2026 Team Previews

[BambooRdApp]

A lot of folks have second thoughts about the hire . A lot.

That tells me more about the people who hired him than the person hired.

I do not think so. It may say something equally about both. If the folks that hired him had hired an low level analyst, sure....it says more about them. They did not
If the guy is not working out, at the end of the day, it says the most about the guy that was hired. The HC is ultimately the one responsible for W/Ls.

As far the the "folks in the room". That really depends on the influence of the "folks in the room". I am sure DG has his "go to" circle he confides in as was the hired search group.

I do not have an opinion of one way or the other as I was not involved in the process. It is just my opinion that HC is always more responsible as he is the one running the program. Just my opinion.

[Saint3333]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

[MrCraig]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

You're welcome! Sorry for believing everyone should be paid commensurate to their talent. I thought that was generally accepted, but I've learned when it comes to sports, it's not.

[MrCraig]

Less than stellar predictions for the boys. I know it's just a crappy, superficial look, but it still hurts to see.
https://collegefootballnews.com/college ... eview-2026

https://collegefootballnews.com/college ... pring-2026

Let’s be honest with ourselves: is this take closer to the truth than many of us want to admit?

Had App returned a reasonable core of players this year, maybe confidence would be higher. But can anyone look at what Loggains has built in the offseason and confidently say, “App will be significantly better in 2026”? We just don’t know yet.

[note: I don’t say this to be negative or dog the team/staff. I truly hope App uses this as grist and runs the table this season!]

"We just don't know yet."

This is key. There are just too many unknowns at this point. Any kind of pre-season prognostication is a fool's errand. Let's watch the first 2-3 games, and then we can start making some judgments. Folks ready to jump off the boat before it even leaves port are just being silly.

[diehardapp18]

If we go 5-7 again the HC and AD have to go imo.

The AD has done so much good work in his time here. But if you get two football hires wrong I just think it’s far too risky to give a third.

[Saint3333]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

You're welcome! Sorry for believing everyone should be paid commensurate to their talent. I thought that was generally accepted, but I've learned when it comes to sports, it's not.

Suicidal Empathy. When in reality those that make the rules have structured it so they win and we (along with eventually mid-major olympic sports) lose.

The process will kill athletics and overall number of scholarships so that a few will get paid.

The original goal of college athletics was to provide more opportunities to those that otherwise wouldn't.

You can argue that the money made should have been allocated back to the schools and help subsidize the costs there rather than lining coaches' pocket and building grand halls for training/fans and I'd agree.

The second and third order consequences from standing on the "moral" ground are problematic. Congrats you fell for it.

[MrCraig]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

You're welcome! Sorry for believing everyone should be paid commensurate to their talent. I thought that was generally accepted, but I've learned when it comes to sports, it's not.

Suicidal Empathy. When in reality those that make the rules have structured it so they win and we (along with eventually mid-major olympic sports) lose.

The process will kill athletics and overall number of scholarships so that a few will get paid.

The original goal of college athletics was to provide more opportunities to those that otherwise wouldn't.

You can argue that the money made should have been allocated back to the schools and help subsidize the costs there rather than lining coaches' pocket and building grand halls for training/fans and I'd agree.

The second and third order consequences from standing on the "moral" ground are problematic. Congrats you fell for it.

Sorry to get AP English teacher on you, but your reasoning does not support your claim.
Money is absolutely ruining college sports, but not because the players are finally getting paid for their talent. Mega conferences, multi-million dollar TV deals, overpaid coaches and ADs... all those things ARE ruining college football. The players finally getting their piece of the pie isn't.

[Saint3333]

English teacher, hmmm. Logic was sound, I mentioned your point in my post and a better way of how the money should have been utilized.

In addition the results are proof, when did the inflection point occur? When the coaches got paid, when the stadium were upgraded, or when the players of certain programs starting getting paid in conjunction with the no regulation transfer portal?

Hopefully the rules are amended by more than an EO soon or the number of programs available to HS athletes will suffer.

