CFN Spring College Football Rankings: 11-25
25 Northwestern
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 10
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 53
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 110
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 27
One Thing To Know: There’s too much of a redo on the defensive front even – along with the loss of defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz – to repeat, but South Carolina transfer QB Ryan Hilinski leads what should be a stronger offense.
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
24 Ole Miss
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 22
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 48
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 99
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 97
One Thing To Know: The defense has to prove it can stop someone other than Indiana, but the offense is going to be an absolute killer despite the loss to WR Elijah Moore.
2021 SEC Spring Rankings
23 Miami
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 20
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 19
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 60
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 60
One Thing To Know: It’s all about how fast D’Eriq King can return from the knee injury suffered in the bowl game. There’s talent on both sides of the ball, the O line gets everyone back, and there’s no real excuse to not be solid … unless King isn’t healthy.
2021 ACC Spring Rankings
22 USC
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 24
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 13
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 38
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 87
One Thing To Know: The addition of Colorado WR KD Nixon and Texas RB Keontay Ingram adds even more pop to an already good offense, but there are a whole lot of missing pieces from last year’s team that couldn’t get it done in the Pac-12 Championship.
2021 Pac-12 Spring Rankings
21 Utah
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 114
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 26
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 18
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 29
One Thing To Know: It’s going to be a disrespected team throughout the preseason process, but it’s all there to win the Pac-12 title. The lines are outstanding, getting LB Devin Lloyd back is gigantic, and Baylor QB Charlie Brewer is a strong veteran.
2021 Pac-12 Spring Rankings
20 Iowa
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 17
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 27
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 23
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 25
One Thing To Know: There’s just enough missing on both sides of the ball to be a problem, but the Hawkeyes could work their way into a Big Ten title contender if the defensive line can retool in a hurry.
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
19 Minnesota
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 53
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 20
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 25
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 44
One Thing To Know: Don’t sleep on a Gopher team that struggled last year. It gets back QB Tanner Morgan, RB Mohamed Ibrahim, and a defense that welcomes in a few high-end transfers.
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
18 Cincinnati
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 9
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 50
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 22
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 23
One Thing To Know: The love for this team will be off the charts, and rightly so. A few good players from the offensive side are gone, and the defense isn’t the same – including a change of coordinators – but Luke Fickell has built up a powerhouse.
2021 AAC Spring Rankings
17 Washington
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 26
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 21
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 27
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 14
One Thing To Know: There’s a whole lot to like with a veteran offense to go along with a killer D that gets almost everyone back. Head coach Jimmy Lake is putting together a killer.
2021 Pac-12 Spring Rankings
16 Penn State
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 56
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 8
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 5
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 26
One Thing To Know: Blow off the historically bad start to 2020 – the finishing kick is more like what Penn State will be. However, there are just enough lost starters on both sides to matter.
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
15 Iowa State
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 16
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 36
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 63
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 42
One Thing To Know: This will be everyone’s favorite team this offseason, and for good reason. Almost everyone is back on offense, the stars are there on defense, and the expectations are going to be through the roof. However, the schedule is a possible killer.
2021 Big 12 Spring Rankings
14 Texas
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 18
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 14
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 29
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 13
One Thing To Know: There’s a ton there for Steve Sarkisian to work with. The offense has explosion, a great RB in Bijan Robinson to carry things, and defense has more than enough talent and experience to hold up.
2021 Big 12 Spring Rankings
13 Michigan
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 54
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 10
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 26
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 15
One Thing To Know: The defense loses DE Kwity Paye but gets just about everyone else back, the offense needs Cade McNamara or JJ McCarthy to shine at QB, and the players on both sides are there to be far, far better. (But you’ve heard that before.)
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
12 Notre Dame
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 5
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 15
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 12
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 7
One Thing To Know: The Irish don’t get the fun of playing for the ACC title this year, but they’re still going to be strong defensively and have a ton of young talent. There are too many key losses to be CFP-good, but don’t underestimate just how strong they might be as the season goes on.
2021 Ind Spring Rankings
11 Wisconsin
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 25
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 11
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 11
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 54
One Thing To Know: Wisconsin should be back to being Wisconsin – there’s no way it will have the health issues of 2020 again. If all of the skill parts are in one piece – starting with the receiving corps – to go along with another great D, watch out.
2021 Big Ten Spring Rankings
College Football News Rankings 2021 spring
130-101 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | Top 10