Conference USA PREVIEW-2026

[HENJOHN]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... redictions

[Cluck U]

Thanks for the link, HJ.

We return a heck of a lot of production on both sides of the ball, and we are #1 overall, yet are predicted 5th. Seems as though this guy isn't sold on our D. Wonder why?

Hopefully, our D will make substantial improvements, especially up front. Can't figure out why our DC is still in town, but this year has to be the year things get fixed or it will be time for Manny's Madness to exit...right? One can hope.

Looking forward to another good year at the Tub and an invitation to another bowl game.

[UDFootballFan]

Thanks for the link, HJ.

We return a heck of a lot of production on both sides of the ball, and we are #1 overall, yet are predicted 5th. Seems as though this guy isn't sold on our D. Wonder why?

Hopefully, our D will make substantial improvements, especially up front. Can't figure out why our DC is still in town, but this year has to be the year things get fixed or it will be time for Manny's Madness to exit...right? One can hope.

Looking forward to another good year at the Tub and an invitation to another bowl game.

Cluck its been time for Manny to go....havent been a fan of him since he was hired.

[Gannonfan]

Thanks for the link, HJ.

We return a heck of a lot of production on both sides of the ball, and we are #1 overall, yet are predicted 5th. Seems as though this guy isn't sold on our D. Wonder why?

Hopefully, our D will make substantial improvements, especially up front. Can't figure out why our DC is still in town, but this year has to be the year things get fixed or it will be time for Manny's Madness to exit...right? One can hope.

Looking forward to another good year at the Tub and an invitation to another bowl game.

I have higher hopes, and based on the number of guys who opted to return, it would seem like the time has higher hopes. Still have to do it on the field, but this could be a real good year we have ahead of us.

[tenn hen]

loyalty is a wonderful aspect of life. but pragmatism is more critical in the coaching business. I'm pleased with our present FBS designation even if it's only at the bottom of the G5. Football is our only program that provides a reasonable recognized status many of us have dreamed of for years while embedded in the dregs of CAA competition. The bowl victory over the RCs capped a roller coaster season in CUSA. Fingers crossed for 2026!

[BigBlueRooster]

Thanks for the link, HJ.

We return a heck of a lot of production on both sides of the ball, and we are #1 overall, yet are predicted 5th. Seems as though this guy isn't sold on our D. Wonder why?

Hopefully, our D will make substantial improvements, especially up front. Can't figure out why our DC is still in town, but this year has to be the year things get fixed or it will be time for Manny's Madness to exit...right? One can hope.

Looking forward to another good year at the Tub and an invitation to another bowl game.

This is more than fair coming into the season. We know the Offense will be fine and we know we can compete at this level. We also know our Defense can at times be a $%!t show. I'm hoping Manny can turn it around. I am one of the few here who doesn't hate the 3 3 5 D but we need to be more aggressive, disciplined, and more unpredictable to keep opposing offenses guessing.

I feel that we have closed the talent gap from where we were last year to the top teams in the G5. How much will be determined this fall.

[Attila the Hen]

I am one of the few here who doesn't hate the 3 3 5 D but we need to be more aggressive, disciplined, and more unpredictable to keep opposing offenses guessing.

I'm with you on this. Its not the alignment that's the problem. It's how it's employed. But I'm not quite with you on the talent part. The front six needs an upgrade, Maybe we got it and maybe we didn't. Time will tell. We've had some decent talent up front but haven't had the monster disruptor since Bilal. Raise hell up front and magically the secondary looks much better (as does the DC).

[Jaxhen1]

I guess I’m one of those who isn’t a fan of the 3-3-5 defense. I think for this defense to be effective against good offenses, you have to recruit top tier defensive linemen and linebackers who combine strength and quickness to take on five 300+ pound offensive linemen and a good blocking TE and RB. You also have to mix up or disguise your defensive schemes to confuse the offense, not the passive style we tend to play. The top 10 teams in total defense last year were:

Ohio State
Toledo
Texas Tech
Indiana
James Madison
Oklahoma
Oregon
Missouri
Iowa
Fresno State

Just about all of these teams run a 4-2-5 or 4-3-4 base defense with complex hybrid variations. I think Oregon is the only team on this list that occasionally shifts into a 3-3-5 defense based on opponent and circumstances.

With our offense, if we can just become an average defense, we will significantly improve our chances to contend for the CUSA championship. Hopefully, we’ve made enough changes in personnel and scheme in the offseason to compete for the conference championship.

[BigBlueRooster]

All I know is in watching both college and pro football I see way more 3 man fronts than the traditional 4 mand fronts. I wil concede while the 3 3 5 is our base and we need to be more versatile in what is presented in how we mix up the 3 and 4 man fronts. I'm hoping to see a way more dynamic defense that can create more confusion in 2026.