[Bootsy]

Winning and losing has always been the main thing; now it’s the only thing. The days when fans wanted to build relationships with coaches and players and cared about their wellbeing is all bit gone.

The human element is disappearing and it’s a tragedy rarely mentioned in TP/NIL discussions…here or anywhere else.

[Stonewall]

Academics? A life changing education? A generational accomplishment? Pooooffff!

[Mjohn1988]

If we go 5-7 again the HC and AD have to go imo.

The AD has done so much good work in his time here. But if you get two football hires wrong I just think it’s far too risky to give a third.

Finding and hiring a coach who can succeed at the G5 level in this environment is going to be a pretty tough thing to do. Like others have said, I think the G5 level will full of mediocre teams.

[Mjohn1988]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

You're welcome! Sorry for believing everyone should be paid commensurate to their talent. I thought that was generally accepted, but I've learned when it comes to sports, it's not.

Suicidal Empathy. When in reality those that make the rules have structured it so they win and we (along with eventually mid-major olympic sports) lose.

The process will kill athletics and overall number of scholarships so that a few will get paid.

The original goal of college athletics was to provide more opportunities to those that otherwise wouldn't.

You can argue that the money made should have been allocated back to the schools and help subsidize the costs there rather than lining coaches' pocket and building grand halls for training/fans and I'd agree.

The second and third order consequences from standing on the "moral" ground are problematic. Congrats you fell for it.

Sorry to get AP English teacher on you, but your reasoning does not support your claim.
Money is absolutely ruining college sports, but not because the players are finally getting paid for their talent. Mega conferences, multi-million dollar TV deals, overpaid coaches and ADs... all those things ARE ruining college football. The players finally getting their piece of the pie isn't.

G5 football could survive the “money”. The money is an issue, it should have been going into improving the academics of the universities. But that ship has sailed. So now the only way for G5 football to survive is to have pro style rules implemented. The NFL has all kinds of rules to insure all of its teams can have a chance to be competitive. From limits on how much teams can spend to actual contracts with players and trade restrictions. The current wild, wild west situation will kill college football, all of it.

[ah59396]

How do I even know if I should or shouldn't disagree with this prediction? A team of guys that have largely never played together, that joined because we offered them the most money, that'll leave the moment they get a better offer. How endearing.

How will they mesh? I dunno. I'll watch, I but I won't care nearly as much as I used to. Which is kinda nice tbh.

[Seattleapp]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

No one in the SBC above 75 and nine teams below 100 including us. Congrats to everyone that wanted to pay players, you killed football for us.

You're welcome! Sorry for believing everyone should be paid commensurate to their talent. I thought that was generally accepted, but I've learned when it comes to sports, it's not.

Suicidal Empathy. When in reality those that make the rules have structured it so they win and we (along with eventually mid-major olympic sports) lose.

The process will kill athletics and overall number of scholarships so that a few will get paid.

The original goal of college athletics was to provide more opportunities to those that otherwise wouldn't.

You can argue that the money made should have been allocated back to the schools and help subsidize the costs there rather than lining coaches' pocket and building grand halls for training/fans and I'd agree.

The second and third order consequences from standing on the "moral" ground are problematic. Congrats you fell for it.

Sorry to get AP English teacher on you, but your reasoning does not support your claim.
Money is absolutely ruining college sports, but not because the players are finally getting paid for their talent. Mega conferences, multi-million dollar TV deals, overpaid coaches and ADs... all those things ARE ruining college football. The players finally getting their piece of the pie isn't.

You pulling the smug academia card then getting it completely wrong is pretty impressive. As Saint noted, overpaid ADs are not why we are where are now.

[Seattleapp]

Academics? A life changing education? A generational accomplishment? Pooooffff!

