Which CFB teams have most returning production in 2021?
Any college football bettor knows returning production is key - and arguably the easiest way to find value in the future market.
Look no further than last season, when seven of the top 10 teams in returning production saw their winning percentage increase from 2019 to 2020. In total, 16 of the top 25 in that stat improved in 2020 - which included significant turnarounds for Northwestern (first in returning production), Indiana (11th), Texas A&M (16th), Coastal Carolina (19th), and Ball State (22nd) to name a few.
Here are the rosters with the most returning production as of July 6, per ESPN's Bill Connelly, along with every team's win total courtesy of theScore Bet and five teams for bettors to target in 2021:
Most returning production in 2021
| TEAM | RETURNING | WIN TOTAL |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 97% | 8.5 |
| Wyoming | 95% | 7.5 |
| Louisiana | 95% | 9.5 |
| Arizona State | 95% | 9 |
| Florida Atlantic | 93% | 7.5 |
| Nevada | 93% | 7.5 |
| UCLA | 93% | 7 |
| Hawaii | 92% | 7 |
| Central Michigan | 92% | 6.5 |
| Eastern Michigan | 92% | 6.5 |
| Rutgers | 92% | 3.5 |
| Georgia State | 92% | 5.5 |
| Miami | 91% | 9.5 |
| UTSA | 91% | 7.5 |
| East Carolina | 91% | 5.5 |
| Washington State | 89% | 5.5 |
| Coastal Carolina | 89% | 10 |
| Minnesota | 89% | 6.5 |
| Miami (OH) | 89% | 4.5 |
| Troy | 89% | 6.5 |
| Kent State | 88% | 4.5 |
| Liberty | 88% | 9 |
| California | 88% | 6 |
| Iowa State | 88% | 9.5 |
| Akron | 86% | 2.5 |
Louisiana (95%, 9.5 wins)
Can the Ragin' Cajuns sustain their recent trajectory with virtually the same group in 2021? Louisiana followed up on an 11-win season in 2019 with a stellar 10-1 record in 2020, finishing at No. 15 in the final AP Poll. Now coach Billy Napier returns nearly every single player of note from a year ago and is primed for another 10-win season.
Miami (91%, 9.5 wins)
You may have heard of D'Eriq King, the dynamic quarterback and perennial Heisman Trophy contender who returns for his sixth collegiate season and second with Miami. Yet the Hurricanes also return their head coach and both coordinators, nearly their entire offense, and the majority of their linebackers and secondary. This could finally be the year for "the U."
Washington State (89%, 5.5 wins)
Can Nick Rolovich find more success in Year 2 with Washington State? The second-year head coach went just 1-3 in his debut season as he tried to integrate the run-and-shoot offense, which is a notoriously tough scheme for the uninitiated. He'll have more success with an offense returning nine starters and adding Jarrett Guarantano, who was the top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2016.
Coastal Carolina (89%, 10 wins)
The Chanticleers were among the top returners in production a year ago, and they parlayed that experience into an 11-0 regular season and a top-15 ranking in the final polls. What might they do for an encore? Coastal Carolina returns 20 of 22 starters on offense and defense from a group that finished 25th in SP+ a year ago and should be favored in every game this season.
Iowa State (88%, 9.5 wins)
The Cyclones enter 2021 ranked No. 8 in the coaches poll thanks to the return of quarterback Brock Purdy and star running back Breece Hall, who finished sixth in Heisman voting in 2020 and is priced at 35-1 to win it this year. It's not just those two - Iowa State brings back its top five pass-catchers, every starting offensive lineman, and 14 of its top 19 most-used defenders from a year ago.
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.