100. Western Michigan Broncos
The Broncos might have been mediocre compared to the great, boat-rowing 2016 season, and now the offense should be a wee bit better. Can the defense make enough of a difference to get WMU to a bowl game? Yeah – seven wins isn’t asking for the world.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
99. Nevada Wolf Pack
It took a while for the Air Raid all-pass offense to get going, but there were signs of it all starting work. The Pack attack will be far more dangerous, and it’ll need to be – the D still won’t stop anyone, even with four starters back in the secondary.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
98. FIU Golden Panthers
FIU got it done without much offense last year, but now Butch Davis needs to work a few more miracles. The O has to reboot the backfield and the D loses way too much to expect a step forward.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
97. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
It’s Tulsa. It’s not going to be so awful again. It’s Tulsa. The defense will struggle, but with a loaded receiving corps returning, the passing game will crank it back up. It had better.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
96. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Don’t start expecting 2016 again – when the Bulldogs blew up on O – but the attack could and should be sharper. The Conference USA title is there for the taking if the defense that gets back eight starters is fine.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
95. WKU Hilltoppers
There’s no ground game in the all-pass attack, and now the Hilltoppers have to do it without Mike White under center. It’s possible for the defense to step up and give a little boost, but with this team, if the passing game doesn’t rock, forget it.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
94. BYU Cougars
What the heck was that? The offense now has to find the weapons to be merely average – but that’s not what the Cougar offense is supposed to be. Fortunately, the defense is in place to be much, much better than this. but BYU O … prove it.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
93. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
It’s a strong team that’ll get back to a bowl game as long as the running game can replace Ito Smith. There are just enough key losses to be outside of the Conference USA title chase, but it’s well coached with enough good players to come up with a nice run.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
92. Toledo Rockets
Yeah, this might be really, really low for the defending MAC champs. After all, the program is good enough restock the shelves in a hurry. But the offense loses a ton, and the defense is just okay. It’s not necessarily also-ran time, but it’ll be close.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
91. Tulane Green Wave
Get ready for the Willie Fritz offense to start to kick in like it’s supposed to. The running backs might not be all that experienced, but the line is great and the rest of the skill parts are there. It’ll be bowling time for the Green Wave.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
90. Ohio Bobcats
With five starters back on the O line, the running game will be as strong as ever for the team that might have been the MAC’s best. If you don’t know who QB Nathan Rourke is, you soon will. The record will be better than the team, though, even with a strong D returning, too.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
89. Colorado State Rams
Getting Washington grad transfer KJ Carta-Samuels might have saved the day – the quarterback situation was a big problem before he signed on. Last season the Rams were supposed to be great, and weren’t. This season they’re not supposed to be great, and they won’t be.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
88. Buffalo Bulls
This might just be the best team in the MAC. Just about everyone is back on both sides of the ball from a 6-6 team, and there’s an outside chance that the 6-7 Tyree Jackson could turn into this year’s Josh Allen. Okay, that’s a stretch, but he’s got interesting skills.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
87. Air Force Falcons
Everyone has to get a whole lot tougher and more physical. That’s paraphrasing the call from the coaching staff after the offense failed to be the normal Air Force offense, and the defense struggled too much. After not going bowling, it’ll be a fight this year. too.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
86. Arkansas State Red Wolves
With QB Justice Hansen back, the passing attack should rock – the line will give everyone plenty of time. However, the Red Wolves had better be ready to get into shootouts with a leaky-looking D.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
85. Cincinnati Bearcats
Can Year Two under Luke Fickell be any better? There’s no reason for the defense to not take a step forward with seven starters back, but the offense has to get going. The Bearcats scored more than 24 points just three times – the D won’t be good enough to overcome that again.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
84. Northern Illinois Huskies
It’s going to be a relative down year in the MAC – Toledo and Western Michigan aren’t as strong – but the Huskies should rise up. The ground game will be excellent behind a terrific line, but there has to be a bit more of a downfield passing attack. Losing grad transfer LB Jawuan Johnson transfer stings, but the D should still be fine.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
83. Temple Owls
After a little bit of a step back with a new coach and a whole slew of new parts, the Owls should be in the AAC title chase. There might not be quite enough there to win the league, but there’s a lot to like from an improving O.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
82. Army Black Knights
The absolute real deal last season, this might be way too low considering how many parts are back on the terrific D. Replacing QB Ahmad Bradshaw is the key, but the backs are there to make the option roll.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
81. SMU Mustangs
If you liked the passing game under the old regime, you’re going to love what’s coming next under Sonny Dykes. No D, no run, all throw. It’s all going to work if some new receivers can emerge to help out QB Ben Hicks. He’ll get time behind a good looking line.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
80. Kansas Jayhawks
Yes, David Beaty is still the head coach after not winning anything. Yes, Kansas gets just about everyone back on both sides of the ball. Yes, this is when it’s all supposed to start turning around for the woeful program. Yes, it’s time for something positive. Nah, it’s probably not going to happen.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
79. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It would be interesting to see what Chris Ash’s program could do in a division other than the Big Ten East. There will be some semblance of a downfield passing game this year, but keep expecting enough stall ball in an attempt to keep games close.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
78. Appalachian State Mountaineers
New quarterback, new key linebackers, same ASU running game and great defense. This is sort of a test case for the program. It’s supposed to be enough of a machine to quickly fill in the holes and be in the Sun Belt title hunt no matter what. It will.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
77. Troy Trojans
The offensive backfield from last year’s fantastic team is gone, but the rest of the pieces are there to keep the fun going. With a great O line and good receivers – along with head coach Neal Brown still around – things should be fine, even if the defense needs work.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
76. Illinois Fighting Illini
This had all better work. Can Virginia Tech grad transfer AJ Bush really step in and make the offense work? Lovie Smith went really, really young, and now the payoff should come with experience on both sides of the ball. But now these guys have to be better at college football.
– Spring Analysis & Breakdown
Spring Rankings By Conference
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | IND | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
