game to circle: Oct. 1 vs. Western Kentucky. With games at Florida State and Hawaii, plus against an improving New Mexico squad, it feels like the Aggies are staring at a potential 1-3 start (they also play Mercyhurst). A visit from a pretty good Western Kentucky team feels like a must-win if they hope to take the next step to get to bowl eligibility.
— Bruce Feldman
Sam Houston Bearkats
2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 CUSA)
Location: Huntsville, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win CUSA: 0.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 134th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better — there’s not much room to go any other direction.
Pedigree: In three seasons at the FBS level, the Bearkats have finished with a winning record once — a 10-3 mark in 2024 that allowed coach K.C. Keeler to make the jump to Temple. Sam Houston was a top program in the FCS under Keeler and Houston coach Willie Fritz before him, winning a national championship in 2020 and playing for two others in 2011 and 2012.
Why they’re interesting: Second-year coach Phil Longo went heavy on the portal to add experience, signing 25 players, including 14 from the Power 4. There’s also the question of whether one of the worst teams nationally on offense (127th in points per game) and defense (133rd in points per game allowed) can improve.
Who is the coach? Longo, 58, coached at Sam Houston as offensive coordinator under Keeler from 2014 to 2016. Longo moved up to Ole Miss, North Carolina and Wisconsin for short stints from 2017 to 2024 before snagging his first FBS head coaching job.
Who is the QB? Landyn Locke (No. 129 in QB Tiers), a 6-foot-4 sophomore, returns, along with junior DJ Bailey. Locke, out of Rockwall, Texas, completed 71 of 141 throws last year for 765 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Key player: Running back Alton McCaskill was a four-star recruit out of Conroe, Texas, who spent time at Houston, Colorado and Arizona State. He rushed for 961 yards with the Cougars in 2021. McCaskill returned closer to home and ran for 370 yards last season and made The Athletic’s All-Geezer Team in his sixth year.
Game to circle: There’s nothing to lose on Sept. 26 as the Bearkats visit Texas Tech. Last year, Sam Houston went to Texas and lost 55-0.
— Mitch Sherman
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 CUSA)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.7%
Odds to win CUSA: 13.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 89th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same — a conference title contender.
Pedigree: Western Kentucky has been one of CUSA’s most consistent programs, reaching a bowl in 10 of 11 seasons since joining the conference in 2014. Coach Tyson Helton took over the program in 2019 and the Hilltoppers have won at least eight games in six of those seven years.
Why they’re interesting: For as steady and consistent as Western Kentucky has been, it hasn’t really experienced that true breakthrough season. It hasn’t won 10 games nor won the conference title game since 2016. So there’s still something eluding the program. Could this be the year?
Who is the coach? Helton, 49, has posted a 57-36 record at WKU. He was on the front line of transfer portal trends and typically has a very productive offense. He is one of the better coaches at the G6 level.
Who is the QB? Rodney Tisdale Jr. (No. 88 in QB Tiers) became the starter midway through last season and displayed a lot of promise. Western Kentucky has produced a lot of productive quarterbacks, and he could be next in line. The coaching staff also brought in Florida State transfer Brock Glenn this offseason.
Key player: The Hilltoppers don’t possess a ton of returning production, so receiver K.D. Hutchinson is a crucial target to have back. Hutchinson led the team with 66 receptions and was second in yards with 618.
Game to circle: Nov. 14 vs. Jacksonville State. The nonconference slate is tough. Western Kentucky plays at Georgia and Indiana in consecutive weeks in September. If it doesn’t suffer too many body blows early, then it should be in the mix for a CUSA title, and the Nov. 14 matchup with Jacksonville State is the first game against another conference heavyweight.
— Antonio Morales
MACAkron Zips
2025 record: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
Location: Akron, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MAC: 1.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 123rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse, if only slightly.
Pedigree: The Zips have made just three bowl appearances since moving up to the FBS in 1987, and they haven’t had a winning record since 2015. They are shooting for bowl eligibility this season after coming up a game short a year ago. While the program has been down, its nine wins in the past two seasons are more than the previous five seasons combined.
Why they’re interesting: Of Akron’s eight MAC games, seven are against teams ranked in the top eight of the conference’s preseason poll. Throw in games against Wake Forest, Minnesota and UNLV, and that long awaited bowl trip will be a challenge despite the progress Joe Moorhead has made. The Zips will need the positive momentum of their season-ticket holder play-call stunt in the opener to carry over.
Who is the coach? Moorhead, the 52-year-old former head coach at Mississippi State and offensive coordinator at Penn State and Oregon, is just 13-35 at Akron, but his 9-15 record over the past two years is the best two-year stretch for the Zips since they went 5-7 in 2016 and 7-7 in 2017.
Who is the QB? Reese Poffenbarger (No. 112 in QB Tiers) is on his fifth stop in his career. He began at Old Dominion, spent two years at Albany, was behind No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward at Miami and spent last year backing up FBS passing leader Drew Mestemaker at North Texas. Poffenbarger will hope to bring back his Albany form, when he threw for 3,603 yards and 36 touchdowns in his second year at the FCS school.
Key player: Second-team All-MAC running back Jordan Gant finished third in the MAC in rushing with 1,032 yards and six touchdowns.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 at Kent State. Akron’s last Saturday game of the season is one it will have to win if it wants to make a bowl. The problem is that it’s on the road and in the middle of a daunting stretch that includes MAC contenders Miami (Ohio), Ohio and Western Michigan. The Zips need to beat their rival for the Wagon Wheel trophy after losing in overtime to the Golden Flashes last year.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Ball State Cardinals
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 MAC)
Location: Muncie, Ind.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MAC: 0.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 121st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same, with a chance to be better.
Pedigree: The Cardinals won the league in 2020 but are 1-8 all-time in bowl games and have just three winning seasons since 2008.
Why they’re interesting: The Year 2 bump is always something to watch for, and Mike Uremovich is looking for it to land in Muncie after a difficult Year 1 when his team finished 132nd in scoring. But there’s a lot of change. The team’s top eight tacklers, top two rushers and quarterback are all gone.
Who is the coach? Uremovich, 49, had two stints as an assistant in the MAC at Northern Illinois and parlayed a 23-11 three-season run at Butler into the head coaching job at Ball State. He was also 33-45 in seven seasons at NAIA St. Francis from 2005-11.
Who is the QB? SMU and Texas State transfer Keldric Luster (No. 135 in QB Tiers) beat out D-II transfer Tyler Mizzell, who arrives from Concord (W. Va.) University. The 5-10, 248-pound Luster won the preseason battle despite a lack of experience compared to Mizzell, an all-conference selection last season who began his career at Wake Forest.
Key player: The offensive line should be a strength for the Cardinals, and preseason All-MAC standout Chris Hood should be the best of the group. The 6-10, 327-pounder will be a third-year starter and is one of three returning starters on the O-line.
Game to circle: Ball State plays only five home games, and it hasn’t won on the road since October 2024 at Kent State. The Cardinals travel to Kent State to open MAC play on Sept. 26, a good opportunity to start league play on the right foot.
— David Ubben
Bowling Green Falcons
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 MAC)
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the MAC: 3.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 122nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, if only slightly.
Pedigree: Bowling Green earned a reputation as a proving ground for coaches, from Urban Meyer (2001-02) to Dave Clawson (2009-13) to Dino Babers (2014-15), though results have been mixed since Babers left. Bowling Green has made nine bowl games since 2005 and most recently won MAC championships in 2013 and 2015. Last year, in Eddie George’s first year at head coach, the Falcons missed bowl eligibility for the first time in four years.
Why they’re interesting: George’s first season got off to a solid 3-3 start, but the Falcons lost five of their final six. With a full year under George’s belt and a more talented, albeit young, team, the Falcons are hoping to finish the season better than they did last year.
Who is the coach? George brings excitement and a winning pedigree to the Falcons. The 1995 Heisman Trophy winner and four-time Pro Bowl running back built Tennessee State into a winner and is hoping for a similar trajectory in his first FBS job.
Who is the QB? Austin Novosad (No. 113 in QB Tiers) was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class who spent three years as a backup at Oregon, attempting 15 total passes. Bowling Green will be his first chance at extended college snaps, if he can beat Division II transfer Jay Kastantin for the job.
Key player: Running back Austyn Dendy transferred from Missouri last year and led the Falcons with 493 rushing yards despite playing in just the last five games. At 6-1, 230 pounds, the Arkansas native finished the season with a streak of three straight 100-yard games.
Game to circle: Nov. 20 at Toledo. The two schools are just 25 miles apart, and this is one of the best Group of 6 rivalries. With a difficult nonconference schedule, this game could be the difference between bowl eligibility or staying home again.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Buffalo Bulls
2025 record: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win the MAC: 3.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 109th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same.
Pedigree: The Bulls have had moments since jumping to the FBS in 1999, winning the MAC in 2008 and making seven bowl appearances since then, most recently in 2024.
Why they’re interesting: Tony Tokarz was a rising star offensive coach, going from Division III in 2012 to Florida State, where he helped guide Jordan Travis’ breakout in 2023. But Tokarz’s rise hit a bump along with Florida State’s struggles, and he took the Buffalo play-calling job this year. If the Bulls are productive, look for Tokarz to get mention for some power-conference play-calling jobs.
Who is the coach? Pete Lembo, 56, had success in the lower levels early in the millennium, going 112-65 combined at Lehigh, Elon and Ball State. Then he spent 10 seasons as the special teams coach at four places, before taking over Buffalo in 2024. His first year was good (9-4), his second season was disappointing.
Who is the QB? It will be either sophomore Jason Wright (No. 105 in QB Tiers), who played only 19 snaps last season, or transfer Elijah Holmes, who racked up 3,037 passing yards at Division II Wingate last year. Or it might be a case of riding the hot hand.
Key player: Cornerbacks Keontez Bradley and Kobi Blackwell are among the few returning starters, and they have to be the backbone of a unit that has a lot of transfers.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 vs. Western Michigan. This is Buffalo’s conference opener, and it comes against the MAC’s preseason favorite, as voted on by the media. The Bulls were picked sixth. This would be a chance to make some noise.
