Way-too-early 2020 college football rankings: Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama vie for No. 1
60. Texas Tech Red Raiders, 4-8 (2-7)
Quarterback Jett Duffey filled in admirably for injured starter Alan Bowman in both 2018 and 2019. However, Duffey won’t be available for emergency duty for Texas Tech in 2020 after he announced plans to transfer. If Bowman stays healthy (a concern given the Red Raiders lose three seniors on the offensive line), he’ll have plenty of weapons to work with, such as running back SaRodorick Thompson and receivers T.J. Vasher, Erik Ezukanma, Dalton Rigdon and McLane Mannix.
59. Arizona Wildcats, 4-8 (2-7)
Arizona made a change at defensive coordinator as head coach Kevin Sumlin turned to former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads (most recently the defensive backs coach at UCLA) to turn around a unit that ranked 112th in yards allowed per play (6.36). Rhoads will have some important pieces to build upon, especially in linebackers Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II, who could be the most experienced and productive duo in the country entering 2020.
Offensively, the Wildcats will have a different look following the graduation of Khalil Tate and the early NFL departure of J.J. Taylor. Grant Gunnell made three starts behind center as a true freshman and is more of a drop-back passer than Tate. He should benefit from the return of 87.1 percent of last year’s receiving yardage production.
58. West Virginia Mountaineers, 5-7 (3-6)
West Virginia seemingly found its quarterback late in the 2019 season as Jarret Doege, the transfer from Bowling Green took the reins from Austin Kendall and threw for 818 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions over the final four games of the season.
Doege and Kendall are likely to compete for the job during the spring and fall, but the Mountaineers winning two of the final three games helps Doege’s case. Of course, other positions have issues, including the need to rebuild the secondary, offensive line, and find depth on the defensive line.
57. Stanford Cardinal, 4-8 (3-6)
Stanford suffered a significant number of injuries in 2019, most notably at quarterback and on the offensive line, which played a big part in the Cardinal’s highly disappointing 4-8 finish. David Shaw’s squad has since seen more than a dozen players, including quarterback K.J. Costello and projected starters on the offensive and defensive lines, enter the transfer portal. Most of the juniors or seniors seeking a graduate transfer, which could wreck the depth of the 2020 team.
On the bright side, Shaw and his coaching staff have built a recruiting class that ranks No. 22 in the country and includes seven four-star prospects.
56. Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 8-5 (4-4)
There was reason to believe quarterback Jamie Newman, one of the best dual-threat signal-callers in the ACC, wouldn’t return to Wake Forest for his senior season. But few expected Newman would opt to pursue a graduate transfer instead of the NFL. Nevertheless, the presence of Sam Hartman, who has three years of eligibility remaining despite having already made 11 career starts for the Demon Deacons, softens the blow. The return of Sage Surratt, whose 111.2 receiving yards per game ranked fifth nationally, is even bigger.
55. Oregon State Beavers, 5-7 (4-5)
At first glance, Oregon State losing its starting quarterback and leading rusher to graduation and its top receiver to the NFL Draft might look like an offense likely to take a step backward next season. And it’s certainly possible the Beavers won’t match the 31.2 points per game or 5.95 yards per play (both significant improvements over 2018) they averaged in the second season under head coach Jonathan Smith.
But Tristian Gebbia was able to get his feet wet with a start in place of the injured Jake Luton in the season finale. Jermar Jefferson ran for 1,380 yards as a true freshman, but was surpassed by Artavis Pierce in 2019 because Jefferson was slowed down by a nagging injury. Isaiah Hodgins was one of the best receivers in the Pac-12, but senior Trevon Bradford was held to just four games and will return an otherwise veteran group of wideouts in 2020.
Defensively, the Beavers got a huge boost when Hamilcar Rashed, Jr. – who led the Pac-12 and ranked third in the country with 14.0 sacks – opted to return for his senior season. Rashed is one of nine returning starters for the Beavs on defense.
54. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, 11-3 (7-1)
Billy Napier led Louisiana to the Sun Belt West Division title in each of his first two seasons as head coach, and when Mississippi State announced it would fire Joe Moorhead after a loss to Louisville in the Music City Bowl, Napier’s name was among the first to emerge as a potential candidate. Though Napier reportedly told the Bulldogs he wasn’t interested, time will tell.
