Coastal Carolina: 2026 Week 3 recap

Coastal Carolina enters Week 3 ranked 117th by GIE after a season-opening loss to West Virginia, 31–24. The rating held flat week-over-week, suggesting the offense showed enough competence to avoid further decline despite the defeat. Red-zone efficiency tells part of the story: a 13% touchdown rate in the scoring area signals missed opportunities that defined the narrow loss. The Chants face Fordham at home this week—a chance to build momentum and stack a win before Sun Belt play intensifies. GIE projects 3.6 expected wins for the season, with playoff probability essentially zero, making early non-conference wins critical.