There's one very important distinction in the CFN rankings: these
are based on how good the teams are 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.
Rankings Coaches
| CFN
Preseason |
Week 1
| Week 2
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Week 3
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Week 4
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week
7
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Week 8
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Week 9
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Week
10
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Week 11
Week 12
1. Missouri
(11-1)
W, Kansas 36-28
next game: Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because … the defense got lit up like
the Fourth of July in the second half. Kansas was able to throw better
than it was being given credit for in the first half, shooting itself in
the foot on scoring drives, but it did whatever it wanted to after
Mizzou got up big. Oklahoma’s passing game, if it’s clicking, should be
able to dominate.
2. Ohio State (11-1)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … all of a sudden, the win
over Michigan looks fantastic and being 11-1 in a BCS conference might
just be enough to make a national title shot happen. With this defense,
the Buckeyes really might be the best team in America.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it’ll take others losing
for OSU to play for the national title. Do you really want to see a team
backdoor its way into the championship game? Oh yeah … 2006 Florida.
3. West Virginia (11-1)
W, Connecticut, 66-21
next game: Pitt
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … everything’s working on
offense. The running game is in high gear, the defense is fine, and Pat
White and Steve Slaton are locked in. The national title is now there
for the taking, and the team is playing like it.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it’s time to be honest;
the Big East isn’t any big deal. Should a national title team struggle
that much with Louisville and Cincinnati? Is hanging 66 on Connecticut
anything to brag about? At this point, the best win this year appears to
be over, well, uh, Mississippi State?
4. Oklahoma (10-2)
W, Oklahoma State 49-17
next game: Missouri in the Big 12 Championship
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … you’re going to pick the
Sooners to beat Missouri. If everything is clicking and the defense
actually shows up, like it did against Oklahoma State, this might be the
best team in America. Talent-wise, this is the best team in the Big 12
and it’s not even remotely close.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... when’s the next letdown
going to come? Can the team actually function away from home? It’s
stunning how good the Sooners are on their home turf and how vulnerable
they appear to be away from it. If Chase Daniel plays like he did
against Kansas, OU could go from the Fiesta Bowl to the Holiday or
Cotton Bowl in a big hurry.
5. LSU (10-2)
L, Arkansas 50-48 3OT
next game: Tennessee in the SEC Championship
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it took two three overtime
games for this team to lose twice. It’s not like anyone has stepped up
and blasted the Tigers. Again, two, three-overtime games. Talent-wise,
only USC and Oklahoma can come close to matching LSU’s speed and
athleticism.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense has finally been
exposed as ridiculously overrated. The stats might not show it, but the
D had way too many problems with inconsistent Ole Miss and Arkansas
offenses. A defense as good this one is supposed to be demolishes
quarterbacks like Brent Schaeffer and Casey Dick.
6. Georgia (10-2)
W, at Georgia Tech 31-17
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there isn’t a more confident
team in the country. Even when things aren’t going all that well, like
in the Georgia Tech game for extended stretches, one or two playmakers
step up. Over the last five weeks, Georgia has beaten five bowl teams by
double-digit points.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... is this a mirage? Can the
team really maintain this focus and intensity for several off weeks? Now
the spotlight is going to be on as the “it” team going into the bowls,
and now, without the SEC Championship to play in, the month off might
cool things down.
7. Florida (9-3)
W, Florida State 45-12
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Gators tore through
Florida State like it was Florida Atlantic. Fine, so it might not be
Florida State at this point, Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin toyed with
the Noles. The young team has grown up over the last month.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense will get
tested in the bowl game. It hasn’t faced a decent, balanced offense
since getting blasted in the Cocktail-Don’t-Call-It-A-Cocktail Party.
The one signature win, Tennessee, came a long, long time ago.
8. Virginia Tech (10-2)
W, Virginia 33-21
next game: Boston College in the ACC Championship
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense has found its
stride. The defense has always been great, but now the Hokie attack has
found something with the combination of Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon
getting the offense moving. That was a good Virginia defense that just
got torn apart.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. Right
now this very well might be the best team in the country. The only
issues are on the offensive line where the pass protection has been
mediocre. The Boston College rematch will show just how good the team
really is.
