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College football rankings 2019: Every FBS team from 1-130, ranked

By Nicholas Ian Allen

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (1) celebrate with the championship trophy after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 7, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (1) celebrate with the championship trophy after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 7, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 17: Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) cuts through a hole in the line during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Wisconsin Badgers on November 17, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 17: Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) cuts through a hole in the line during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Wisconsin Badgers on November 17, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Career starts is a common reference point for the strength of an offensive line from one season to the next (and we’re just as guilty of it as anyone else), though research shows experience up front does not correlate to improvement in terms of wins and losses. Wisconsin fans understand. As preseason Big Ten West favorites and CFP contenders in 2018, the Badgers welcomed back what was widely believed to be the best, and also the most experienced unit, in the country but fell from 13 wins to eight.

Only one full-time starter returns on the Wisconsin offensive line for 2019, but it’s a great one: center Tyler Biadasz, who headlines a unit that ranks No. 28 in O-Line Strength. And the four new starters should open plenty of holes for Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor, whose 34 career Production Points are the most among all active FBS players.

If the TCU quarterback situation works itself out, the Horned Frogs should emerge as a threat to make it back to the Big 12 Championship Game following a one-year hiatus. Whichever of the six contenders to win the job will have a surefire All-American candidate out wide in Jalen Reagor, as well as a backfield that ranks third in the Big 12 and No. 26 overall in Roster Strength.

But the true strength of the team is on the defensive side of the football. The Horned Frogs rank No. 30 in defensive Roster Strength, led by a defensive line that welcomes back Ross Blacklock following a season-ending injury in 2018, and adds South Carolina transfer, Shameik Blackshear.

Plus, Gary Patterson (one of the top defensive minds in football) is one of the most respected coaches in the country. Patterson is likely even better than his No. 17 ranking in CFB Winning Edge Head Coach Rating (88.38, No. 2 in the Big 12), which makes the Frogs a threat to beat anybody.

Despite popular opinion, he would fail in spectacular, quotable fashion, Arizona State survived its first season with Herm Edwards as head coach. And there’s reason to believe the Sun Devils could actually improve upon last year’s 7-6 final record.

The passing game is a major concern following the loss of quarterback Manny Wilkins and top target N’Keal Henry, but running back Eno Benjamin is one of the best players in college football regardless of position. Benjamin will also have the benefit of running behind the No. 6 offensive line in the country.

The Sun Devils also have a Top 20 linebacker corps led by Freshman All-American Merlin Robertson. The secondary is similarly talented with 100-rated cornerback Chase Lucas and All-Pac-12 candidate safety Aashari Crosswell.

Shouldn’t we just give Mike Leach the benefit of the doubt by now? Leach ranks third in the Pac-12 and No. 11 in the country with a 90.13 Head Coach Rating, which is a major reason why the Cougars are projected to overachieve their No. 60 overall standing in Roster Strength (83.43). If Leach can work his magic again with likely new starting quarterback in grad transfer Gage Gubrud, Washington State could make a run at double-digit victories once again.

UCLA struggled mightily throughout Chip Kelly’s first season as head coach, though the Bruins showed some improvement late in the year and knocked off crosstown rival USC 34-27. Running back Joshua Kelley emerged as an All-Pac 12 candidate while rushing for 1,242 yards and 12 touchdowns, and the UC Davis transfer should elevate the Bruins above their No. 39 ranking in offensive Roster Strength. The defense, which ranks No. 47 despite a trio of 100-rated starters, must improve for Kelly (and Kelley) to get UCLA back to a bowl game.

Speaking of struggles, USC and head coach Clay Helton have had their fair share over the last 12 months. The Trojans fell to 5-7 following back-to-back seasons with double-digit victories, and Helton’s seat is arguably the hottest in the country. He turned to North Texas offensive coordinator Graham Harrell (following a short-lived Kliff Kingsbury stint) to help elevate the Trojans offensively. Harrell has lots of talent to work with, including former five-star recruit J.T. Daniels at quarterback and the No. 5 receiving corps in the country by Roster Strength.

Similarly, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt turned to an established offensive play-caller to help improve the on-field performance of what should be one of the most talented units in the country. The Vols rank No. 11 overall in offensive Roster Strength, which considering the offensive line sits No. 59 among all FBS programs and No. 12 in the SEC, is remarkable. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has Top 10 talent at both running back (No. 5) and receiver (No. 8), and should make strides under new OC Jim Chaney – at least, if the offensive line (which will likely start a pair of true freshman tackles) gives him more time to operate.

I promise the CFB Winning Edge Team Strength ratings didn’t lump UCLA, USC, Tennessee and Florida State together on purpose. But the Seminoles find themselves in a similar place (in several ways) when compared to the teams ranked just behind them. The roster is loaded (No. 10 in Roster Strength and No. 6 in 247Sports average rating), but the offensive line struggled mightily in 2018, and quarterback play suffered. As a result, the defense found itself in disadvantageous situations far more often than it should, and a new coordinator (Art Briles in this case) is expected to jumpstart the offense. Sound familiar?

Iowa couldn’t be more different. Kirk Ferentz has been remarkably consistent (and secure), and ranks No. 10 overall and No. 1 in the Big Ten with a 90.98 Head Coach Rating. Ferentz and his staff have a strong track record of unearthing underrated high school prospects and developing them into first round NFL Draft picks. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa and offensive linemen Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs could be the next Iowa products to hear their names on Day 1. Despite ranking No. 51 in Roster Strength and No. 43 in pure talent, the Hawkeyes should contend for the division title in 2019.

Michigan State has a similar track record under Mark Dantonio, though the Spartans can boast a top 25 ranking in Roster Strength. Defensive coordinator Mike Tressell, whose 91.12 DC Rating is the best in the Big Ten and No. 8 in the country, will field the No. 6 defense in the nation by Roster Strength metrics. Defensive linemen Kenny Willekes and Raequan Williams and linebacker Joe Bachie are all 100-rated players who we ranked among the top 100 players in college football.