Teams to Rebuild on CFB26 (Dynasty)
- Liam Donnan
- Jun 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 6
EA Sports knocked it out of the park with College Football 25, their first installment since the classic NCAA14. It is the best-selling sports game in American history. More improvements, features, formations, plays, uniforms, and equipment are coming this year, with College Football 26.
Many players favorite feature is "dynasty," where you take control of a program as the head coach, controlling every on-field, recruiting, and roster management decision, just as Dabo, Kirby, Lanning, and Ryan Day do. While it may be fun to play as your favorite team, let's be honest, for most of us, they don't require rebuilding.
Here's some teams YOU should rebuild in CFB26, starting with the most obvious, and going into some other, less obvious options for a different challenge. Also, I will summarize in a pros and cons list, though, some of the cons may be pros if you are looking for the greatest challenge.
1) Missouri State Bears
I covered the two new FBS additions in one of my first blog posts, and they are the two obvious choices that need rebuilding. In the case of Missouri State, or "Mo State," they are a unique case in the world of FCS promotions. They have not had overwhelming success in the FCS, making the playoffs twice since 2020, losing in the first round both times.
It has leaked through the beta releases of the game that Mo State will have a 54 overall, by far the lowest in the game.
Pros: Good in-state recruiting, close proximity to Texas and the south-east for recruiting, great logo, good uniforms, multiple helmets
Cons: Lowest overall in the game, hard non-conference schedule
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Move to the SEC, or Big 12, set up annual matchups with Mizzou and create a rivalry.
2) Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
The other new addition to the FBS, Delaware is on better standing going into their debut season at the higher-level of competition. They have had success at the FCS level, making the playoffs consistently, have sent big names to the NFL, and overall, are a very consistent program.
As Mo State's did, Delaware's overall leaked in the beta, and is a 59 overall. Still very, very bad, but not the absolute worst. A win is a win?
Pros: Not the worst team in the game, ELITE logo and uniforms
Cons: Terrible recruiting state, bad recruiting proximity, 2nd lowest overall
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Move to the Big 10 or the ACC, recruit the hell out of the DMV, and take over recruiting all down the east coast, including Florida.
3) Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State have been laughably bad the last two seasons. How bad? 1-23, -601 point differential in that time. Real numbers. Even in the unpredictable MAC, Kent State can't find wins. They are arguably even tougher to rebuild than the FCS schools, but the unfamiliarity to most CFB fans got them the top two spots.
It's pretty obvious here, they are just really, really bad, and will make for a very difficult rebuild.
Pros: It can't get worse? Winnable conference fairly early
Cons: In-state recruiting dominated by other MAC teams and Ohio State, yellow as a primary color, the worst team in FB over the last two seasons
What to do once you rebuild them:
Move to the BIg 10 (or the AAC first), beat out Ohio State for the state's top recruit, set up annual matchups with Ohio State
4) Mississippi State
Yes, they are already a power conference team, no, they haven't been terrible if you zoom out beyond 2024. But, they are pretty clearly the worst team in the SEC. They have been lost since the passing of legendary coach Mike Leach, "The Pirate."
Well, finish what Leach started, RUN THE AIR RAID, and honor his legacy. Running the air raid not only honors Mike Leach properly, but is very fun. Also, you need fast receivers, and lots of times in the game, you can find 99 speed receivers in the south east, that are only rated as three-star prospects. Get a half-decent QB, a couple speedy receivers, and the rebuild could be on its way already.
Pros: In the SEC, not a terrible roster (relative to others on the list), storyline to run the air raid system and pick up where Mike Leach left it.
Cons: In the SEC, those annoying cowbells that ring all game, tough schedule
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Win the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss, win the SEC, return them back to the Dak Prescott days, where they peaked at #1 in the nation.
5) Kennesaw State Owls
Located just outside of Atlanta, Kennesaw State is uniquely positioned to get very solid recruits, even if they don't have a high rating. It is a tough out with Georgia and Georgia Tech in-state, with 'Bama and other SEC schools lurking as well. However, getting their leftovers and finding hidden gems is the path to success here. Once you are in a position to compete for the four-star recruits in Georgia, you are well on your way to some serious success.
Pros: Recruiting in Atlanta/Georgia
Cons: Having to recruit against the SEC and Georgia Tech
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Join the SEC or the ACC, beat out UGA or GA Tech for the state's best player, and compete with them on the field for conference and national titles.
