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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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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Nathan Rourke #12 of the Ohio Bobcats runs the ball in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Nathan Rourke #12 of the Ohio Bobcats runs the ball in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

The first two seasons of the UAB football reboot have gone better than nearly anyone could have imagined. The Blazers won a combined 19 games since the program returned in 2017 and won the Conference USA title game last year. Though only eight total starters return, head coach Bill Clark has a strong core led by All-Conference running back Spencer Brown, and sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnson III, who is already receiving some NFL Draft buzz.

Don’t be fooled by the No. 79 ranking here, Army is a dangerous team that should compete with every team on its schedule – including Michigan, who hosts the Black Knights in Week 2. Army will likely be favored to win 10 or more games, and we can expect them to receive some love in the preseason Top 25 with the return of quarterback Kelvin Hopkins, Jr., who led the team to an 11-2 record last year capped by a 70-14 domination of Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Injuries derailed Toledo’s bid for a second consecutive MAC championship, but a healthy Mitchell Guadagni is set to lead the No. 1 offense in the conference, both in scoring (40.4 points per game, No. 9 in FBS last season) and Roster Strength (No. 67 overall). All-MAC center Bryce Harris leads the No. 2 offensive line in the league, and the Rockets rank in the top half of the league at all tree levels defensively.

Middle Tennessee must replace all-time leading passer Brett Stockstill, but the Blue Raiders should still be a threat to repeat as C-USA East champs. JUCO transfer Randall Johnson is the favorite to start behind center, and he’ll benefit from the return of highly productive receiver Ty Lee and linebacker-turned-running back Chaton Mobley. Top 100 player Khalil Brooks leads a linebacker corps ranked No. 2 in the league and No. 35 overall in Roster Strength.

New Colorado head coach Mel Tucker inherited some elite players in receiver Laviska Shenault and linebacker Nate Landman, both of whom were ranked among our Top 100 players. Quarterback Steven Montez, receiver K.D. Nixon and defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson aren’t far behind, but depth is a concern and the Buffs play one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

If you don’t know Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke yet, watch out. Rourke is entering his fourth year as the starter for the Bobcats and is coming off a Second-Team All-MAC season in which he threw for 2,434 yards, ran for 834 and accounted for 38 total touchdowns. Frank Solich must rebuild the roster around Rourke, but he ranks No. 16 in the nation in Head coach rating (88.63), so there’s a great chance Ohio will contend for the MAC title.

San Diego State running back Juwan Washington and linebacker Kyahva Tezino are also must-watch players, and the duo should help the Aztecs get back on track following a disappointing end to the 2018 season. Head coach Rocky Long’s squad enters 2019 on a four-game losing streak, which included a pair of home conference losses to UNLV and Hawaii, as well as a 27-0 defeat at the hands of Ohio in the Frisco Bowl.

Can Indiana finally get over the bowl game hump in Tom Allen’s third year as head coach? Following back-to-back five-win seasons, the Hoosiers improved 2.14 points in Roster Strength, which ranks No. 25 nationally. With a 0.8435 average rating in the 247Sports Composite, IU also has a talent advantage in six games in 2019. Running back Stevie Scott ran for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman and leads a unit ranked No. 35 in Roster Strength. He’ll work behind the No. 29 offensive line.

What’s better than guys being dudes? Nothing, according to Boston College head coach Steve Addazio, who has one of the most impressive dudes in all of college football in running back A.J. Dillon. If Dillon stays healthy (he missed two games last season), the Eagles should contend for a fourth straight bowl game. However, that would likely mean overachievement from a defense that lost a handful of productive dudes from last year’s unit. BC currently ranks No. 74 overall and No. 13 in the ACC in defensive Roster Strength.

Temple has overcome several coaching changes this decade to remain one of the most consistent programs in the country at the G5 level. Former Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey should provide yet another smooth transition, and he’ll have plenty of talent to work with. The Owls rank No. 1 in the AAC in D-Line Strength and linebacker Roster Strength, and the units rank No. 39 and No. 16 overall, respectively. Quarterback Anthony Russo and receiver Isaiah Wright could develop into one of the top duos in the conference.