The usual college football conversation this time of year circles the heavyweights - Oregon, Texas, Ohio State and Indiana. But there’s a different group sitting just outside the spotlight, and a few of those teams have the pieces to make some noise in 2026.
Some are coming off rough seasons. Others are working with a new coach or a new quarterback.
One even reached the College Football Playoff after the 2022 season. Taken together, these five programs could end up outperforming the expectations attached to them right now.
South Carolina is first on the list, and the Gamecocks have a lot more upside than their 4-8 record from last season suggests. Shane Beamer’s team heads into 2026 with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge-rusher Dylan Stewart back in the fold. Sellers threw for 2,437 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025 even with plenty of turbulence around him, and if he delivers the kind of bounce-back year that matches his talent, South Carolina could quickly look a lot different in a loaded SEC.
Houston is another program that deserves more attention. Wille Fritz has moved fast in rebuilding the Cougars, and Conner Weigman returns after settling in during his first season under Fritz.
The offense also has real support around him: Amare Thomas put up 966 receiving yards in 2025, Oregon State transfer Trent Walker adds another proven option, and Makhi Hughes gives Houston a running back who helps complete the picture. That’s a pretty full offensive identity for a team most people still aren’t talking about.
TCU fits the surprise-team profile in a different way. The Horned Frogs averaged 30.7 points per game in 2025, and even after losing Josh Hoover to the transfer portal, they brought in Harvard transfer Jaden Craig to run the offense for new play-caller Gordon Sammis.
The defense took hits too, with Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Bud Clark both moving on to the NFL. Still, this is a program that reached the national championship just three seasons ago, and it has enough in place to make a run at the Big 12 title game and a CFP berth.
USC may be the most intriguing name on the board because of how much it brings back. The Trojans return 15 starters, more than anyone else in the country, with Jayden Maiava leading the way at quarterback and the offensive line staying intact in front of him.
Makai Lemon is gone, but USC has options in sophomore Tanook Hines and transfer Terrell Anderson. With that kind of continuity, it’s a little surprising the Trojans have mostly been left out of the sport’s biggest offseason conversations.
Then there’s UCLA, where Bob Chesney steps into a program that has gone 8-16 since joining the Big Ten. Nico Iamaleava is the headliner after showing flashes at Tennessee in 2024 before a rough transfer season, and he’s one of six returning starters for the Bruins. If Chesney and his staff can get a bounce-back season out of that group, UCLA could set itself up for a much different future than the one it’s had so far.
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UCLA Just Lined Up A Visit That Could Reshape Its Backcourt
UCLAs womens basketball staff has spent the offseason trying to refill a roster hit hard by the departure of six seniors to the WNBA, leaning on transfers and a broader recruiting push to keep the program stocked for the next wave. Cori Close and her staff have also been working ahead in the high school ranks, with an eye on the 2027 and 2028 classes as they look to add more long-term talent to a backcourt that needs a fresh jolt.
One of the biggest names on that board has now set an official visit for Oct. 30, giving the Bruins a real shot to make their case in person. The guard brings the kind of scoring and shooting range that could change the shape of UCLAs offense, and the visit also puts the Bruins in the middle of a crowded race that includes Washington, USC, Baylor, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee and Arizona State. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Finally Have A Shot At The Elite Guard It Needs
UCLAs search for a backcourt centerpiece has taken on a more promising shape with Adan Diggs, a five-star guard now in the 2027 class, drawing attention from the kind of programs that usually make the recruiting race feel crowded right away. Diggs has already built a national profile, and his rise has put him on the radar of the Bruins as Mick Cronin continues looking for the type of guard who can anchor the next wave of talent in Westwood.
For UCLA, the appeal is obvious. Diggs brings the kind of pedigree and upside that can change the conversation around a recruiting class, and the Bruins are among several top schools trying to stay in the mix. The challenge, as always with a prospect of this caliber, is turning early interest into real momentum before the rest of the country closes in. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Have Finally Found A Real Answer At Receiver
Landon Ellis has spent his college career moving up the ladder, and the path is part of what makes him such an intriguing name in UCLA receiver conversations. The Virginia product was a highly productive high school athlete before starting at Richmond, where he broke out as a sophomore, then transferred to James Madison to play for Bob Chesney and continued his rise in the Sun Belt.
What stands out for UCLA is the way Ellis has developed at every stop, turning early promise into real production and a bigger role. He is projected to be James Madisons leading wideout this season, which only adds to the appeal of a player who has already shown he can adapt, produce and keep climbing, even if the next step in his story remains the part everyone wants to see. [Read more 🡒]