Nevada Wolf Pack 2026 College Football Preview
Posted June 19, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 3-9
ATS – 6-6
“I’ve got a stage-five clinger!”
<Jeremy Grey> <Wedding Crashers, 2005>
Nevada has won a total of ten games over the last four seasons (3, 3, 2, 2) and has been clinging to the bottom of the Mountain West Conference. That’s a sad state of affairs for a program that was generally competitive for much of the 2000s and 2010s, first in the WAC and later in the Mountain West. There were a few close calls last year, but they were also blown out on many occasions.
Can the Pack finally take a step forward in 2026?
Nevada Wolfpack 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Mountain West):
- Scoring: 17.6 PPG (#11 Mountain West)
- Total Offense: 302.2 YPG (#12 Mountain West, dead last)
- Rushing: 153.5 YPG (#7 Mountain West)
- Passing: 148.7 YPG (#11 Mountain West)
- Sacks Allowed: 18 (#3 Mountain West)
That was a disgusting slog last year. Nuff said.
The Wolf Pack now enter 2026 without Chubba Purdy, who has finally exhausted his 14 years of college eligibility, and that means we’ve got ourselves a QB battle. Youngster Carter Jones didn’t exactly dazzle in 2025 (64%, 6–8 TD to INT), but he should take a step forward in 2026. UCLA transfer Luke Duncan (6‑6, 210) has entered the chat, and he could very well be the Week One starter. He looked pretty good in limited action with the Bruins last year and might be the young QB Nevada has been searching for in the Wolf Pack QB wilderness. Stay tuned.
In the backfield, the Pack must replace RB1 Caleb Ramseur, but basically everyone else is back, and the room has more interesting options than it did a season ago. Herschel Turner probably gets the first call to be the BELL COW, and we like what he showed in limited work LY (353 yards, 5.1 YPC). Also keep your eye on JUCO transfer Janerious Jackson — he’s BIGGIE SIZE (6‑1, 220) but ironically arrives from Feather River College. Sometimes the comedy just writes itself, yo.
The WR/TE collection has been cleaned out, but nobody on the roster topped 400 receiving yards last year anyway. Some of the transfers look intriguing, including Damien Morgan, who produced well at Idaho State (607 yards, 3 TD), and Gary Givens (SE Missouri), who FLASHED on TAPE at Valpo back in 2024 before seeing limited duty at NIU in 2025. We don’t see any gamebreakers, but the room looks much improved.
The offensive line actually looks promising, featuring size, experience, and several transfers who should fit in from day one. They’re in good shape at LT with holdover Jack Foster and at center with Memphis transfer Jacob Norcross anchoring the interior.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Mountain West):
- Scoring: 27.5 PPG (#7 Mountain West)
- Total Defense: 369.8 YPG (#7 Mountain West)
- Rushing Defense: 149.6 YPG (#5 Mountain West)
- Passing Defense: 220.3 YPG (#5 Mountain West)
- Sacks: 19 (#8 Mountain West)
The defense wasn’t awful last year for a three‑win squad, but they absolutely need to find a way to generate more PENETRATION and impact the quarterback. Living in the backfield has not been a Wolf Pack hobby in recent seasons (19,14,17 sacks) and they’ve gotta get that fixed.
Thankfully for the Pack, things look solid up front with the return of star DE Dylan LaBarbera, who led the team in tackles (!), sacks (6.5), and TFLs (17). Yup — he’s a legit stud, and there’s enough size and upside around him to form a respectable front. And good luck trying to run inside with LOGOLOGO Va’a (6‑3, 329) plugging the middle like a human BOULDER in the Nevada DL room.
Veteran EJ Smith returns at LB to man the middle, and Colorado St transfer Jeremy Naborne‑Owens (6‑2, 238) brings impressive dimensions and some thump. But the secondary is our biggest worry on this side of the ball — they lose four (!) starters, and the incoming transfers don’t exactly scream “instant upgrade.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
We likey likey.
PK Joe McFadden is one of the best in the Mountain West (19/25 FG, 11/16 from 40+ LY) and KR Ky Woods can take it the distance (25.9, TD). Sadly, they’ll need to replace their fine punter Bailey Ettridge.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – WHOA, NELLIE. The Wolf Pack could legitimately start 3-0, and the only tough non-conference affair is a trip to UCLA. Then again, New Mexico went on the road and destroyed the Bruins last year, so who knows? The Mountain West schedule is very balanced. They miss another mid-tier squad (Wyoming), get New Mexico at home, but have to travel to face UNLV.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at MTSU (Sept 19)
This should be a win for Nevada, but it lands just a week before Mountain West play starts vs Air Force. And let’s be real — the Wolf Pack have been putrid on the road, going just 4-20 ON THE HIGHWAY over the last four years.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – June 19
Over 4.5 +120
Under 4.5 -150
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
Taking the over at plus money seems like a decent idea. There’s no Texas or Ohio St on the schedule, and the roster is improved.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Reno’s famous nickname — “The Biggest Little City in the World” — has roots in the early 1900s. A local reporter called it the “Biggest Little City on the Pacific Coast” as early as 1901. While the exact slogan wasn’t officially adopted until 1929, it reflected the era’s trend of smaller towns projecting big-city ambition. Nevada trivia GOLD, bay-bee.
Nevada’s rivalry trophy, the Fremont Cannon, is the heaviest and most expensive trophy in college football. It weighs over 500 pounds and originally cost more than $10,000 to build. The irony? Nevada’s offense the last few years has shown less firepower than the cannon itself. HEY-O! We’re here all week. Try the veal!
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It’s been a painful stretch of football for Nevada fans over the last few years, but things just might start turning around in 2026. Don’t expect miracles, but the offense should finally show some balance, and the first two levels of the defense have a chance to really shine in the Wolf Pack rebuild arc.
We’ll call for 5–6 wins and hope they can claw their way back to bowl season, something that would feel like a small miracle in the Biggest Little City.
N-E-V-A-D-A! Nevada!