UCF’s high-powered offense generated 43.4 points a game and 6.9 yards a snap last fall. A road trip to Marshall won't be easy, but the Owls host both WKU and Charlotte. Quarterback Desmond Ridder was banged up at the end of last year and a return to full health should help the offense get back on track. Three new starters need to be found up front, but Peter Nestrowitz and Billy Honaker is a good foundation to build around. The Falcons won 11 games and finished No. Akron returns a promising quarterback in Kato Nelson (194.1 total yards a game in 2019), and he’s tasked with jumpstarting an offense that managed only 10.5 points a contest last fall. Whatever your motivation for attending college, if you can't find a good job after you graduate or aren't able to advance in your chosen career path, then your investment of time, money and resources in your college education is greatly depreciated. The Tigers showed improvement on this side of the ball last season, and with seven starters back, more progression is expected. 57. The Gamecocks have watched their win total decline from nine in 2017 to seven in '18 and four last year. The Rams ranked third in the Mountain West in yards per play (6.24) last fall, so the potential for an explosive offense is in place. After giving up 36 points a game in 2018, the Owls held teams to 25.9 last fall. New faces need to emerge up front and in the secondary, but the linebacker unit is a strength thanks to the return of Max Richardson. Freeze’s receiving corps will miss Gandy-Golden’s ability, but DJ Stubbs (401 yards), CJ Yarbrough and Noah Frith is a good place to start the rebuilding effort. Linebacker Nick Bolton anchors another strong group with seven returning starters, and this unit will have to carry the team until the offense develops. 1 option. The Nittany Lions have claimed 11 victories in three out of the last four years, so the next hurdle in coach James Franklin's tenure is a trip to the CFB Playoff. Last Week Ranking: 100. Taking the next step and getting to a bowl requires a return to full strength by running back Jermar Jefferson, and quarterback Tristan Gebbia to settle into the job. However, the offense struggled to get the ground game going (2.6 yards per carry in Big 12 games), and the line remains a major concern. The outlook is a little better on defense. New defensive coordinator Nate Woody has seven returning starters to deploy in 2020. There are holes to fill at linebacker with Logan Wilson off to the NFL and safety Alijah Halliburton out of eligibility. 96. Is a premier college player that has all the skill to take over a game and play at a championship level. Six starters return, and improvement against the run (213.5 yards per game allowed) is a priority. Alabama (11-2) Tua Tagovailoa is gone, but the offense should still be among the nation's best — no … The Buffaloes are on their third coach in three years after Mel Tucker left for Michigan State. Quarterback Spencer Sanders had a promising debut last year, and the receiving corps is among the best in college football thanks to the return of No. King is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback but faces a quick transition to new play-caller Rhett Lashlee's offense without the benefit of a complete offseason. However, the Blue Raiders have been a steady bowl team since joining C-USA in 2013, so the odds are high for a rebound in ’20. Getting Washington State and Oregon State at home is huge. The Week 2 matchup versus Louisiana Tech could decide which team emerges as the biggest challenger to UAB. Our top 100 college rankings report for 2021 includes the 4-year colleges and universities in America that provide students the best overall experience and ROI. If Trotter picks up where he left off at the end of 2019, Campbell’s team should show improvement in the win column. This unit gave up 5.95 yards a snap last fall, but with the experience in place, a step forward on the stat sheet is likely. Navy allowed 6.5 yards a snap and 33.5 points a game in 2018 but cut those totals to 5.3 per play and 22.3 a contest last fall. Both starting cornerbacks from 2019 must be replaced, but a solid front and safeties Tykee Smith and Sean Mahone provide a good foundation to lean on in 2020. Losing striker Jacob Springer to transfer was a setback, but seven starters are back, including linebacker Diego Fagot, cornerback Michael McMorris and end J’arius Warren. 1 receiver Malik Stanley will be missed, but the Bulldogs bring back five others who caught at least 21 passes in 2019. A schedule that features road trips to Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada and Wyoming won’t be easy. In other words, this team has a long way to go in order to avoid the C-USA West cellar. Gonzales’ ability to lure Rocky Long back to Albuquerque was one of the top coordinator hires of the offseason. Quarterback Mac Jones played well in relief of Tua Tagovailoa last year and will compete with five-star freshman Bryce Young to start in the fall. The 49ers have manageable crossover matchups – UTEP and at North Texas – but have road trips on tap for key East battles against Marshall and FAU. Instead, 76 are set to play, while 54 are not planning on a fall season. New coordinator Tim Beck inherits some promising pieces on offense, including running back Zonovan "Bam" Knight, receivers Emeka Emezie and Devin Carter, along with four starters back on the line. Power 5 — Top 15 1. 