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

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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CORVALLIS, OR – OCTOBER 20: Linebacker Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears celebrates a tackle during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
CORVALLIS, OR – OCTOBER 20: Linebacker Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears celebrates a tackle during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was literally perfect in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, completing all 18 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Cougars to a 49-18 victory over Western Michigan. Wilson, who made six starts as a true freshman, will welcome back his top three receivers (including All-American candidate Matt Bushman at tight end), and leading rusher Lopini Katoa, who should be challenged by a pair of graduate transfers for the top spot on the depth chart. BYU faces a brutal September schedule, but the Cougars are perfectly capable of competing on a big stage (get it?).

Graham Harrell won’t be calling plays for North Texas in 2019 after leaving for USC, but quarterback Mason Fine is back to lead what should be one of the most explosive offenses in college football. In fact, Fine – a Top 100 player who leads all FBS quarterbacks with 24 career Production Points – is the quarterback for the No. 1 offense in C-USA, according to CFB Winning Edge Roster Strength. He’ll also have a pair of All-Conference performers on hand in running back DeAndre Torrey and receiver Rico Bussey.

Receiver Rondale Moore was a revelation for Purdue as a true freshman in 2018 and should be one of the best players in college football this year. However, Moore isn’t the only 100-rated player available for the Boilermakers. Senior linebacker Markus Bailey also emerged as one of the most productive players in the Big Ten. Defensive lineman Lorenzo Neal, safety Navon Mosley and WKU transfer linebacker Ben Holt all enter 2019 with VGR+ ratings of 93 or better, giving the trio a great chance of joining Bailey and Moore in the exclusive 100 Club this fall.

P.J. Fleck helped raise the talent level at Western Michigan before rowing off to Minnesota, and third-year head coach Tim Lester has maintained it well. Lester will have the No. 1 roster in the MAC in terms of overall Roster Strength (83.58) in 2019, and the Broncos rank No. 2 in average 247Sports Composite rating (.7989).

Quarterback Jon Wassink, running back LeVante Bellamy and receiver D’Wayne Eskridge might be the best trio in the conference, but Western should also excel defensively. Both the defensive line and linebacker corps rank No. 1 in the MAC (including a No. 25 spot overall for the ‘backers), and the secondary comes in No. 2 in the league.

Despite being the lowest ranked team in the SEC by the CFB Winning Edge preseason power ratings, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about Arkansas in 2019. First is the potential for a Year 2 bump for Chad Morris, who is probably better than his 72.61 Head Coach rating (No. 114 overall).

Secondly, the Razorbacks rank No. 24 nationally and No. 9 in the conference in overall Roster Strength, and 11thin average 247Sports Composite rating (.8544), so the Hogs will have a talent advantage in six games. Quarterback play should also improve with either SMU transfer Ben Hicks or former Texas A&M QB Nick Starkel taking over.

The Cal Bears rode one of the nation’s toughest defenses to a winning record in 2018, and with elite linebacker Evan Weaver and four returning starters in the secondary, there’s plenty of reason to believe 2019 will follow a similar path. The offense must improve (and there’s a good chance sophomore QB Chase Garbers or former UCLA signal caller Devon Modster will provide better quarterback play), but the Bears found a way to win twice scoring 15 points or fewer last year.

Louisiana Tech could be the team to beat in the C-USA West in 2019. Led by quarterback J’Mar Smith and receiver Adrian Hardy, the Bulldogs have the No. 2 offense in the conference in terms of Roster Strength. Thanks in part to 100-rated All-American candidate Amik Robertson, the defense ranks No. 2 as well. Tech is favored to win nine games according to CFB Winning Edge preseason projections and has a 42 percent chance to beat Marshall and a 49 percent chance of upsetting UAB, according to win probability projections. In other words, double-digit wins is a distinct possibility.

Texas Tech is a program in transition, but the Red Raiders should remain explosive offensively as the team transitions from Kliff Kingsbury to new head coach Matt Wells. David Yost enters 2019 with an 86.09 OC Rating, which ranks second in the Big 12 and No. 24 nationally and he’ll benefit from the return of a (hopefully) healthy Alan Bowman at quarterback, and a deep receiving corps led by T.J. Vasher. The offensive line also returns 115 starts combined, which is the most in the conference and fourth most nationally.

Butch Davis has done a terrific job since taking over the FIU football program, having led the Panthers to back-to-back bowl games while winning a combined 17 games in his first two seasons on the sidelines. Davis has also raised the talent level in Miami and will field the No. 3 roster in C-USA in Roster Strength, and No. 4 in the conference in average 247Sports Composite rating (.7996). Quarterback James Morgan is a C-USA Offensive Player of the Year candidate and could lead FIU to the conference title game for the first time.

The Louisville Cardinals sank like a stone under Bobby Petrino in 2018, falling from 8-5 the previous season to 2-10. However, the Cards should be far more competitive in 2019 under new head coach Scott Satterfield, whose 83.09 Head Coach rating ranks fifth in the ACC. Satterfield is set to welcome back 10 starters on defense and added Marshall grad transfer Ty Tyler, who is a Top 100 player. He also inherited a receiving corps that ranks No. 20 in the country in Roster Strength. The Cards improved by 3.11 points in Roster Strength since Satterfield was hired, which is the second biggest jump in the ACC and eighth best nationally.