Sam Houston

Sam Houston enters 2026 with significant uncertainty under center after losing quarterback Hunter Watson to the transfer portal, creating a wide-open competition for the starting role. The Bearkats' struggles run deeper than just the quarterback position, as their -20.0 JP+ rating ranks 137th nationally with both offense (-10.4, 136th) and defense (-9.1, 137th) ranking near the bottom of FBS. The transfer portal brought some reinforcement with tight end Max Whisner arriving from Akron as the headliner among 20 newcomers, while edge rusher Zion Taylor transferred in from Houston to bolster a defense that allowed opponents to control games during a disappointing 2-10 campaign.

JP+ projects just 0.3 wins for Sam Houston in Conference USA play, reflecting the steep rebuilding task ahead with games against Texas Tech and Tulsa representing both the toughest and easiest matchups on a limited slate. The new signal-caller will inherit an offensive system that ranked among the nation's worst, though the addition of proven contributors like Whisner could provide some stability in the passing game after the departure of tight end Rayfield Lotten to New Mexico State. If the quarterback competition produces a capable starter and the defensive additions from the portal make an immediate impact, Sam Houston could exceed those modest projections, but without significant improvement on both sides of the ball, another long season appears likely.