Louisiana

Louisiana enters 2026 dealing with significant turnover along the offensive line, creating uncertainty around an attack that already struggled last season. The Ragin' Cajuns rank 117th nationally in JP+ preseason ratings at -8.9 points, with the offense grading particularly poorly at 120th (-5.4 points) while the defense sits at a more respectable 114th. Key departures include receiver Charles Robertson (10.9 PPA) and running back Zylan Perry (10.1 PPA) who transferred to Cincinnati, along with backup quarterback Walker Howard heading to Ole Miss. D'Wayne Winfield returns as the starting quarterback, providing some stability in the backfield even as the offensive line undergoes substantial changes.

JP+ projects 6.3 wins for Louisiana in a schedule that features challenging road trips to USC and Louisiana Tech while offering home opportunities against Arkansas State and softer matchups like ULM and Lamar. The Ragin' Cajuns managed just 6-6 in 2025 and face moderate offensive continuity risks beyond the line, with only 50% of receiving targets returning despite Winfield's presence under center. If the new offensive line pieces gel quickly and the defense maintains its relative stability from last season, Louisiana could push toward seven wins in Sun Belt play. If the line struggles early and the offense stagnates, another .500 campaign or worse becomes the more likely outcome.