There’s an affordability crisis in this country. Gasoline is over $4 a gallon. Housing costs are skyrocketing. And worst of all, your children’s college tuition feels more like a second mortgage.
After all, how is their university, sitting on billions in endowment while they still ask you for donations, supposed to afford another school’s sixth-year quarterback in the transfer portal
so they can win this year?Let’s not worry about any of these things for the moment. College football season is here. And no school has been spared from the rising costs of superior college talent. (How many philosophy degree tuitions does it take to build a new secondary?).
Try to get over the sticker shock and remember what this time of year is all about: Out of whack point spreads, marching bands performing out of tune versions of Seven Nation Army, and glorious Saturdays (and other nights of the week) in front of the TV, enjoying yourself and forgetting about the world’s problems.
Unless, of course, your alma mater is on this year’s list of the worst 16 teams in college football. In that case, the misery loves your company.
No. 16 Northwestern in new stadium, same old bad
On paper, you might say things are looking up for Northwestern after last year’s 7-6 season. The Wildcats move to the most expensive stadium in college football—the brand new $862 million Ryan Field—for their home games. They even bring back most of their defense that only yielded 19.8 points per game. Head coach David Braun hired the experienced Chip Kelly to help bring some creativity to the Northwestern offense. But even Picasso needed paint, and Northwestern’s offense is still a blank canvas, led by former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles. And then there’s the brutal schedule.
No. 15 Wake Forest lost lot of talent
Head coach Jake Dickert brought several of his players from Washington State last year and the Demon Deacons surprised even their own fans with a 9-4 season. But like the days when you didn’t have to worry about lettuce giving you explosive diarrhea, many of those transfers are gone. So, too, are quarterback Robby Ashford and star tailback Demond Claiborne, with no clear replacements on this year’s roster. Wake Forest has to replace several defensive starters as well, including standout defensive tackle Mateen Ibirogba, who left for a pay raise at Texas Tech. Wake Forest will try to keep the score low to give it a fighting chance in the ACC.
No. 14 Duke lost QB to Miami
For a minute, it looked like Duke had smartened up. Head coach Manny Diaz had Duke’s offense humming last season, averaging 34.6 points per game. Now, the Blue Devils lose seven starters on offense, including former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah who put up most of those points. When Mensah took his talents to South Beach on the last day of the transfer portal window, he left a gaping hole in the offense. Like eating Taco Bell after midnight, the news goes from bad to worse on defense, where the team allowed 424.2 yards and 25.4 points per game last season. There may be enough talent to muddle through a lethargic ACC schedule.
No. 13 Iowa State has to replace Matt Campbell
Once Matt Campbell left to take the head job at Penn State, it was only a matter of time before his best players jumped out the transfer window to Happy Valley with him. New head coach Jimmy Rodgers will bring some talent from his 7-6 team at Washington State, but like a teenager refilling his mother’s vodka bottle with water, the truth catches up eventually. The Cyclones convinced star quarterback Jaylen Raynor to leave Arkansas State and take over an offense of mixed and matched players with little experience. On defense, star transfer safety Braden Awls tore his ACL in spring practice and will miss the season.
No. 12 Cincinnati replacing bunch of skill players
Like a fraternity pledge, Cincinnati managed to make it to a bowl last season before getting sick and flushed out to sea by Navy. Other than Cincinnati’s most famous football alumnus Travis Kelce marrying the world’s most famous pop star, this summer has been a bit tough on the Bearcats. Coach Scott Satterfield has had to replace every starting offensive skill player, including DraftKings All-Star quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech before he was ruled ineligible following gambling allegations. The defense returns only one likely starter from a unit that gave up nearly 400 yards and 25.6 points per game.
No. 11 Kentucky has new coach, lots of transfers
The bluegrass was greener for head coach Mark Stoops who takes $6.75 million per year until 2031 with him, after getting fired with last season’s 5-7 record (2-6 in the SEC). Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein replaces him, but with all the expensive ingredients Stein had at Oregon, it remains to be seen if he can cook on a budget in Kentucky. Stein has brought in 23 new coaches and 36 transfer players to remake the program. Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey takes over at quarterback. With only one returning starter on offense, we’ll see if Stein’s up-tempo Kentucky offense has enough thoroughbreds to improve on last year’s 23 points per game.
No. 10 Maryland has returning players, not much talent
The good news is Maryland returns six starters on offense and eight starters on defense, providing a continuity that most teams don’t have in college football. The bad news is that continuity comes from a team that dropped faster than the share price of SpaceX, losing eight straight to end the season. You don’t need to believe in global warming to see that coach Mike Locksley's seat is getting hotter by the minute. Locksley brings in Clint Trickett from Jacksonville State as offensive coordinator to help rejuvenate an offense that finished 95th nationally in scoring. Malik Washington returns at quarterback after a promising freshman season.
No. 9 Mississippi State seeking to improve on defense
In his second season as head coach of the Bulldogs, Jeff Lebby improved from 2-10 to 5-8. But in the SEC, patience is like cryptocurrency—people have heard about it, but no one knows what it really is or whether it’s worth anything. Quarterback Kamario Taylor showed promise in his freshman year despite being sacked 43 times. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Lebby brings back the coach he essentially replaced, Zach Arnett, to retool a dreadful defense that gave up over 400 yards and 30 points per game.
