50. Cincinnati Bearcats
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 22
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 64
Cincinnati Quick Take: Don’t expect a ton of flash like Memphis and others in the AAC will bring, but Luke Fickell – it’s a big deal that he’s not the Michigan State head coach right now – has a team good enough to be a big, big problem to everyone on the slate. If the offensive line is great, look out.
– Cincinnati 2020 CFN Team Preview
49. Indiana Hoosiers
Relative Strength: Running Back
Relative Concern: Linebacker
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 64
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 59
Indiana Quick Take: If QB Michael Penix is ready to be fantastic, the offense should be among the Big Ten’s best, especially with the passing game. The lines are as good as theyve been in the Tom Allen era, but the defensive back seven has to be better at college football.
– Indiana 2020 CFN Team Preview
48. Ole Miss Rebels
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Defensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 99
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 63
Ole Miss Quick Take: It’s not like Ole Miss was that awful last season, but it couldn’t come up with even a little bit of good luck. Consider 2019 a step back to take a huge leap forward – the bad season led to the arrival of Lane Kiffin. The lines are a problem, but the rest of the talent is there to have some fun.
– Ole Miss 2020 CFN Team Preview
47. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Defensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 93
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 42
Nebraska Quick Take: Enough already – be good under Scott Frost, Nebraska. There’s still a question mark about the lines, and the defense as a whole it just going to be okay, but it’s time for QB Adrian Martinez to be great for an offense that’s supposed to be amazing.
– Nebraska 2020 CFN Team Preview
46. Washington State Cougars
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Defensive Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 76
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 32
Washington State Quick Take: Who better to keep the Wazzu passing game going than the Hawaii head man who cranked up the run-and-shoot? Nick Rolovich has the offensive parts to play with for a big year, helped by the special teams that might be the best in the Pac-12. The D, though, isn’t anything special.
– Washington State 2020 CFN Team Preview
45. Missouri Tigers
Relative Strength: Secondary
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 87
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 28
Missouri Quick Take: The Tigers got a possible gem of a head coach in Eliah Drinkwitz from Appalachian State. The secondary is strong and the lines are good enough, but the consistency has to rise up fast among the skill parts.
– Missouri 2020 CFN Team Preview
44. NC State Wolfpack
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 112
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 40
NC State Quick Take: Ha, ha, ha, NC State. That four-win clunker of a 2019 season was cute and all, but now it’s time to get back to being good. The quarterback play has to be better – a LOT better – but the defensive front seven is solid, the special teams are great, and the Pack should be close to back.
– NC State 2020 CFN Team Preview
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43. Boise State Broncos
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 10
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 60
Boise State Quick Take: Can the lines be good enough? It’s Boise State, so they won’t be bad, but the offensive and defensive fronts are the key. If they’re great, the Broncos will be right there to get into the New Year’s Six starting with a loaded defensive back seven on one side and QB Hank Bachmeier on the other.
– Boise State 2020 CFN Team Preview
42. Baylor Bears
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Linebacker
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 21
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 48
Baylor Quick Take: There’s going to be a step back, but there won’t be a massive drop-off. New head coach Dave Aranda should do a good job with the defense, but the back seven loses a ton of talent. QB Charlie Brewer and the passing game will be good, and the O line will be one of the team’s bigger strengths.
– Baylor 2020 CFN Team Preview
41. Kansas State Wildcats
Relative Strength: Defensive Back
Relative Concern: Defensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 41
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 31
Kansas State Quick Take: The coaching is great, and even if the star power isn’t there across the board, it’s Kansas State – the defense will be good, the special teams will be amazing, and the offense will be effective. The formula will work, but an upgrade in the passing game would help.
– Kansas State 2020 CFN Team Preview
40. Michigan State Spartans
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 57
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 14
Michigan State Quick Take: Mel Tucker appears to be the right guy to take what Mark Dantonio created and keep it all going. He’ll have a defense that’s as good as any in the back seven, but can the Spartan offense finally wake up after taking a few years off?
– Michigan State 2020 CFN Team Preview
39. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 53
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 57
Wake Forest Quick Take: There might not be the high-end talent several other ACC teams might enjoy, but there’s a whole lot of experience, and there are a whole lot of good players who fit the systems on both sides. Don’t blow off Wake Forest just because it’s Wake Forest – it’s really that good.
