New College Football Coaches Who Will Impact the 2026 Season

Brad Powers breaks down the best bets for college football win totals this season, including how new faces in new places like Lane Kiffin at LSU are impacting the market.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:06pm

A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented and overlapping elements of a college football game, capturing the dynamic changes sweeping through the sport with new head coaches taking over top programs.New coaching hires aim to reshape the college football landscape in the 2026 season.Bowling Green Today

There are 33 new head coaches in college football this year, and Powers is focusing on the new hires in the Power 4 conferences. He provides 'buy, sell, or hold' declarations for five of them, including Lane Kiffin at LSU, Collin Klein at Kansas State, Bob Chesney at UCLA, Matt Campbell at Penn State, and Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State.

Why it matters

With so many new coaches taking over top programs, their impact on win totals and the college football landscape will be significant. Powers' analysis provides valuable insights for bettors and fans alike as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The details

Powers highlights several key coaching changes and how they could affect the 2026 season. He believes Collin Klein at Kansas State and Bob Chesney at UCLA are 'buys', projecting them to exceed their win totals, while he's 'selling' Matt Campbell at Penn State and Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State, expecting them to fall short of expectations. For Lane Kiffin at LSU, Powers is taking a 'hold' approach, noting the Tigers' challenging schedule despite their high-profile transfer portal haul.

  • The 2026 college football season is set to kick off in the fall of 2026.

The players

Collin Klein

The new head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats, who Powers believes is a 'buy' due to his familiarity with the program and a favorable schedule.

Bob Chesney

The new head coach of the UCLA Bruins, who Powers sees as a significant upgrade over the previous coach and expects to exceed the team's win total.

Matt Campbell

The new head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who Powers is 'selling' due to concerns about Campbell's ability to handle high expectations and the team's roster turnover.

Jimmy Rogers

The new head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, who Powers is 'selling' due to the team's lack of returning starters and a weak transfer portal class.

Lane Kiffin

The new head coach of the LSU Tigers, who Powers is taking a 'hold' approach on due to the team's challenging schedule despite their high-profile transfer portal additions.

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What they’re saying

“There might not be a bigger coaching upgrade this season than new UCLA Bruins head coach Bob Chesney compared to former coach DeShaun Foster.”

— Brad Powers, Sports Analyst

“I think the Collin Klein hire is flying under the radar.”

— Brad Powers, Sports Analyst

What’s next

Powers plans to provide more detailed analysis on the impact of college football's transfer portal on Friday.

The takeaway

The influx of new coaches at major college football programs will have a significant impact on the 2026 season, with some hires like Collin Klein and Bob Chesney seen as potential upgrades, while others like Matt Campbell and Jimmy Rogers face more skepticism. Bettors and fans will need to closely monitor these coaching changes as the season approaches.