9. USC (9-2)
W, at Arizona State 44-24
next game: UCLA
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … that was a serious
whupping USC applied to an ASU team pushing for a shot at the national
title. There are good athletes and nice players on that Sun Devil team,
and none of them looked like they belonged on the same field with a
healthy Trojan team that’s jelling at the right time.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... let’s relax a little bit
after one win over Arizona State. This is still the team that struggled
with Cal, and while it’s been several months and things have changed,
the loss to Stanford now looks more inexcusable than ever.
10. Tennessee (9-3)
W, at Kentucky 52-50 4OT
next game: LSU in the SEC Championship Game
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … all anyone seemed to want
was a Georgia – LSU matchup, but Tennessee has been almost as hot. Well,
it’s not quite playing at Georgia’s level, but with all the pressure of
the SEC world on, the Vols came through with the winning streak it
needed. That 34-13 win over Arkansas a few weeks ago looks more
impressive now.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Vols got to the SEC
title game, but it took a last second missed field goal by Vanderbilt
and a few dozen miracles against Kentucky to do it. Great teams make
their own luck, but exceptional teams don’t need the breaks.
11..
Kansas (11-1)
L, Missouri 36-28
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … had the Jayhawks recovered
the onside kick against Missouri, there’s almost no doubt it would’ve
pulled off the miraculous comeback win. Lost in the great day by Chase
Daniel and the Tiger offense was how Todd Reesing and the KU attack
settled down and played a nice game of catch on the way to a great
fourth quarter.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense isn’t
up-to-snuff. Of course Missouri’s offense is fantastic, but so are about
ten other offenses. If KU isn’t efficient on offense, like it wasn’t
early against the Tigers, and if it’s making mistakes, it’s beatable by
anyone in the top 25.
12. Illinois (9-3)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Illini might actually
be playing in the Rose Bowl. With the way Ron Zook’s boys ended the
season, there’s a chance it beat an Ohio State team playing for the
national title. At that point, watch out for the Pasadena kids to be
very interested.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the four-game winning
streak to end the year was nice, but will the team have cooled off with
the layoff? After all, this was a hot team late and a struggling one for
a bad two-game stretch against Iowa and Michigan.
13. Boston College (10-2)
W, Miami 28-14
next game: Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … that was nice, now do it
again. Beating Virginia Tech will finally bring the respect back, and
with the offense balancing out just a little bit production-wise, and
with Matt Ryan in a groove, that win in Blacksburg might not have been a
fluke.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... everyone else is playing
pinball with Florida State, but BC is the one team unable to do anything
against the Nole defense a few weeks ago. The offensive line has gotten
into a nasty habit of allowing Ryan to get hit.
14. Auburn (8-4)
W, Alabama 17-10
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … with all the pressure of
dealing with Alabama in the huge rivalry game, the defense came through
and Tommy Tuberville got his sixth straight win in the series.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... that wasn’t a game against
the Tide suitable for framing. The offense just isn’t that good. If the
defense doesn’t play well, like against Georgia, forget it.
15. Arizona State (9-2)
L, USC 44-24
next game: Arizona
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … losing to USC right now
might still mean this is a top ten team. The offense would go nuts
against anyone with a mediocre pass rush. If it can still produced
despite Rudy Carpenter getting thrown on his back every other play, then
it’d be deadly against a team without a killer D line.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... with the world watching
and everything on the line, an ASU team with two weeks off to rest up
and repair got its doors blown off by USC. At this point, the best win
is at home against Cal, and that’s no big deal.
16.
Clemson (9-3)
W, at South Carolina 23-21
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it’s within a dropped
touchdown pass and a missed field goal of playing Virginia Tech for the
ACC title, being hailed as one of the nation’s hottest teams, and
playing with as much confidence as anyone.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the best win was against
… Florida State, possible. Maryland? Whatever. Sure it was impressive
against Wake Forest and Central Michigan, two decent teams going to
bowls, but in crunch time, it struggled. The bowl game will be an
interesting indication.
