Tulsa

The Golden Hurricane enter 2026 with quarterback Baylor Hayes back as the starter, but questions linger about an offense that struggled mightily last season. Tulsa's offensive unit ranks 115th nationally in JP+'s preseason projections at -4.8 points, weighed down by the departure of tight end Brody Foley to Louisville and wide receiver Zion Steptoe to Minnesota. The portal brought reinforcements in Oregon State receiver David Wells Jr. and Old Dominion running back Trequan Jones, while backup quarterback Kirk Francis departed for Texas Tech and Kennesaw State's Dexter Williams II arrived as depth.

JP+ projects 6.6 wins for Tulsa in 2026, suggesting modest improvement from last year's 4-8 campaign, with the defense grading out significantly better than the offense at 101st nationally. The Hurricane face a challenging slate including road trips to Navy and Arkansas, plus a home date with Oklahoma State that could define their season trajectory. If Hayes can develop chemistry with his new receivers and the defense maintains its relative stability, Tulsa could push toward bowl eligibility. If the offensive struggles persist, another disappointing season awaits in the American Athletic Conference.