College football rebound teams 2026 led by Oklahoma State, Florida
FanDuel's 2026 win totals put Oklahoma State, Florida and Penn State among nine teams projected to climb after rough 2025 seasons.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Oklahoma State, Florida and Penn State are among the college football rebound teams 2026 bettors will be watching after FanDuel Sportsbook posted preseason win totals that sit well above their 2025 regular-season records, according to CBS Sports.
CBS Sports reported that nine teams have FanDuel win totals at least 2.5 games higher than their 2025 regular-season wins. Seven of those nine enter the season with new head coaches, while Wisconsin and South Carolina are the two holdovers with coaches already facing pressure, according to the report.
Which college football teams are projected to rebound in 2026?
Oklahoma State has the sharpest projected rise in the group. The Cowboys won one regular-season game in 2025, while FanDuel lists them at 6.5 wins for 2026, according to CBS Sports. The report notes that new coach Eric Morris arrives with quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and receiver Wyatt Young from North Texas, along with an offense built around pace and scoring.
Florida is next on the board with a move from four wins in 2025 to a FanDuel total of 7.5. CBS Sports reported that new Gators coach Jon Sumrall averaged 9.75 regular-season wins over four seasons at Troy and Tulane. Florida also brings back nine starters, with running back Jadan Baugh and edge rusher Jayden Woods among the returnees after the program lost seven players to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Virginia Tech and UCLA are both listed at 6.5 after three-win seasons. CBS Sports reported that James Franklin, now at Virginia Tech, said at ACC Media Days that the Hokies “won the offseason.” UCLA turns to Bob Chesney, who previously led James Madison to the College Football Playoff, according to the report.
Penn State, now led by Matt Campbell, is projected at 8.5 wins after a six-win 2025 regular season. CBS Sports pointed to a kinder schedule, with the Nittany Lions avoiding Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon. The report also cited 24 transfers who followed Campbell from Iowa State, including quarterback Rocco Becht.
Why are win totals rising for these teams?
Preseason win totals are betting-market projections for how many regular-season games a team is expected to win. A jump can reflect a new coach, transfer additions, returning production, a softer schedule or some mix of all four.
Kansas State is also at 8.5 after a six-win season. CBS Sports reported that Collin Klein takes over after Chris Klieman retired, reuniting him with quarterback Avery Johnson, whose passing touchdowns fell from 25 to 18 in 2025. The Wildcats also avoid BYU, Texas Tech and Utah, the three Big 12 teams with better title odds, according to the report.
Wisconsin and South Carolina each went 4-8 in 2025 and each carries a FanDuel total of 6.5. CBS Sports noted that Wisconsin’s schedule no longer includes Indiana, Ohio State or Oregon, though Notre Dame remains on the slate at Lambeau Field. South Carolina returns quarterback LaNorris Sellers and adds offensive coordinator Kendal Briles after ranking 104th nationally in scoring at 22.7 points per game, according to the report.
Arkansas rounds out the list at 4.5 after a two-win season. CBS Sports reported that Ryan Silverfield becomes the Razorbacks’ fourth coach in a decade after six years at Memphis, where his teams posted the fifth-best winning percentage among Group of Six programs during his tenure.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.