But you couldn’t blame Napier for wanting to stay and make another run at a conference championship. Though All-American guard Kevin Dotson is one of three senior starters leaving on the offensive line, and top receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley is also out of eligibility, the trio of quarterback Levi Lewis and running backs Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell is the best in the league.
53. Missouri Tigers, 6-6 (3-5)
Missouri unexpectedly fired native son Barry Odom and hired a new head coach, Eliah Drinkwitz, after one season at Appalachian State. Mizzou lost its starting quarterback, Kelly Bryant, and his top backup, Connor Bazelak suffered a torn ACL in the season finale. Then three players – tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, center Trystan Colon-Castillo and nose tackle Jordan Elliott – opted to leave early for the NFL.
Seven starters return on defense and running backs Larry Rountree III and Tyler Badie are solid building blocks, but things could get worse before they get better for the Tigers.
52. Air Force Falcons, 11-2 (7-1)
Air Force entered the 2019 season with optimism, but few saw an 11-win season on the horizon. And though the Falcons enter the 2020 offseason with little experience returning on defense (as is often the case at service academies), the core of the nation’s No. 2 rushing attack (298.54 yards per game) returns.
Quarterback Donald Hammond III, fullback Timothy Jackson and running back Kadin Remsberg give Air Force a solid foundation on which to build what could be the program’s first Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy winner since 2016.
51. Kansas State Wildcats, 8-5 (5-4)
Chris Klieman looked like a worthy successor for Bill Snyder in his first season as the head coach at Kansas State. The Wildcats surpassed expectations, including a victory over Oklahoma, and three of the team’s five losses came by four points or fewer. Quarterback Skylar Thompson is set to return for his senior season, and receiver Malik Knowles is a rising star. The defense must replace eight seniors, but Elijah Sullivan, Wyatt Hubert and A.J. Parker – the team leaders in tackles, sacks and interceptions, respectively, all return.
50. Ole Miss Rebels, 4-8 (2-6)
Lane Kiffin is back in the SEC, and he inherits an Ole Miss team with promise. Quarterbacks John Rhys Plumlee and Matt Corral both appear likely to return as sophomores (as will former five-star running back Jerrion Ealy), and the pair will battle it out to work with a veteran set of receivers. And though the defense must replace seven starters, the linebacker trio of Lakia Henry, Sam Williams and Jacquez Jones should be among the best in the conference.
49. Michigan State Spartans, 7-6 (4-5)
Quarterback Brian Lewerke’s Michigan State career came to a close as he threw for 320 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 46 yards and another score while leading the Spartans to a 27-21 victory over Wake Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl. Lewerke’s experience (he started 38 career games) will be missed, as will the 350-yard performances he was capable of putting together.
But there is also some excitement within the fanbase to see if backups Rocky Lombardi, Theo Day or Payton Thorne can help Michigan State take its offense to the next level. Running back Elijah Collins, who ran for 988 yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, will be at the center of that effort in 2020 and he’ll run behind an experienced offensive line.
The defense must replace a lot of experience and production. Among the most notable player that must be replaced, Kenny Willekes, Tyriq Thompson, David Dowell and Raequan Williams have graduated. Joe Bachie’s career ended earlier than expected due to suspension, and Josiah Scott opted to leave early for the NFL Draft (as did receiver Cody White).
48. BYU Cougars, 7-6
BYU suffered a huge number of injuries in 2019, most of them on offense. A healthy season for quarterback Zach Wilson, the running back group as a whole, and along the offensive line would go a long way for the Cougars in 2020.
But the Cougars have already started the new year on the right foot. Tight end Matt Bushman (the team’s leading receiver) and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (the 340-pound anchor in the Cougars’ defensive front) announced their plans to pass on the NFL Draft to return to school.
47. TCU Horned Frogs, 5-7 (3-6)
TCU finished the 2019 college football season ranked No. 34 in CFB Winning Edge Team Strength – meaning the college football analytics outfit believed the Horned Frogs were the best team that failed to qualify for a bowl game last season. Usually, that would be a great sign moving forward, especially when that team returns a quarterback who made 11 starts as a true freshman.
However, the Frogs enter 2020 with questions at several key positions. The offense vastly underachieved in 2019 and must replace the senior running back duo of Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, as well as its top playmaker, receiver Jalen Reagor, who opted to turn pro after being criminally underused, plus four seniors on the offensive line. The defense was hit hard, too, and must replace five seniors in the secondary and talented defensive lineman Ross Blacklock, who decided to forego his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.
