Way-too-early 2020 college football rankings: Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama vie for No. 1
130. Massachusetts Minutemen, 1-11
Despite their win over Akron, UMass was basically the consensus No. 130-ranked team from every major college football analytics firm because of a historically bad defense. And unfortunately, the Minutemen don’t appear to be much better in 2020. Head coach Walt Bell must replace seven starters on defense, more than half the passing yardage from last year’s squad, and over 70 percent of the team’s 2019 rushing production.
129. Akron Zips, 0-12 (0-8)
There’s nowhere to go but up for Akron, which was the only FBS program to finish winless in 2019. Second-year head coach Tom Arth has a tough rebuild on his hands with the nation’s worst rushing offense (47.6 yards per game) and the loss of leading tackler John Lako and All-MAC defensive back Alvin Davis, Jr. won’t make it any easier.
128. Connecticut Huskies, 2-10 (0-8)
UConn has left the American Athletic Conference and 2020 will be the first for the Huskies in the FBS Independent wilderness. More than two dozen players are currently in the transfer portal, including several starters (three alone from the offensive line!). At least quarterback Jack Zergiotis, running back Kevin Mensah and receiver Cameron Ross return.
127. UTEP Miners, 1-11 (0-8)
UTEP is 2-22 under head coach Dana Dimel and 2-34 over the last three seasons. The Miners also lose starting quarterback Kai Locksley, running back Treyvon Hughes (a duo that combined for 85.4 percent of last season’s passing yardage and 73.4 percent of its rushing production), plus the top three tacklers from a defense that allowed 6.76 yards per play (No. 126 nationally). But running backs Joshua Fields and redshirt freshman Deion Hankins (an El Paso native and one of the top-rated recruits in program history) offer something to build around.
126. New Mexico State Aggies, 2-10
Head coach Doug Martin held on to his job despite posting a 2-10 record in 2019 and just 22 wins in seven seasons (plus some ugly allegations) and he’ll enter 2020 without top playmaker Jason Huntley, who ran for 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 7.08 yards per carry, chipped in with 40 receptions and served as the team’s top kick returner.
125. New Mexico Lobos, 2-10 (0-8)
The Bob Davie era has come to an end at New Mexico, though former Lobo Danny Gonzales arrives from Arizona State (where he was defensive coordinator) to inject new life into the program. Quarterback Tevaka Tuioti, reserve running back Bruson Carroll and the majority of last year’s receiving production return, but five senior starters (including the top four tacklers in 2019) depart.
124. South Alabama Jaguars, 2-10 (1-7)
South Alabama played Nebraska close in the season opener, and beat Arkansas State 34-30 in the finale, offering a glimpse of the potential the Jags have under Steve Campbell despite his 5-19 record.
Campbell must replace 1,000-yard rusher Tra Minter, but freshman quarterback Desmond Trotter emerged as the starter and he’ll work with an experienced group of receivers in 2020. The defense returns seven of its top eight tacklers but must rebuild along the defensive line.
123. Texas State Bobcats, 3-9 (2-6)
Texas State wasn’t nearly as strong offensively as expected under first-year head coach Jake Spavital and coordinator Bob Stitt, as the Bobcats managed just 18.4 points per game and 4.97 yards per play, which ranked No. 121 and No. 116 nationally, respectively. Spavital let Stitt go after the season and will call plays in 2020 for a unit that returns an experienced of skill position players. However, Texas State suffered heavy losses on the stronger defensive side of the ball.
122. Bowling Green Falcons, 3-9 (2-6)
There were a few positives to take from Bowling Green’s 2019 season, especially the win over Toledo. A 2020 recruiting class that ranked ahead of USC (though most importantly, third in the MAC) at the end of the early signing period is an excellent sign for the future of the program. Quarterback Matt McDonald (a Boston College transfer), running back Andrew Clair and receiver Quintin Morris also provides a solid nucleus to build around.
121. Old Dominion Monarchs, 1-11 (0-8)
Former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne was hired to replace program builder Bobby Wilder at Old Dominion. Rahne inherits some intriguing pieces, including three All-Conference USA defenders: Keione White, Lawrence Garner and Kaleb Ford-Dement. He’ll also work with three quarterbacks with starting experience and a veteran group of receivers and offensive linemen. The problem? ODU ranked No. 129 in yards per play (4.06) in 2019.
