Samford Bulldogs 2026: the season story
Samford is 4-6 and rated No. 204 of 266 in the Cheap Seats Index, from this season's games only: Power 200th, Résumé 203rd, schedule 166th toughest. Next: home against Western Carolina.
Scouting report
Why it matters. The Team Index weighs how well a team plays and what it has beaten equally, so the gap between the two ranks shows which one is carrying it. Samford is No. 204 of 266 in the Team Index and 7th of 10 in the Southern. Power, how well it plays, ranks 200th of 266; Résumé, what it has beaten, ranks 203rd of 266.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Single-game ratings separate a team that wins comfortably every week from one that keeps escaping. Samford loses its games by 3.9 points on average, 78th of 128 in margin among FCS teams. It has not played a team in our top 25 yet.
How they win
Why it matters. Offense and defense are rated separately, adjusted for every opponent, so a team that wins with its defense looks different from one that wins shootouts. Its offense rates 85th of 128 in FCS (7th in the Southern) and its defense 36th of 128 (5th in the conference).
Drive by drive
Why it matters. Counting points per possession instead of per game takes tempo out of the picture: a slow team is not punished for having fewer drives. Samford scores 1.50 points per drive (the FCS average is 2.16), 109th of 128. Its defense allows 1.86, 30th of 128.
Under the hood
Why it matters. Expected points per play captures what the scoreboard misses: a 9-yard gain on 3rd and 8 is worth far more than the same 9 yards on 3rd and 15. Adjusted for its opponents, the offense adds -0.08 expected points per play (90th of 128) and stays on schedule on 35% of snaps (104th of 128). The defense allows +0.08 per play, 37th of 128.
When it matters
Why it matters. Most close games turn on a handful of third downs and red-zone trips, so this is where good teams separate. Samford converts 31% of its third downs and scores touchdowns on 45% of red-zone trips (FCS average 60%), 117th of 128.
Special teams
Why it matters. Special teams swing field position and decide a few close games every season, and almost none of it shows up in a box score. Its special teams as a whole rank 104th of 128, worth -2.48 points a game against an average unit. The best unit is field goals, 54th of 128.
Tendencies
Why it matters. How a team calls its plays by down and distance is what opposing coaches study all week. Samford throws on 53% of early downs; the FCS average is 45%.
How they play
Why it matters. Pace changes how many chances both teams get, and the line of scrimmage decides whether the quarterback has time and the runners have room. It runs 62.0 plays a game (FCS average 64.4). Its quarterbacks are sacked on 7.1% of dropbacks, 98th of 128, and 23% of its runs are stopped at or behind the line, 104th of 128.
Who they have played
Why it matters. The same numbers mean more against good teams; splitting them by opponent shows whether a team holds up when the schedule gets hard. Samford's schedule ranks 166th of 266 in strength, 3rd toughest of 10 in the Southern.
Record versus reality
Why it matters. Teams that win a lot of coin-flip games rarely keep doing it, so the gap between expected and actual wins is worth watching. Samford has 4 wins against 3.5 expected from its play and schedule, and is 3-1 in one-score games.
Rise and fall
Why it matters. How a team is playing now often says more about its next game than its full-season average. Samford was 234th in Power after week 2 and is 200th now; its best was 193rd after week 4.
What is ahead
Why it matters. The schedule left matters as much as the games played; simulating it shows how much is still in reach. Across 10,000 simulated seasons Samford averages 4.5 wins and almost never wins the Southern.
Top players and teams like them
Why it matters. Teams with similar profiles tend to play similar games, which makes them a useful way to read a matchup or a season. The highest-ranked player on the roster is Spencer Conn, 131st of 930 linebackers. The closest match in style and strength is Dartmouth.
