Look ahead to the 2026 starting lineups..

GregInPitt

GregInPitt

Well-known member
On offense I'm still not sold on Hansen holding off Martin and Peoples even though Hansen has gotten considerably more playing time so far during his college career as both Martin and Peoples were elite RB recuits with exceptional athleticism. The projected WR starters look like an improvement over last year's starters, and I find it interesting that when looking at the projected 3 backups at WR they are all tall, fast WR's that could also develop into the down field threats that PSU has been missing for years. Along the OL there are candidates for breakouts into top players in Aliciene, Sexton and especially Goodman, and also some unknowns that could also surprise such a Onoh, Brewer and Harbour.

On defense, the author says that Blanding played behind White, which I don't believe as Blanding did play in all 13 games for 13 tackles vs White played in 8 games with only 3 tackles making Blanding the most experienced PSU returner at DT. At LB the two ISU transfers have a good bit of experience so it will be interesting to see of Tatsch can carve out an every game role and possibly overtake one of them for a starting role if he is in deed as talented as the previous staff believed. Seems there is reasonable depth at DB, and really top talent at CB with Collins, Dixon and Tracy leading the way.

There seems like enough talent and playmakers for Campbell and his staff to put together a 9+ win team, but lots of new pieces that will require lots of practice time and the OOC games to get everyone on the same page.

victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 offensive depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is taking form now that the Transfer Portal action is winding down. With a number of Nittany Lions leaving due to expired elig
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victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 defensive and special teams depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is littered with new talent. While head coach Matt Campbell's transfers have to prove themselves, he did well retaining solid
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com
 
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Undoubtedly, it is going to be hard to predict exactly how good PSU will be in 2026. There are just so many areas that we just don't know.

I feel like QB will be solid to good, probably not great. The OL could be good or could lack cohesion. There is some talent there even in the depth. The TEs could be good to outstanding. The WRs could be mediocre to pretty decent. I don't know how that shakes out. I'm guessing that our offense will be decent to pretty good overall.

The DL is a huge question mark for me. I am not comfortable with the lack of depth and experience at DE. But the DTs have tons of experience, size, and some depth. I just don't know enough about those big DTs we brought in to say how they fare in a Big 10 season. The LBs seem to be good to very good depending on health and I'm curious to see how the depth shakes out. The DBs seem to have a pretty good amount of talent and some decent depth. That could be very good if they aren't forced to cover forever if the DL doesn't get home. I think the defense could be average to good.

Overall, I see the coaching as a plus and like the fact that this team is going to be competing up and down the depth chart because nothing is set in stone. I see the schedule as very doable. Really the USC game followed by @ Michigan will tell us a lot. Maybe we learn something @Northwestern the week before USC. @Washington followed by Minnesota is the secondary challenge. But if PSU is even an average PSU team in 2026 then we should see 9 wins+. I just don't know how quickly we come together. If they do, I don't see why 10 wins can't happen. There are 3 teams on the schedule that finished ranked in 2025. No Ohio St, Oregon, or Indiana. We could possibly finish the year ranked.
 
LudicrousSpeedGO! said:
Undoubtedly, it is going to be hard to predict exactly how good PSU will be in 2026. There are just so many areas that we just don't know.

I feel like QB will be solid to good, probably not great. The OL could be good or could lack cohesion. There is some talent there even in the depth. The TEs could be good to outstanding. The WRs could be mediocre to pretty decent. I don't know how that shakes out. I'm guessing that our offense will be decent to pretty good overall.

The DL is a huge question mark for me. I am not comfortable with the lack of depth and experience at DE. But the DTs have tons of experience, size, and some depth. I just don't know enough about those big DTs we brought in to say how they fare in a Big 10 season. The LBs seem to be good to very good depending on health and I'm curious to see how the depth shakes out. The DBs seem to have a pretty good amount of talent and some decent depth. That could be very good if they aren't forced to cover forever if the DL doesn't get home. I think the defense could be average to good.

