There's
one very important distinction in the CFN preseason rankings: these
are based on how good the teams are going into the season and NOT
how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier
schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will
need a little bit of time to jell meaning they might be better than
their final record might indicate. Going into the year, these are
how good the teams appear to be from No. 1 through 119.
The predicted finishes don't take into account possible bowl games
or conference championships.
No. 1 to No. 10
| No. 11 to
20 |
No. 21 to 29 |
No. 30 to
39 |
No. 40 to 49
No. 50 to
59 |
No. 60 to 69 |
No. 70 to
79 |
No. 80 to 89 |
No. 90 to
99
No. 100 to
109 |
No. 110 to 119
89.
Duke
Predicted Finish:
2-10
2005 Predicted Finish: 3-8 2005 Record: 1-10
There are positive pieces in place to build around. The defensive line
has the potential to have a huge season if 2005's star recruits Vince
Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk can use their talent to combine forces
with steady veterans Eli Nichols and Casey Camero. John Talley is one of
the nation's best cornerbacks, and there are nice receivers and running
backs to get excited about. Of course, this is Duke, so the talent level
isn't even in the ballpark compared to the rest of the ACC.
Relative Strengths: defensive line, running backs Relative
Weaknesses: offensive line, linebackers
88.
UAB
Predicted Finish:
4-8 2005 Predicted Finish: 8-3 2005 Record: 5-6
In a league where Tulsa and UCF can come from out of the blue to play
for the championship, UAB certainly has to have hopes of getting a few
big performances when needed and win the East. Only 12 starters return,
but there's more than enough experience for the other spots and plenty
of decent talent to get the job done if a few key players come through.
The defense has a chance to be much better with five good linebackers to
work around, an experienced secondary that doesn't need to do too much
to improve on last year, and First Team All-Conference USA end Larry
McSwain up front to be the focal point.
Relative Strengths: offensive line, running backs Relative
Weaknesses: wide receivers, defensive line
87.
Memphis
Predicted Finish:
6-6 2005 Predicted Finish: 6-5 2005 Record: 7-5
A fourth straight bowl trip is a lock and there's nothing the team can't
handle at this point, so that means there are big expectations. Memphis
doesn't want to be one of those programs that got hot and then hit a
plateau, it needs to show that the team was more than just DeAngelo
Williams and show that this is a burgeoning power that's a few steps
away from being something special. That step should be taken this year.
All the QBs have big arms and are great at throwing the deep ball, so
the attack should be more explosive with the tall, fast receiving corps
ready to put up bigger numbers. All five starters return to the
offensive line that will pave the way for a good season for shifty back
Joseph Doss, who'll pick up the slack with Williams gone. The defense
won't be a rock, but five starters return to the secondary and there are
good athletes up front.
Relative Strengths: offensive line, running backs Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, linebackers
86. Wyoming
Predicted Finish:
3-9 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 4-7
The team has an interesting mix of huge strengths and glaring
weaknesses. The backfield is loaded with three great running backs, but
the receiving corps is average at best and there's a four-way battle
going on to figure out who the starting quarterback will be. The
defensive line is one of the worst in the Mountain West, but the
linebacking corps in the new 3-4 scheme should be excellent. John
Wendling is one of the nation's better safeties, but corner will be a
big question mark.
Relative Strengths: running backs, offensive line Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, secondary
85.
New Mexico
Predicted Finish:
6-6 2005 Predicted Finish: 6-5 2005 Record: 6-5
2005 was a transition season replacing several defensive starters and
changing the identity a bit on offense after being a one-dimensional
ground attack. Things will change again, only this time for the better
with the addition of former UCLA head coach Bob Toledo to run the
offense and make it more effective and more explosive. Add Toledo's
talents with a solid system that's already in place, and New Mexico
might finally break through the ceiling and push for the Mountain West
title. The defense took a step back last season and could have problems
with its consistency early on with new faces up the middle up front and
on the corners in the secondary.
Relative Strengths: offensive line, quarterbacks Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, wide receivers
84. Navy
Predicted Finish:
7-5 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 8-4
18 starters return including four on an offensive line that should be
strong, three in a hard-nosed linebacking corps, four in the secondary,
and three in a backfield that should form a breathtaking combination of
speed and power. There are a few concerns like replacing quarterback
Lamar Owens and getting more production from the defense, but experience
and good coaching should overcome most of the problems.
Relative Strengths: running backs, linebackers Relative
Weaknesses: receivers, defensive line
83.
Vanderbilt
Predicted Finish:
2-10 2005 Predicted Finish: 3-8 2005 Record: 5-6
There are several major positives to build around. The starting
offensive line, especially tackles Brian Stamper and Chris Williams,
should be excellent. Earl Bennett and the receiving corps will be
strong, Cassen Jackson-Garrison is a veteran runner who'll have his
moments, and the defense should be good up the middle with good tackles
and safeties and an All-SEC talent in linebacker Jonathan
Goff. Unfortunately, there are questions at starting quarterback, the
running game won't be that great, and there's a big-time lack of
playmakers on defense. In other words, there are too many holes to fill
to have even the most remote of prayers to contend in the improved East.
Relative Strengths: offensive line, wide receivers Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, running back
82.
Marshall
Predicted Finish:
5-7 2005 Predicted Finish: 6-5 2005 Record: 4-7
21 starters return with the biggest boost in production likely to be on
offense with quarterback Bernie Skinner and Jimmy Morris a year older
and wiser after their first seasons in the new system. Four returning
starters to the offensive line, the receiving corps is loaded with
experience, and all-star back Ahmad Bradshaw will do everything to carry
the attack when needed. Top linebacker recruit Josh Johnson and receiver
Darius Passmore provide an instant upgrade to the overall talent level.
Five road games in the first seven dates will be tough to overcome.
Relative Strengths: running backs, linebackers Relative
Weaknesses: secondary, defensive line
81.
UCF
Predicted Finish:
6-6 2005 Predicted Finish: 1-10 2005 Record: 8-5
UCF isn't a lock to win anything even with 19 starters returning.
All the fantastic looking young players in the secondary got torched
last year and must prove they can be consistent. All five starters
return to the offensive line, but that group couldn't stop anyone's
pass rush. And then there's the question of wins; did UCF actually
beat anyone of note last year? Who cares? After two straight losing
seasons and a wildly disappointing four-year stint in the MAC,
there's no arguing against the school's best season since 1998. Now
the question becomes whether or not the team hit a ceiling or if the
program is about to enter the stratosphere. The coaching, the
recruiting base, and the potential is there for a bright future. If
last year was any indication, the future might be now.
Relative Strengths: running backs, secondary Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, receivers
80. Colorado State
Predicted Finish:
5-7
2005 Predicted Finish: 4-7 2005 Record: 6-6
The backfield has 225 pounders Kyle Bell and Gantrell Johnson to
power the ground game behind an experienced offensive line, but
it'll be tempting to keep chucking the ball around in the
high-octane Mountain West. The defense has enough experience to be
far better if all the past playing time actually turns into
production and the kicking game should be one of the best in the
league. In other words, the potential is there for a return to the
glory days. Note the word potential.
Relative Strengths: running backs, secondary Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, linebackers