25. Kentucky Wildcats
Relative Strength: Defensive Back
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 45
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 38
Kentucky Quick Take: What kind of magic will Kentucky conjure up this year? Ideally there will actually be a passing attack this time around, but the coaching staff has proven over the last few years that it can generate production and wins no matter what.
– Kentucky 2020 CFN Team Preview
24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Relative Strength: Running Back
Relative Concern: Defensive Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 56
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 19
Mississippi State Quick Take: Call this a bit of a wait-and-see ranking. It would’ve been great if the Bulldogs had a normal offseason to get the new offense in place, and Stanford transfer KJ Costello still has to get into the mix, but it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that this could be the best defensive front seven Mike Leach has ever coached.
– Mississippi State 2020 CFN Team Preview
23. Texas A&M Aggies
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 52
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 11
Texas A&M Quick Take: Is this finally when Texas A&M turns a corner under Jimbo Fisher? It has the luxury of having a multi-year starting quarterback in Kellen Mond, and the defensive back seven is going to be great. The receiving corps could be special.
– Texas A&M 2020 CFN Team Preview
22. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Relative Strength: Running Back
Relative Concern: Defensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 50
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 24
Oklahoma State Quick Take: The defense won’t be anything great – especially on the line – but it might not matter with an explosive offense with some of the nation’s top skill stars. The Cowboys can bomb away with anyone – it’s Big 12 Championship game or bust.
– Oklahoma State 2020 CFN Team Preview
21. Washington Huskies
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 27
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 23
Washington Quick Take: There’s a little bit of reworking on the defensive side, and the offense loses some key skill parts, but there’s no grace period for new head coach Jimmy Lake. The team will be good enough to win the Pac-12 North.
– Washington 2020 CFN Team Preview
20. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Linebacker
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 25
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 43
Minnesota Quick Take: The 2020 Gophers will show that 2019 wasn’t a fluke. The schedule won’t be as easy early on – no mediocre non-conference games to fatten up on – but the passing game will be among the nation’s most efficient and the defense will be fine once the pass rushers emerge.
– Minnesota 2020 CFN Team Preview
19. Miami Hurricanes
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 60
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 22
Miami Quick Take: This is making a few big, BIG assumptions. Assume Houston transfer QB D’Eriq King will take the offense from awful to good, and assume everyone around the program will be able to get things going considering how hard the region has been hammered by the coronavirus. The defense has the talent to be great, and the offense won’t be anywhere near as bad.
– Miami 2020 CFN Team Preview
18. Pitt Panthers
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 49
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 56
Pitt Quick Take: The Panthers are going to be the absolute real deal. The defensive line will be among the statistical best in the nation, and the offensive front will be a massive plus. Start with the infrastructure, and everything else is good, too.
– Pitt 2020 CFN Team Preview
17. North Carolina Tar Heels
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Defensive Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 59
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 67
North Carolina Quick Take: This might be buying in way too early on the hot stock – Mack Brown is CRUSHING it on the recruiting trail – but the Tar Heels have a potentially special passing game with a loaded receiving corps for QB Sam Howell to work with. Don’t ignore a great linebacking corps – the D can play, too.
– North Carolina 2020 CFN Team Preview
16. Virginia Tech Hokies
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking:
2019 CFN Preview Ranking:
Virginia Tech Quick Take: A few key losses to the transfer portal hurts the receiving corps, but the transfers coming in for the offensive backfield make up for it. Having a loaded defense to go along with QB Hendon Hooker should be enough to push the Hokies to the lead in the Coastal title chase.
– Virginia Tech 2020 CFN Team Preview
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Relative Strength: Offensive Line
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 12
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 15
Notre Dame Quick Take: This admittedly could be way, way too low if the skill parts rise up right away round QB Ian Book. There aren’t any glaring weak spots – the receiving corps will eventually be fine. Depending on how the schedule works out, potentially being the second-best team among everyone in the ACC – along with getting Clemson in South Bend – could make this a special year.
– Notre Dame 2020 CFN Team Preview
14. Texas Longhorns
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Defensive Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 29
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 9
Texas Quick Take: No, Texas isn’t “back” to where it was when it was consistently in the national title chase, but the offensive backfield is good enough to hang around in any Big 12 shootout. Now the defense has to use all the talent built up to be a whole lot stronger. More consistent tackling would be nice.
– Texas 2020 CFN Team Preview
13. USC Trojans
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 38
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 26
USC Quick Take: Experience, experience, experience. The defense is LOADED with veterans after going to a youth movement last season, but the star power is on the offensive side. The high-octane passing game from offensive coordinator Graham Harrell should be devastating.
– USC 2020 CFN Team Preview
12. Auburn Tigers
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 16
2019 CFN Preview Ranking:12
Auburn Quick Take: “Relative Concern” is, well, relative. Bo Nix is a good quarterback to work around, but he needs to open it up and be able to do more. The linebacking corps leads another outstanding defense, and the O line is strong enough to pave the way for an improved ground attack.
– Auburn 2020 CFN Team Preview
11. Wisconsin Badgers
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 11
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 18
Wisconsin Quick Take: The quarterback play has to be steadier, and new key receivers need to step up, but you know what’s coming. Even without Jonathan Taylor, the running game will be a steamroller, and the defense will once again be among the nation’s best. The D line and secondary are going to be brilliant.
– Wisconsin 2020 CFN Team Preview
CFN Preview 2020 Rankings
All 130 Team Previews | 101-130
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10