– Wake Forest 2020 CFN Team Preview
38. Cal Golden Bears
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 61
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 45
Cal Quick Take: Keep Chase Garbers healthy, keep Chase Garbers healthy, keep Chase Garbers healthy. The starting quarterback was lost midway through last year or a stretch, and it changed the season. If he stays in one piece, the offense will do its part to go along with another amazing defense.
– Cal 2020 CFN Team Preview
37. Arizona State Sun Devils
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 33
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 30
Arizona State Quick Take: ASU has been okay under Herm Edwards, and it’s been able to come up with a few splashy wins, but it hasn’t been all that special overall. The defensive front seven is by far the best it’s been in the last few years, and the O has its star in QB Jayden Daniels to lead the way.
– Arizona State 2020 CFN Team Preview
36. Iowa State Cyclones
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Defensive Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 63
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 29
Iowa State Quick Take: Iowa State is good enough to play for the Big 12 title. The overall talent isn’t there compared to Oklahoma or Texas, but QB Brock Purdy leads a loaded attack that should get more help from a defensive side that brings a good linebacking corps.
– Iowa State 2020 CFN Team Preview
35. Stanford Cardinal
Relative Strength: Offensive Line
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking:
2019 CFN Preview Ranking:
Stanford Quick Take: Blow off the miserable 2019 – that’s not how a David Shaw team rolls. The team was never healthy after the opener, but now the offensive line is phenomenal, the defense will be better, and Davis Mills should settle the quarterback situation.
– Stanford 2020 CFN Team Preview
34. TCU Horned Frogs
Relative Strength: Defensive Back
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 82
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 21
TCU Quick Take: A disappointment over the last few seasons, TCU has enough new parts to the mix to start being a factor in the Big 12 again. The defensive backfield should be among the best in the conference, but the offense has to start working a whole lot better.
– TCU 2020 CFN Team Preview
33. Florida State Seminoles
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 78
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 36
Florida State Quick Take: It’s been a few years of rebuilding under Willie Taggart, and now it’s up to former Memphis head man Mike Norvell to benefit. There’s a whole lot of NFL talent in the secondary and on the defensive line, but the eternal quest to get decent play out of the offensive front will continue.
– Florida State 2020 CFN Team Preview
32. Louisville Cardinals
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Defensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 37
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 58
Louisville Quick Take: Scott Satterfield changed around the program in a hiccup, and now he’s got one of the ACC’s most exciting offenses with a high-powered passing game. The lines are questionable, but the skill parts and the defensive back seven are outstanding.
– Louisville 2020 CFN Team Preview
31. Virginia Cavaliers
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 31
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 27
Virginia Quick Take: QB Bryce Perkins might be gone, and some other key figures from the ACC Coastal champ are done, but the coaching is still elite and there’s enough in place to be great again. The defensive back seven and the special teams will make a huge difference.
– Virginia 2020 CFN Team Preview
30. UCF Knights
Relative Strength: Defensive Back
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 19
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 39
UCF Quick Take: Once again, UCF has the skill, speed, and talent to be every bit as good as most of the Power Five programs. The big difference this year is an improved defense around a whale of a secondary. As always, the offense will be great.
– UCF 2020 CFN Team Preview
29. South Carolina Gamecocks
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 70
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 16
South Carolina Quick Take: There’s too much SEC talent across the board to continue to be so mediocre. The Gamecocks have the defensive line and secondary to stay in most games, but the offense has to be more dangerous.
– South Carolina 2020 CFN Team Preview
28. Tennessee Volunteers
Relative Strength: Offensive Line
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 36
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 33
Tennessee Quick Take: Can the end of last season lead into a big 2020? Start with the good lines, and everything else should fill in from there. More offensive playmakers – at least, more consistent offensive playmakers – is a must for Tennessee to be back to being Tennessee.
– Tennessee 2020 CFN Team Preview
27. Iowa Hawkeyes
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 23
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 13
Iowa Quick Take: You know how Iowa is going to work. The defense will once again be terrific, the offense will be good enough, and the team will hang around in the Big Ten West race throughout. If the quarterback play is solid, the Hawkeyes have the upside to slide on into the Big Ten championship.
– Iowa 2020 CFN Team Preview
26. Utah Utes
Relative Strength: Offensive Line
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 18
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 20
Utah Quick Take: Once again, Utah will have the lines that can compete with anyone in the Pac-12. The offensive front is as good as any in America, and the defense will still be great even if it takes a step back. The skill parts will rise up as the season goes on once the quarterback situation is solidified.
– Utah 2020 CFN Team Preview
CFN Preview 2020 Rankings
All 130 Team Previews | 101-130
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10