Overall, I see the coaching as a plus and like the fact that this team is going to be competing up and down the depth chart because nothing is set in stone. I see the schedule as very doable. Really the USC game followed by @ Michigan will tell us a lot. Maybe we learn something @Northwestern the week before USC. @Washington followed by Minnesota is the secondary challenge. But if PSU is even an average PSU team in 2026 then we should see 9 wins+. I just don't know how quickly we come together. If they do, I don't see why 10 wins can't happen. There are 3 teams on the schedule that finished ranked in 2025. No Ohio St, Oregon, or Indiana. We could possibly finish the year ranked.
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DE/Edge does seem to be the position of greatest unknow to me as well. A big key will be Granville. If he is the real deal which the previous staff seemed to advertise every time he was mentioned before his injury then he could be the player to be the Parsons/Carter pass rusher for PSU that every opponent has to account for mainly with double teams in passing situation that does free up other players, LB's and DL players, to also destroy QB's. And we'll need a few surprises as well which could come from players such as RS Jr Mason Robinson, RS Jr Jordan Mayer, and/or the RS Fr Dayshaun Burnett. Or the true freshmen DE Jackson Ford who was a 4 star that seems to have enough size at 6'5" 240 for the S&C program this winter to make him ready to contribute in his first season at PSU. Also, the transfer from Colorado soph McPherson who Tengwall seems reasonably high on looks like he will definately be in the DE rotation. So if the players we seem to know a good bit about such as Granville and Kemajou play up to their potential there seems like there could be enough talent to form a talented DE rotation as long as the group can stay pretty healthy. DE also seems like the position where Campbell may add another seasoned player before the end of the Summer.
 
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GregInPitt said:
DE/Edge does seem to be the position of greatest unknow to me as well. A big key will be Granville. If he is the real deal which the previous staff seemed to advertise every time he was mentioned before his injury then he could be the player to be the Parsons/Carter pass rusher for PSU that every opponent has to account for mainly with double teams in passing situation that does free up other players, LB's and DL players, to also destroy QB's. And we'll need a few surprises as well which could come from players such as RS Jr Mason Robinson, RS Jr Jordan Mayer, and/or the RS Fr Dayshaun Burnett. Or the true freshmen DE Jackson Ford who was a 4 star that seems to have enough size at 6'5" 240 for the S&C program this winter to make him ready to contribute in his first season at PSU. Also, the transfer from Colorado soph McPherson who Tengwall seems reasonably high on looks like he will definately be in the DE rotation. So is the players we seem to know a good bit about such as Granville and Kemajou play up to their potential there seems like there could be enough talent to form a talented DE rotation as long as the group can stay pretty healthy. DE also seems like the position where Campbell may add another seasoned player before the end of the Summer.
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I'd feel a little more comfortable with another more known quantity in there at DE. There is likely young talent, but the question is how ready they are for Big 10 level OTs. Granville and Kemajou both seem to have high potential although both are young and I think McPherson could pan out. But we are an injury or 2 away from not just playing guys with no college experience but possibly starting them. That to me is a bit scary. It is like how we were at LB recently.
 
LudicrousSpeedGO! said:
I'd feel a little more comfortable with another more known quantity in there at DE. There is likely young talent, but the question is how ready they are for Big 10 level OTs. Granville and Kemajou both seem to have high potential although both are young and I think McPherson could pan out. But we are an injury or 2 away from not just playing guys with no college experience but possibly starting them. That to me is a bit scary. It is like how we were at LB recently.
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I'm not sure I see a freshman having to start at DE. Robinson and Mayer, who will be competing for snaps likely behind Granville, Kemajou and possibly McPhereson, will be redshirt Juniors, 4th year players that very likely have reached their physical peaks and have been training as PSU DE's for 3+ years (Mayer for a couple years after his transfer from I believe WIsky). Burnett I believe came to PSU as a LB/DE recruit and now being listed at 234 as a 2026 redshirt freshman seems like he has a ways to go in the S&C before he really gets into a large role and we won't know much about Ford until we see him in the B/W game and his size after winter S&C, but those two seem like they will likely be the 6th and 7th DE's behind Granville and Kemajou as the starters, and then McPherson, Robinson and Mayer. So it would take some serious injuries for a freshman to be starting. But keeping the top 2 of Granville and Kemajou healthy sure would seem to be a focus. The battle between Robinson, Mayer and McPherson for the 3rd DE spot will be interesting. Robinson hasn't shown much so far, Mayer was pretty light until now being listed at 250, and although Tengwall liked McPherson's play as a true freshman at Colorado in 2025 he'll likely be hitting the S&C hard as he looks pretty lanky and his big frame has plenty of room for more muscle, possibly into a Courtney Brown monster. But at least McPherson has played a good bit of football while at Colorado. Should be fun to try and figure out who's progressing this Spring and into Fall camp, and then into the OOC games.
 
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GregInPitt said:
On offense I'm still not sold on Hansen holding off Martin and Peoples even though Hansen has gotten considerably more playing time so far during his college career as both Martin and Peoples were elite RB recuits with exceptional athleticism. The projected WR starters look like an improvement over last year's starters, and I find it interesting that when looking at the projected 3 backups at WR they are all tall, fast WR's that could also develop into the down field threats that PSU has been missing for years. Along the OL there are candidates for breakouts into top players in Aliciene, Sexton and especially Goodman, and also some unknowns that could also surprise such a Onoh, Brewer and Harbour.

On defense, the author says that Blanding played behind White, which I don't believe as Blanding did play in all 13 games for 13 tackles vs White played in 8 games with only 3 tackles making Blanding the most experienced PSU returner at DT. At LB the two ISU transfers have a good bit of experience so it will be interesting to see of Tatsch can carve out an every game role and possibly overtake one of them for a starting role if he is in deed as talented as the previous staff believed. Seems there is reasonable depth at DB, and really top talent at CB with Collins, Dixon and Tracy leading the way.

There seems like enough talent and playmakers for Campbell and his staff to put together a 9+ win team, but lots of new pieces that will require lots of practice time and the OOC games to get everyone on the same page.

victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 offensive depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is taking form now that the Transfer Portal action is winding down. With a number of Nittany Lions leaving due to expired elig
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com


victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 defensive and special teams depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is littered with new talent. While head coach Matt Campbell's transfers have to prove themselves, he did well retaining solid
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com
Click to expand...
I hope Goodman lives up to his rankings, especially after the disappointment of Birchmeier & Williams.
 
GregInPitt said:
I'm not sure I see a freshman having to start at DE. Robinson and Mayer, who will be competing for snaps likely behind Granville, Kemajou and possibly McPhereson, will be redshirt Juniors, 4th year players that very likely have reached their physical peaks and have been training as PSU DE's for 3+ years (Mayer for a couple years after his transfer from I believe WIsky). Burnett I believe came to PSU as a LB/DE recruit and now being listed at 234 as a 2026 redshirt freshman seems like he has a ways to go in the S&C before he really gets into a large role and we won't know much about Ford until we see him in the B/W game and his size after winter S&C, but those two seem like they will likely be the 6th and 7th DE's behind Granville and Kemajou as the starters, and then McPherson, Robinson and Mayer. So it would take some serious injuries for a freshman to be starting. But keeping the top 2 of Granville and Kemajou healthy sure would seem to be a focus. The battle between Robinson, Mayer and McPherson for the 3rd DE spot will be interesting. Robinson hasn't shown much so far, Mayer was pretty light until now being listed at 250, and although Tengwall liked McPherson's play as a true freshman at Colorado in 2025 he'll likely be hitting the S&C hard as he looks pretty lanky and his big frame has plenty of room for more muscle, possibly into a Courtney Brown monster. But at least McPherson has played a good bit of football while at Colorado. Should be fun to try and figure out who's progressing this Spring and into Fall camp, and then into the OOC games.
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I agree that the D line is a question mark and probably the biggest along with how Becht develops and performs. Granville would have started this year or actually played a lot but not started because Franklin would have chosen the senior Fisher over him. But he is coming back from a serious injury so who knows. Kemajou? He has potential but has not shown a lot. Then the depth is a total unknown. Robinson and Mayer have been buried on the depth chart (not a good sign) so total unknowns and they need to take big steps. Maybe McPherson really emerges? I know Burnett was a big time recruit but he is really young and inexperienced.

At DT I am hopeful the bulk and size added via the portal will make us more physical and dominanat at the point of attack. Simply clogging up the middle more. We were never physical enough on the DLine under Franklin in my opinion. Blanding was so so for us last year and needs to be coached up.