6) Washington State Cougars
Washington State has been a more than respectable program for much of the last decade, and have a history of success and great players. However, all their best players seem to transfer-out. Cam Ward after 2023, John Mateer after 2024. Why are they in such need of rebuilding? Everyone is gone, or so it feels. Head coach Jake Dickert went to Wake Forest, star-in-the-making offensive coordinator/QB's coach Ben Arbuckle went to Oklahoma, and took star QB John Mateer with him. Electric RB Wayshawn Parker is gone to Utah. It's just all bad right now, and they need YOU to rebuild them. (Yes, YOU [Evan])
They also have a strong history of running the air raid, or something very similar. The offense is always fun, and running the system in game is very fun, unless you like running the ball, like, at all.
Washington and Oregon may take all your in-state recruits, but grabbing the leftovers from the West coast, Utah, and Nevada can do no wrong at the start.
Pros: Elite uniforms, fun offense, completely new coaching staff (take Wazzu and it's like they never existed!)
Cons: Most of their best players are gone, just okay recruiting state, Oregon and Washington close by and WILL steal your recruits
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Re-assemble the Pac-12 as we knew it. Obviously. Greatest conference of all time.
7) Purdue Boilermakers
For very similar reasons to I discussed with Mississippi State, Purdue is a great team to rebuild. They have been bad on a more consistent basis than Miss. State, however.
Indiana shocked the nation and went 11-1 and made the playoff last year, buzzsawing through much of the Big Ten. Why can't you do it with Purdue? Well, they're terrible, so you may need a couple years. Take the momentum out of Coach Cignetti's Hoosiers, dominate the state, and eventually the Big Ten.
To make it even harder, Purdue lost two of the Big Ten's best players this off-season, and both stayed in-conference. SAF Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) and TE Max Klare (Ohio State).
Pros: Elite uniforms, in the Big Ten
Cons: In the Big Ten, Indiana has all the momentum in-state, tough recruiting area
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Not many moves to make, but win the Big Ten.
8) Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall went 10-3 last year, won the Sun Belt Conference, and had a great team last year... how could they need rebuilding? Well, they couldn't settle on a contract with former head coach Charles Huff, who stayed in-conference, and went to last place (1-11) Southern Miss. We will leave Huff to do his own, real life rebuild at Southern Miss (which he should be able to do quickly).
Charles Huff took basically all of Marshall's players over to Southern Miss with him, so at Marshall, it's a completely clean slate of players to start out with. This one is very tough.
Located in West Virginia, it is also a tough area to recruit, especially considering there is a power four team in-state as well.
If you want to go full Matthew McConaughey and "We Are Marshall," install the veer offense and grind out the clock runnin the triple-option.
Pros: Good uniforms, clean slate roster, you can think you're Matthew McConaughey (kind of), Easy-ish conference
Cons: Tough state to recruit in, very low returning production
What to do once you have rebuilt them:
Install the veer (optional), beat Southern Miss for taking your former coach and players, move into the Big 12.
9) Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
Hawaii hasn't been a bad team in recent memory, much closer to average, and getting into bowl eligibility every couple seasons.
You don't have to deal with many of the same issues that the real life Rainbow Warriors face: the extensive travel that takes a toll on the players. Maybe the game will have something to make that a factor -- but that doesn't even feel fair.
The issue with Hawaii is obviously the proximity to the volume of recruits. Hawaii produces very good players both in the game and in real life, but not enough to assemble a legitimate team, or even a full team.
You will have to look to the West coast and mountain regions to fill out your team.
Pros: Ability to land high-four star and five star recruits immediately (in Hawaii)
Cons: Struggle to get recruits to Hawaii (You will always have a "F" grade for proximity to home), the game does not have their awesome throwback uniforms
10) Tulane Green Wave***
*** This is not a rebuild, but a chance to take a team to the next level
Tulane have had an ELITE group of five program the last three seasons, winning 32 games the last three seasons, winning a New Year's Six bowl in that time, as well as a conference championship. They lost star QB Darian Mensah and star RB Makhi Hughes to the portal this season, so there is that challenge.
Otherwise, Tulane are an already solidly built team, and you could pretty easily win the American conference and make the playoff in your first season at the virtual helm of the Green Wave.
However, the challenge I'd propose with Tulane is: Join the SEC before the 2025 season, struggle it out, return the "Battle for the Tiger Rag" rivalry with LSU, and compete for the SEC within a few seasons. Dethrone LSU as THE team in Louisiana.
Also, Tulane has arguably the best uniforms in the nation, with a wide range of combinations, you can never be bored with their sets.
This rebuild model would also work for: Boise State (move to the Big 12), Memphis (Join the SEC or ACC), Texas State (Join the Big 12)
Honorable Mentions:
Kentucky Wildcats (SEC)
Nevada Wolf Pack (MW)
Wyoming Cowboys (MW)
Ball State Cardinals (MAC)
New Mexico State Aggies (C-USA)
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