27. The Bobcats ranked third in conference-only games by holding teams to 5.6 yards a snap last fall. North Carolina finished 7-6 in Brown's first year back on the sidelines, with all six defeats coming by a touchdown or less. New coordinator Tyrone Nix is shifting UTSA to a 3-3-5 defensive scheme, hoping to improve a group that surrendered 33.9 points a contest, gave up 74 plays of 20 yards or more, and ranked near the bottom of C-USA in rush defense. For the first time in program history, the Demon Deacons have played in four consecutive bowl games. Continuity on offense with the return of quarterback Kyle Trask under coach Dan Mullen is huge with a limited offseason, and Florida should see some improvement from a line that struggled in 2019 but added transfer Stewart Reese from Mississippi State. However, the transition to a new staff or scheme in a limited offseason isn’t easy, and both sides of the ball have question marks to address. If Penix can stay healthy, a nine-win 2020 campaign isn't out of the question for coach Tom Allen's squad. A schedule featuring road trips to Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois won’t provide much room for error to get to a bowl. The linebacker unit features a dynamic edge rusher in Jordan Smith (10 sacks) and first-team All-C-USA pick in Kristopher Moll (104 tackles). The Wildcats are coming off their best two-year stretch (18 wins) since 1976-77. Coach Doc Holliday’s team needs more out of its offense (25.8 ppg in 2019) to win the East this fall. But make no mistake: This is a massive rebuilding effort and it will take a couple of years to turn things around. The rising junior, who spent part of his offseason working out and refining … 10–1 The final 10 in our ranking of college football's 2019 best players is revealed—including a battle of QBs for the No. Also, the Commodores are likely to start a quarterback — either Jeremy Moussa or Ken Seals — that doesn't have a snap of experience at the SEC level. After earning three consecutive bowl trips (2016-18) for the first time in program history, Army slipped to 5-8 last fall. New coordinator Mike Bobo inherits an offense with question marks at every position and has to help quarterback Ryan Hilinski reach his potential as a sophomore. The emergence of quarterback Tanner Morgan and receiver Rashod Bateman helped Minnesota's offense emerge as one of the best in the conference, and despite Bateman's decision to enter the NFL Draft in early August, there's enough firepower returning to keep Fleck's team in contention for the division title. If Chase Garbers can stay healthy, the junior has potential to rank among the league's top quarterbacks. Ole Miss allowed 6.3 yards a play and 36.2 points a game in '18 but cut those totals to 5.8 a snap and 26.5 per contest in '19. Just because Utah returns only nine starters and loses several key members of a team that has won back-to-back South Division titles, don't count out coach Kyle Whittingham's team from making another run at the conference championship. Week 9 Opponent: Colorado State. Safety Richie Grant and cornerback Aaron Robinson led the way for a secondary that held teams to a completion rate of 52.4 percent, while tackle Kenny Turnier (13.5 TFL) anchors the defensive line. Our ranking of the Top 100 players in college football for the 2019 season is now complete. Coach Jason Candle’s squad will be looking to rebound after missing out on a bowl for the first time since the 2013 season last fall. Sam Ehlinger’s first game under new play-caller Mike Yurcich was a success (426 yards and 5 TDs) in the 59-3 win over UTEP. Ohio’s defense held teams to 25.8 points a contest in MAC play, and there’s a strong foundation with nine returning starters. Last year’s 4-8 record marked the first time Middle Tennessee posted a losing season since 2011. Related: Sun Belt Football Predictions for 2020. After giving up 34.5 points a game in 2018, the defense held offenses to 23.7 points a contest in '19. IllinoisAfter winning just four Big Ten games in coach Lovie Smith's first three years, Illinois posted four conference victories and returned to the postseason in 2019. Michigan — $122 million 4. Replacing first-round pick Jordan Love tops the list of fall priorities for coach Gary Andersen and new play-caller Bodie Reeder. 54. With a healthy Terry Wilson at quarterback and one of the nation’s top offensive lines, Kentucky will be a wild card team to watch in the SEC East this fall. WKU has the top-rated offensive line in the conference by Athlon Sports, with 1,000-yard rusher Gaej Walker back at running back and Jahcour Pearson, Jacquez Sloan and tight end Joshua Simon rounding out a key group of weapons in the passing game. Instead, this ranking takes into account where we project teams to finish after the national championship in January. Led by one of the league’s top coaches (Lance Leipold), an All-American running back in Jaret Patterson, and a defense that brings back seven starters after limiting teams to 21.3 points a game, Buffalo is Athlon’s pick to win the MAC in 2020. The 2020 version should be just as strong for Stoops, as edge rusher Boogie Watson (6.5 sacks) and a strong secondary lead the way. UMass. Strong threw for 2,335 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman last fall and should be able to put up better numbers in 2020 with receivers Romeo Doubs and Elijah Cooks back, along with four starters up front. Player (overall rank) 1. Only five starters are back for 2020, and the defense must find a replacement for standout cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. Improvement in the win column for 2020 hinges on both sides of the ball showing marked progress.