— Seth Emerson
Central Michigan Chippewas
2025 record: 7-6 (5-3 MAC)
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.5%
Odds to win the MAC: 6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 92nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same, with the offense taking a step forward and the defense a step back.
Pedigree: The Chippewas had a run of three MAC title game appearances in four years in the early 2000s and won the conference last in 2019 under Jim McElwain — by far the highlight of his six seasons as coach. CMU is a program that tends to have brief highs and lows.
Why they’re interesting: The Chips run a power-spread offense, which if operating effectively should appeal to the smashmouth connoisseur. Supporting those efforts is a line that has a chance to be the best in the MAC.
Who is the coach? Matt Drinkall. The 43-year-old former college wide receiver at Iowa turned offensive line coach is coming off a solid first season at CMU. He went 42-17 as head coach at NAIA Kansas Wesleyan before being hired as an assistant by Jeff Monken at Army.
Who is the QB? Drinkall rotated quarterbacks effectively last season and could very well go that route again. Angel Flores, a senior, was the team’s second-leading rusher last season with 522 yards. Jadyn Glasser (No. 93 in QB Tiers), who missed most of last season with a knee injury, is back and could slip into the role of primary passing quarterback.
Key player: Wide receiver Langston Lewis emerged as the go-to receiver in the second half of last season, with 412 yards on 26 catches in the final five games. When the Chips throw it, the senior is their best option.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Western Michigan. The Chips lost last year’s battle for the Victory Cannon 24-21 in Kalamazoo, blowing a fourth-quarter lead. It turned out to be a pivotal game in the MAC title game race. Whether Drinkall’s team can stay in the MAC race late in the season again will likely be determined in Week 7 against their in-state rivals.
— Ralph D. Russo
Eastern Michigan Eagles
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 MAC)
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.3%
Odds to win the MAC: 7.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 108th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Eagles have made six bowl appearances in the past 10 years after reaching a bowl only once previously. However, they’ve had three straight losing seasons since a 9-4 peak in 2022 and haven’t won the MAC since 1987.
Why they’re interesting: Over the past 10 seasons, Eastern Michigan has played in 64 games decided by nine points or fewer, the second most in the FBS. The Eagles are 32-32 in those games, including 3-4 last year, though they hope one of the most experienced rosters in the country can give them an edge in a wide-open MAC.
Who is the coach? Despite the recent downturn, Chris Creighton, 57, has brought a winning culture to Eastern Michigan. He may be only 61-83, but he’s made regular postseason appearances and has a 200-129 overall record, also including time in the FCS, Division III and NAIA.
Who is the QB? Noah Kim (No. 90 in QB Tiers) has thrown for 4,414 yards and 31 TDs in his career at Michigan State, Coastal Carolina and Eastern Michigan. He’s in his second year starting for the Eagles, with 17 career starts under his belt as he enters his final year of eligibility.
Key player: Second-team All-MAC defensive back Bryce Llewellyn led the EMU defense with 102 tackles as the Eagles allowed 184.2 passing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the MAC.
Game to circle: Aug. 29 vs. Sacramento State. The Eagles open the season in Week 0 against the Hornets, who are making their FBS debut while turning the Mid-American Conference into a coast-to-coast league.
— Matt Brown
Kent State Golden Flashes
2025 record: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
Location: Kent, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MAC: 0.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 124th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? They will keep getting better.
Pedigree: Kent State has rarely been one of the MAC’s stronger programs, holding a .328 win percentage since the conference began in 1962. It has played in just four bowl games, the most recent coming in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a 52-38 loss to Wyoming.
Why they’re interesting: Kent State rose from the ashes in 2025. After going winless in the MAC during the 2023 and ’24 seasons with former coach Kenni Burns, the Golden Flashes improved to 4-4 in league play and 5-7 overall under replacement Mark Carney. They look to continue that trend in 2026.
Who is the coach? Carney unexpectedly got the job in April 2025 when Burns was fired over improper charges on his university credit card and other financial questions. The 45-year-old Carney, who came to Kent State in 2023 as a tight ends coach, was initially an interim coach but got the job full time in October. He was previously an offensive coordinator at Charlotte.
Who is the QB? Senior Dru DeShields (No. 87 in QB Tiers) returns after an impressive first season as starter. While DeShields threw for a modest 2,030 yards, he had 18 touchdowns against just three picks and earned MAC Player of the Week honors for his 317-yard, five-TD day in a 42-35 overtime win against rival Akron.
Key player: In his first season moving up from D-III Butler, all-purpose speedster Da’Realyst Clark caught an 89-yard touchdown and returned two kickoffs for scores. He had only three receptions, but he is primed for a bigger role.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Akron. Last year’s battle for the Wagon Wheel was an overtime thriller, with the Golden Flashes ending a two-year losing streak.
— Stewart Mandel
Massachusetts Minutemen
2025 record: 0-12 (0-8 MAC)
Location: Amherst, Mass.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MAC: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 138th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, if only slightly. The Minutemen were the worst team in the country last year, so there’s only one way to go, right?
Pedigree: UMass had success in the FCS, winning the 1998 national title and playing for another in 2006. But the jump to FBS has been an on-field disaster. Since moving up in 2012, UMass is 22-134. The Minutemen haven’t beaten an FBS opponent since October 2023 and have never been to a bowl game.
Why they’re interesting: UMass has lost 23 consecutive games against FBS teams, and 10 of last year’s defeats were by at least three scores. That means there’s a rubbernecking element to every contest: Does the streak end this week? The Minutemen are no longer independent (they joined the MAC last year), so there’s no reason why they should continue to be historically dreadful.
Who is the coach? Joe Harasymiak, 40, started his head coaching career a decade ago at Maine and led the Black Bears to the FCS semifinals. He then spent time as a defensive assistant at Minnesota and Rutgers before a rough debut season at UMass last year.
Who is the QB? Pop Watson III (No. 86 in QB Tiers) was a three-star high school recruit in nearby Springfield, Mass., and started twice in three years at Virginia Tech before his homecoming. He’s a dual-threat option who totaled more than 300 yards (254 passing, 48 rushing) in one of his two career starts, a 2024 win over Virginia.
Key player: Linebacker Tyler Martin was one of the MAC’s leading tacklers last year (103) and a much-needed bright spot. He forms a nice tandem alongside Timmy Hinspeter, who totaled 69 tackles over seven games before a season-ending injury last fall.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 at Sacramento State. It’s arguably the weirdest MAC matchup ever (which is saying a lot) and a sickos game of the year contender. If UMass can’t beat an FBS newbie in its first month, it’s going to be another very long season.
— Matt Baker
UMass was the only FBS team to finish winless last season. (Ed Zurga / Getty Images)
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
2025 record: 7-7 (6-2 MAC)
Location: Oxford, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 1.1%
Odds to win the MAC: 19.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 84th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Head coach Chuck Martin has turned the RedHawks into a consistent contender in the MAC, with conference titles in 2019 and 2023 and runner-up finishes the past two seasons.
Why they’re interesting: Miami’s roster has become a go-to feeder system for power conference programs in the NIL era, but the RedHawks are now investing at a high level among G6 schools and particularly in the MAC.
Who is the coach? Martin, 58, is entering his 13th season at Miami. He previously served as an assistant under Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State before becoming head coach, then rejoined Kelly as an assistant at Notre Dame. Martin is 72-74 overall with the RedHawks but 57-34 in MAC play.
Who is the QB? It was a competition between returning junior Thomas Gotkowski, who climbed the depth chart to start three games in 2025; Kansas transfer David McComb; and D-II transfer Caleb Heavner. Gotkowski started the MAC championship and bowl games for the RedHawks but suffered a season-ending injury in camp, and McComb has been named the starter for Week 1 after not playing in his first season at KU.
Key player: Miami should have a stable of running backs, with 250-pound D’Shawntae Jones — who led the RedHawks with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025 — teaming up with Wisconsin transfer Cade Yacamelli and FCS transfer Rodney Nelson, the latter running for 1,800 yards at Monmouth last season.
Game to circle: Nov. 24 at Western Michigan. This Tuesday night clash in Kalamazoo, Mich., is a rematch of last season’s MAC championship and could determine this season’s as well.
— Justin Williams
Ohio Bobcats
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 MAC)
Location: Athens, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 0.7%
Odds to win the MAC: 9.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 96th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: Ohio has been one of the best teams in the MAC, winning at least eight games in 13 seasons since 2005. The Bobcats also won the MAC title in 2024, defeating Miami to finally end a conference championship drought that dated back to 1968.
Why they’re interesting: A lot is changing at Ohio with new coach Jon Hauser taking over from Brian Smith, who was fired for cause last year. The Bobcats also have to replace star quarterback Parker Navarro. Despite all of the changes, the Bobcats come into each year with high expectations.
Who is the coach? Hauser, 46, coached one game as the head coach last year, defeating UNLV 17-10 in the Frisco Bowl. He’s been at Ohio since 2022, though, as a safeties coach and then defensive coordinator.
Who is the QB? Nick Poulos (No. 121 in QB Tiers), a 6-6, 243-pound former juco transfer, was Navarro’s backup for two years and won the job, beating dual-threat New Hampshire transfer Matt Vezza for the starting role this summer.
Key player: Running back Duncan Brune. With a new quarterback leading the offense, the Bobcats will need a running back to step up. Brune, who is from Germany, showed flashes of his talent last season with a 126-yard game against Northern Illinois and eight touchdowns for the season. His mother was a four-time Olympic swimmer.
Game to circle: Nov. 10 at Miami (Ohio). This Tuesday night game should again play a role in the MAC title race. They’ve split four meetings over the past three seasons, including an Ohio win in the 2024 MAC title game.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Sacramento State Hornets
2025 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big Sky)
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the MAC: 2.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 137th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. It’s not going to be an easy jump up from the FCS ranks to the MAC.
Pedigree: Sacramento State fielded its first football team in 1954 and went from Division II to the FCS in 1993. The Hornets’ strongest stretch came from 2019 through 2023 when they won three consecutive Big Sky championships, reached four FCS playoffs and spent 47 weeks ranked in the Top 25.