No. 8 Rutgers' Greg Schiano needs to recruit some talent
In his second stint as head coach, Greg Schiano brought the Scarlet Knights to back-to-back bowl games in 2023 and 2024. But after last season’s 5-7 record (2-7 in the Big Ten), Schiano needs to make some recruits offers they can’t refuse. That starts with replacing quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis; Sophomore AJ Surace and Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan will compete for the starting spot. Schiano took over the defense at midseason last year. He’s overhauled a staff to retool a unit that gave up 210 yards rushing and 31.8 points per game.
No. 7 Syracuse hopes QB Steve Angeli can return
After a 10-3 debut season for coach Fran Brown, Syracuse started 3-1 last year before the Orange got crushed, dropping eight straight after starting quarterback Steve Angeli tore his Achilles tendon. Even if Angeli returns at full strength, he’ll be surrounded by a pool of returning skill position players who are about as deep as a Logan Paul poetry reading. It didn’t help that five-star freshman wide receiver Calvin Russell III also tore his Achilles this spring. On defense, new coordinator Vince Kehres comes from leading the nation’s fourth best scoring defense in Toledo last season. He’ll need to squeeze all the juice he can out of a unit that gave up 427.7 yards and 34.9 points per game.
No. 6 Colorado coach Deion Sanders wants return to 2024
Which Colorado team will we see this season? The 2024 squad that went 9-4 and cracked the Top 25? Or the 2023 and 2025 teams that finished 1-8 in the conference? Coach Deion Sanders hasn’t been afraid to take big swings. But under the bright lights, the Buffaloes have done more scuffling than shuffling. Coach Prime brings in former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion to overhaul an offense that was 112th in total yardage and 114th in scoring in the nation. Redshirt freshman QB Julian Lewis has to show he’s up for the open playbook test. The defense will need nametags as most of the players are coming from the transfer portal.
No. 5 Michigan State has third coach in seven seasons
Michigan State and head coach Pat Fitzgerald were a match made with the reset button. Fitzgerald, who had a very successful 17-year run as head coach of Northwestern before being fired after a hazing scandal. After settling his lawsuit with the school, he takes over a Spartans team on its third coach in seven seasons, following a 4-8 season in 2025 (1-8 in the Big Ten). Sophomore Alessio Milivojevic likely will take over at quarterback, but the receiver room is empty. They are counting on UConn transfer Cam Edwards to carry the ball at running back. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi will have to rebuild a unit full of transfers after last year’s defense only accounted for nine turnovers.
No. 4 Arkansas has major rebuilding job
What do you get a team that goes 0-8 in the SEC? A new coach! Ryan Silverfield will try to recreate the offensive magic he made at Memphis, but that wasn’t even Arkansas’ problem last season. The Razorbacks were actually a top-25 scoring team, averaging nearly 34 ppg. The defense, on the other hand, were very charitable. Veteran defensive coordinator Ron Roberts will oversee the new transfers and recruits, including a completely new secondary and try to reverse the -11 turnover differential from last season. Silverfield should help put the program back on track, but the Razorbacks have home games against Georgia, South Carolina and LSU and road games against Texas A&M and Texas.
No. 3 Stanford needs help on offense
Remember when Stanford’s football team could win more than five games? Neither can we. You have to go back to 2018, when AI was just a twinkle in your robot supervisor’s eye. Legendary Stanford quarterback and mediocre GM Andrew Luck brings in former teammate Tavita Pritchard as head coach. But it’s going to require a lot more than brain power, school spirit and alumni with NIL money to upgrade this roster. Michigan transfer Davis Warren is likely to take over at quarterback after missing last season with an ACL injury. He has a lot of homework to do to help an offense that averaged 18.8 points and 84.5 rushing yards per game.
No. 2 Boston College seeking answer to prayers
The Eagles brought in experienced head coach Bill O’Brien to lead the program, but a 2-10 record in his second season has the school wondering if their prayers ever will be answered. As penance, O’Brien has overhauled the entire coaching staff and brought in 28 transfer players to replace the 30 who left through the portal. Mason McKenzie. who transfers from Saginaw Valley State, likely takes over at quarterback with his 58% completion rating. On defense, well-traveled coordinator Ted Roof takes over a squad that gave up 32.8 points and 433.3 yards per game.
No. 1 Purdue looking forward to basketball season
Barry Odom’s first season with Purdue in 2025 saw the Boilermakers win zero Big Ten games. Odom hopes the talent infusion from the transfer portal will make a difference this season, including six new offensive linemen and four receivers to help returning junior quarterback Ryan Browne boost an offense that averaged less than 19 points per game. On defense, Purdon’t stop anybody, ranking near the bottom in every imaginable category last season, surrendering 31.9 points and 423.5 yards per game. Don’t worry, Purdue fans - basketball season is coming in October. Until then, have a shot of whiskey with your beer and enjoy your Boilermakers.
Florida State makes Dishonorable Mention list
Here are teams from the Power Four Conferences that will underachieve by winning four to seven games (listed alphabetically):
Arizona State, Baylor, California, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Nationally known oddsmaker Danny Sheridan is featured in newspapers and on national radio and TV during football season.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: College football teams to avoid when you are betting in 2026
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