Worst Roster Since When?

[MamesJungro]

Just looked over the roster, and..... it’s pretty bleak. Our quarterback is coming back from a serious injury, we’re returning roughly 200 rushing yards, our leading receiver had nine catches last year, and there are new faces across both lines. O3 ranks the portal class last in the ACC, and second worst in P4

Maybe some of the newcomers have real potential, but it’s hard not to be surprised that three years into Fran’s tenure we appear to have sub-Dino-level talent at nearly every position. Feels like this experiment could be over after next season.

 

[MadNY3]

Have a great day, MamesJungro!

 

[FrancoPizza]

Portal class ranked last in the ACC?

The optimists in here have their work cut out for them.

 

[23Zone]

 

[DocFlanders]

I want to believe we did well in the portal, but I'd be lying if I said I am not concerned. I will take a wait and see approach and hope that we are good to go. We should pretty quick into the season where we stand. We better hope coaching trumps talent in our particular situation for sure.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I want to believe we did well in the portal, but I'd be lying if I said I have zero concerns here. I will take the wait and see approach and hope that we are good to go. We should pretty quick into the season where we stand. We better hope coaching rumps talent in our particular situation for sure.

I've learned that "always hopeful" means we're screwed.

 

[Blanko97]

Yeah idk, people are trying to spin it the best they can but not single on-paper impact transfer is walking through door. I don’t think that’s anyone’s fault necessarily but it may prove out that 2024 was just a lucky break versus the sign of the future. Got big names to come in and they performed. Perhaps Angeli will be incredible like McCord but I feel like it’s a lot to expect him to take this receiving core and level them up to a place where would compete for a spot in the top 25

 

[CuseMan4]

Casually forgets to add Angeli is already throwing, will only be kept out of some drills in spring ball as precautionary and will be full go for summer camp

Casually forgets to add we probably had our best high school recruiting class ever with 2 stud receivers coming in

Casually forgets to add that some of the kids that transferred that were “bigger” names were asked to move on because of issues off the field. Some of them pretty big issues. We went 3-9 last year, was there really anyone on the team where it’s like damn we lost that guy we need him back so we can win 3 games again

Casually forgets to mention the coaching overhaul and how our new DC would run circles around Robinson

Literally my biggest concern is safety, and o-line. We have a legit coach at o-line so he will coach them up. We’ll have 3 returning starters on the o-line and satieties we actually have a legit DC now that will coach to the players strengths. We’ll be fine. We aren’t winning the championship but we sure as hell aren’t going 3-9 again. We’ll go somewhere between 5-7 and 8-4

 

[LpoolNative]

My ignore list is starting to get hefty

 

[DocFlanders]

10-3, 3-9 and 5-7.

18-19 over 3 years.

Woof.

Anything less than 7 wins next year and pitchforks gets sharpened again imo.

 

[sufan59]

I don't know, I have no idea how the season is going to go, but this is not even close to one of our worst rosters ever. It's actually in the other direction. Having said that, it doesn't mean anything from wins and losses. You have to have good coaching, system, development, and culture. But the ceiling on this team and really every Fran team is higher than the last twenty years simply because there is a lot more high end 3 star, 4 star, and even 5 star players. Indiana did break a glass ceiling in that good coaching, system, development, and culture with experience and not a lot of former high end 3 star, 4 star, and even 5 star players was able to win a national championship and in style with the undefeated record, Heisman trophy winner, Big Ten championship, and Rose Bowl.

 

[mustacheovich]

Just looked over the roster, and... it’s pretty bleak. Our quarterback is coming back from a serious injury, we’re returning roughly 200 rushing yards, our leading receiver had nine catches last year, and there are new faces across both lines. O3 ranks the portal class last in the ACC, and second worst in P4

Maybe some of the newcomers have real potential, but it’s hard not to be surprised that three years into Fran’s tenure we appear to have sub-Dino-level talent at nearly every position. Feels like this experiment could be over after next season.

Got a source on those portal rankings? I'm seeing Cuse 10th in the ACC and 41st overall on On3

 

[Archbold44]

Just looked over the roster, and... it’s pretty bleak. Our quarterback is coming back from a serious injury, we’re returning roughly 200 rushing yards, our leading receiver had nine catches last year, and there are new faces across both lines. O3 ranks the portal class last in the ACC, and second worst in P4

Maybe some of the newcomers have real potential, but it’s hard not to be surprised that three years into Fran’s tenure we appear to have sub-Dino-level talent at nearly every position. Feels like this experiment could be over after next season.

I think we are better than last year at QB than last year.

I think the RB/WR rooms lack historical production, but that is just not where we can invest a lot. We have to take flyers on several guys and hope that 3-4 pan out.

Maybe it is me, but I think OL will be better because of better/different coaching. We have the size... we just need it to be used better. And we need the OC to call plays based on what kind of OL talent we have. I tend to think that Angeli will help make the OL look better too with quick decisions. I am less concerned.

The defense should be improved as key players age, as supplemented by a few transfers, along with better coaching/scheming. Worried about depth and safeties.

ST may drop back with the loss of a great punter and kickoff guy. Hopefully, we see better returns.