Why they’re interesting: Sacramento State has invested heavily in NIL and has openly pursued an eventual place in the Pac-12. This move up was rushed to completion in February and cost the school $23 million. The Hornets’ nearest league opponent — Western Michigan — is 2,177 miles away.
Who is the coach? Alonzo Carter, 57, is replacing Brennan Marion, who left after one year to become Colorado’s offensive coordinator. Carter was Arizona’s assistant head coach and running backs coach the past two seasons and spent seven years on Brent Brennan’s staff at San Jose State. Carter has head-coaching experience from the juco and high school levels.
Who is the QB? Carson Conklin (No. 132 in QB Tiers) is back at Sacramento State after spending one season at Fresno State. Conklin was a Freshman All-American for the Hornets in 2024, setting school freshman records with 2,876 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Key player: Defensive lineman Xavier Williams. The 6-2, 251-pound senior started 11 games for the Hornets last season and tallied 32 tackles and eight for loss with six sacks and is an important leader at the line of scrimmage.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. UMass. This is probably the Hornets’ best shot at winning a league game. Sacramento State was picked to finish 12th in the MAC preseason poll. UMass was picked to finish last.
— Manny Navarro
Toledo Rockets
2025 record: 8-5 (6-2 MAC)
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Odds to make the CFP: 2.7%
Odds to win the MAC: 30.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 93rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same-ish, with potential to be better if the 51 newcomers can mesh quickly and the quarterback pans out.
Pedigree: The Rockets have won at least one MAC championship every decade since the 1960s, and Nick Saban, Gary Pinkel and Matt Campbell are among the coaches who have led the program. More recently, Toledo hasn’t had a losing season since 2009 and has won eight or more games in 11 of the 16 seasons in that span. The Rockets’ eight appearances in the MAC championship game, which launched in 1997, are tied for second-most behind former member Northern Illinois.
Why they’re interesting: The Rockets are a new-look squad after Jason Candle left for UConn. Of the 42 transfers who departed, 19 followed Candle and another 10 went to Power 4 programs. Toledo’s incoming transfer class of 38 is heavy on FCS talent, including 14 from Mercer, but there are also six from the P4 ranks.
Who is the coach? Mike Jacobs, 47, went 94-23 in 10 years as a Division II and FCS head coach. He took two programs, Notre Dame College (Ohio) and Lenoir-Rhyne, to D-II semifinal appearances and went 20-6 at Mercer with two SoCon titles and two FCS Playoff berths. His winning percentage (.803) is the fourth highest-among active D-I and D-II head coaches who have coached at least eight seasons.
Who is the QB? John Alan Richter (No. 104 in QB Tiers) has waited his turn since arriving at Toledo in 2022. He has started only one game and played just nine in his first four seasons but been productive, accurate and efficient in those opportunities. The 6-3, 225 Richter has plenty of arm talent and has been cited by Jacobs as a key leader this offseason.
Key player: Third-year defensive end Andrew Zock followed Jacobs from Mercer where he compiled 18.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss combined in the last two years. In 2025, he won the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Western Michigan. The Rockets travel to Michigan State to open the season and host San Diego State in Week 4, but the late October tilt with the reigning MAC champions will be the most revealing Year 1 test of the Jacobs era at Toledo.
— Sam Khan Jr.
Western Michigan Broncos
2025 record: 10-4 (7-1 MAC)
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.9%
Odds to win the MAC: 15.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 56th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: After starting 0-3 last year, WMU won 10 of its final 11 games, including the MAC championship and a Myrtle Beach Bowl win over CUSA champion Kennesaw State. With eight bowl appearances since 2014, including a 2016 Cotton Bowl, WMU has been a top-half team in the MAC for a while, though it’s more often behind the Ohio trio of Toledo, Ohio and Miami (Ohio). But the potential here has always been clear.
Why they’re interesting: The Broncos return nearly their entire starting offense and key playmakers, and they were picked as the preseason favorite by league coaches. The defense should have one of the MAC’s best secondaries, while replacing the front seven. They also host Boise State on Sept. 26 in a major Group of 6 conference crossover
Who is the coach? Lance Taylor has improved the Broncos from 4-8 to 6-7 to 10-4 in three seasons. The 45-year-old former Notre Dame and Louisville assistant is considered a rising star.
Who is the QB? Dual-threat Broc Lowry (No. 58 in QB Tiers) is back after winning MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He totaled 24 TDs and three INTs, with 2,766 total yards while splitting his passes and runs almost equally. Keeping Lowry out of the portal was the biggest offseason win for the Broncos.
Key player: Running back Jalen Buckley was another key piece for WMU to hold onto after rushing for exactly 1,003 yards for the second time in his career. The duo of Lowry and Buckley could be the best in the MAC.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 at Central Michigan in the biggest rivalry game for these teams and one of the best in the MAC. WMU made a fourth-quarter comeback to beat CMU 24-21 a year ago.
— Chris Vannini
Mountain WestAir Force Falcons
2025 record: (4-8, 3-5 MWC)
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Odds to make the CFP: 3.3%
Odds to win the MWC: 14.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 116th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: You draw the Falcons, you know you’re in for a day. Like all service academy programs, Air Force is a meticulous triple-option rushing team. Under longtime coach Troy Calhoun, the Falcons are almost always a tough out. They’ve won at least 10 games five times since 2014 but are coming off rare back-to-back sub-.500 seasons. They last won a conference title in the WAC in 1998.
Why they’re interesting: Under Calhoun, the Falcons have been one of college football’s best betting underdogs. Since 2014, Air Force is 24-15 against the spread as underdogs — a 61 percent clip, per CBS. In short, don’t write off the Falcons.
Who is the coach? Calhoun, 59, has made one of the toughest jobs in America look not all that difficult, which says a lot about the former Air Force quarterback from the 1980s. Calhoun has gone 139-97 since 2007, including an 83-63 conference record. Add in an 8-5 record in bowl games, it’s hard to argue Calhoun isn’t one of the more impressive — and underrated — coaches in the sport.
Who is the QB? If you’re a certified CFB sicko, get to know the name Liam Szarka (No. 65 in QB Tiers). After securing the starting spot a few weeks into 2025, Szarka looked every bit the part of a future star triple-option QB. A junior in 2026, Szarka finished with 13 rushing touchdowns. If he stays healthy, Szarka could look to break some Air Force QB single-season records.
Key player: If we’re talking Air Force, then by law, we must talk fullbacks. Senior Owen Allen had a stellar junior season in 2025 in which he finished second on the team with 750 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 vs. Navy. The Falcons have lost two straight to the Midshipmen and three in a row against Army. They must rectify that in 2026.
— Christopher Kamrani
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
2025 record: 9-4 (5-3 MWC)
Location: Honolulu
Odds to make the CFP: 1.1%
Odds to win the MWC: 8.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 67th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Same.
Pedigree: Hawaii has won four conference titles in its history, but it hasn’t won a championship since sharing the WAC title in 2010. The best season in school history came in 2007, when quarterback Colt Brennan led Hawaii to a 12-0 regular season, its first outright WAC title and the program’s only major bowl appearance in the Sugar Bowl.
Why they’re interesting: Pac-12-bound Boise State beat UNLV in each of the past three Mountain West title games. Hawaii is among the most credible challengers to UNLV in the revamped league. The Warriors have one of the conference’s best quarterbacks but must replace two of their top three receivers who left via the transfer portal for Power 4 programs. Only three starters are back on defense, which means their star quarterback is likely to face a lot of pressure to score points.
Who is the coach? Timmy Chang, 44, enters his fifth season leading his alma mater after helping the program to its first bowl trip in four years last season. Chang is 22-29 and is arguably the second-best player in school history (behind Brennan) after setting the NCAA career passing record with 17,072 yards during his career.
Who is the QB? Micah Alejado (No. 52 in QB Tiers) earned Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors in 2025, leading the conference with 24 touchdown passes and ranking ninth among FBS passers with 282.4 yards per game. He closed the season by throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns in Hawaii’s win over Cal in the Hawaii Bowl.
Key player: Wide receiver Pofele Ashlock. The senior’s availability and reliability are pivotal to maintaining one of the Mountain West’s best passing attacks. He’s been highly productive over the course of his career with 220 catches for 2,288 yards and 23 touchdowns, catching at least 61 passes in each of his three seasons.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 vs. UNLV. The Mountain West opener for both teams could be an early preview of the league championship game. The Rebels have won three straight in the series. Hawaii is 13-4 all-time at home against UNLV but lost the last meeting in Honolulu, 29-27, in 2024.
— Manny Navarro
Nevada Wolf Pack
2025 record: 3-9 (2-6 MWC)
Location: Reno, Nev.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win the MWC: 1.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 125th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, and in a league that’s a bit watered down.
Pedigree: Coach Chris Ault and quarterback Colin Kaepernick teamed up to win the WAC in 2010, giving the program its only conference title since 2001. From 2005-21, the program missed the postseason just three times, but the Wolf Pack have not played in a bowl game since 2021, winning a total of 10 games over the past four seasons.
Why they’re interesting: New offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone will call plays after working closely with Deion Sanders the past four seasons, spending some time calling plays in that span. He’ll be tasked with finding more explosiveness and cutting down on turnovers. Only one team (Florida Atlantic) had more than Nevada’s 27 giveaways last season. Nevada was 129th in yards per pass attempt, too.
Who is the coach? Jeff Choate, 56, reached the FCS semifinals at Montana State in 2019 and left for Texas to become co-DC, parlaying his work there into the Nevada job. However, he’s won just three games in each of his first two seasons and needs a breakthrough year.
Who is the QB? Carter Jones (No. 110 in QB Tiers) returns from last season but will have to hold off UCLA transfer Luke Duncan. Jones threw six touchdowns and eight interceptions last season, but five of those scores and none of the picks came in the final three games. The Wolf Pack were 2-1 in that stretch.
Key player: Edge Dylan Labarbera is back after a standout All-MWC season in which he had 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 87 tackles.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Montana State. Choate will take on his former employer, an FCS power. That game could inform a lot about Nevada’s improvement this season.
— David Ubben
New Mexico Lobos
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 MWC)
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Odds to make the CFP: 4.4%
Odds to win the MWC: 20.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 41st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: Last year’s trip to the Rate Bowl was the Lobos’ first bowl appearance since 2016. Their high-water mark in recent decades came under Rocky Long, who led New Mexico to five bowl games in 10 seasons from 1999-2008. They’ve never appeared in the AP poll.
Why they’re interesting: The Lobos were an entertaining team in their first season under Jason Eck, who could be one of the hottest Group of 6 coaching candidates if New Mexico can build on last year’s success. With more than 70 new players, New Mexico scored a 35-10 upset of UCLA, closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak and was part of a four-way tie atop the Mountain West standings.
Who is the coach? Before he replaced Bronco Mendenhall at New Mexico, Eck went 26-13 in three seasons at Idaho with three trips to the FCS playoffs. The 49-year-old former Wisconsin offensive lineman has spent most of his career outside of the FBS with assistant coaching stops at Western Illinois, Minnesota State, Montana State and South Dakota State.
Who is the QB? Jack Layne (No. 98 in QB Tiers), the Idaho transfer who started all 13 games for the Lobos last season, is dealing with a lingering elbow injury. In his absence, New Mexico could turn to sixth-year player James Laubstein, second-year QB Toa Fa’avae or Oregon transfer Luke Moga.
Key player: Linebacker Jaxton Eck, Jason Eck’s son, is the MWC preseason defensive player of the year after tying for 10th in the FBS with 129 tackles last season.
Game to circle: The Lobos play at Oklahoma on Sept. 19. The Sooners shouldn’t sleep on a team that played Michigan tough in the Big House and thumped UCLA at the Rose Bowl last year.
— Austin Meek
Jason Eck led New Mexico to its first bowl game since 2016 last season. (Louis Grasse / Getty Images)
North Dakota State Bison
2025 record: 12-1 (8-0 MVFC)
Location: Fargo, N.D.
Odds to make the CFP: 7.4%
Odds to win the MWC: 28.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 71st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: Worse, relative to their status as the biggest FCS power. Expect them to still win a lot of games this fall.
Pedigree: They were the gold standard of FCS football the past 20 years and that was after the Bison won five Division II national titles from 1983-90. Coaches came and went from Fargo, but the titles kept coming, from Craig Bohl (three titles) to Chris Klieman (four) to Matt Entz (two) to current head man Tim Polasek (one). The culture of development and excellence is bigger than any one coach.
Why they’re interesting: The longtime FCS powerhouse that won 10 national titles since 2011 is making the move up to the FBS. Will the Bison remain a powerhouse?
Who is the coach? Polasek is 26-3 in his first two seasons, which included winning the FCS national title in 2024. A former Bison grad assistant who later was Iowa’s O-line coach and Wyoming’s OC, he spent 10 years as an assistant in Fargo and was part of four more FCS national title teams.
Who is the QB? Nathan Hayes (No. 125 in QB Tiers). The fifth-year senior sat behind Cole Payton and now is expected to take over. Unfortunately, the Bison lost a ton of production at receiver and running back, but the O-line, as usual, should be excellent. The 6-3, 228-pound Hayes threw four touchdowns last year.
Key player: Running back DJ Scott. The 5-11, 215-pound junior impressed in his first season with the Bison after transferring from Kennesaw State. He rushed for 502 yards and six TDs on 95 carries. With Barika Kpeenu gone, Scott is being counted on to power what has always been a potent ground attack and take some of the pressure off Hayes.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 at New Mexico. Two weeks before the game against Lobos, who finished in a four-way tie for first in the conference last season, the Bison will be tested on the road at UNLV. From those two games, we’ll have a better sense of just how ready NDSU is to compete for a conference title and perhaps a CFP berth.
— Bruce Feldman
Northern Illinois Huskies
2025 record: 3-9 (2-6 MAC)
Location: DeKalb, Ill.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MWC: 0.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 131st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Possibly worse amid the conference transition — the top 14 tacklers are gone on defense.
Pedigree: The Huskies once were bowl fixtures and regular MAC contenders before falling off last season. They’re best known for an Orange Bowl run in 2012 and upsetting eventual College Football Playoff runner-up Notre Dame in 2024 as 28-point underdogs.
Why they’re interesting: Now moving into the Mountain West as a football-only member, Northern Illinois faces some unknowns as a geographical and cultural outlier. The Huskies’ closest drive comes in the season opener at Iowa with only one other road game in the Central time zone.
Who is the coach? Rob Harley, 43, is the interim head coach after Thomas Hammock left in February to become the Seattle Seahawks’ running backs coach. Harley, a former Ohio State safety, coached the Huskies’ defense last year after spending four seasons as Arkansas State and six as linebackers coach at Pitt.
Who is the QB? Taron Dickens (No. 99 in QB Tiers), a junior, produced eye-popping numbers at Western Carolina last year with 3,501 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He initially signed with North Carolina but didn’t enroll and moved on to Northern Illinois in the summer. The Huskies have nowhere to go but up after ranking 134th in passing.
Key player: Senior receiver DeAree Rogers is the Huskies’ most experienced skill player. Last year, Rogers started 10 games and led NIU with 46 catches (seventh-most in the MAC) for 506 yards and three touchdowns. He also worked as the team’s primary punt returner.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Air Force. It’s the Mountain West debut for the Huskies, who take on one of the league’s highest-profile programs. Air Force is coming off a pair of losing seasons, which provides Northern Illinois with sorely needed hope.
— Scott Dochterman
San Jose State Spartans
2025 record: 3-9 (2-6 MWC)
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the MWC: 1.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 127th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Somehow worse. P4 schools poached nearly every key player from an already subpar roster.
Pedigree: Under former coach Brent Brennan (now at Arizona), the Spartans enjoyed only their second Top 25 finish in 2020. They then played in three straight bowls for the first time, from 2022-24, the first two under Brennan and the third with current coach Ken Niumatalolo. But last year saw SJSU slide to 3-9, its worst record in seven years.
Why they’re interesting: The Spartans are essentially a brand-new team. Eight starters from last season left for P4 schools, most notably QB Walker Eget (now at Duke) and the nation’s leading receiver, Danny Scudero (Colorado). Only three players who started at least six games last season remain.
Who is the coach? Niumatalolo, 61, was one of the sport’s most respected coaches during his 15-year run at Navy, where his teams reached 11 bowl games. But a string of three straight losing records led to his ouster in 2022. Upon landing in San Jose, he left behind Navy’s option offense and installed a high-flying passing offense that ranked in the top five nationally in 2024. But the Spartans fell from 7-6 to 3-9 in his second season.
Who is the QB? Hawaii transfer Luke Weaver (No. 114 in QB Tiers) won the preseason competition. The fifth-year senior spent three seasons in junior college before landing at Hawaii, where he spent most of last season as a backup. His big moment came in the Hawaii Bowl, when he came off the bench to throw a game-winning 22-yard touchdown to beat Cal.
Key player: Linebacker Ethan Powell is one of the Spartans’ only experienced veterans. The fifth-year senior notched 80 tackles over the past two seasons.
Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. Fresno State. Despite Fresno joining the Pac-12, the schools are continuing the 105-year-old Battle for the Valley.
— Stewart Mandel
UNLV Rebels
2025 record: 10-4 (6-2 MWC)
Location: Las Vegas
Odds to make the CFP: 5.7%
Odds to win the MWC: 21.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 44th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, thanks in part to the stripped-for-parts Mountain West.
Pedigree: After making just one bowl game from 2001-22, UNLV is enjoying a historic renaissance, going 9-5 and 11-3, respectively, in 2023 and ’24 under former coach Barry Odom (now at Purdue) and 10-4 last season under Dan Mullen.
Why they’re interesting: UNLV, long the Mountain West’s doormat, suddenly has a chance to rule the league. Longtime power Boise State, which beat the Rebels five times (including in three straight conference title games) over the past three seasons, is off to the Pac-12. UNLV, which has never won the Mountain West in the league’s 27-year history, has never had a better shot than now.
Who is the coach? Mullen, 54, an SEC head coach for 13 seasons at Florida and Mississippi State, spent three years on television before returning to coaching last season in Vegas.
Who is the QB? After last year’s QB1, Anthony Colandrea, transferred to Nebraska, Mullen brought in former Oklahoma and Auburn starter Jackson Arnold (No. 64 in QB Tiers). The former five-star recruit is looking to resurrect a thus-far disappointing career under Mullen, whose former proteges include Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott.
Key player: Running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas is the rare G6 star who’s remained at his school for four years. The first-team All-Mountain West performer turned down lucrative P4 offers after rushing for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.
Game to circle: Aug. 29 vs. Memphis. The Rebels kick things off with a Fox-televised Week 0 night game against one of the most respected G6 programs. This and an Oct. 3 game against Cal will be crucial to UNLV’s chances of reaching the CFP.
— Stewart Mandel
UTEP Miners
2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 CUSA)
Location: El Paso, Texas.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the MWC: 0.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 133rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: In the past 20 seasons, UTEP has won three or fewer games eight times compared to just three bowl appearances. The Miners haven’t had consecutive winning seasons since 2004-05.
Why they’re interesting: Despite the poor performances in recent years in Conference USA, the Miners are entering their first season in the Mountain West, rejoining some past conference rivals from their days in the WAC.
Who is the coach? Though he has won just five total games in his first two years at UTEP, Scotty Walden, 36, brought a winning track record to El Paso after going 26-14 in four seasons at Austin Peay in the FBS.
Who is the QB? UTEP tied for the most interceptions thrown last season. In comes EJ Colson (No. 124 in QB Tiers), who arrives from Incarnate Word after beginning his career at UCF. He threw for 2,164 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions last season.
Key player: UTEP added a near-1,000-yard receiver out of the portal in Carver Cheeks. The former Northern Colorado star will step in and immediately be one of the most dangerous offensive weapons after catching 71 passes for 926 yards and six touchdowns.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at New Mexico. The Mountain West opener won’t be an easy one for UTEP, going to one of the conference title contenders, but the first game in a new league is always a big one. New Mexico is the closest conference opponent to the Miners.
