10. Michigan Wolverines
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 26
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 8
Michigan Quick Take: If the Wolverines can get sharper quarterback play, and if the offensive line can fill in the lost parts without a problem, the Wolverines will once again be great. The defense and running game will carry the team right to the lip of the Big Ten East cup.
– Michigan 2020 CFN Team Preview
CFN in 60: AP Preseason Rankings Prediction
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9. Oregon Ducks
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 7
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 10
Oregon Quick Take: Replacing Justin Herbert won’t be so easy, but the quarterback situation will be more than fine. The defense is going to be devastating with a line and secondary as good as any in America, and the running game and overall talent level is at a College Football Playoff level.
– Oregon 2020 CFN Team Preview
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Wide Receiver
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 5
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 17
Penn State Quick Take: There might not be a whole lot of national star power – Micah Parsons should be a bigger overall deal – but there are no real issues with a rock-solid team. The quarterback play and passing game will be fine, but the defensive front seven and running game are outstanding. All the parts are good enough take down the Big Ten East – Ohio State has to come to Happy Valley, by the way.
– Penn State 2020 CFN Team Preview
7. Florida Gators
Relative Strength: Defensive Line
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 20
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 4
Florida Quick Take: The overall talent level might not be there compared to Alabama and Georgia, but it’s good enough to potentially take the East. Dan Mullen and the coaching staff have been great since taking over two seasons ago, and there hasn’t been the pressure in a win-SEC-title-or-bust way that Georgia has had to deal with lately, but with this D along with QB Kyle Trask, win the SEC East, Florida.
– Florida 2020 CFN Team Preview
6. Oklahoma Sooners
Relative Strength: Offensive Line
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 8
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 5
Oklahoma Quick Take: Just because we’re not quite sure if Spencer Rattler is the next Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield, don’t dismiss Oklahoma and don’t think anything is going to slow down. The offensive line is going to be crushing, the receiving corps is outstanding, and as last year showed – forget the loss to LSU – it is possible to play defense at OU under Lincoln Riley. This year’s D will be as good as any in the Big 12., and that Rattler guy will be pretty good, too.
– Oklahoma 2020 CFN Team Preview
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5. LSU Tigers
Relative Strength: Wide Receiver
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 1
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 7
LSU Quick Take: No, LSU won’t be able to do that again, and no, you don’t lose that much talent and keep it all going. However, LSU might be about to enter the Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson territory of programs that lose NFL talents and replace them with other NFL talents without losing a blip of production. The secondary might be the best in the nation, and the receiving corps is still amazing.
– LSU 2020 CFN Team Preview
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Relative Strength: Linebacker
Relative Concern: Offensive Line
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 4
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 3
Georgia Quick Take: It’s almost as if Georgia is taken for granted. It doesn’t have the College Football Playoff national title credibility like Clemson, Alabama or Ohio State earned, and it doesn’t have the multiple trips to the tournament like Oklahoma has been able to pull off, but it might have been one of the four best teams in college football after each of the last three regular seasons, and this one should be there, too.
It all starts with a defense that’s not going to give up a thing, and it continues with an improved offense that will open it up more no matter who’s at quarterback. The receiving corps is in place to be used a lot more.
– Georgia 2020 CFN Team Preview
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Relative Strength: Running Back
Relative Concern: Quarterback
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 15
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 1
Alabama Quick Take: Don’t make the mistake of thinking things are slipping after the way the 2018 season ended and with the two losses last year. Across the board, the next-level talent is still breathtaking, and the depth continues to be almost unfairly deep.
The running backs and receivers are almost all NFL-good, the quarterback play will be fine once it’s figured out, and it’s Alabama – the defense won’t be just okay again. However, the secondary has to be better, and of course there’s a quarterback drop-off from Tua Tagovailoa, but whatever – everything is there to win a national title.
– Alabama 2020 CFN Team Preview
2. Clemson Tigers
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Secondary
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 3
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 2
Clemson Quick Take: Another year, and another Clemson team good enough to win the ACC Championship, get into the College Football Playoff, win a game, and play for the national title.
Even with the absence of star WR Justyn Ross, the receiving corps is still special, the backfield tandem of QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne should be starting in the NFL, and as always, the defensive front seven is phenomenal.
Flip a coin for who the No. 1 team is between Clemson and …
– Clemson 2020 CFN Team Preview
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Relative Strength: Quarterback
Relative Concern: Running Back
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 2
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 6
Ohio State Quick Take: There’s a wee bit of a concern over the health and proven depth at running back if the main guys aren’t fantastic, and it doesn’t help to lose Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, but the Buckeye machine isn’t going to slow down with Justin Fields now with a year of starting experience under his belt. Programs this good always seem to have an edge after coming so close the year before and falling just short.
There’s no reason to think anything is about to slip. Head coach Ryan Day did a brilliant job of instilling the team’s laser-focus throughout the season, and the few new starters on both sides might actually be a plus in some ways – there’s something to prove for these players, especially when it comes to having a shot at the national title.
– Ohio State 2020 CFN Team Preview
CFN Preview 2020 Rankings
All 130 Team Previews | 101-130
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
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