Overall, I expect us to be better next year than last year due to some addition by subtraction type of issues, plus a better QB room. But I also think fans overrated the team after the Clemson win. We struggled against UConn and gave up 24 to Colgate. I do not think we were winning 8-9 games with Angeli. For all its warts, the ACC has good coaches. They are going to watch film and scheme against you... and copycat what worked for other teams. We played too many teams that could compete against us in a high scoring game... Duke, Ga Tech, Miami, ND were all losses with Angeli, IMO. That leaves SMU, Pitt, BC, and UNC. If we swept those, we would end up 7-5. The 2026 schedule is at least as difficult as 2025. I just do not see 8 wins, even with a better team. I think we have the same over/under next year as I had last year: 5.5... with 4 wins just as likely as 7 wins, unfortunately. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Hawknate144]

Got a source on those portal rankings? I'm seeing Cuse 10th in the ACC and 41st overall on On3

Clearly that's actually the worst

 

[ar inj]

Just looked over the roster, and... it’s pretty bleak. Our quarterback is coming back from a serious injury, we’re returning roughly 200 rushing yards, our leading receiver had nine catches last year, and there are new faces across both lines. O3 ranks the portal class last in the ACC, and second worst in P4

Maybe some of the newcomers have real potential, but it’s hard not to be surprised that three years into Fran’s tenure we appear to have sub-Dino-level talent at nearly every position. Feels like this experiment could be over after next season.

My quick search says 11th portal class in the ACC and 56th nationally and ahead of Duke, Clemson and Pitt. I have no idea whose evaluation actually means anything or will result in wins on the field but obviously some people have very different opinions.

 

[richmondcuse03]

My quick search says 11th portal class in the ACC and 56th nationally and ahead of Duke, Clemson and Pitt. I have no idea whose evaluation actually means anything or will result in wins on the field but obviously some people have very different opinions.

Also if anyone actually looks at the portal grades guys get, they'd realize very little thought is put into them outside the top guys. 5k guys get dropped in the portal right away and we think those are serious ratings? Even for some of our guys who left who I liked -- those ratings are a joke.

If you weren't a top 100-250 guy in the portal, your ranking means very little. So a lot of portal rankings have to do with volume.

Fran's been very clear that we're a developmental program. The '25 and '26 classes were our top in modern history. The 25's are already littered across the two deep. I expect a number of '26s to crack the two deep as well.

Just because you don't see guys you know or like doesn't mean they're bad.

 

[CbusCuse]

On3 transfer portal ranking: 10th out of 17 in ACC and 41st overall

2026 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings

247 Portal ranking: 11th out of 17 in ACC, 56th overall.

2026 Transfer Football Team Rankings

Not great but not bad. But when you get 3 W's the year prior and don't have any huge changes like getting a new coach, that makes the recruiting a bit tougher. Hard to expect a killer portal class considering. Have to win more this year. better overall coaching and depth at QB should definitely help.

 

[CapitalO]

Dozens of programs have big time ? Marks about there rosters mainly due to the transfer portal. If SA. Is and stays healthy for the whole season that will be HUGE !!! Also with our new DC. I think we will be much better defensively my expectations low end 5-7 high end 7-5 hopefully it’s the high end.

 

[Hawknate144]

Dozens of programs have big time ? Marks about there rosters mainly due to the transfer portal. If SA. Is and stays healthy for the whole season that will be HUGE !!! Also with our new DC. I think we will be much better defensively my expectations low end 5-7 high end 7-5 hopefully it’s the high end.

I think the High end is probably better than that, but I agree on 5-7 being the low end baring complete disaster alla last season.

 

[Atlcuse44]

We have talent, my only concern is that we have a relatively young team. I know it is not apples to apples to compare us to Indiana but they had one of oldest rosters in college football (experienced dudes). That counts. We will see how quickly the youngins gel. Need someone else (outside of Angeli) to step up & be a leader.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Not sure we have ever had a roster with so much unknown. We have a QB, CBs, and hope. Not sure even Fran can comment on the talent level at this point.

On the defensive side I am more excited about our roster than entering last season. Although, I am very concerned with S. But every other position I am more optimistic vs last season at this time. That said it is the least exciting D roster in the ACC era for me.

Lots of questions on O, outside of QB. I would say least excited with the roster since entering 2021.


The combo of the two I would say least exciting since 2008. This is not to say it is the least talented since then. It is the least excited which stems from having little to no returning production on either side of the ball.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Not sure we have ever had a roster with so much unknown. We have a QB, CBs, and hope. Not sure even Fran can comment on the talent level at this point.

On the defensive side I am more excited about our roster than entering last season. Although, I am very concerned with S. But every other position I am more optimistic vs last season at this time. That said it is the least exciting D roster in the ACC era for me.

Lots of questions on O, outside of QB. I would say least excited with the roster since entering 2021.


The combo of the two I would say least exciting since 2008. This is not to say it is the least talented since then. It is the least excited which stems from having little to no returning production on either side of the ball.

agree, there are lots of unknowns. I tend to think a lot of those are positive but it's impossible to really define the talent level of the team. There's a lot of upside. Will all of it materialize? Who knows.

I also dont think we lost much on O. But I'm not as high on Gill as others on this board are.

 

[Cuse12]

I think the biggest thing is, Fran went all in on youth and a lot of HS guys. So year 1 was super portal heavy, year 2 fairly heavy as well, now year three he is putting his chips in on his developmental guys playing like high quality transfers. I think that’s the most optimistic view I can paint. I get there’s holes in that argument, but I feel that’s the thoughts behind the scenes maybe?

 

[Oakland]

I want to believe we did well in the portal, but I'd be lying if I said I am not concerned. I will take a wait and see approach and hope that we are good to go. We should pretty quick into the season where we stand. We better hope coaching trumps talent in our particular situation for sure.

We’ll always know where we are after the next game; this also applies to BB.

 

[PAcuse]