75. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Relative Strengths: Offensive Line, Linebacker
Relative Concerns: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
Here’s The Deal: No, really, the offense will be better – mainly because it can’t be that bad again. New offensive coordinator John McNulty will make a difference, and the defense will be just good enough finally start winning a few games again. With one of the Big Ten’s best kicking games, there’s reason to hope, at least a little bit.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 125
– Rutgers 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
74. Appalachian State Mountaineers
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Linebacker
Relative Concerns: Secondary, Wide Receiver
Here’s The Deal: Can new head man Eliah Drinkwitz keep it all going? Absolutely, considering the offense gets back just about everyone who matters, the defense will be terrific if a few defensive tackles can rise up, and the kicking game should be the Sun Belt’s best. Demand another conference championship.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 21
– Appalachian State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
73. BYU Cougars
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Defensive Line
Relative Concerns: Running Back, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: It’s one of the season’s most interesting X factor teams. The defense should once again be terrific despite missing a few key pieces, and the passing game should be a whole lot better as long as QB Zack Wilson can be consistently great. Like they did last year, the Cougars are going to screw up some of the big names on the slate.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 53
– BYU 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
72. Utah State Aggies
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Defensive Line
Relative Concerns: Wide Receiver, Running Back
Here’s The Deal: Can new/old head coach Gary Andersen really keep the machine going from an 11-win 2018 team? QB Jordan Love is back, but the rest of the offense won’t be nearly as nasty, but the defense should be among the best in the Mountain West. The secondary and line are going to be terrific.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 19
– Utah State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
71. Kansas Jayhawks
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Defensive Back
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Defensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Les Miles is a really, really good head coach, but he’ll have to work a little bit of magic. It’s all about the transfers coming in – the Jayhawks have to overcome several big personnel losses with new guys – but it’ll be a more entertaining and competitive Jayhawk team.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 108
– Kansas 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
70. San Diego State Aztecs
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Defensive Back
Relative Concerns: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
Here’s The Deal: Can the offense do anything with the passing game? The running backs are among the best in the Group of Five, and the defense will be a dominant force, but QB Ryan Agnew has to connect on a few more downfield passes to make Ds worry.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 62
– San Diego State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
69. Fresno State Bulldogs
Relative Strengths: Defensive Line, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Wide Receiver, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: There’s a whole lot of rebuilding to do, but it’s nothing compared to what Jeff Tedford has had to do when he first took over. The receiving corps needs a do over, and the pressure is on QB Jorge Reyna to be great, but the defense will once again carry the water if and when the O struggles.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 6
– Fresno State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
68. Oregon State Beavers
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Wide Receiver
Relative Concerns: Defensive Back, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: The Beavers are going to be a whole lot better, but the schedule and the improved overall Pac-12 will be a problem. Second year head coach Jonathan Smith forced a youth movement last season, and the payoff probably won’t come until next year, but the offense should be a lot more fun.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 116
– Oregon State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
67. North Carolina Tar Heels
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Offensive Line
Relative Concerns: Linebacker, Defensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Just how much of a difference can Mack Brown and the new coaching staff make right away? The veterans are there, and there’s hope with a few interesting new parts to the puzzle from the recruiting class, but the D has to be way better.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 113
– North Carolina 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
66. Memphis Tigers
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Defensive Back, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: There’s a whole lot to like … except for the conference schedule with a whole lot of nasty road games. The passing game will blow up, the running attack will keep rolling, and the defense should be just good enough to hang on in shootouts. It’ll be one of the nation’s most fun teams.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 66
– Memphis 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
65. Illinois Fighting Illini
Relative Strengths: Linebacker, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Wide Receiver, Quarterback
Here’s The Deal: The Fighting Illini have been undergoing a youth movement for what seems like the entire Lovie Smith era, and it’s about to get even younger with star quarterback recruit Isaiah Williams needing to rise up and rock. The defense, though, needs to make the biggest jump.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 103
– Illinois 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
64. Cincinnati Bearcats
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Defensive Back
Relative Concerns: Wide Receiver, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Can both lines rebuild in a hurry? Luke Fickell has created a burgeoning power with talented skill players and a great defensive back seven, but the team has to hold on up front against a much tougher schedule.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 23
– Cincinnati 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
63. Ole Miss Rebels
Relative Strengths: Wide Receiver, Quarterback
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Secondary