120. UTSA Roadrunners, 4-8 (3-5)
Frank Wilson is a highly respected coach and recruiter, but he didn’t win enough at UTSA to keep his job as head coach. New head man Jeff Traylor was an assistant at Arkansas and inherits promising running back Sincere McCormick (who ran for 983 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman), and dual-threat quarterback Lowell Narcisse (a former LSU signee), as well 99.7 percent of last year’s receiving production.
119. Rice Owls, 3-9 (3-5)
Rice finished the season unexpectedly strong, winning three in a row after a 0-9 start. The Owls were solid defensively most of the season, especially against the run, and expect to return a whopping 94.8 percent of their tackling production from last year’s unit. Lots of questions remain on offense, but receivers Brad Rozner and Austin Trammell – both of whom ranked in the top 10 in Conference USA in receiving yards per game – are nice building blocks.
118. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 5-7 (2-6)
Coastal Carolina should have one of the most experienced teams in all of college football in 2020. The Chanticleers expect to return 100 percent of their 2019 passing production, 97.7 percent of their rushing yardage total (including 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Marable), as well as 81.8 percent of last year’s receiving yardage. Only four seniors made a significant impact on defense.
If Coastal Carolina can avoid major losses through transfer (and at least 10 part-timers have already tested the transfer portal since the end of the season), the Chants could play in their first bowl game in 2020.
117. Liberty Flames, 8-5
New head coach Hugh Freeze led Liberty to its first-ever bowl game (and bowl victory) in 2019. However, the Flames will look much different in 2020. Longtime starting quarterback Stephen Buckshot Calvert, running back Frankie Hickson, and likely NFL Draft pick Antonio Golden-Golden, who caught 79 passes for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns, all graduated. Each of the team’s top three tacklers is also gone.
116. Georgia State Panthers, 7-6 (4-4)
Quarterback Dan Ellington and running back Tra Barnett (who won the Sun Belt rushing title with 1,453 rushing yards in 2019) led the Panthers to one of the best seasons in school history as seniors. However, Georgia State expects to lose only three defensive players that recorded five or more tackles last year.
115. ULM Warhawks, 5-7 (4-4)
ULM running back Josh Johnson ran for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.46 yards per carry in 2019. Johnson could take on an even bigger role for the Warhawks next year given the departure of longtime quarterback Caleb Evans, his top two receivers (including outgoing grad transfer tight end Josh Pederson) and three starters from one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country. Defensive back Corey Straughter, who had five interceptions and earned some All-American buzz, returns to lead the defense.
114. UNLV Rebels, 4-8 (2-6)
The Tony Sanchez era of UNLV football came to an end with the Rebels knocking off rival Nevada in overtime, and new head coach Marcus Arroyo arrives from Oregon after serving as the Ducks offensive coordinator. UNLV, long perceived to be a sleeping giant at the Group of Five level, will play in the new Raiders stadium in 2020 and should field one of the most experienced offenses in the Mountain West. However, eight seniors ranked in the top 14 in tackles for the Rebels last season and must be replaced.
113. Army Black Knights, 5-8
Quarterbacks Jabari Laws and Christian Anderson both earned a significant amount of playing time for Army because of injuries at the position in 2019. Both ran for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns, and along with leading returning rusher Sandon McCoy (who led the team with 10 touchdowns) should provide a solid offensive foundation for 2020.
112. Northern Illinois Huskies, 5-7 (4-4)
Northern Illinois took a step back under first-year head coach Thomas Hammock in 2019 and will be forced to find several new starters on offense in 2020. Marcus Childers has starting experience at quarterback and should provide a smooth transition following the graduation of Ross Bowers, but losing Tre Harbison as a graduate transfer hurts. The Huskies also must replace four of their top six tacklers.
111. San Jose State Spartans, 5-7 (2-6)
San Jose State took a major step forward in the Mountain West in 2019 thanks in large part to an explosive passing offense. Unfortunately for the 2020 Spartans, quarterback Josh Love and his nearly 4,000 passing yards, and three of his top five favorite targets (including leading rusher DeJon Packer, who scored 11 times on the ground), were seniors.
Leading receiver Tre Walker and standout freshman Isaiah Hamilton return, however, and give dual-threat quarterback Nick Nash (or whoever emerges as the team’s starter) some weapons to work with.
