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

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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 17: Bryce Perkins (3) holds off Tre Swilling (3) during the college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the University of Virginia Cavaliers on November 17, 2018 at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Even with the loss of All-C-USA defensive end Ty Tyler, who committed to transfer to Louisville, the Marshall defense is the best among all Group of Five conference teams in terms of CFB Winning Edge Roster Strength. The Thundering Herd ranks No. 21 overall defensively, and leads the conference and ranks 35th or better at all three positions.

Pegged as the favorite to win the ACC Coastal by the conference media, Virginia is widely viewed as an up-and-comer. Bronco Mendenhall has done a great job as head coach, Bryce Perkins is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in college football and Bryce Hall is one of the best cornerbacks in America. However, according to a No. 59 ranking in preseason Team Strength, the Cavaliers are only projected to win 5.77 games on average. Therefore, the Hoos are favored in only four contests, and that 4-8 (1-7) record projection would result in a sixth-place finish.

Few expected the Vanderbilt offense to spearhead the Commodores to a bowl game in 2018. Nevertheless, Ke’Shawn Vaughn emerged as one of the top running backs in the SEC, receiver Kalija Lipscomb earned Second Team All-SEC honors, and Jared Pinkney is a legitimate All-American candidate at tight end. If Ball State transfer Riley Neal pans out, head coach Derek Mason could have his third bowl team.

No FBS team lost more of its offensive yardage (76.3 percent) than NC State. The Wolfpack must replace a highly productive group of players, including No. 2 all-time leading passer Ryan Finley, who threw for 3,928 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.

The Wolfpack also lost 1,000-yard rusher, Reggie Gallaspy, two 1,000-yard receivers in Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers, and first-round offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury. Throw in leading tackler (and third-round pick) Germaine Pratt, and it’s no wonder Dave Doeren’s squad lost more points in overall Roster Strength (-3.78) than every ACC team and all but three other FBS programs.

Wake Forest faces a quarterback quandary for another reason: the Demon Deacons welcome back two signal callers who proved to be capable starters in 2018. Sam Hartman threw for 1,984 yards and 16 TDs in nine starts while Jamie Newman excelled in four starts after Hartman was lost to injury. Cade Carney, a 1,000-yard rusher, 100-rated cornerback Essang Bassey and leading tackler Justin Strnad also return.

The defending ACC Coastal champs have an opportunity to defend their title right away with a home date against top challenger Virginia Aug. 31. Though Pitt lost nearly 70 percent of its rushing yardage from last year’s squad, 11 total starters return, including quarterback Kenny Pickett, receiver, receivers Maurice Ffrench and Taysir Mack, and 100-rated safety Damar Hamlin.

Despite a quarterback unit that ranks last in the SEC and No. 74 nationally, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the potential of new Ole Miss QB Matt Corral, especially in new offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez’s system. Corrall, a dual-threat, should make life difficult for opposing defenses, and he’ll work hand-in-hand with returning running back Scottie Phillips and five-star true freshman Jerrion Ealy as Rich Rod breaks in new starters at receiver (3), tight end (1) and on the offensive line (3).

SMU lost all-time leading passer Ben Hicks to transfer, but the Mustangs should be in good hands with former Texas starter Shane Buechele set to join the team this summer. Buechele inherits the top receiving corps in the AAC (and a top 25 unit nationally) led by All-American candidate James Proche. As a junior, Proche caught 93 passes for 1,119 yards and 12 touchdowns, all of which led the conference.

Despite a combined 17 wins in his first 19 games as USF head coach, Charlie Strong’s tenure has shown a disappointing decline. The Bulls, who won 11 games under Willie Taggart in 2017, are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, which sullied a 7-0 start last year. However, with nine starters returning on offense, and a squad that ranks No. 3 in the AAC in Roster Strength and No. 2 in average 247Sports Composite rating (.8270), Strong and the Bulls should re-establish themselves as challengers in the East division.

Cincinnati made a huge jump in Luke Fickell’s second season as head coach, improving from 4-8 to 11-2. Most of the top performers are set to return in 2019, including running back Michael Warren II, quarterback Desmond Ridder and All-AAC linebacker Perry Young. Despite the on-field success, Fickell’s squad attained last year, and the experience returning for the Bearcats, it’s important to note Cincinnati ranks No. 7 in the conference in Roster Strength. The schedule is also much more difficult given trips to Ohio State and Marshall in the non-conference, as well as road games against AAC West contenders Houston and Memphis.