— Cameron Teague Robinson
Wyoming Cowboys
2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 MWC)
Location: Laramie, Wyo.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.4%
Odds to win the MWC: 2.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 128th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year: Better, with a good shot at getting bowl eligible.
Pedigree: They last won a league title in 1993 in the WAC and haven’t finished in the Top 25 in 30 years since Joe Tiller led them to a 10-2 season in 1996. But they’ve produced some noteworthy talent, like Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.
Why they’re interesting: The Cowboys made a big move to fix an offense that ranked No. 123 in yards per play and failed to score more than seven points in a game after October. Enter new OC Christian Taylor who, prior to spending the past two seasons on the Buffalo Bills staff, had one of the most creative offenses in football at William & Mary. A prediction: You will see lots of fancy Cowboys offensive plays popping up on your social media feed this fall.
Who is the coach? Jay Sawvel. He’s a product of Division III powerhouse Mount Union, the football coaching factory, and a Jerry Kill protege from his days at Southern Illinois, NIU and Minnesota. The 55-year-old also worked at Notre Dame earlier in his career, among other places, before getting promoted from DC in Laramie to taking over after the 2023 season.
Who is the QB? Tyler Hughes (No. 123 in QB Tiers). The speedy 6-0, 210-pounder knows Taylor and the new OC’s system well, having spent the past four seasons at William & Mary, where he became the first QB in school history to pass for 2,000 yards and run for 600 yards in a season. More impressively, Hughes threw 20 touchdowns and just three INTs and ran for 11 TDs.
Key player: Running back Samuel Harris. The 5-11, 200-pound Texan was the team’s leading rusher last year with 558 yards on just 100 carries. He’s also a good receiver. Expect him to be a much more dangerous weapon in the new offense. Wyoming had just two plays of 50 yards or more; Harris accounted for both.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 at Colorado State. Even though this is no longer a Mountain West game, this is a good rivalry. It also kicks off the Jim Mora era for the Rams, who will be looking for payback as the Cowboys whipped them 28-0 last year — their lone win in the second half of the season.
— Bruce Feldman
Pac-12Boise State Broncos
2025 record: 9-5 (6-2 MWC)
Location: Boise, Idaho
Odds to make the CFP: 6.8%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 37.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 21st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: The Broncos are college football’s go-to Cinderella story, breaking into the FBS in the late 1990s and winning big early and often, including a Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma you may have seen the highlights of once or twice. With 19 double-digit-win seasons in 30 years at the highest level, they have set a standard for what a college football climber can be. Boise State won the Mountain West each of its final three seasons in the conference, but last year’s came in very un-Boise-like fashion, with all five losses by at least 10 points.
Why they’re interesting: There are a lot of unknowns among the usual top G6 programs this year, with several schools in the American (like Tulane, Memphis and USF) breaking in new coaches. That could put Boise State in a good position to return to the Playoff for the second time in the 12-team format’s three-year history.
Who is the coach? This will be 37-year-old Spencer Danielson’s third full season on the job. He’s 24-8 overall and 16-2 in league games. Danielson was 15-3 with transcendent running back Ashton Jeanty on the roster, but the Broncos looked pedestrian without their star last year. Can Danielson get Boise State looking like a Top 25 program again?
Who is the QB? Maddux Madsen (No. 61 in QB Tiers) has followed a pretty consistent pattern the past two years. He’s proven more than good enough to lead the Broncos to conference championships, but he’s struggled mightily in nonconference action. Madsen has a chance to buck that trend when the Broncos open with Oregon (road) and Memphis (home).
Key player: Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan has been a stalwart for the defense the past two seasons with 16 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss. If Boise State is going to win the Pac-12, he’ll need to be even more productive for a defense that lost a lot on the second and third levels.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Memphis. The Broncos can establish themselves as a Playoff contender with a win in one of the most high-profile G6 matchups of the season.
— Antonio Morales
Colorado State Rams
2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 MWC)
Location: Fort Collins, Colo.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 0.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 115th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Can it get worse than last season? Better.
Pedigree: The Rams have enjoyed just one winning season over the past eight years. That long-term downturn has led to the end of three head coaching tenures. Colorado State won eight games in 2024 but hit rock bottom with last year’s two-win campaign.
Why they’re interesting: There tends to be a good amount of talk about what Colorado State can be in theory. But the Rams haven’t won a conference championship since 2002, and they’ve won more than eight games only once in that span. So is it a program with solid potential or just a middle-of-the-road Pac-12 (formerly Mountain West) school?
Who is the coach? Colorado State is starting new in several ways this year. The Rams are moving to the Pac-12 after 27 seasons in the Mountain West, and it’ll be the first year for new coach Jim Mora, who reinvented himself at UConn after his solid UCLA tenure ended on a down note.
Who is the QB? We’ll see what Colorado State can get out of Hauss Hejny (No. 84 in QB Tiers), who was a well-regarded recruit in 2024 but hasn’t played much. He was Oklahoma State’s opening-day starter last year but broke his foot in the first game and was limited to just 10 passes. At the very least, he could be a capable running threat. He has to beat UConn transfer K’saan Farrar for the job.
Key player: Linebacker Oumar Diomande played for Mora at UConn and followed him to Colorado State after recording 116 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks last season. He’s going to have to be one of the leaders on the Rams’ defense.
Game to circle: Sept. 5 vs. Wyoming. The Border War will be crucial for Mora in terms of setting the tone for Year 1. It’s a rivalry game, it’s at home and it’s against a program that’s also been through some down years. A win would provide a real spark.
— Antonio Morales
Fresno State Bulldogs
2025 record: 9-4 (5-3 MWC)
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.8%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 14.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 57th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Bulldogs have won at least nine games in four of the past five seasons, and the program has had four head coaches during that time. Few programs are able to sustain that type of success with so much turnover.
Why they’re interesting: Boise State and San Diego State are viewed as the top teams in the new-look Pac-12. Washington State and Oregon State are the former Power 5 programs that want to prove they belong atop this new league. Where does Fresno State fit into the picture? The Bulldogs are flying under the radar despite winning nine games in 2025.
Who is the coach? Matt Entz, 53, won two national championships as the head coach at North Dakota State. Can his formula work at Fresno State? His first season was encouraging, led by a defense that ranked in the top 20 in scoring and yards per play allowed. Entz has built a strong foundation for his program.
Who is the QB? It looks like Khristian Martin (No. 136 in QB Tiers) is the frontrunner for the role, but he’s inexperienced and has to hold off junior Jayden Mandal. Martin, a Maryland transfer, has just 17 career pass attempts, and they all came in lopsided games last season. Fresno State has the most inexperienced QB among the league’s contenders.
Key player: Running back Rayshon Luke received significant carries for the first time in his collegiate career last year and rushed for 702 yards while averaging 6.3 yards on 112 carries. He’s a big-play threat who leads a strong running back group that includes Bryson Donelson (600 rushing yards in 2025) and Brandon Ramirez.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at Washington State. Fresno State’s Pac-12 opener against the Cougars represents an opportunity for the Bulldogs to make a statement about their spot on the league’s food chain.
— Antonio Morales
Fresno State has made five straight bowl trips as it heads to the reshaped Pac-12. (Loren Orr / Getty Images)
Oregon State Beavers
2025 record: 2-10 (1-1 Pac-12)
Location: Corvallis, Ore.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.2%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 1.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 116th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, because they simply have to be?
Pedigree: It’s hard to see the program slipping any further. The Beavers — who have won one conference title (2000) since 1964 — are banking on a new culture led by a young, energetic first-time head coach in JaMarcus Shephard. But the stark reality is that outside of a fun few years under former coach Jonathan Smith (2021-23), rounds of conference realignment left OSU adrift.
Why they’re interesting: Because they helped keep a downtrodden conference on life support? Washington State and Oregon State were the only Pac-12 programs that did not relocate. The Beavers’ conference schedule a year ago oddly featured all of two games — both against the Cougars. Now, with former MWC teams like Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and other newbie Texas State, OSU has company and a conference title to compete for again.
Who is the coach? Shephard might have the hardest job in the country. But the former Washington and Alabama wide receivers coach and assistant head coach says he’s up for it. He has regional ties, having coached the Huskies and Wazzu in the past. But Shephard, 43, has to hope the roster turnover in Year 1 pays immediate dividends.
Who is the QB? It’s not incumbent Maalik Murphy. It’s former Mercer QB Braden Atkinson, who was one of the most prolific passers at the FCS level as a freshman in 2025. Atkinson threw for 3,611 yards, 34 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and completed 66 percent of his passes. Atkinson earned the Jerry Rice Award last year, given to the best freshman in FCS football. Will new OC Mitch Dahlen, who came with Shephard from Alabama, allow Atkinson to let it rip like he did at Mercer?
Key player: Despite ranking 98th nationally in scoring defense in 2025, the Beavers have some returning talent, highlighted by senior linebacker Aiden Sullivan (72 tackles, team-high seven TFLs)
Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Texas Tech. Nobody had a more tumultuous offseason than the Red Raiders. Corvallis, once upon a time, was a hard place to play for visitors. Early in the year, can the Beavs spark some magic?
— Christopher Kamrani
San Diego State Aztecs
2025 record: (9-4, 6-2 MWC)
Location: San Diego
Odds to make the CFP: 3%
Odds to win the MAC: 17.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 43rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, depending on the offense.
Pedigree: Sean Lewis had a rough first year as SDSU’s head coach (3-9 overall, 2-5 in the MWC) but made big strides in 2025, capped with one of the year’s most entertaining bowl games, a 49-47 loss to North Texas. The Aztecs were consistently strong in the Mountain West, finishing with a winning record in conference play 13 times since 2009. SDSU made a bowl game every year from 2010-19.
Why they’re interesting: They play great defense. Last year, the Aztecs ranked 12th nationally in total defense and allowed only 23 offensive touchdowns (tied for eighth-fewest). SDSU did lose defensive coordinator Rob Aurich to Nebraska and All-American edge rusher Trey White to Texas Tech. But despite Lewis’ offensive background, the Aztecs are a defensive team first, so don’t expect much drop-off on that side of the ball.
