Why East Carolina will be CFB's top Group of Five playoff contender in 2026

East Carolina had a pretty good 2025 season, being one of the top teams in the group of five with a 9-4 record, including a win over Pitt 23-17 in the Military Bowl. Head coach Blake Harrell has had a good start since becoming the head coach in 2024, going 14-5. With a stable coach, reloaded roster and weak AAC rivals, ECU is the Group of Five’s best playoff shot in 2026. 

The Pirates lost quarterback Katin Houser, who threw for 3,300 passing yards, to the transfer portal, but Houser has been replaced by Miami transfer Emory Williams, who has sat behind Cam Ward and Carson Beck the past two seasons. ECU has also brought in transfers WR Landon Sides (449 yds, 34 rec at North Texas), OL Brandon Best (Kennesaw State) and Hayes Creel (Southern Mississippi), while also being able to retain a good amount of their 2025 roster. Their defense ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game and was 26th against the rush in 2025. 

ECU's schedule is a big factor for potential 2026 success

ECU also has a favorable schedule to put them in a prime spot for the playoffs. Although they will almost certainly start their season with a loss due to playing the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Pirates will play NC Central (won 52-7 in last meeting) and ODU (won 20-14 in 2024 and ECU 5-0 all-time) early in the season. Then in conference play, they’ll play FAU, Rice, USF and Temple at home and Army, Charlotte, Memphis and UAB on the road. 

Their toughest games are Alabama, USF, Army and Memphis; besides Alabama, of course, these games are winnable. For conference play, they missed top threats like Tulane, North Texas and Navy. 

Another reason why the Pirates will be the Group of Five bid in the playoffs is that other top teams from last season lost coaches. These teams are Tulane, USF, Memphis and North Texas, which means these teams will be playing with new coaches and are prone to mistakes early in the season, which, for a Group of Five team trying to make the playoffs, you can’t make too many mistakes. The Pirates at least aim for their first AAC title since 2014. 

With Harrell’s coaching allowing ECU to get to a 9-4 record last season, this Pirates team may only get better next season, which means that in 2026, we could be seeing ECU in the playoffs.