Speaking of coaching, this will be a big variable going into next season, can we get better coaching on the DLine? Hopefully yes as I was not sad to see Barnes depart. Also I think the Knowles era was a disaster so hopefully our new DC, Lynn, is a huge upgrade.
 
ryoder1 said:
I agree that the D line is a question mark and probably the biggest along with how Becht develops and performs. Granville would have started this year or actually played a lot but not started because Franklin would have chosen the senior Fisher over him. But he is coming back from a serious injury so who knows. Kemajou? He has potential but has not shown a lot. Then the depth is a total unknown. Robinson and Mayer have been buried on the depth chart (not a good sign) so total unknowns and they need to take big steps. Maybe McPherson really emerges? I know Burnett was a big time recruit but he is really young and inexperienced.

At DT I am hopeful the bulk and size added via the portal will make us more physical and dominanat at the point of attack. Simply clogging up the middle more. We were never physical enough on the DLine under Franklin in my opinion. Blanding was so so for us last year and needs to be coached up.

Speaking of coaching, this will be a big variable going into next season, can we get better coaching on the DLine? Hopefully yes as I was not sad to see Barnes depart. Also I think the Knowles era was a disaster so hopefully our new DC, Lynn, is a huge upgrade.
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If you have not already watched Tengwall's review of McPherson it's worth a look. McPherson had 16 tackles in 10 games for Colorado last season as a true freshman which likely says he was the 3rd or 4th DE for them but he should make a jump in play as he gets stronger and more coaching. One of the O'l ball coache's favorite lines was, "the best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores...". Really, DE will likely be an extremely young group with possibly the top 3 being Granville a redshirt soph but coming off an injury and with his freshman season the year of his class's senior high school season, Kemajou a true soph, and Mcpherson a true soph. It would be great of one or both of Robinson and/or Mayer (RS Juniors) would emerge to give the position some upper classman leadership.

 
GregInPitt said:
On offense I'm still not sold on Hansen holding off Martin and Peoples even though Hansen has gotten considerably more playing time so far during his college career as both Martin and Peoples were elite RB recuits with exceptional athleticism. The projected WR starters look like an improvement over last year's starters, and I find it interesting that when looking at the projected 3 backups at WR they are all tall, fast WR's that could also develop into the down field threats that PSU has been missing for years. Along the OL there are candidates for breakouts into top players in Aliciene, Sexton and especially Goodman, and also some unknowns that could also surprise such a Onoh, Brewer and Harbour.

On defense, the author says that Blanding played behind White, which I don't believe as Blanding did play in all 13 games for 13 tackles vs White played in 8 games with only 3 tackles making Blanding the most experienced PSU returner at DT. At LB the two ISU transfers have a good bit of experience so it will be interesting to see of Tatsch can carve out an every game role and possibly overtake one of them for a starting role if he is in deed as talented as the previous staff believed. Seems there is reasonable depth at DB, and really top talent at CB with Collins, Dixon and Tracy leading the way.

There seems like enough talent and playmakers for Campbell and his staff to put together a 9+ win team, but lots of new pieces that will require lots of practice time and the OOC games to get everyone on the same page.

victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 offensive depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is taking form now that the Transfer Portal action is winding down. With a number of Nittany Lions leaving due to expired elig
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com


victorybellrings.com

Way-too-early Penn State 2026 defensive and special teams depth chart projection

Penn State football's 2026 roster is littered with new talent. While head coach Matt Campbell's transfers have to prove themselves, he did well retaining solid
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com
Click to expand...

The state of CFB is such that IDK most of the players you mention here. Probably why my interest is half of what it once was.

Based on the 2026 schedule and what I know about MC, I don't think getting to 9 wins is a stretch.
 
ryoder1 said:
This makes sense to me. The USC game could be a loss. However, I agree with the analysis of USC being a poor road team going east and this could be the WO so advantage to us.

10 wins could very well get us in the playoff.
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USC could go the other way, so could Washington, Minnesota, and even Northwestern being that it is an early test of a team that beat us last year. We'll see what happens and how quickly they can come together. I have a feeling that this team will be more mentally tough but less top end talent than what we've seen. I think we are going to be a little more blue collar and hopefully have a chip on our shoulders instead of the group last year that appeared to me like they had been reading their press clippings in the off season.
 
bdroc said:
The notion that we'll beat USC with their extensive 4/5* talent just because they have to travel east seems like quite a stretch to me.
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You may be right. But coming across the country to a white out is worth quite a few point IMO. We'll see. They will definitely have more talent than any team we face in the regular season, even more than Michigan likely.
 