Who is the coach? The 40-year-old Lewis was once one of the youngest head coaches in America when he was in charge at Kent State. After five years there, he left to be offensive coordinator for Deion Sanders at Colorado. That did not end well, but Lewis landed the SDSU job and appears to have the Aztecs on an upward trajectory.
Who is the QB? At 6-5 and 230 pounds, senior Jayden Denegal (No. 82 in QB Tiers) has the physical makeup to be a top-tier Pac-12 QB. The former Michigan backup wasn’t asked to do a ton in 2025, and the Aztecs ranked 125th nationally in passing offense.
Key player: How many established 1,000-yard backs stay at the G6 level after a breakout year anymore? Well, Lucky Sutton did. He’s a San Diego kid who came back for his senior season after rushing for 1,297 yards and 10 TDs in 2025.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 at UCLA. Greater Pasadena has been hyped by the Bob Chesney hire. But the Bruins can be upset and give the Aztecs some juice riding into conference play.
— Christopher Kamrani
Texas State Bobcats
2025 record: 7-6 (3-5 Sun Belt)
Location: San Marcos, Texas
Odds to make the CFP: 1.2%
Odds to win the Pac: 11.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 82nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, though the schedule may make it harder to realize.
Pedigree: Texas State is still a young FBS program, having moved up from the FCS in 2012. The Bobcats won more than four games just twice in their first 11 years at this level but established a winning foundation under the current regime.
Why they’re interesting: Texas State is a Pac-12 newcomer looking to compete immediately after 13 years in the Sun Belt. The Bobcats were one of the most productive offenses in the country last year, ranking 12th in scoring (36.5 points per game).
Who is the coach? GJ Kinne, 37, enters his fourth year with the Bobcats, where he has raised the floor of the program. Kinne, who’s 35-18 overall as a head coach and 23-16 at Texas State, took the Bobcats to their first three bowls in the last three seasons. The former Tulsa quarterback has crossed paths with many renowned offensive coaches during his playing and coaching career, including Gus Malzahn, Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson, Mike Norvell and Chad Morris.
Who is the QB? Brad Jackson (No. 27 in QB Tiers) is the top-ranked Group of 6 quarterback, and retaining him was a huge win for Kinne. Jackson’s a dynamic talent who’s an effective downfield passer but also a significant run threat. He threw for 3,224 yards, ran for 744 and was responsible for 38 touchdowns in his first year as the Bobcats’ starter.
Key player: There are only 11 returning FBS receivers who recorded 1,000 receiving yards last year, and two of them are at Texas State: Beau Sparks (84 catches, 1,200 yards) and Chris Dawn Jr. (65 catches, 1,007 yards). Getting those two to return with Jackson should make the passing game even more potent in 2026.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at San Diego State. That will be the Bobcats’ first conference game as a Pac-12 member, and it’s a #Pac12AfterDark special, with a 10:30 ET kickoff. And it’s against a team that won nine games last year and returns its leading passer, leading rusher and top two receivers.
— Sam Khan Jr.
Utah State Aggies
2025 record: 6-7 (4-4 MWC)
Location: Logan, Utah.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.8%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 9.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 104th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same, but the schedule could be more difficult.
Pedigree: The Aggies have been fairly mediocre the past 10 years but have managed to slide two 11-win seasons into the mix over that span. So there is some potential if things break right — see their Mountain West championship in 2021 — but that hasn’t been the case more often than not.
Why they’re interesting: The Aggies haven’t recorded a winning season since 2021 but did demonstrate some improvement as they reached a bowl game last year. However, they’re moving into a new-look league where things could be more difficult for a coaching staff trying to keep momentum.
Who is the coach? Bronco Mendenhall, 60, has had a really interesting career but hasn’t had a team finish above .500 since 2019 at Virginia, which is two jobs ago for him. There’s no question he’s a good coach, but can he find high-level success like he did when he was at BYU more than a decade ago?
Who is the QB? After two seasons at BYU, McCae Hillstead (No. 134 in QB Tiers) is back at Utah State, where he received some extended snaps as a freshman in 2023. He’ll be working with new offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who called plays for Mendenhall at BYU and Virginia.
Key player: Linebacker Bronson Olevao stuffed the stat sheet with 90 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, four sacks and two interceptions for the Aggies last year. Utah State ranked 90th in scoring defense, though, so Olevao is one of a few players who will be counted on to help with a turnaround this year.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at Boise State. Utah State was really competitive against some of the best Mountain West contenders last season, and that included a one-point loss to the Broncos. This will offer a good glimpse of where the Aggies really are.
— Antonio Morales
Washington State Cougars
2025 record: 7-6 (1-1 Pac-12)
Location: Pullman, Wash.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.7%
Odds to win the Pac-12: 7.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 83rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse. A third head coach in three seasons means another reset.
Pedigree: With the right coach (Mike Price, Mike Leach), the Cougars were able to punch above their weight at times in the old Pac-12. In the new Pac-12, the hope in Pullman is that Wazzu will be resourced at the top of the league rather than the bottom and success will follow. But all the turnover in recent years will make it difficult for the Cougars to contend in Year 1 of the relaunched league.
Why they’re interesting: If you like mysteries, Wazzu is for you. New first-time head coach, new conference rivals. Even by G6 standards, the returning production is way down. But the Cougars have been pretty good during their two years in limbo. Can they stay competitive with new Pac-12 arrivals such as Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State, all of which enter the conference with more continuity?
Who is the coach? Kirby Moore, the brother of Saints coach and former Boise State great Kellen Moore, steps into a head coaching job for the first time after Jimmy Rogers bolted for Iowa State. Rogers replaced Jake Dickert, now at Wake Forest, and spent one year in Pullman. The 35-year-old Moore was most recently the offensive coordinator at Missouri.
Who is the QB? The competition between UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick (No. 94 in QB Tiers) and inexperienced returnees Julian Dugger and Owen Eshelman was not settled in the spring, but Pinnick prevailed in the summer. The 2025 Big Sky Freshman of the Year threw for 3,206 yards and ran for 437, leading UC Davis to the FCS quarterfinals.
Key player: The Cougars need a downfield threat to emerge among a bunch of transfers, but they have a solid playmaker in Tony Freeman, who caught 54 passes last year while also ranking fifth in the FBS in punt return average.
Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs Boise State. The Broncos enter the Pac-12 as favorites. The Cougars, who have a brutal nonconference schedule that features Washington, Kansas State and Arizona, should know whether league contention is on the table after the result of their homecoming game against Boise State.
— Ralph D. Russo
Sun BeltApp State Mountaineers
2025 record: 5-8 (2-6 Sun Belt)
Location: Boone, N.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.6%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 3.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 112th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: App State has been one of the most competitive Group of 5 teams since joining the FBS in 2014, winning seven bowl games and four Sun Belt championships. Prior to that, they were an FCS titan, three-peating as national champions and knocking off Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2007.
Why they’re interesting: The Mountaineers and their fans expect to win big but have struggled recently, and the Sun Belt just put a team into the Playoff for the first time. Consecutive five-win seasons in 2024 and 2025 make 2026 a crucial year to ensure the rest of the conference is not leaving them behind.
Who is the coach? Dowell Loggains, 45, is in his second year with the program and has spent 17 years in the NFL. Before, he was an assistant at Arkansas and South Carolina, where in 2024 he helped quarterback LaNorris Sellers become a breakthrough star.
Who is the QB? Malachi Singleton (No. 74 in QB Tiers) transferred in from Purdue, where he appeared in 11 games in 2025 but attempted just 64 passes. The former four-star recruit should get the first extended chance to show off his dual-threat abilities in his fourth season of college football.
Key player: Running back Jaquari Lewis was the Mountaineers’ second-leading rusher as a freshman, putting up 618 yards and taking on more work as the season wore on. App State brought in multiple transfer backs, headlined by Ja’Quez Cross, and welcomes back veteran Kanye Roberts from injury, giving it a potentially potent rushing attack.
Game to circle: James Madison comes to Boone on Oct. 22. The Dukes are the defending Sun Belt champions and made the Playoff last year. A crack at them on a Thursday night at home would be a great opportunity for the Mountaineers to show the nation they’re serious about contending.
— Grace Raynor
Arkansas State Red Wolves
2025 record: 7-6 (5-3 Sun Belt)
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.6%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 4.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 106th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? About the same.
Pedigree: Arkansas State won a share of the Sun Belt title five times with four coaches from 2011 to ’16, developing a reputation as a springboard for future power-conference coaches. (Auburn eventually hired three of them.) After a three-year absence from the postseason, the Red Wolves have played in three consecutive bowl games.
Why they’re interesting: New offensive coordinator Garrett Altman spent the last four seasons alongside supernova Diego Pavia: Two at New Mexico State as an analyst followed by two at Vanderbilt as quarterbacks coach. He’s got a QB competition on his hands after 2025 starter Jaylen Raynor followed offensive coordinator Keith Heckendorf to Iowa State.
Who is the coach? After being fired as Tennessee’s head coach and working as an analyst under Nick Saban for three seasons, Butch Jones got another shot to show he can lead a winner in a non-Power 4 conference and may have found his footing in Jonesboro. The 58-year-old is 26-37 in five seasons but has led the program to two consecutive winning campaigns. In his first head coaching stops at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, he won four conference titles in six seasons.
Who is the QB? Texas transfer Trey Owens (No. 122 in QB Tiers) is still battling with a pair of Vanderbilt transfers, Drew Dickey and Jeremy St-Hilaire, who arrived along with Altman. All three sought playing time at a lower level after high-profile five-star signees like Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers and Jared Curtis blocked their paths to the field. Owens was a four-star prospect.
Key player: Receiver Chauncy Cobb should be due for a bigger role this year after Corey Rucker moved on to the NFL. Listed at just 5-6 and 161 pounds, he caught 73 passes for 797 yards last year.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at Louisiana. The Red Wolves close the season at home against Troy, but will they still be contending for a conference title by then? This early season road trip to Lafayette will be revealing.
— David Ubben
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
2025 record: 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt)
Location: Conway, S.C.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 0.7%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 118th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Slightly better.
Pedigree: The Chanticleers have been playing football since only 2003 but have played in six consecutive bowl games and have won nine conference titles between the Big South and the Sun Belt. After back-to-back six-win seasons, they fired coach Tim Beck in Year 3.