46. SMU Mustangs, 10-3 (6-2)
SMU utilized the transfer portal better than any team in the country in 2019, and it paid off with a 10-win season. Quarterback Shane Buechele, the most high-profile transfer to join the Mustangs, will be back in 2020. However, running back Xavier Jones, who tied for the FBS lead with 23 rushing touchdowns, and top receiver James Proche, are out of eligibility. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee also left for Miami.
Defensively, SMU must replace arguably its three best defenders: defensive lineman Delontae Scott, and defensive backs Patrick Nelson and Rodney Clemons. However, if 2019 is any indication, head coach Sonny Dykes will take a proactive approach to fill any holes with talented Dallas-area natives who signed elsewhere out of high school.
45. South Carolina Gamecocks, 4-8 (3-5)
Quarterback Ryan Hilinski made 11 starts as a true freshman, which should pay off for South Carolina as it looks to rebound from a disappointing eight-loss season. The Gamecocks won’t have top receiver Bryan Edwards or any of the team’s top three leading rushers from last year’s squad, but four starters will be back on the offensive line.
Defensively, head coach Will Muschamp must rebuild up front, but the entire linebacker corps, plus three starters in the secondary return. Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu could be one of the best cornerback duos in the SEC.
44. UCLA Bruins, 4-8 (4-5)
CFB Winning Edge has overrated UCLA in each of the last two seasons, and it’s very possible 2020 could be the third. Though Chip Kelly’s Head Coach rating has fallen from its high of No. 3 heading into 2018 season to its current No. 54 over two full seasons, Kelly’s success at Oregon has still somewhat inflated his team’s power rating. The same can be said of UCLA’s .8543 average rating in the 247Sports Composite in 2019, which ranked No. 29.
That said, UCLA appears poised for improvement in 2020. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson saw extended action as the team’s starter and only one Bruin receiver (tight end Devin Asiasi, who declared for the NFL Draft) who caught five or more passes last season is expected to depart. It will also be exciting to see what running back/offensive weapon Demetric Felton does as a full-time starter, and with four returning starters on the offensive line.
43. Virginia Cavaliers, 9-5 (6-2)
Most of Virginia’s top players from the 2019 season won’t be back in 2020. That includes dynamic quarterback Bryce Perkins, receivers Joe Reed and Hasise Dubois, linebacker Jordan Mack and cornerback Bryce Hall (who missed the second half of the season with an ankle injury), all of whom played pivotal roles in the Cavaliers ACC Coastal Division championship.
But head coach Bronco Mendenhall is set to welcome back some key pieces, including linebackers Zane Zandier and Charles Snowden, and defensive backs Joey Blount and De’Vante Cross, all of whom ranked among the top five on the team in tackles. In fact, 12 of the top 14 tacklers from the 2019 unit are expected back in 2020. So is running back Wayne Taulapapa, who scored 12 rushing touchdowns, and wideout Terrell Jana, who caught 74 passes and scored three times.
42. Cal Golden Bears, 8-5 (4-5)
Cal enters 2020 as one of the most intriguing teams in the Pac-12, and one capable of making some noise in what could be a wide-open conference race. Though the Golden Bears must replace 10 seniors who contributed on defense, most notably All-American linebacker Evan Weaver and speedy corner and return man Ashtyn Davis, head coach Justin Wilcox has a strong track record building and rebuilding defenses.
Wilcox returns far more experience on offense, including quarterback Chase Garbers, who missed four games but posted a 14:3 touchdown: interception ratio and averaged 8.2 yards per pass attempt when healthy. Christopher Brown, Jr., who ran for 914 yards and eight touchdowns also, returns, as does leading receiver Nikko Remigio. And the most interesting piece of the puzzle is new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, a longtime NFL assistant who last coached in college in 2002.
41. Mississippi State Bulldogs, 6-7 (3-5)
Just when we thought the coaching carousel was over, the decision-makers dragged Joe Moorhead’s “Yankee ass” out of Starkville after a loss in the Music City Bowl, and an ugly incident involving a post-practice fight that left freshman quarterback Garrett Shrader with a black eye, and unable to start.
New head coach Mike Leach inherits a recruiting class ranked in the top 30 (if he can keep it) but won’t have running back Kylin Hill to build around on offense because the junior declared for the NFL Draft, or four of the team’s top five receivers, who are all out of eligibility. Five seniors also ranked among the top nine in tackles for the Bulldogs, and leading tackler Erroll Thompson is reportedly weighing his professional future.