Nowadays that’s an amazing benefit and opportunity except if you play college football. Apparently the players can only make money playing. It’s crazy to me how we proclaim to “care” so much about these kids but are more than happy to just throw money at them for a couple years and never think of them again. These players have zero idea as to what they may do after football. Have no degree and no ability to manage a truck load of money that’s suddenly handed to them. We aren’t doing these kids any favors and it ain’t got a damn thing to do with them getting their “fair share”. That’s code for exploiting them but couching it in a way to make that fan feel better about themselves

[BambooRdApp]

Academics? A life changing education? A generational accomplishment? Pooooffff!

Nowadays that’s an amazing benefit and opportunity except if you play college football. Apparently the players can only make money playing. It’s crazy to me how we proclaim to “care” so much about these kids but are more than happy to just throw money at them for a couple years and never think of them again. These players have zero idea as to what they may do after football. Have no degree and no ability to manage a truck load of money that’s suddenly handed to them. We aren’t doing these kids any favors and it ain’t got a damn thing to do with them getting their “fair share”. That’s code for exploiting them but couching it in a way to make that fan feel better about themselves

Agree with your commentary. But it is also a two way street. The kid has some responsibility/accountability in the equation. I am not naive. A young kid getting over a million a year does not think they will ever have to get a "real" job. I would have probably have had that mentality. I was not ready for undergrad. I attended because all my friends and my brother did. Luckily, I matured along the way. I am also curious how a university has to track kids that transfer as part of academic progress reports....which used to be a thing in order for a university to not get a penalty. I am sure some of the athletics departments are pushing easy course load for this progress knowing a kid may not be there year two. I am sure some graduate student or PhD candidate will be working on their thesis and the subject matter will be this concept of paying players and academic progress. ESPN will have a new 30/30 but college players instead of pros. More than the kids making $1.0 million or more a year are the kids making less or much less per year and they think they got it made for life.

[AppStFan1]

A lot of folks have second thoughts about the hire . A lot.

We don't need to be paying buyouts. If it is so bad that he has to go this year then Gillin should be gone as well. I really hope they don't rush and fire Loggains in 2026 unless they have cause.

[Seattleapp]

Academics? A life changing education? A generational accomplishment? Pooooffff!

Nowadays that’s an amazing benefit and opportunity except if you play college football. Apparently the players can only make money playing. It’s crazy to me how we proclaim to “care” so much about these kids but are more than happy to just throw money at them for a couple years and never think of them again. These players have zero idea as to what they may do after football. Have no degree and no ability to manage a truck load of money that’s suddenly handed to them. We aren’t doing these kids any favors and it ain’t got a damn thing to do with them getting their “fair share”. That’s code for exploiting them but couching it in a way to make that fan feel better about themselves

Agree with your commentary. But it is also a two way street. The kid has some responsibility/accountability in the equation. I am not naive. A young kid getting over a million a year does not think they will ever have to get a "real" job. I would have probably have had that mentality. I was not ready for undergrad. I attended because all my friends and my brother did. Luckily, I matured along the way. I am also curious how a university has to track kids that transfer as part of academic progress reports....which used to be a thing in order for a university to not get a penalty. I am sure some of the athletics departments are pushing easy course load for this progress knowing a kid may not be there year two. I am sure some graduate student or PhD candidate will be working on their thesis and the subject matter will be this concept of paying players and academic progress. ESPN will have a new 30/30 but college players instead of pros. More than the kids making $1.0 million or more a year are the kids making less or much less per year and they think they got it made for life.

Completely agree with your point as well. Let’s be honest. Not you and I but in general. The vast majority of these kids come down lower income areas. I came from a very lower middle classs family to put it charitably, but nothing compared to what a lot of these kids see growing up. I just hope maybe there are, but I hope there are mechanisms in place designed to help these kids understand how to manage money like that.

[AppSt94]

Here is the ESPN Sun Belt preview. https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... every-team

We are the 9th place team in the league based on the SP metrics. We play 4 of the teams below us this season. Two each on the road and home. Overall we are 111 with the 120th SOS. Only Charlotte is below us for our Non conference. So assuming Maine is a win, 6-6 is about where we should be happy.

So are we?

[Saint3333]

6-5 against programs that are peers or have less resources isn’t a successful season.