Why they’re interesting: The Chanticleers brought in 56 new players during the 2026 signing cycle: 38 transfer portal players, 13 high school prospects and five junior college players. Can that new blood flip the Chants back into being a factor in the Sun Belt title race?
Who is the coach? Ryan Beard took Missouri State to a 7-5 record and its first bowl appearance last year in the Bears’ first season at the FBS level, then jumped for a Sun Belt gig. He’s a defensive-minded coach who has helped produce four All-Americans and three NFL Draft picks over the years.
Who is the QB? Deuce Bailey (No. 92 in QB Tiers), who followed Beard from Missouri State to Coastal Carolina, played in three games with one start last season, completing just 48.9 percent of his passes. But he did throw for 278 yards with a touchdown and no picks at Middle Tennessee last year. Not having to break in a new QB should make things easier on Beard, if Bailey can beat out juco transfer Tre Guerra and Arkansas transfer Trever Jackson.
Key player: Defensive back Ja’Marion Wayne transferred to Coastal Carolina from Missouri after the 2023 season and had a breakout season last year. He’s the leading returning tackler and the only Coastal Carolina player to be voted on the preseason All-Sun Belt first team.
Game to circle: Sept. 24 vs. Liberty. Former Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell returns to his old stomping grounds on a Thursday night.
— Grace Raynor
Georgia Southern Eagles
2025 record: 7-6 (4-4 Sun Belt)
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.4%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 3.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 103rd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: Georgia Southern restarted its program in the early 1980s after four decades off, hiring the legendary Erk Russell, who guided the Eagles to a Division I-AA championship. The program remained dominant at that level, winning six national titles before moving up to FBS in 2014 and immediately winning a Sun Belt championship. But the years since then have been more uneven.
Why they’re interesting: The NCAA is legislating out older players, but Max Johnson — the son of longtime NFL QB Brad Johnson — keeps hanging on. The quarterback is in his seventh year of college football and with his fourth team. But this is his first outside the SEC and ACC, and he’s back in his home state.
Who is the coach? Clay Helton, 54, also knows the power-conference level well, having coached USC for six-plus years. His 46-23 record got him fired, but it’s about the same percentage as Lincoln Riley (35-18). Helton hasn’t quite lit things on fire in Statesboro, going 27-25, but he’s made a bowl every season.
Who is the QB? Johnson (No. 100 in QB Tiers) has been stalled more by injuries than on-field performance, but he’s been a victim of circumstance, too. His year as the LSU starter was Ed Orgeron’s final season, his second year at Texas A&M was the final straw in Jimbo Fisher’s firing and his two years at North Carolina were interrupted by the hiring of Bill Belichick.
Key player: Cornerback Chance Gamble took a medical redshirt last year after making second-team All-Sun Belt in 2024. He could bolster a defense that struggled immensely and led Helton to make a change at coordinator.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. James Madison. This is the second of six straight division games for Georgia Southern, which was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt East, while JMU was picked first despite the departure of coach Bob Chesney.
— Seth Emerson
Georgia State Panthers
2025 record: 1-11 (0-8 Sun Belt)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 0.8%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 135th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, slightly.
Pedigree: Georgia State launched its program in 2010 under Bill Curry, playing at the FBS level right away. The Panthers have never quite had a breakthrough — their best season was 8-5 in 2021 — and the last few years have been rough.
Why they’re interesting: The Panthers reacted to their abysmal season by taking 34 transfers, a mix of power-conference players seeking playing time and lower-level players looking for an FBS shot. And because this wasn’t a good team last year, the Panthers weren’t raided of many key players.
Who is the coach? Dell McGee, 52, had a great resume for this job. He won two rings as Georgia’s running backs coach, and before that, he was a championship-winning high school coach. It just hasn’t worked so far, and this will be a key year to show improvement.
Who is the QB? Cameran Brown (No. 81 in QB Tiers) was a bright spot last year, outplaying two seniors — TJ Finley and Christian Veilleux — and putting up good numbers (1,296 passing yards, 13 TDs, one pick, 284 rushing yards). Now a senior himself, Brown gives offensive coordinator Hue Jackson something to build around.
Key player: McGee knows running backs, so it’s been a surprise his teams have struggled there, but the Panthers have some intriguing options moving up to the FBS. Savion Hart had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season at Georgetown, and Lanear McCrary rushed for over 1,000 yards at Shorter. They’ll have some Power 4 transfers blocking for them.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. Northern Illinois. The opener (North Carolina A&T) should be a win, or it’s going to be a long season. The next two (at Kennesaw State and UCF) will be uphill battles. If those three go according to form, the home game against Northern Illinois, which is coming off a 3-9 season, should be the chance for Georgia State to show it will at least be better than last year.
— Seth Emerson
James Madison Dukes
2025 record: 12-2 (8-0 Sun Belt)
Location: Harrisonburg, Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 7.4%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 25.9%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 42nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: James Madison has made the transition from FCS power to Group of 6 contender better than any other program. JMU made the playoffs in its final eight FCS seasons (winning the 2016 national title) and is 41-11 in its first four FBS seasons, with a trip to the College Football Playoff last December.
Why they’re interesting: After launching Curt Cignetti (Indiana) and Bob Chesney (UCLA) to Big Ten coaching jobs, JMU is starting over, again, this time with former Florida coach Billy Napier. The Dukes have the resources and institutional investment necessary to succeed, but will the turnover catch up to them?
Who is the coach? Frustrated Florida fans derided Napier, 47, as “Sun Belt Billy,” implying he could win at the G6 level but not in the SEC. Well, Billy’s back in the Sun Belt, where he went 40-12 at Louisiana with one conference championship and three more division titles over four seasons. Perhaps that stint was more representative of his ability than his 22-23 run in Gainesville.
Who is the QB? Camden Coleman (No. 91 in QB Tiers) won 13 of his 14 starts at Richmond but didn’t play last season after transferring to JMU. He’s competing against JC Evans (the offensive MVP of the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl). Napier’s history tells us he won’t be afraid to use multiple quarterbacks during the season; he did so at both of his previous head coaching stops.
Key player: Edge rusher Amar Thomas is one of the Dukes’ two preseason all-conference first-teamers (along with center Zach Greenberg). He broke out last season with 43 tackles (including two for a loss in the Sun Belt title game) and will try to lead a defense with only one other returning starter.
Game to circle: Oct. 29 vs. Troy. It’s a Thursday night rematch of last season’s Sun Belt title game and a potential preview of this year’s championship, if both teams live up to expectations.
— Matt Baker
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
2025 record: 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt)
Location: Lafayette, La.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.6%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 6.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 113th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Ragin’ Cajuns posted just two seasons of eight or more wins between their Division I arrival in 1974 and 2010, but their trajectory has pointed up in the last 15 years. They had four consecutive nine-win seasons under Mark Hudspeth (2011-14), three straight double-digit win seasons under Billy Napier (2019-21) and most recently hit 10 wins in 2024.
Why they’re interesting: There’s a lot of continuity here, which is unusual for Group of 6 teams. The Cajuns lost only nine transfers in the portal, the fewest of any non-service academy G6 team, to set up a legitimate division title push.
Who is the coach? Michael Desormeaux, 40, is a Louisiana native and UL alumnus. He quarterbacked the Ragin’ Cajuns from 2005 to ’08 and was a three-time all-conference pick and 2008 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. He started coaching in the Louisiana high school ranks, then joined the UL staff as an assistant in 2016, where he remained before succeeding Napier prior to the 2022 season. Desormeaux is 29-25 in four seasons at the helm.
Who is the QB? Lunch Winfield (No. 89 in QB Tiers) was third on the depth chart to start last season but eventually took over as the starter and was productive in his eight starts. He needs to take better care of the ball (10 turnovers) but is a solid, veteran playmaker with good size at 6-2, 225 pounds.
Key player: Sophomore cornerback Brent Gordon Jr. is a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt pick after a promising true freshman season for the Cajuns. In 2025, Gordon was third on the team in tackles (62) and had 11 pass breakups, most on the team and tied for fourth-most in the conference.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Troy. The Trojans have won the Sun Belt West Division three of the last four years (except for 2024, when Louisiana won it), and the Trojans have beaten the Ragin’ Cajuns in three of their last four meetings. The Cajuns’ chances of getting back to the Sun Belt title game start with winning this one.
— Sam Khan Jr.
Louisiana Monroe Warhawks
2025 record: 3-9 (1-7 Sun Belt)
Location: Monroe, La.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.1%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 1.1%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 132nd
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better. With only one Power 4 team on the schedule this year, Louisiana Monroe has a shot at inching its win total upward.
Pedigree: There’s no more difficult place to win in the FBS. Since joining college football’s top level in 1975, the Warhawks have three winning seasons (1978, 1980, 2012) and only one bowl appearance, in 2012.
Why they’re interesting: The Warhawks’ quest for bowl eligibility hinges on their veteran receiving and linebacking corps. Senior linebacker Noah Flemmings, a third-team All-Sun Belt selection, led the team in tackles in 2025. Four of Louisiana Monroe’s six top receivers also come back, led by junior Nic Trujillo — though last fall’s leading receiver Jonathan Bibbs is at UCF now.
Who is the coach? Bryant Vincent enters his third season at ULM with an 8-16 record, but he also spent last fall as the school’s interim athletic director before S.J. Tuohy — of “The Blind Side” fame —was hired to fill that role. Vincent led UAB to a surprising 7-6 finish in 2022 as interim coach after Bill Clark’s sudden retirement that summer.
Who is the QB? Aidan Armenta (No. 96 in QB Tiers) returns after starting 11 games last year and two-thirds of the 2024 season, and he’ll have Houston transfer Austin Carlisle and returnee Landon Graves pushing him from the sidelines.
Key player: Right tackle AJ Vinson started every game last year, helping the Warhawks average 4.6 yards per rush. Vinson has earned first-team All-Sun Belt preseason honors from multiple publications this summer.
Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. old rival and new conference-mate Louisiana Tech. This is the first time the in-state foes located less than 40 miles apart have played since 2000, but they used to meet annually. The Bulldogs lead the football series 30-13 all-time.