Hoping to see some of our young talent in the mix in 2026 as well. If the recruiting has been that much better the past two years we should see that start to show up on Gamedays in 2026

[Jaxhen1]

Interesting website which shows offensive and defensive schemes for all the FBS teams:

https://collegefootball.gg/every-teams- ... otball-26/

[Cluck U]

Interesting website which shows offensive and defensive schemes for all the FBS teams:

https://collegefootball.gg/every-teams- ... otball-26/

Several 3-3-5 Tites.

According to Grok: The 3-3-5 Tite defense is a variation of the 3-3-5 defensive alignment in American football, featuring three down linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs, with a focus on tight alignment to control gaps and enhance run defense. This formation is designed to create confusion for the offense while allowing for flexibility in coverage and blitzing options.

Used, "with a focus on tight alignment to control gaps and enhance run defense."

Wow, now there's a concept!

[72 Hen]

I have always liked 4 true D Lineman. However, the 3-3-5 is a solid alternative when it is taught the right way with the right players. I just don't like the way Rojas schemes it. Sometimes a good defense determines the the outcome. We have not seen that in recent years. I truly feel we have some great defensive players that play with toughness and heart. Can Rojas adjust his thinking? That is the question. He has had enough time to figure it out. To me it's up to the head coach to insist on some major changes about our defense.

[Ramblinrec74]

Like 72 Hen, I was always partial to the 4-3-4 defense. But times have changed and it comes down to the personnel that you have. Reviewing that list of 136 FBS teams, 49 teams play base is 3-3-5, 71 teams play a base 4-2-5, leaving only 16 FBS teams that play the traditional 4-3-4 defense as their base. In reality the only difference between the 3-3-5 and the 4-2-5 defense is whether one DE is on the line of scrimmage or in a walk off position. Ideally it would be nice to have personnel that had the speed to play like a Linebacker/Safety but could walk up on run downs and put his hand in the dirt. Someone like a Colby Reeder who could do both, so did not have to substitute when opposition is running no huddle! Regardless, the gap responsibilities are the same versus the run. The plus of the 3-3-5 is that in passing downs you have more people capable of blitzing, keeping the opposition guessing! With the evolved passing games of spread offenses, I think this variation of the 3-3-5 or 4-2-5 is here to stay.

[BigBlueRooster]

I have always liked 4 true D Lineman. However, the 3-3-5 is a solid alternative when it is taught the right way with the right players. I just don't like the way Rojas schemes it. Sometimes a good defense determines the the outcome. We have not seen that in recent years. I truly feel we have some great defensive players that play with toughness and heart. Can Rojas adjust his thinking? That is the question. He has had enough time to figure it out. To me it's up to the head coach to insist on some major changes about our defense.

Should we be at the bottom in the CUSA again in defensive rankings again changes need to be made. I am rooting hard for Rojas to improve for the D to improve. If they can be middle of the pack in defensive rankings this year it will be a fun fall. If they can get up into the top three in CUSA rankings defensively then this could be one of the more memorable seasons at UD.

I'm hoping to see a more versatile, disciplined D this fall. Watching Jax state, Wake and Liberty run at will on us was painful.

[72 Hen]

Like 72 Hen, I was always partial to the 4-3-4 defense. But times have changed and it comes down to the personnel that you have. Reviewing that list of 136 FBS teams, 49 teams play base is 3-3-5, 71 teams play a base 4-2-5, leaving only 16 FBS teams that play the traditional 4-3-4 defense as their base. In reality the only difference between the 3-3-5 and the 4-2-5 defense is whether one DE is on the line of scrimmage or in a walk off position. Ideally it would be nice to have personnel that had the speed to play like a Linebacker/Safety but could walk up on run downs and put his hand in the dirt. Someone like a Colby Reeder who could do both, so did not have to substitute when opposition is running no huddle! Regardless, the gap responsibilities are the same versus the run. The plus of the 3-3-5 is that in passing downs you have more people capable of blitzing, keeping the opposition guessing! With the evolved passing games of spread offenses, I think this variation of the 3-3-5 or 4-2-5 is here to stay.

I like 4 true defensive lineman. That's who I am. The 3-3-5 is very successful in a lot of places and can be here. Copy the teams that apply pressure and forget the bend but don't break Rojas system. As a side note about Colby Reeder. He was misused. He was too often asked to play as a spy LB. He didn't get to use his aggressive nature. That in a nut shell is the Rojas scheme. I always thought that was part of the reason Colby transferred.