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More with less: talent: 2026 College Football Chart

College Football Charts
Data updatedOct 31, 2026

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More with less: talent

SP+ overall (up) against Talent composite (across, with less to the right). 68 teams (Power 4 and Notre Dame).

Higher is better. The across axis runs backwards on purpose, so the right side is the teams with less to work with. Dashed lines are the averages of the teams shown and split the chart into four groups. There's no trend line or gray band here: the chart compares two separate skills, so no spot is "expected." The lists show the best teams in the top-right corner and the worst in the bottom-left, ranked by SP+. Tap or click a team to open it in Head to head.

What this shows

Who is doing the most with the least? Talent runs backwards on this chart: the further right, the less recruiting talent on the roster (247Sports composite). Higher is better SP+. So the top-right corner is for teams with less talent than most power-conference rosters that still play better than most. Top left is loaded rosters that deliver; bottom left is loaded rosters that don't; bottom right is teams without much to work with. It starts with power conferences and Notre Dame, because measured against all of FBS nearly every power team has above-average talent.

Teams with more recruiting talent usually play better (r = +0.58; recruiting talent accounts for about 34% of the differences in SP+ overall among the 68 teams shown). That's why the top-right corner is hard to reach.

Split by the averages: Doing more with less 14, Loaded and delivering 20, Not much to work with 30, Loaded and losing 4.

Doing the most with the least: Indiana (talent 37th, SP+ 6th), Texas Tech (talent 29th, SP+ 9th), Utah (talent 58th, SP+ 10th). Most talent, least to show: Clemson (talent 16th, SP+ 55th), Florida State (talent 21st, SP+ 53rd), Mississippi State (talent 20th, SP+ 52nd).

SEC: 0 of 16 in Doing more with less, 2 in Loaded and losing.

Big 12: 6 of 16 in Doing more with less, 0 in Loaded and losing. Top of the list: Texas Tech (talent 29th, SP+ 9th).

Where the data comes from. SP+ overall: SP+ by Bill Connelly (CFB Update), last pulled Oct 27, 2026. Talent composite: 247Sports, preseason.

Doing the most with the least

  1. Indiana talent 37th, SP+ 6th
  2. Texas Tech talent 29th, SP+ 9th
  3. Utah talent 58th, SP+ 10th
  4. BYU talent 59th, SP+ 13th
  5. Arizona talent 54th, SP+ 14th
  6. UCLA talent 25th, SP+ 17th

Most talent, least to show

  1. Clemson talent 16th, SP+ 55th
  2. Florida State talent 21st, SP+ 53rd
  3. Mississippi State talent 20th, SP+ 52nd
  4. Auburn talent 18th, SP+ 51st

About the stats on this chart

What is talent composite?

247Sports talent composite: every player on the roster weighted by his recruiting rating, with the best players counting most. Includes transfers at their current school.

Where does the talent composite data come from?

From 247Sports, preseason.

What is SP+ overall?

Bill Connelly's opponent-adjusted efficiency rating. Points better than an average FBS team on a neutral field. Higher is better.

Why does SP+ overall matter?

It's the best single number for how good a team is right now, schedule and all. If you only look at one rating, look at this one.

Where does the SP+ overall data come from?

From SP+ by Bill Connelly (CFB Update), last pulled Oct 27, 2026.