USC
"Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon are off to the NFL, and Jaden Richardson has exhausted his eligibility. The only receiver USC truly pursued and signed in the transfer portal was Terrell Anderson from NC State."
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USC Freshmen Receivers Could Become an Instant Difference-Maker

Malachi Toney was an instant difference-maker for the Miami Hurricanes during his freshman year. It’s hard to believe the First Team All-ACC receiver, who just
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QB Maiva. Meh, with new receivers.

USC LB Room. C+
 
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PSU could easily have won 10 games this past season. The losses to UCLA and NW were poor prep by the coaches and Iowa and IU should also have been wins. A team of similar strength should win at least 9 games with a more manageable schedule.
Position by position. I know this is too simple to be scientific, especially this early in the process to assemble the team by Coach Campbell as Spring practices hasn't even begun, but how will the 2026 team compare to 2025 as we look at it now....

QB - Better. Becht has loads of experience and has been effective in directing Campbell's offense for the past 3 years. He is much more experienced that Grunk and a better runner that either Allar or Grunk.
RB - Even at best, likely not as good. Only because of how good we know Katron was down the stretch of the 2025 season. Singleton as a RB I believe can be replaced with any of the top 2025 PSU RB's mainly due to Nick's lack of vision where he ran into his blockers backs too many times when there were holes for positive gains.
WR - Better. Pena was the only playmaker and when defenses took away the quick passes to him behind the LOS he was neutralized during stretches of game. The two ISU transfers look to be better and more experienced playmakers and better down field threats at WR than any of the 2025 starting PSU WR's. If the new WR coach can develop the younger WR's, Howard, Jones, Gonzalez, and Samuel the WR's could be significantly better than the 2025 group.
TE - Even. Dinkins, Reynolds and Rappeleyea were a talented and deep group in 2025, but barring injury Rappeleyea (a potential All B10 TE) together with the ISU transfer Brahmer will be a very high talent and excellent receiving TE duo. The risk at TE is if there is a legit high talent #3 TE with Senior ISU transfer Burkle. Depth beyond those 3 if there are injuries in the ISU RS So transfer Alexander and the RS Fr Kortovich.
OL - Not quite as Good. 2026 has a chance to be good with Donkoh, Cousins, and the ISU transfer Buhl leading the way. Donkoh looks to have a chance to be All B10. Lots of talented olinemen to sort out the couple starting spots in question, Center and L-OT, but the 2025 OL had a ton of experience.
DT - Not quite as good. Beyond losing the very active Durant I don't see that the DT's that moved on as special losses. Gilliam was developing but the new group has more size and a chance to be better against the run.
DE - Not quite as good, but a chance to be as good. DDS will be hard to replace, Fisher was a mature, experienced player, and the losse of Fisher and developing Harvey hurts. But Granville and Kemajou who was the #3 DE as a true freshman last season could be a better pass rushing duo than the 2025 starters. Sorting out the rest of the rotation will be ongoing likely into the OOC games but there are a good many talented DE's that will be in the hunt for the #3 spot and beyond.
LB - As good or better if Rojas stays healthy. Rojas's injury set the LB's back and his injury likely cost the team a couple of games. Rojas coul be an All Big10 player this sason. Campbell played well but the ISU transfesr may be just as good as Campbell. DeLuka's experience will be missed but whoever replaces him may bring more athleticism to the field, and the developing Tatsch along with Arrington and Smith could be positive surprises.
Safety - As good. Wheatly will be hard to replace, along with the contribution from Mack, but the tthree ISU transfers along with Toure are a talented group. Campbell added a couple of lower rated Safety's to the 2026 class but Safety will be a priority for the 2027 class and next off season in the transfer portal.
CB - As good but not a deep. The 2025 group had great depth as the 3 starters that returned were complimented with the talented Harris and Washington. Dixon, Collins and Tracy for a talented starting group but Terry Smith will need Joseph's role to continue to increas and he's also got to develop depth from a couple of the other young CBs, McDaniels, Thomas and Johnson.

The 2025 team seemed to have more depth, more young players developing last season. But the players that take the field to start the 2026 season have a pretty good chance to perform just as good as the 2026 team that was very much in every game except vs Ohio St., with the 2026 schedlule looking pretty reasonable and the passing game having a great chance to be more explosive and able to make come backs if the team gets behind.
 