Here’s The Deal: Now it’s back on for the program considering bowl eligibility is part of the mix again. Even after losing the superstar receivers, the offense will be fine under coordinator Rich Rodriguez, and the defense has enough experience to be stronger.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 97
– Ole Miss 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
62. Vanderbilt Commodores
Relative Strengths: Receiver, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Defensive Back, Special Teams
Here’s The Deal: Derek Mason has been able to put together something positive with a good offense that’s going to be explosive, but can the defense hold up its end of the bargain? The Commodores will beat the mediocre teams, but they’ll get hit hard against the more efficient offensive attacks.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 74
– Vanderbilt 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
61. Arkansas Razorbacks
Relative Strengths: Defensive Line, Quarterback
Relative Concerns: Secondary, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Is this when the offense starts to work under Chad Morris? Now that he has the quarterbacks in place with SMU’s Ben Hicks and Texas A&M’s Nick Starkel transferring in, but the rest of the offensive parts have to get and stay healthy. There will be shootouts, but the Hogs will be on the right side of more of them.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 119
– Arkansas 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
60. Boise State Broncos
Relative Strengths: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
Relative Concerns: Special Teams, Quarterback
Here’s The Deal: It’s not a perfect team, and it’s not even the best among the Group of Five, but it could be just strong enough to get into the New Year’s Six. The schedule is fantastic, and the basics are there to overcome the early concerns at quarterback and in the kicking game. The offensive line and receivers will make the O go, and the secondary will be a plus.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 8
– Boise State 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
59. Indiana Hoosiers
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Defensive Back, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: The Hoosiers did a little housecleaning with the coordinators, and the team is in place to come up with the best season yet under Tom Allen. The offensive skill players are solid, but the defensive front is just okay and it’ll take a few upsets to go bowling.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 84
– Indiana 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
58. Louisville Cardinals
Relative Strengths: Wide Receiver, Coaching
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Defensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Call 2018 a blip. New head coach Scott Satterfield comes in from Appalachian State and immediately changes up the culture. The defense has to be a whole lot better, but there’s experience and athleticism to work with. The offense should require some tweaking more than a total overhaul. Don’t blow off the Cardinals based on one awful year.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 121
– Louisville 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
57. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Defensive Back
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Linebacker
Here’s The Deal: Dave Clawson has done a wonderful job of working with the parts to make it all work, even though the talent level is just okay. The quarterback situation is great, and it’ll need to be for an offense that will have to make up or a leaky defense.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 49
– Wake Forest 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
56. Pitt Panthers
Relative Strengths: Wide Receiver, Defensive Line
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Linebacker
Here’s The Deal: The top parts of the great running game are gone and the passing attack has to be stronger. It’ll be an inconsistent team, but there are good parts here and there – like at receiver and on the defensive front and secondary – to be interesting again.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 47
– Pitt 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
55. Houston Cougars
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
Relative Concerns: Defensive Line, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: Dana Holgorsen comes in with the task of taking Houston back to the Tom Herman era level, and further. The offensive skill parts are fantastic – the Cougars will hang up 40 points on a regular basis. Can the defense with a retooled line and shaky secondary slow anyone down?
2018 Final Season Ranking: 56
– Houston 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
54. Boston College Eagles
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Linebacker
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
Here’s The Deal: You know what’s coming. AJ Dillon and the running game will work, the offense will be effective enough to get by, and the defense will be solid – it’ll just take a little time. The pass rushers have to emerge and the secondary has to tight up a bit after losing a few important parts.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 50
– Boston College 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
53. Maryland Terrapins
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Quarterback
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
Here’s The Deal: Mike Locksley has the offensive backfield to make the Term more dangerous. The running backs are good, and getting Virginia Tech transfer quarterback Josh Jackson is great. The pass rush will be terrific, but the offensive line is a question mark and the young parts in the defensive back seven have to come together.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 82
– Maryland 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
52. Duke Blue Devils
Relative Strengths: Secondary, Coaching
Relative Concerns: Receiver, Offensive Line
Here’s The Deal: The overall depth isn’t there, the receiving corps is starting over, and QB Daniel Jones is busy off being yelled at by New York Giant fans. However, Quentin Harris is a nice replacement, and there’s a shot this is the best defense in the David Cutcliffe era.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 24
– Duke 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
51. Purdue Boilermakers
Relative Strengths: Receiver, Linebacker
Relative Concerns: Running Back, Secondary
Here’s The Deal: It’s going to be a blast of a season with one of the nation’s most exciting young receiving corps, an aggressive defense, and just enough problems in the secondary to make every game a wild high-scoring firefight. Head coach Jeff Brohm will have his best team yet.
2018 Final Season Ranking: 55
– Purdue 2019 Team Preview, Season Prediction
2019 CFN Preview Rankings
101-130 | 76-100 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
