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

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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the touchdown in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Jim Harbaugh brought in a new offensive coordinator to revamp his offense, Ohio State boogeyman Urban Meyer is gone, and the Buckeyes must travel to the Big House. Is this the year Michigan finally gets over the hump and wins the Big Ten?

Josh Gattis has a 100-rated quarterback to work with in Shea Patterson, a veteran offensive line and plenty of talented weapons at receiver (though depth at running back is a concern). Defensively, Don Brown must replace 53.88 percent of last year’s tackling production, but he’ll have at least one 100-rated defender to work with at every level: former Central Michigan defensive end Mike Danna, linebacker Khaleke Hudson, and corner Lavert Hill.

Like Michigan, Washington must replace a wealth of talent and experience on defense. And also like the Wolverines, Chris Petersen’s team is favored to win the conference and challenge for a playoff spot. Unlike Michigan, however, the Huskies must also replace a four-year starting quarterback and the all-time leading rusher in program history.

Thankfully, Jacob Eason might be an upgrade at quarterback and running back Salvon Ahmed has unlimited potential. Four starters return on the offensive line, and the new guy (left tackle Trey Adams) was a Freshman All-American four years ago. Oh, and more than 90 percent of last year’s receiving yardage returns, and if Hunter Bryant stays healthy, he could be the best tight end in the country.

Safety Grant Delpit earned the No. 1 spot on our recent list of the top 100 college football players for 2019, but Delpit is just one of five Tigers defenders with a 100 rating according to VGR+. As a result, LSU ranks No. 1 in the nation in defensive Roster Strength. Quarterback Joe Burrow has stabilized the position, and he’ll work with a receiving corps with tremendous upside. If head coach Ed Orgeron sticks to the plan to open up the offense, LSU could challenge for the SEC West title – though the Tigers must travel to Tuscaloosa.

Despite a 1.34-point drop in Roster Strength following its 2018 playoff run, and a tougher schedule this year, Notre Dame could play itself back into the CFP conversation. The Fighting Irish are stacked along the defensive line and in the secondary with All-American candidates Julian Okwara and Alohi Gilman leading both position groups, respectively. Brian Kelly ranks No. 3 in the country in Head Coach rating and quarterback Ian Book is the unquestioned starter behind center. If the running back position comes together, and the young linebacker corps matures, the Irish should stay in the mix.

The Florida Gators made a huge jump in Dan Mullen’s first season, and appear poised to challenge in the SEC East in Year 2. Mullen has a terrific track record as both a head coach (92.52 rating, No. 5) and play-caller (88.40 OC Rating, No. 12), which bodes well for an offense that ranks No. 6 in Roster Strength. If quarterback Feleipe Franks continues to progress, the Gators could even make a playoff run. On that note, one of the nine CFB Winning Edge power ratings models calls for Florida to go undefeated during the regular season.

The Buckeyes are loaded once again, at least on paper. Georgia transfer Justin Fields should have an opportunity to prove he was worthy of his five-star status, and running back J.K. Dobbins could post huge numbers as a junior after sharing carries in each of his first two seasons.

Overall, Ohio State ranks No. 2 in overall Roster Strength, behind only Alabama. Defensively, the Buckeyes boast the No. 1 defensive line, No. 4 linebacker corps, and No. 4 secondary. New head coach Ryan Day got his feet wet with a three-game audition at the beginning of 2018, but the transition from the Urban Meyer is the only question mark. Other than the November trip to Ann Arbor.

Quarterback Jake Fromm and running back D’Andre Swift are both preseason Heisman candidates, and the pair headlines an offense that ranks second in the country in Roster Strength but will have a new play-caller in James Coley. All-American tackle Andrew Thomas is the anchor for what could be the deepest offensive line in the country and might be the best in school history. The only concern is a receiving corps that returns just 29.96 percent of last year’s receiving yardage.

On defense, the linebacker corps lacks experience, and two newcomers – JuCo transfer Jermaine Johnson and freshman (and No. 1 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite) Nolan Smith – fought to the top of the depth chart. All-American safety candidate J.R. Reed is the leader of a secondary that returns five players with starting experience.

Thanks in large part to the addition of 100-rated Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts, the Oklahoma Sooners rank No. 3 in the country in offensive Roster Strength. The offensive line is inexperienced, and the receiving corps will miss home-run-hitter Marquise Brown, but Lincoln Riley still has loads of talent to work with. The defense is still a concern. New defensive coordinator Alex Grinch arrived with great fanfare, but his 79.63 DC Rating ranks No. 62 overall and No. 7 in the Big 12. Nevertheless, the Sooners rank No. 23 in Roster Strength, including a top-5 defensive line led by Neville Gallimore and Kenneth Mann.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne – both 100-rated players and preseason Heisman Trophy candidates – are the headliners for a Clemson roster that ranks No. 3 in the country in overall Roster Strength. Combined with Dabo Swinney’s max 100 Head Coach rating, and the Tigers should be heavy favorites to make it back to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Also of note, the gap between No. 2 Clemson (94.49) and No. 3 Oklahoma (91.45) is bigger than any two consecutive teams throughout the rest of CFB Winning Edge preseason Team Strength ratings. If the Tigers and Sooners were to play on a neutral field today, we would project Clemson as a 6-point favorite.

Nick Saban has earned a 100 Head Coach rating, and he’ll have more 100-rated players on his roster (8) than any other coach in the country. The Crimson Tide also has the most talented team in the country, including an FBS best .9280 average rating in the 247Sports Composite, and a No. 1 ranking in Roster Strength.

Heisman runner-up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has arguably the best group of receivers to throw to, and Bama ranks No. 1 in offensive Roster Strength. Fellow future first round draft pick Dylan Moses leads the No. 2 defense in the country, according to Roster Strength. All told, despite last year’s results, Alabama would be a two-point favorite to beat Clemson on a neutral field today, according to the CFB Winning Edge Team Strength ratings.