QB
BRetzlaff at QB (88, senior, awareness 97). Top-3 of 80.3.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 7.1 / 10
Tulane
Strategist Sumrall with B+ coach prestige at 2.5 prestige, an 88-overall senior trio (Graham, Retzlaff, Westmoreland), and a five-deep Tier-2 Gulf Coast reach behind a Louisiana home.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Jon Sumrall program where a B+ coach prestige meets a 77-overall American-Conference roster, Tulane is the G5 team built for one Year 1 contender run. Graham anchors at LT senior 88 with awareness 95 and impact blocking 92. Retzlaff manages tempo at senior QB 88 with stamina 97, awareness 97, and play action 97. Westmoreland sets the edge at REDG senior 88 with finesse moves 93. Three top-10 HBs (Barnes III junior, Turner junior, Mobley senior) split the backfield at the highest-graded RB room in this batch. Hurst at junior LG 83 carries the multi-year offensive bridge. The home pipeline is Louisiana Tier-3 plus five Tier-2 reaches across the Gulf Coast and Texas — the deepest Tier-2 cluster at the 2.5-prestige tier.
What makes Tulane different from the other 2.5-prestige G5 programs is the company it keeps. Vanderbilt under Lea asks you to ride a Pavia-led one-year SEC save with a brand-and-pipeline floor. Tulane asks you to ride three 88-OVR seniors plus a junior backfield in the American Conference, with a B+ coach prestige and the deepest Tier-2 Gulf Coast cluster the prestige tier offers. Same prestige number, opposite recruiting reach, opposite Year 2 question.
The 7.1 lands on the B+ coach prestige and the multi-position senior anchors plus junior backfield. B+ coach prestige at 2.5 prestige is uncommon, and Sumrall's Strategist archetype gets the most out of the launch's positional balance. The catch is the 7-senior cliff that strips the launch roster after Year 1, leaving Barnes III, Turner, and Hurst as the multi-year top-10 bridge. Don't pick Tulane for a National-Championship chase. Pick Tulane for the one-year American Conference contender run where Sumrall's senior trio rides into a CFP at-large window before the rebuild lands on the junior cohort.
Head Coach
Jon Sumrall
StrategistSumrall is a Strategist archetype with B+ coach prestige and B- coach stability — among the higher prestige-stability combos at 2.5 prestige in CFB 26. The launch hands him three 88-OVR seniors (Graham, Retzlaff, Westmoreland), a B+ OL, a B+ DL, and a junior backfield (Barnes III, Turner) plus junior LG (Hurst) as the multi-year identity. The Strategist tactical edge is what makes the rare positional balance compound across Year 1 and into Year 2. The structural advantage is the deepest Tier-2 Gulf Coast cluster at this prestige tier; the catch is the 77 overall and the 7-senior cliff at the offensive-line and defensive-front anchors.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | American |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Jon Sumrall · Strategist |
| Team Prestige | 2.5 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 77 |
| Top Position Group | Offensive Line · B+ · top-3 avg 84.7 |
| Weakest Position Group | Special Teams · C- · top-3 avg 69.0 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | D+ |
| Brand Exposure | D |
| Coach Prestige | B+ |
| Coach Stability | B- |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 7 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Derrick Graham | LT | Sr | 88 | Awareness 95 |
| 02 | Jake Retzlaff | QB | Sr | 88 | Stamina 97 |
| 03 | Maurice Westmoreland | REDG | Sr | 88 | Finesse Moves 93 |
| 04 | Kameron Hamilton | DT | Sr | 84 | Injury 91 |
| 05 | Arnold Barnes III | HB | Jr | 83 | Toughness 92 |
| 06 | Jack Hollifield | C | Sr | 83 | Injury 91 |
| 07 | Maurice Turner | HB | Jr | 83 | Acceleration 93 |
| 08 | Shadre Hurst | LG | Jr | 83 | Stamina 94 |
| 09 | Zuberi Mobley | HB | Sr | 83 | Acceleration 92 |
| 10 | Bailey Despanie | SS | Sr | 82 | Acceleration 90 |
Position Group Grades
RB
B+Barnes III at HB (83, junior, toughness 92), Turner at HB (83, junior, acceleration 93), and Mobley at HB (83, senior, acceleration 92). Top-3 of 83.0, the multi-year offensive bridge to Year 2.
WR
B-Top-3 of 79.0; no top-10 WR, a Year 1 recruiting target.
TE
C+Top-3 of 74.3.
OL
B+Graham at LT (88, senior, awareness 95), Hollifield at C (83, senior, impact blocking 89), and Hurst at LG (83, junior, stamina 94). Top-3 of 84.7, the strongest unit on the roster.
DL
B+Westmoreland at REDG (88, senior, finesse moves 93) and Hamilton at DT (84, senior, play recognition 88). Top-3 of 83.0.
LB
C+Top-3 of 76.7.
DB
B-Despanie at SS (82, senior, acceleration 90). Top-3 of 78.3.
ST
C-Top-3 of 69.0.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Power Spread (Tulane Default)
Run Power Spread because the senior interior plus three-deep HB rotation is the design's whole point. Graham anchors the left side at awareness 95 and pass block power 92. Hollifield snaps at center with impact blocking 89. Hurst rotates at junior LG with stamina 94. Retzlaff runs the offense at stamina 97 and play action 97. Barnes III breaks tackles at toughness 92, while Turner accelerates outside at acceleration 93.