17. Wisconsin (9-3)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … this will be a dangerous
team in the bowl game. Watch out as the Badgers heal up and become a far
better, far different team in a few weeks than it was at the end of the
regular season.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s no excuse for
struggling so much to beat Minnesota. Heaven forbid the Badger D has to
deal with the Florida spread offense.
18. Arkansas (8-4)
W, at LSU 50-48 3OT
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Hogs just beat the
number on e team in America in its house; shouldn’t that mean a much
higher ranking? If Darren McFadden is playing like that,
obviously Arkansas can beat anyone.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the one monster win can’t
gloss over a bunch of mediocre ones. Of the seven non-LSU wins, Arkansas
beat Troy, North Texas, Chattanooga, Ole Miss, Florida International,
South Carolina and Mississippi State. There’s one bowl team (MSU), one
possible bowl team (Troy), and a team that’ll probably go to a bowl, but
shouldn’t (USC).
19.. Virginia (9-3)
L, at Virginia Tech 33-21
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there’s absolutely no
shame in losing to Virginia Tech right now. That still might mean the
Cavaliers are one of the nation’s ten-best teams. The offense actually
did a decent job against a supposedly impenetrable Tech D. But …
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … do you really believe
that the nation’s 100th ranked offense can keep up in any
sort of a shootout? Give credit where credit is due for a nine-win
season, but the Cavs are roughly six plays away from an awful season.
20. Michigan (8-4)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … with the time off, the
Wolverines might be a far, far different team with Chad Henne and Mike
Hart hurt. The motivation will more than be there to send Lloyd Carr out
a winner, and for Henne and Hart to win a bowl.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... this obviously isn’t an
elite team. It would probably get blasted by anyone in the BCS, and good
luck against an above-average SEC team on New Year’s Day. After the way
the season ended, the defense has quickly become a big question mark.
21. Texas (9-3)
L, at Texas A&M 38-30
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because …
Texas A&M played the game of its life, with Dennis Franchione coaching
like he was auditioning for a future gig, and Texas still only lost by
eight. The Longhorns battled hard, but …
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the pass defense has
decided to take the rest of the season off. In hindsight, the fourth
quarters against Oklahoma State and Nebraska might have been great, but
Mack Brown’s club was dangerously close to a major disaster.
22.. Penn State (8-4)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … no one will want to face
this defense with time off to rest and repair. Apparently a bit worn
down by the end of the year (like everyone else), the defensive front
seven might be capable of pitching a gem against the right bowl team.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … there was the dominant
performance against Wisconsin, and the next best win was probably over
Indiana. Of the eight wins, only three came against bowl teams (UW, IU
and Purdue). This has been the textbook definition of a slightly
above-average Big Ten team.
23.
Texas Tech (8-4)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: BOWL GAME
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … how great does the win
over Oklahoma look now? No one will want to face this offense in a bowl,
but ....
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … everyone will be happy
to take their licks against the defense. Any team with a decent enough
pass rush and the pop to keep up in any sort of a shootout should have
Tech’s number. This is a very beatable team if the offensive timing is
thrown off just a little bit.
24. Cincinnati (9-3)
W, at Syracuse 52-31
next game: Bowl Game
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense generated 11
sacks against Syracuse. It might have been Syracuse, but generating 11
sacks is impressive no matter how they come. All three losses this year
came by less than a touchdown, while only one of the eight wins
(Rutgers) was by fewer than double-digit points.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ...the loss to Pitt looks
worse and worse. It might have been Syracuse’s final home game of the
year, but there’s still no excuse to give up 31 points to that offense.
25. Oregon (8-3)
L, at UCLA 16-0
next game: Oregon State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense is still
solid. The parts are there to play much, much better than it did against
UCLA as long as Jonathan Stewart and the running game get going.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … this is a gift of a
ranking. With the current quarterback situation, this might be the
second worst Pac 10 team at the moment behind Stanford, and it’s no
better than the seventh best team if Brady Leaf can’t give it a go and
play much, much better than he did against the Bruins.