GregInPitt said:
PSU could easily have won 10 games this past season. The losses to UCLA and NW were poor prep by the coaches and Iowa and IU should also have been wins. A team of similar strength should win at least 9 games with a more manageable schedule.
Position by position. I know this is too simple to be scientific, especially this early in the process to assemble the team by Coach Campbell as Spring practices hasn't even begun, but how will the 2026 team compare to 2025 as we look at it now....

QB - Better. Becht has loads of experience and has been effective in directing Campbell's offense for the past 3 years. He is much more experienced that Grunk and a better runner that either Allar or Grunk.
RB - Even at best, likely not as good. Only because of how good we know Katron was down the stretch of the 2025 season. Singleton as a RB I believe can be replaced with any of the top 2025 PSU RB's mainly due to Nick's lack of vision where he ran into his blockers backs too many times when there were holes for positive gains.
WR - Better. Pena was the only playmaker and when defenses took away the quick passes to him behind the LOS he was neutralized during stretches of game. The two ISU transfers look to be better and more experienced playmakers and better down field threats at WR than any of the 2025 starting PSU WR's. If the new WR coach can develop the younger WR's, Howard, Jones, Gonzalez, and Samuel the WR's could be significantly better than the 2025 group.
TE - Even. Dinkins, Reynolds and Rappeleyea were a talented and deep group in 2025, but barring injury Rappeleyea (a potential All B10 TE) together with the ISU transfer Brahmer will be a very high talent and excellent receiving TE duo. The risk at TE is if there is a legit high talent #3 TE with Senior ISU transfer Burkle. Depth beyond those 3 if there are injuries in the ISU RS So transfer Alexander and the RS Fr Kortovich.
OL - Not quite as Good. 2026 has a chance to be good with Donkoh, Cousins, and the ISU transfer Buhl leading the way. Donkoh looks to have a chance to be All B10. Lots of talented olinemen to sort out the couple starting spots in question, Center and L-OT, but the 2025 OL had a ton of experience.
DT - Not quite as good. Beyond losing the very active Durant I don't see that the DT's that moved on as special losses. Gilliam was developing but the new group has more size and a chance to be better against the run.
DE - Not quite as good, but a chance to be as good. DDS will be hard to replace, Fisher was a mature, experienced player, and the losse of Fisher and developing Harvey hurts. But Granville and Kemajou who was the #3 DE as a true freshman last season could be a better pass rushing duo than the 2025 starters. Sorting out the rest of the rotation will be ongoing likely into the OOC games but there are a good many talented DE's that will be in the hunt for the #3 spot and beyond.
LB - As good or better if Rojas stays healthy. Rojas's injury set the LB's back and his injury likely cost the team a couple of games. Rojas coul be an All Big10 player this sason. Campbell played well but the ISU transfesr may be just as good as Campbell. DeLuka's experience will be missed but whoever replaces him may bring more athleticism to the field, and the developing Tatsch along with Arrington and Smith could be positive surprises.
Safety - As good. Wheatly will be hard to replace, along with the contribution from Mack, but the tthree ISU transfers along with Toure are a talented group. Campbell added a couple of lower rated Safety's to the 2026 class but Safety will be a priority for the 2027 class and next off season in the transfer portal.
CB - As good but not a deep. The 2025 group had great depth as the 3 starters that returned were complimented with the talented Harris and Washington. Dixon, Collins and Tracy for a talented starting group but Terry Smith will need Joseph's role to continue to increas and he's also got to develop depth from a couple of the other young CBs, McDaniels, Thomas and Johnson.

The 2025 team seemed to have more depth, more young players developing last season. But the players that take the field to start the 2026 season have a pretty good chance to perform just as good as the 2026 team that was very much in every game except vs Ohio St., with the 2026 schedlule looking pretty reasonable and the passing game having a great chance to be more explosive and able to make come backs if the team gets behind.
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2025 was such a bust and then throw in injuries and it is a hard comparison. We could compare to 2024. I am not going to go through each position group but I believe our defense is significantly worse than '24's group. No Carter, no Durant, no DDS, no Wheatley., no Reed The offense may be a push. Becht will be better than Allar and our wide receivers will be better than in '24. No all world TE and not sure comparing the O lines.

That '24 team lost one game in the regular season with a run to the semis. Barely beat a weaker USC team on the road but we get them at home.

I think we have to win the USC game to have a shot at the playoff as I don't see us winning in AA nor Seattle. We have enough talent to beat USC in HV.
 
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