Nevada 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Nevada Wolf Pack 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Nevada Wolf Pack roster and what to expect in the Mountain West this season. Can Jeff Choate turn a 6-19 start into a breakthrough in year three? Does the offense finally take off with new coordinator Brett Bartolone running the air raid? Is quarterback Carter Jones ready to lift a unit that ranked in the bottom ten nationally in 2025?
How much does Kane Loane’s defense improve after returning just 39 percent of its production? Can playmakers like Donnie Cheers and a rebuilt receiver room drag Nevada out of the Mountain West basement? What is gameday like at Mackay Stadium in the biggest little city in the world? Does an easier schedule with Boise State and Fresno State gone open a path back to a bowl game, and how does the Battle for the Fremont Cannon against UNLV shape the finish? And where’s the betting value on the Nevada Wolf Pack win total, Mountain West odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Choate On The Hot Seat In Year Three
Jeff Choate enters year three with a 6-19 record. So the deck flags his seat with a hot-seat rating of 2 out of 10. That is a warning, not a death sentence. Choate inherited a bare roster two years ago. He also went from zero conference wins to two the next season. The hosts still believe he is the right man for the job. But the bar is clear now. Because of that, Nevada has to flirt with a bowl and climb back toward .500. Anything close to the last two seasons and the pressure only grows.
Bartolone’s Air Raid And The Quarterback Question
Nevada hired Brett Bartolone to run the offense. He arrives from Colorado, where he also coached receivers and ran the pass game. He is a Mike Leach disciple, so the air raid is heading to Reno. The unit needs the help. First, in 2025 Nevada ranked 128th in scoring offense and 127th in total offense. Carter Jones is back after becoming the first true freshman to start for Nevada since 2017. Then the hosts flag a real competition, with UCLA transfer Luke Duncan pushing for the job.
The Offensive Line And Returning Production
The offense returns 57 percent of its production. So the line is the reason for optimism. Nevada also brings back five starters up front, including Zach Cochnauer, Jack Foster and Snoop Leota-Amaama. Choate has talked about the line of scrimmage finally being where he wants it. That matters for a coach who wants to play a physical brand of football. Meanwhile, the receiver room got a makeover through the portal. Donnie Cheers then comes over from Southeast Missouri State to lead a rebuilt group.
Loane’s Defense And A Portal Rebuild
Kane Loane runs a defense that returns just 39 percent of its production. That is a rebuild. First, linebackers Dylan Labarbera and EJ Smith anchor what is back. The 2025 group also sat in the middle of the pack, ranking 63rd in total defense. Nevada lost pieces to bigger programs but hit the portal hard in return. So the secondary drew the most additions. Defense has been Choate’s calling card at his stops, so this side has to carry the identity.
The Schedule And The Betting Value
The Mountain West looks softer with Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State gone. First, Nevada opens at home against Western Kentucky. Then reigning FCS champion Montana State visits in week two. A revenge trip to Middle Tennessee follows after last year’s collapse. Finally, the season closes with the Battle for the Fremont Cannon at UNLV. The deck also sets the win total at 4.5. Nevada is +3000 to win the Mountain West and +50000 to reach the College Football Playoff. So the hosts see a ceiling as high as eight wins and lean the over.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:24 Welcome To The Nevada Wolf Pack Preview
06:55 Chris Ault And The Pistol Legacy
08:17 Is Jeff Choate The Right Man In Year Three?
11:04 Choate On The Coaching Hot Seat
12:30 Brett Bartolone Brings The Air Raid
14:16 Carter Jones And The QB Battle
15:18 Five Starters Back On The O-Line
16:36 Skill-Position Transfers Load Up
17:37 An Easier Mountain West Schedule
23:06 The Defense And The Portal Rebuild
27:39 Mackay Stadium On A Gameday
30:23 Wolf Pack Legends And Program Pride
34:13 Game-By-Game Schedule Breakdown
41:45 The Win Total Verdict And Betting Value