110. North Texas Mean Green, 4-8 (3-5)
Seth Littrell was a hot name in coaching rumors after the 2017 and 2018 season, but the Mean Green took a step back in 2019 despite returning senior quarterback Mason Fine. Injuries played a role, and though Fine is out of eligibility, running backs Tre Siggers and DeAndre Torrey should be one of the top duos in Conference USA. Wideouts Jaelon Darden and Jyaire Shorter, who combined for 21 touchdown catches, also return.
109. Eastern Michigan Eagles, 6-7 (3-5)
Eastern Michigan quarterback Mike Glass III was one of the best players in the MAC throughout his only season as the primary starter for the Eagles. However, backup Preston Hutchinson was brilliant in limited action, including a 357-yard passing performance against Western Michigan when he was forced to start because of an injury to Glass the previous week. But the succession plan is less clear at running back, where senior Shaq Vann departs.
108. Troy Trojans, 5-7 (3-5)
Troy often played explosive offense in its first season under head coach Chip Lindsey, but the Trojans must replace senior quarterback Kaleb Barker, who threw for 3,628 yards and 30 touchdowns – both of which led the Sun Belt. Rising sophomore Gunnar Watson and junior college All-American Parker McNeil are likely to compete to replace Barker, though incoming freshman Kyle Toole is the highest-rated quarterback in Troy’s conference-leading recruiting class.
107. Ball State Cardinals, 5-7 (4-4)
Ball State was highly competitive in 2019 and is positioned to take another step toward MAC West contention in 2020. Quarterback Drew Plitt, running back Caleb Huntley and receivers Justin Hall and Antwan Davis (who was awarded a sixth season of eligibility) are all expected to return. However, the Cardinals lost their leading passer and rusher from 2018 as grad transfers, so there’s reason to be nervous. Offensive coordinator Joey Lynch, a Ball State alum, has also left for the same job at Colorado State.
106. Utah State Aggies, 7-6 (6-2)
Despite the return of standout quarterback Jordan Love and All-American linebacker David Woodward, Utah State was one of the most inexperienced teams in the Mountain West entering 2019. And though both Love and Woodward were eligible to return as seniors in 2020, they opted to enter the NFL Draft instead. The team’s leading rusher (Gerold Bright) and receiver (Siaosi Mariner) are also gone.
105. Kent State Golden Flashes, 7-6 (5-3)
Dustin Crum didn’t begin the 2019 college football season as the starting quarterback at Kent State, but after he wrestled the job away from Auburn transfer Woody Barrett in Week 2, Crum emerged as one of the best dual-threat signal-callers in the MAC. Three of Crum’s four favorite receivers are gone, but top pass catcher Isaiah McKoy returns, as do four of the top five tacklers for the Golden Flashes.
104. East Carolina Pirates, 4-8 (1-7)
East Carolina got off to a promising 3-2 start in head coach Mike Houston’s debut season, but lost six of its final seven games. Quarterback Holton Ahlers, who struggled early in his first full season as the starter for the Pirates, responded with a huge November in which he threw for an average of 428.75 yards per game, with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. All three ECU wide receivers who caught 50 or more passes are set to return as well, along with 97.2 percent of the team’s rushing production.
103. Central Michigan Chippewas, 8-6 (6-2)
Central Michigan lost 11 games in 2018, but head coach Jim McElwain led a turnaround that resulted in a MAC West title and appearance in the New Mexico Bowl. The Chippewas lost both postseason games, and afterward lost key offensive players Quinten Dormady and Jonathan Ward, plus All-MAC defenders Sean Adesanya and Michael Oliver to graduation, but the foundation is set for a strong run.
102. Toledo Rockets, 6-6 (3-5)
Injuries and inconsistency at quarterback helped derail what at first appeared to be a promising Toledo football season. Mitchell Guadagni was limited to just six starts as a senior, which left junior Eli Peters and freshman Carter Bradley to compete for snaps behind center, as they will likely do in 2020. Running backs Bryant Koback and Shakif Seymour combined for 1.928 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, and are expected to return for head coach Jason Candle, who will call plays offensively for the Rockets next season.
101. Colorado State Rams, 4-8 (3-5)
Mike Bobo helped raise the talent level of the Colorado State roster during his tenure by recruiting nationally and dipping into the transfer portal. Unfortunately, that talent didn’t translate to enough wins, and Bobo was replaced by former Boston College head coach Steve Addazio. The Rams may lose top wideout (and 6-foot-6 target) Warren Jackson to the NFL, but a solid nucleus returns on both sides of the football, including quarterback Patrick O’Brien, receiver Dante Wright and running back Marcus McElroy.