CUTrevor
2018-05-09 18:52:28
We're gonna see Clemson and Bama continue to flip-flop in everyone's rankings all the way up to September. |
CUTrevor
2018-05-09 18:55:23
From USA Today's Paul Myerberg: Last week’s ranking of the post-spring Top 25 for the Football Bowl Subdivision was just the beginning. With spring drills in the books and less than four months until the start of the 2018 season, let’s rank ‘em all. The USA TODAY Sports post-spring 1-130 for the entire FBS digs deep into each of conference to make an early suggestion for how things will shake out. Remember the one casting change: Idaho is moving down to the Football Championship Subdivision and Liberty is moving up. We’re still sitting at 130 teams. Check out the post-spring Top 25 for notes on each of the nation’s projected top teams. The 1-130 will have brief thoughts on a select number of teams seemingly outside the College Football Playoff picture. 1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Wisconsin 4. Washington 5. Ohio State 6. Georgia 7. Oklahoma 8. TCU 9. Penn State 10. Miami (Fla.) 11. Auburn 12. Stanford 13. Michigan 14. Boise State 15. Michigan State 16. Notre Dame 17. Florida Atlantic 18. Virginia Tech 19. West Virginia 20. San Diego State 21. Mississippi State 22. Iowa State 23. Oklahoma State 24. South Carolina 25. Southern California 26. Kansas State 27. Central Florida 28. Northwestern 29. Florida State 30. Utah 31. Texas A&M 32. Arizona 33. Texas 34. North Carolina State 35. Iowa Central Florida is capable of reaching another New Year’s Six bowl under a brand-new staff. Willie Taggart isn’t known for rapid turnarounds, but Florida State has the talent to push Clemson. I might be a little too bullish on Arizona’s shot in the Pac-12 Conference South Division under Kevin Sumlin. 36. Toledo 37. Louisville 38. Northern Illinois 39. Memphis 40. Oregon 41. LSU 42. UCLA 43. South Florida 44. Marshall 45. Boston College 46. Arkansas State 47. Fresno State 48. Houston 49. Washington State 50. Pittsburgh LSU could win eight or nine games or finish 6-6 under Ed Orgeron. Don’t sleep on Marshall riding its defense to a Conference USA title. Look for Pittsburgh and Pat Narduzzi to make a nice rebound after a disappointing 2017. 51. Texas Tech 52. Nebraska 53. Florida 54. Navy 55. Duke 56. Missouri 57. Temple 58. North Texas 59. Wake Forest 60. Troy 61. Louisiana Tech 62. Virginia 63. Army 64. Middle Tennessee 65. Wyoming Scott Frost will have Nebraska in the national mix, just not in 2018. The same could be said for Dan Mullen at Florida, but not until the Gators find a quarterback. Temple is experienced and stout on defense, so UCF shouldn’t look past the Owls. 66. Tennessee 67. Indiana 68. Southern Mississippi 69. Arkansas 70. Appalachian State 71. California 72. Georgia Tech 73. Kentucky 74. Purdue 75. Massachusetts 76. Mississippi 77. Minnesota 78. Syracuse 79. Ohio 80. Maryland 81. North Carolina 82. Baylor 83. Vanderbilt 84. Colorado State 85. Arizona State The start of the Jeremy Pruitt era at Tennessee will be a success if it ends in the postseason. Arkansas hired a good one in Chad Morris, though he needs a year or two to get his offense going. Syracuse is overdue for a breakthrough, but I have my doubts. All eyes will be on Herm Edwards and Arizona State, if not always for reasons related to football. 86. Air Force 87. SMU 88. Utah State 89. Western Kentucky 90. Tulane 91. Brigham Young 92. Old Dominion 93. Rutgers 94. Alabama-Birmingham 95. Tulsa 96. Akron 97. Florida International 98. Buffalo 99. Colorado 100. Western Michigan BYU’s offense can’t be worse, I think, but the schedule does the Cougars no favors. I could be underrating Rutgers, which might not make a bowl game this year under Chris Ash but definitely has a postseason trip at some point in its future. Tulsa is another team that needs to prove itself after a dreadful 2017. 101. Miami (Ohio) 102. UTSA 103. Coastal Carolina 104. New Mexico State 105. Georgia State 106. UNLV 107. Central Michigan 108. Cincinnati 109. Illinois 110. Eastern Michigan 111. Georgia Southern 112. Nevada 113. South Alabama 114. Louisiana-Monroe 115. Hawaii Coastal Carolina will climb a few spots up the Sun Belt Conference ladder with head coach Joe Moglia’s return to the sidelines. New Mexico State might get back to six wins but won’t make any noise with its forgettable schedule. The youth movement will continue for Lovie Smith and Illinois. 116. Louisiana-Lafayette 117. Connecticut 118. Liberty 119. New Mexico 120. East Carolina 121. Kansas 122. Ball State 123. Charlotte 124. Rice 125. Oregon State 126. Bowling Green 127. Kent State 128. San Jose State 129. Texas State 130. UTEP Things don’t look great on paper for UConn, but Randy Edsall has surprised before. Liberty isn’t eligible for the postseason as it transitions to the FBS. And UTEP starts at the bottom after ending last season as the nation’s lone winless team. |