— Scott Dochterman
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
2025 record: 8-5 (5-3 CUSA)
Location: Ruston, La.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.6%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 6.3%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 107th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better, but the competition is now stiffer.
Pedigree: Last season was Louisiana Tech’s first winning campaign since 2019 and its second consecutive bowl appearance after a three-year absence. The Bulldogs made seven consecutive bowl games from 2014 to 2020 but haven’t won a conference title since capturing the WAC in 2011.
Why they’re interesting: This is the Bulldogs’ first season as a Sun Belt member, a league that should serve them better geographically. The offense finally broke through last season under coordinator Tony Franklin, and head coach Sonny Cumbie promoted offensive line coach Nathan Young to replace Franklin after he retired. A solid returning offensive line offers hope that last year might only be the beginning, though better defenses await in the Sun Belt.
Who is the coach? Cumbie, 45, spent his whole coaching career in Texas after playing quarterback under the late Mike Leach at Texas Tech. Last year was a breakthrough season to cool his seat considerably after he went 11-26 in his first three seasons.
Who is the QB? Trey Kukuk won the job in camp last year, lost it midseason and regained it after an injury to Blake Baker, who tore his ACL in November. But Baker is healthy again after throwing for 1,251 yards, rushing for 260 yards and accounting for eight total touchdowns, and he was named the starter in late July.
Key player: Players from last year’s defense transferred to SMU, TCU, Kansas State and Michigan State, but Louisiana Tech welcomes back All-CUSA linebacker Kolbe Fields, who missed the final eight games last season with a leg injury. Fields, who has also played for South Carolina and LSU, had 71 tackles and nine tackles for loss in 2024.
Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Louisiana. The Bulldogs kick off life in the Sun Belt with a massive game against an in-state rival. The two sides haven’t played since 2015.
— David Ubben
QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson is back at Marshall after rushing for 660 yards last year. (Scott Clause / USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)
Marshall Thundering Herd
2025 record: 5-7 (3-5 Sun Belt)
Location: Huntington, W.V.
Odds to make the CFP: 1.9%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 10.2%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 101st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Better.
Pedigree: The Thundering Herd have a proud history as the alma mater of former NFL stars Randy Moss and Byron Leftwich and the owners of nine double-digit-win seasons since joining Division I-A in 1997, following a pair of I-AA national titles earlier in the 1990s. Marshall has won four conference championships this millennium, including their first Sun Belt title in 2024.
Why they’re interesting: After coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss in the wake of a conference title, Marshall went from 10 wins in 2024 to just five in 2025, but things might have stabilized. The Herd have a conference-high nine players on the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.
Who is the coach? Tony Gibson came to Marshall from NC State, where he had been defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for six years, to pick up the pieces after Huff took a wave of players with him to Hattiesburg. Gibson, who was born in Van, W. Va., and played at Glenville State under Rich Rodriguez, has also spent two extended stints on the staff at West Virginia.
Who is the QB? Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (No. 67 in QB Tiers), the preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, transferred to Marshall ahead of the 2025 season after three years at Syracuse and one at Florida. He threw for 2,043 yards and rushed for 660. As he goes, so too will Marshall.
Key player: Keep an eye on defensive back Daytione Smith. He had 50 tackles and three picks in 2025; no other Sun Belt returnee has more interceptions. He’s in his sixth season at Marshall and is a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt selection.
Game to circle: Oct. 3 at James Madison. The Dukes are favored to win the East Division again, but they’ve gone through their own offseason of dramatic turnover, and this is an early opportunity for Marshall to shake up the conference race.
— Grace Raynor
Old Dominion Monarchs
2025 record: 10-3 (6-2 Sun Belt)
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Odds to make the CFP: 5.1%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 24.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 85th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: The Monarchs brought football back in 2009 after a 68-year absence, moved from the FCS to the FBS in 2014 and have made four bowl appearances since. The program’s breakthrough season was in 2016, when they went 10-3 and won the Bahamas Bowl. The 2025 team matched that total and beat South Florida 24-10 in the Cure Bowl.
Why they’re interesting: Old Dominion wants to prove that last season’s breakthrough — which included the program’s third win against Virginia Tech in the last decade — was the beginning of something sustainable. It won’t be easy after Wisconsin plucked star quarterback Colton Joseph in the portal. But the defense should still keep the Monarchs competitive while an almost entirely reconstructed offense develops.
Who is the coach? Ricky Rahne, 45, enters his seventh season at Old Dominion with a 30-33 record. The former Penn State offensive coordinator led the Monarchs to bowl appearances in 2021, 2023 and 2025. Rahne has built the Monarchs around player development, defensive consistency and recruiting the talent-rich Hampton Roads region in coastal Virginia.
Who is the QB? Quinn Henicle (No. 118 in QB Tiers) has the dual-threat ability Rahne loves in his quarterbacks. In his first start, Henicle threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 206 yards and two scores in a win over Arkansas State in 2024. In his second start, Henicle earned MVP honors in December’s Cure Bowl, producing 127 passing yards, 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Key player: Running back Devin Roche, Old Dominion’s only returning starter on offense, was also the team’s only first-team preseason All-Sun Belt selection. He’ll be the focal point of the offense after rushing for 630 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. James Madison. This game will set the tone for the Sun Belt East race. James Madison has won the last four meetings and leads the series 4-2. The Monarchs last beat James Madison in 2012 when both were at the FCS level.
— Manny Navarro
South Alabama Jaguars
2025 record: 4-8 (3-5 Sun Belt)
Location: Mobile, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.6%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 4.5%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 120th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: In 14 years of FBS football, the Jaguars have won more than seven games just once. Former head coach (and current Alabama defensive coordinator) Kane Wommack led the program to 10 wins in 2022, and Major Applewhite followed up his departure with a third straight bowl trip in 2024. But the Jaguars fell to 4-8 in 2025, their worst record since 2019.
Why they’re interesting: This is an overhauled staff, with only three on-field coaches returning in the same position as 2025, under a returning head coach who needs to show improvement after the first losing season of his career. Applewhite is going back to his play-calling roots after offensive coordinator Paul Petrino left for Louisville and will need to spark a unit that finished last in the Sun Belt in plays of 20-plus yards last season. On the other side of the ball, well-traveled veteran Todd Orlando takes over as defensive coordinator. The Jaguars posted a paltry 12 sacks in 2025, tied for third fewest in the FBS.
Who is the coach? Applewhite, 48, took over for Wommack after three seasons as offensive coordinator and has gone 11-14 overall and 8-8 in Sun Belt play the past two years. This is the second head-coaching opportunity for the former Texas quarterback, who also went 15-11 at Houston from 2016 to ’18.
Who is the QB? Bishop Davenport (No. 85 in QB Tiers) is coming off his first season as the full-time starter, throwing for 2,073 yards (68 percent completion) and running for another 325 last season with 21 combined touchdowns. He’s back for one last year in college.
Key player: Junior running back Keenan Phillips returns as the feature back after finishing second on the team in rushing with 605 yards (4.8 yards per carry). He earned a preseason second-team all-conference nod.
Game to circle: Sept. 12 at Tulane. It’s a tough road trip, but the Green Wave’s special uniforms have turned up the temperature on a battle between schools whose home cities battle over Mardi Gras supremacy.
— Justin Williams
Southern Miss Eagles
2025 record: 7-6 (5-3 Sun Belt)
Location: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Odds to make the CFP: 0%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 0.4%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 126th
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse.
Pedigree: Southern Miss used to be the model for a mid-major program, with just eight losing seasons from 1935 to 2011. It’s had seven losing seasons in the 14 years since.
Why they’re interesting: The Golden Eagles improved from 1-11 to 7-6 under first-year coach Charles Huff last year, but they lost their last four games, and Huff left for Memphis. Blake Anderson was promoted to head coach, but he inherits the least amount of returning experience in the Sun Belt.
Who is the coach? Anderson, in his second stint at Southern Miss, takes over after one season as offensive coordinator. He has a winning pedigree, with nine bowl games in 10 seasons leading Arkansas State and Utah State, including three conference championships.
Who is the QB? Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton (No. 127 in QB Tiers) is battling returning backup Landry Lyddy for the starting job. Hampton played only 17 snaps at Illinois, but he led Northern Illinois’ upset of Notre Dame in 2024.
Key player: Illinois transfer receiver Mario Sanders is a former junior college All-American who separated himself in spring practice.
Game to circle: Sept. 26 at Tulane. Southern Miss will face former coach Will Hall, who now leads the Green Wave. These two teams compete for a lot of Gulf Coast recruits, and Southern Miss fans would love a win over their former coach.
— Chris Vannini
Troy Trojans
2025 record: 8-6 (6-2 Sun Belt)
Location: Troy, Ala.
Odds to make the CFP: 0.9%
Odds to win the Sun Belt: 7.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 81st
Will they be better, worse or the same this year? The same.
Pedigree: A former top-10 FCS program, Troy has seen continued success over a quarter-century in the FBS, including five 10-win seasons over the last decade and eight Sun Belt titles since 2006. Last year’s team reached the Sun Belt title game but lost to College Football Playoff-bound James Madison.
Why they’re interesting: The Trojans bring back a starting quarterback on a Sun Belt contender, while also adding offensive coordinator Adam Austin, who led a prolific offense for FCS Tarleton State last year. Skill pieces need to emerge behind a good offensive line, and there’s enough defensive talent to keep them in the mix again.
Who is the coach? Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, 45, enters his third season in charge. After a 5-10 start to his tenure, Troy closed the 2025 regular season with a 7-2 run.
Who is the QB? Goose Crowder (No. 109 in QB Tiers), if he can stay healthy. Crowder missed eight games in 2024 and six games last year. His play has been inconsistent, but he has experience. Last year’s backup Tucker Kilcrease also returns after seeing heavy playing time last year.
Key player: Junior edge Donnie Smith is back after racking up 11 sacks a year ago. He’ll have to anchor a defense that needs a load of new starters but was top-10 nationally in the red zone last season.
Game to circle: Oct. 29 at James Madison. A rematch of last year’s Sun Belt title game will be important for two teams that want to get back there.
— Chris Vannini