Why this fits
A B+ OL grade and a B+ RB grade with three top-10 backs (Barnes III junior, Turner junior, Mobley senior) give the Power Spread the run-game depth the scheme demands. Retzlaff's awareness 97 and play action 97 carry the play-action design.
Defense
4-2-5 (Tulane Default)
Run the 4-2-5 because the senior front-three plus deep safety anchors the design. Westmoreland sets the edge at finesse moves 93 and acceleration 91. Hamilton plays the interior at play recognition 88 and power moves 88. Despanie rotates from SS at acceleration 90. The 4-2-5's nickel personnel masks the C+ LB grade.
Why this fits
Two top-10 senior front-three defenders (Westmoreland, Hamilton) carry the line. The 4-2-5's five-DB look protects the LB depth.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- LouisianaTier 3
- AlabamaTier 2
- MississippiTier 2
- South FloridaTier 2
- East TexasTier 2
- North TexasTier 2
- Central FloridaTier 1
- PennsylvaniaTier 1
- TennesseeTier 1
- Metro AtlantaTier 1
You'll recruit broadly across the Gulf Coast. The Louisiana Tier-3 home plus five Tier-2 reaches (Alabama, Mississippi, South Florida, East Texas, North Texas) is the deepest Tier-2 cluster at the 2.5-prestige tier in this batch. Sumrall at B+ coach prestige and B- coach stability lands specific Gulf Coast recruits the SEC programs also pursue, with the recruiting math compounding on the wide regional spread.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 7-senior cliff. Wide receiver is critical; the WR room grades B- with no top-10 returner. After WR, replacement OL behind Graham and Hollifield, replacement DL behind Westmoreland and Hamilton, replacement DB behind Despanie. The junior backfield (Barnes III, Turner) plus junior LG (Hurst) means the run game returns intact.
Avoid the deep Northeast and Atlantic clusters entirely beyond a single targeted player. The Tier-1 cluster (Central Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Metro Atlanta) is for filling specific position gaps with single-player targets only.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Tulane
Year 1
The Senior Trio Year
You're inheriting a 2.5-prestige roster with a 77 overall and three 88-OVR seniors. Don't experiment. Run Power Spread, lean Retzlaff on the play-action design, ride Barnes III and Turner in the backfield, let Graham and Hollifield anchor the line. Year 1 is American Conference contention and a 9-10 win baseline behind the senior trio. While you're winning, sign the Year 1 WR and DB classes that the Louisiana Tier-3 home plus five Tier-2 reaches close.
Goal
American Conference contender, 9-10 wins, top-50 recruiting class with WR and DB at the top.
Years 2-3
The Junior Window
Seven senior anchors graduate. Barnes III, Turner, and Hurst all return as multi-year top-10 players, with Mobley graduating but Barnes III and Turner staying as the senior backfield in Year 2. The Year 1 WR class becomes Year 2 starters; the Year 1 QB recruit develops behind a real backfield. Sumrall's Strategist tactical edge stretches the cohort into a sustained American Conference contender window.
Goal
8-9 wins, Barnes III at 88+ as a senior, top-50 recruiting class maintained.
Year 4+
The G5 Ceiling Compound
By Year 4, the dynasty is whatever Sumrall's Year 1-2 recruiting closed. B+ coach prestige and B- stability at 2.5 prestige is the structural advantage. Realistically, sustained 8-9 wins in the American Conference with a CFP at-large window once per cycle if the Year 1 class hits.
Goal
Stable 8-9 win American Conference contender with CFP at-large windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tulane good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for a Strategist Sumrall American Conference contender run, with caveats. Tulane enters CFB 26 with a 77-overall roster, B+ coach prestige and B- coach stability under Sumrall, and a B+ OL plus B+ DL plus B+ RB grade anchored by three 88-OVR seniors. The 2.5-prestige floor and 7-of-10 senior cliff are the structural caps.
What's Tulane's prestige in CFB 26?
Tulane enters CFB 26 with a 2.5-star prestige rating, paired with B+ coach prestige and B- coach stability. The Louisiana Tier-3 home plus five Tier-2 reaches (Alabama, Mississippi, South Florida, East Texas, North Texas) is the deepest Tier-2 Gulf Coast cluster at this prestige tier.
What playbook does Tulane use in CFB 26?
Jon Sumrall's Tulane runs the Power Spread offense and the 4-2-5 defense. The Power Spread fits Retzlaff at QB, Barnes III and Turner at HB, and Graham plus Hollifield plus Hurst on the line. The 4-2-5 deploys Westmoreland at REDG (88, senior, finesse moves 93), Hamilton at DT (84, senior, play recognition 88), and Despanie at SS (82, senior, acceleration 90).
Who is Tulane's best player in College Football 26?
Tulane runs three players at 88 OVR. Derrick Graham at LT, senior, with awareness 95, strength 92, and impact blocking 92, anchors the offensive line. Jake Retzlaff at QB (88, senior, stamina 97 and awareness 97 and play action 97) runs the offense. Maurice Westmoreland at REDG (88, senior, finesse moves 93) sets the edge.
Should I rebuild Tulane or take an easier team?
Tulane is a one-year American Conference contender run with a real Year 2-3 junior window, not a multi-cycle floor build. The Year 1 ceiling is American Conference championship contention plus a CFP at-large window; the Year 2-3 floor depends on the junior backfield and junior LG carrying the post-senior transition. Take Tulane if you want the deepest 2.5-prestige roster in this batch with real Year 1 ceiling. If you want a similar G5 contender profile with a heavier brand floor, look at Memphis.