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26 |
Wake Forest (8-4) |
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27 |
Connecticut (9-3) |
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28 |
South Florida (9-3) |
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29 |
Mississippi State (7-5) |
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30 |
Kentucky (7-5) |
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31 |
Michigan State (7-5) |
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32 |
BYU (9-2) |
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33 |
Hawaii (11-0) |
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34 |
Texas A&M (7-5) |
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35 |
Boise State (10-2) |
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36 |
Rutgers (7-4) |
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37 |
Oregon State (7-4) |
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38 |
Georgia Tech (7-5) |
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39 |
Colorado (6-6) |
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40 |
UCLA (6-5) |
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41 |
California (6-5) |
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42 |
Maryland (6-6) |
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43 |
Alabama (6-6) |
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44 |
Florida State (7-5) |
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45 |
Oklahoma State (6-6) |
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46 |
Arizona (5-6) |
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47 |
South Carolina (6-6) |
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48 |
Air Force (9-3) |
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49 |
Utah (8-4) |
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50 |
Northwestern (6-6) |
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51 |
Indiana (7-5) |
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52 |
Purdue (7-5) |
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53 |
UCF (9-3) |
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54 |
NC State (5-7) |
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55 |
Vanderbilt (5-7) |
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56 |
TCU (7-5) |
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57 |
New Mexico (8-4) |
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58 |
Tulsa (9-3) |
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59 |
Fresno State (7-4) |
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60 |
Nebraska (5-7) |
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61 |
Troy (8-3) |
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62 |
Kansas State (5-7) |
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63 |
Louisville (5-6) |
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64 |
Pitt (4-7) |
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65 |
Iowa (6-6) |
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66 |
Miami (5-7) |
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67 |
Iowa State (3-9) |
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68 |
Houston (8-4) |
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69 |
Washington State (5-7) |
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70 |
Navy (7-4) |
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71 |
Washington (4-8) |
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72 |
San Jose State (5-7) |
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73 |
East Carolina (7-5) |
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74 |
Nevada (5-6) |
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75 |
Ole Miss (3-9) |
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76 |
North Carolina (4-8) |
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77 |
Memphis (7-5) |
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78 |
Notre Dame (3-9) |
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79 |
Southern Miss (7-5) |
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80 |
Stanford (3-8) |
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81 |
San Diego State (4-7) |
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82 |
UL Monroe (6-6) |
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83 |
Ball State (7-5) |
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84 |
Ohio (6-6) |
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85 |
Bowling Green (8-4) |
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86 |
Colorado State (3-9) |
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87 |
Central Michigan (7-5) |
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88 |
Wyoming (5-7) |
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89 |
UNLV (2-10) |
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90 |
Baylor (3-9) |
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91 |
Western Michigan (5-7) |
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92 |
Miami University (6-6) |
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93 |
Duke (1-11) |
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94 |
Florida Atlantic (6-5) |
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95 |
Toledo (5-7) |
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96 |
Louisiana Tech (5-6) |
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97 |
Minnesota (1-11) |
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98 |
Syracuse (2-10) |
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99 |
Marshall (3-9) |
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100 |
UAB (2-10) |
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101 |
Tulane (4-8) |
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102 |
UTEP (4-8) |
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103 |
Buffalo (5-7) |
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104 |
Temple (4-8) |
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105 |
Eastern Michigan (4-8) |
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106 |
Rice (3-9) |
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107 |
Army (3-8) |
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108 |
Akron (4-8) |
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109 |
UL Lafayette (3-9) |
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110 |
Middle Tennessee (5-7) |
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111 |
Arkansas State (5-7) |
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112 |
Northern Illinois (2-10) |
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113 |
Utah State (2-10) |
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114 |
New Mexico State (4-8) |
|
115 |
Kent State (3-9) |
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116 |
North Texas (2-9) |
|
117 |
SMU (1-11) |
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118 |
Idaho (1-11) |
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119 |
FIU (0-11) |
