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

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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Oregon State Beavers running back Jermar Jefferson (22) runs through the line during the college football game between the Oregon State Beavers and Stanford Cardinal on November 10, 2018 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

New Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins appears to be a perfect fit at the Institute, and there is a great deal of optimism Collins will be able to raise the talent level for the Yellow Jackets. However, Collins and his new coaching staff inherited the weakest roster in the ACC in terms of CFB Winning Edge Roster Strength. Tech ranks last in the conference in both overall offense and defense. Linebacker (No. 39 overall and No. 6 in conference) is the only position in which the Jackets rank better than 70th in the country or 10th in the ACC.

Our Appalachian State projection is likely to raise quite a few eyebrows. After all, the Mountaineers were 11-2 last season, won the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, and haven’t lost more than one conference game since 2013. Oh, and 10 starters return on offense, including All-Conference quarterback Zac Thomas, running back Darrynton Evans and center Noah Hannon.

App State ranks highly in several categories, including No. 1 overall offensively in the Sun Belt in Roster Strength (No. 70 nationally). However, the transition from Scott Satterfield (83.09 Head Coach rating, No. 50) to Eli Drinkwitz (73.37, No. 108) is a big downgrade on paper.

Miami (Ohio) is one of just two FBS teams to lose 100 percent of its 2018 passing yardage. There is likely to be a three-way battle for the quarterback spot, with sophomore Jackson Williamson the only RedHawks quarterback yet to even appear in a game. Miami must also replace three of its top four in rushing yardage, its second-leading receiver and both of its top two tacklers. On the bright side, the RedHawks grade out No. 1 in the MAC and No. 44 overall in O-Line Strength.

Similar to App State, Northern Illinois is a defending conference champion undergoing a head coaching transition. And, because CFB Winning Edge Team Strength metrics penalize first-time college head coaches, the Huskies are ranked lower here than they would be in most power rankings systems.

New head coach Thomas Hammock does have a strong roster to work with: NIU ranks fifth or better among MAC programs in every position according to Roster Strength, with the No. 1 overall defense in the MAC.

ULM ranks No. 1 in the Sun Belt and No. 42 overall in O-Line Strength. Even better, the Warhawks welcome back all five starters from last year’s unit, who will block for arguably the No. 1 quarterback in the conference in Caleb Evans.

Evans lost three of his four favorite targets from last year, including R.J. Turner, who transferred to Texas Tech. The Warhawks must also find a top ball carrier, and replace their top two tacklers, including linebacker David Griffith, who led the team in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss.

Southern Miss ranks among the national leaders in returning offensive production – that is, if wide receiver Quez Watkins, who led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2018, is academically eligible in 2019. If Watkins returns, the Eagles will have 93.4 percent of their total yardage back from last season – second-most in the country.

Head coach Chris Creighton has done an incredible job simply making Eastern Michigan competitive at the FBS level. The Eagles played in their second bowl game in three seasons last year after appearing in only one bowl throughout the rest of the program’s history. Creighton will have a veteran offense led by exciting senior quarterback Mike Glass III, but only four starters return on defense.

Head coach Lovie Smith is often one of the first coaches mentioned in Hot Seat columns, and Smith’s 71.04 Head Coach Rating ranks 120th in the nation. However, there is reason to be optimistic about the progress Illinois can make in 2019.

Thanks to a series of transfers and a few high-profile recruits, the Illini increased their Roster Strength rating by 4.25 points, which is more than any other team in the conference and fourth-most nationally. In terms of overall Roster Strength, Illinois now ranks 48th in the country and eighth in the Big Ten. Smith will actually have a stronger roster than the opposing coach in eight games, so a bowl bid is truly riding on the coaching ability of he and his staff.

Arkansas State returns two All-Conference performers on the defensive line in William Bradley-King and Forrest Merrill, and another in the secondary in Jerry Jacobs. Not surprisingly, the Red Wolves rank No. 1 in the Sun Belt in defensive Roster Strength. The offense, which must replace the school’s second all-time leading passer, also returns the No. 1 receiving unit in the conference, highlighted by another All-SBC performer, Kirk Merritt.

Only one team has made more progress than Oregon State (+5.50) in Roster Strength since the end of the 2018 season. Second-year head coach Jonathan Smith can turn to experienced players throughout the roster, including a sixth-year quarterback in Jake Luton (who received an extra year of eligibility due to injuries) and All-Conference contenders in running back Jermar Jefferson and receiver Isaiah Hodgins.

Of course, questions remain on the offensive line (the Beavs allowed 48 sacks last year – most in FBS) and on defense (Oregon State forced an FBS low eight turnovers and ranked No. 129 in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense).