college football rankings 2021 – Page 5

Big Ten Football Rankings: CFN 2021 Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Big Ten teams.

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Big Ten teams.

[jwplayer GOXHcfXn]

2021 Big Ten Rankings: Pre-Spring

Big Ten East

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Why To Be Happy: It’s still Ohio State and it’s still a loaded team with as much talent as anyone in college football. The return of WR Chris Olave for another year is massive, the O line should be almost as good as the 2020 version, and the return of DE Tyreke Smith helps an already great situation on the defensive front. However …

What To Work On: Again, it’s Ohio State – it’ll be more than fine – but the back seven is going to need some tuning up and key replacements. The offense will be deadly again, but the pressure is on CJ Stroud to be the next superstar quarterback and losing RB Trey Sermon hurts a bit.

Bottom Line: Ohio State gets framed differently than everyone in the Big Ten. It’s going to be the league’s best team, and it’s easily the favorite to win another Big Ten title, but – remember, this is January – this version needs a lot more tuning than the 2020 version, which wasn’t as strong as the 2019 team.

2. Michigan Wolverines

Why To Be Happy: Jim Harbaugh is still around … and yeah, that’s a reason to be happy, at least for this year. There might be a few high-profile transfers, but Hassan Haskins is a strong back to lead the way, there are plenty of QB options without Dylan McCaffrey, and the line and receiving corps are experienced. Kwity Paye might be gone on the end, but just about everyone else is back on D.

What To Work On: Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback. Really, Michigan has players. Really, the coaching staff is fine. None of it matters unless the Wolverines can finally get top-shelf quarterback play. Cade McNamara, Joe Milton and JJ McCarthy – one of them has to be great.

Bottom Line: Michigan won’t win the Big Ten, but it’ll bounce back to be solid again. Unlike 2020, the Wolverines will beat everyone they’re supposed to, lose one game against a strong team, and then … you know how this works with Ohio State.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Why To Be Happy: The run at the end of the season was more like the real Penn State than the one that got off to a historically disastrous start. Sean Clifford is a veteran now, getting RB John Lovett from Baylor helps, and there are just enough good players coming back – like CB Tariq Castro-Fields – to be okay, but …

What To Work On: There are a whole lot of important parts moving on. From OG Will Fries to DEs Shaka Toney and Jayson Oweh to S Lamont Wade and on and on. James Franklin has more strong recruits ready to step up, but in this year when so many teams are so experienced, there are a whole slew of key losses.

Bottom Line: Penn State will be one of the Big Ten’s most interesting calls as the offseason goes on. There are offensive playmakers, and – as always – defensive stars will emerge up front, but there are just enough lost starters to be annoying.

4. Indiana Hoosiers

Why To Be Happy: The Hoosiers get a slew of their guys back. Michael Penix Jr. is expected to return okay from his knee injury, star WR Ty Fryfogle is coming back, and with guard Mackenzie Nworah returning, four starters are expected to be around for the O line. S Jamar Johnson is leaving early for the NFL, but almost everyone else is expected back on the defensive side.

What To Work On: Is Penix really going to be ready? It’ll be less than a year for his knee to heal up. WR Whop Philyor is going to the NFL, and so is RB Stevie Scott from a running game that was among the worst in the nation.

Bottom Line: The expectations are a whole lot higher now, but Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State aren’t going to be that bad again. IU will still be good, but it’ll be a lot more of a fight.

5. Michigan State Spartans

Why To Be Happy: The transfer portal is providing some instant help to a team that already is full of veterans. RB Harold Joiner is coming in from Auburn, QB Anthony Russo is at least a veteran backup option from Temple, and again, there’s a ton of experience back helped by C Matt Allen anchoring the line. But …

What To Work On: After finishing last in the Big Ten in scoring and last in scoring D, there’s a little bit of work to do. The secondary lost a slew of key parts, the offense needs playmakers to emerge, and one of the quarterbacks has to step up and be great.

Bottom Line: Mel Tucker really didn’t get enough time to get things going in his first year, and it’s going to take another year to start to get everything to work. The team will be better, but so will the rest of the Big Ten East.

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Why To Be Happy: Rutgers has experience, it has a few actual playmakers, and it has the coaching staff now to have … hope? The offensive backfield should be interesting with enough options to play around with, a little shuffling should lead to a decent O line, and the receiving corps has real, live explosion. The D gets back linebackers Tyshon Fogg and Olakunle Fatukasi to work around.

What To Work On: Even with all of the improvement, the the offense and defense were still the second-worst in the Big Ten, the passing game needs more downfield plays, this is still a building job. However …

Bottom Line: The Scarlet Knights should keep being more and more competitive under Greg Schiano, and they have enough experience to keep building on the 3-6 season that was a whole lot more fun than the final record.

7. Maryland Terrapins

Why To Be Happy: Head coach Mike Locksley is known for being a superstar recruiter, and his team showed glimpses of starting to do something right. Taulia Tagovailoa is the quarterback to work around, there’s a solid recruiting class coming in, and …

What To Work On: Uh oh. There are whole lot of players taking off with leading rusher Jake Funk off to the NFL, top linebacker Chance Campbell transferring out, key DB Antwaine Richardson off to Kent State, and on and on and on. As of right now, 12 Terps are expected to transfer and there’s still plenty of work to do.

Bottom Line: Things are hardly dire, even with the personnel losses. The lines still need working on, and consistency will be vital for a program that hasn’t had any, but there are enough playmakers to be interesting. However, few teams in the Big Ten need every practice more than Maryland.

– 2021 Pre-Spring Big Ten West

2021 Big Ten West Rankings: Pre-Spring 7-11

Pages: 12

Conference USA Football Rankings: CFN 2021 Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Conference USA teams.

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Conference USA teams.

[jwplayer GOXHcfXn]

2021 Conference USA Rankings: Pre-Spring

Conference USA East

1. Marshall Thundering Herd

Why To Be Happy: The offense won’t be as bad as it was at the end of the year. It can’t be. New head coach Charles Huff brings in a background of offense after coaching up the running backs at Alabama over the last few years. All of the top skill guys are expected to be back, but …

What To Work On: The loss of Darius Hodge early to the NFL hurts. The other losses to the next level hurt, but they were expected – Hodge was 50/50. Offensively, everything was fine throughout the season, and then everything crashed with fewer than 270 yards in each of the last three games – all losses.

Bottom Line: It was a strange move to lose Doc Holliday after all of his success and a 7-0 start, but the program is going in a new direction with a new energy in Huff. The talent is there to think Conference USA championship or bust.

2. Florida Atlantic Owls

Why To Be Happy: Willie Taggart is starting to get the offensive parts. The defense got the job done last season, but the O couldn’t get going. Bringing in RB Johnny Ford from USF is a good step, landing Penn State WR John Dunmore helps, and there’s a good group of young quarterbacks to work around.

What To Work On: The D is getting back CB Zyon Gilbert and LB Caliph Brice, but DE Leighton McCarthy is off to the NFL. The D should be okay, but the offense has to find a spark after having one of the nation’s least-efficient passing games and averaging just 325 yards of total offense.

Bottom Line: Taggart had to fight through rebuilding in the COVID year, and now it’s time to take off. The offense has to get more out of the line and more playmakers have to show up, but the D should be great again

3. WKU Hilltoppers

Why To Be Happy: Oh will this be fun. Does the name Bailey Zappe ring any sort of a bell? All he did was put up ridiculous numbers against North Texas, Texas Tech, and Louisiana Tech, finishing the four-game season with 1,833 passing yards – well over 400 yards per game – with 15 touchdowns. Now he’s the WKU quarterback to an offense that needs the help. As if getting Zappe isn’t enough, two of his targets are coming along – along with three other new targets from the transfer portal.

What To Work On: More points. Welcome to the fundamental shift in how WKU does business after finishing 120th in the nation in total offense and 115th in passing efficiency. There’s going to be scoring this year, but it might take a bit.

Bottom Line: WKU has been fine, but it’s making a big push to take a step to the next level. Few teams have been more active in the transfer portal, but that’s not necessarily a plus with over 20 players leaving.

4. FIU Golden Panthers

Why To Be Happy: This was a relatively young team after the front-line starters and now the hope is for the new guys to be ready to roll right away to go along with a good nucleus. Start with the all-star defensive back brother tandem of Richard and Rishard Dames coming back along with LB Jamal Gates for one side. The O has its back in D’vonte Price, and former Maryland QB Max Bortenschlarger returns.

What To Work On: There’s a long way to go to get back to respectability after a disastrous shortened season throwing the ball. The offensive line is Job One, doing nothing in pass protection and struggling to get the ground game working.

Bottom Line: There should be a quick turnaround after a rotten 2020, but a whole slew of reserves who were supposed to be part of the turnaround are transferring out. Unless the O line can be better fast, it’s going to be another long year.

5. Charlotte 49ers

Why To Be Happy: The team is getting in a few nice transfers in QB James Foster from Texas A&M and RB Shadrick Byrd from Iowa, and landing DE Kofi Wardlow from Notre Dame should help a big-time need area.

What To Work On: Losing star S Ben DeLuca and DE Romeo McKnight takes away two key starters off the D that didn’t do enough last year. The pass rush her to emerge and far more big things have to happen behind the line.

Bottom Line: The offense should be ahead of the defense throughout the offseason, but if all the key guys can stay healthy – and if the D line can be a whole lot better, the 49ers can bounce back into a factor in the East.

6. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Why To Be Happy: Yeah, do-it-all QB Asher O’Hara entered the transfer portal, but the program made up for it by landing NC State’s Bailey Hockman to likely take over. It might have been an inconsistent season overall, but there were a whole lot of underclassmen playing key roles on O, and most of the starters are back on D, but …

What To Work On: The defense has to be night-and-day better. It struggles throughout the season allowing 446 yards per game, and it was. disaster on third downs.

Bottom Line: The program has been too solid for too long to be so lousy, but major changes are being made starting with a new offensive coordinator. Middle Tennessee played for the Conference USA title in 2018 and fell off a cliff. This is a make-or-break year.

7. Old Dominion Monarchs

Why To Be Happy: After a year off in the COVID season, the Monarchs return relatively loaded and whole lot stronger. Start with landing UCF QB Darriel Mack and Georgia WR Trey Blount from the transfer portal to boost up a veteran base that waited to get going.

What To Work On: There’s a big turnover factor after missing 2020. The program’s last win over an FBS team was in early November of 2018, and there’s going to be a whole lot of new parts to work with on both sides of the ball.

Bottom Line: A massive disappointment in 2019, now Old Dominion is starting over. Head coach Ricky Rahne didn’t get his chance to get things going last year, and now comes a renewed energy and an X factor team for 2021.

– 2021 Pre-Spring Conference USA Rankings West

2021 American Athletic Conference Rankings: Pre-Spring 7-11

Pages: 12

Big 12 Football Rankings: CFN 2021 Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the College Football News 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Big 12 teams.

The pre-spring version of the College Football News 2021 rankings with a first look at all the Big 12 teams.

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Big 12 Rankings: 2021 Pre-Spring

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Why To Be Happy: The Sooners missed out on the College Football Playoff in 2020, but they’ve got the talent in place to not only make a run to the show but to do some damage, too. QB Spencer Rattler got his year of experience out of the way, the receiving corps is LOADED, and the program transformed itself into a defensive power that should be a killer again.

What To Work On: The improvements of 2020 were more than just about the emergence of two players, but it’s no coincidence that OU went from great to phenomenal once RB Rhamondre Stevenson and DE Ronnie Perkins returned after missing the first few games. They’re off to the NFL along with just enough key players – not to mention a few good backups transferring – to be annoying.

Bottom Line: Winning is never boring, but this year’s Sooner team has the upside to take another Big 12 Championship with one of Lincoln Riley’s strongest teams yet. Start with setting the expectations there, and hope the momentum from the end of 2020 can carry though into a huge 2021 on the way to the tournament.

2. Texas Longhorns

Why To Be Happy: Steve Sarkisian has a whole lot of stuff in the cupboard left over from the Tom Herman era. Sam Ehlinger is gone after what seems like 19 years as the starting QB, but Casey Thompson got the base all fired up with his second half in the bowl win over Colorado. Add in RB Bijan Robinson, an O line that should be fantastic even without Samuel Cosmi, and Sark should do wonders with the attack. The D is LOADED, too.

What To Work On: Is Thompson really ready to be a superstar? Can the Texas secondary start slowing down the better passing teams? The overall talent level is good enough to at least get to the Big 12 Championship, but the expectations are going to be sky high right away because …

Bottom Line: It’s not like Texas was that far off last year. The honeymoon for Sarkisian ends in about 30 seconds considering the young offensive talent he has to work with. WR Brandon Schooler is coming in from Arizona, and don’t be surprised if a whole slew of guys in the transfer portal are starting to take a bigger look at Austin to play in this offense.

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3. Iowa State Cyclones

Why To Be Happy: QB Brock Purdy is returning. RB Breece Hall is back. TE Charlie Kolar isn’t bolting early. OT Sean Foster is still around. EVERYONE – or, almost everyone – is expected to be back on the offense that was so sharp and so strong when it had all the parts together. The defensive side should be a killer again, too, helped by the return of S Greg Eisworth and LB Mike Rose, but …

What To Work On: DE JaQuan Bailey is off to the NFL. Not everyone is staying, and losing one of the team’s leaders and best pass rushers isn’t a plus. That’s nitpicking, though, considering how much talent is coming back, and that’s going to be the big problem, because …

Bottom Line: It’s going to be a seven-month media gush-fest over this team, but Oklahoma is better than it was in 2020, Texas is better, and the rest of the Big 12 should be a bit improved, too. The expectations are going to be through the roof, and rightly so. Just getting to the Big 12 Championship this time around will feel like a disappointment if the Cyclones don’t win.

4. TCU Horned Frogs

Why To Be Happy: Max Duggan. The Horned Frogs have one of the Big 12’s best and most exciting quarterbacks who’s going into his junior year. The O might lost TE Pro Wells, and OT TJ Storment is in the transfer portal, but everyone else on offense is expected to be back, and most of the defense returns, but …

What To Work On: The Horned Frogs lose three star playmakers from the defensive side. LB Garret Wallow is gone from the middle of the D, Thorpe winner Trevon Moehrig and fellow safety Ar’Darius Washington have both taken off for the NFL.

Bottom Line: Don’t sleep on the Horned Frogs. They got hot as 2020 went on with five wins in the final six, and now they return loaded on both sides of the ball. Throw in the addition of DE Kenny Turnier from UCF and OT Obinna Eze from Memphis, and some good pieces are coming in.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Why To Be Happy: There’s still a whole lot of talent returning. Just enough is back to keep the production going, starting with QB Spencer Sanders and with more future stars at receiver to replace the departures. The defensive side might be taking a hit, but most of the starting front six should be back, and four of the top five defensive backs are expected to return.

What To Work On: That receiving corps has young talent, but it doesn’t help to lose Tylan Wallace and Dillon Stoner. Chuba Hubbard might not have exploded last year, but he’s an NFL running back who’s gone, too. The defensive side loses leader and tackling machine Amen Ogbongbemiga from the linebacking corps, CB Rodarius Williams, and DT Cameron Murray.

Bottom Line: The Cowboys will be shoved aside in most of the preseason predictions, but they’re going to be good enough and strong enough on the lines to hold up until all the skill parts come together. There’s no reason not to shoot for a Big 12 Championship appearance.

– 2021 Pre-Spring Big 12 Ranking, Part 2

Big 12 Rankings: 2021 Pre-Spring

Pages: 12

CFN 2021 American Athletic Conference Football Rankings: Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the American Athletic Conference teams. 2021 American Athletic Conference Rankings: Pre-Spring 1. Cincinnati Bearcats Why To Be Happy: Star OT James Hudson and RB Gerrid Dokes …

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the American Athletic Conference teams.

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2021 American Athletic Conference Rankings: Pre-Spring

1. Cincinnati Bearcats

Why To Be Happy: Star OT James Hudson and RB Gerrid Dokes are off to the NFL, but that’s about it for an offense that should be every bit as devastating, if not more so. The return of QB Desmond Ridder is everything and he has the parts around him to shine again. However …

What To Work On: Doaks was great, and WR Jayshon Jackson has hit the transfer portal. The defensive line loses a few main guys starting with Elijah Ponder, and the secondary has to replace enough key parts to matter with James Wiggins and Darrick Forrest two big-time playmakers who’ll be missed.

Bottom Line: It’s asking for the world to repeat all the success of 2020, but the Bearcats have the experience and enough main men back to demand nothing less than another amazing run.

2. Memphis Tigers

Why To Be Happy: How do you replace a quarterback who produced like Brady White did? You throw talent at the problem with Grant Gunnell coming in from Arizona and Peter Parrish adding some possible flash from LSU. This was a young, rebuilding team last year that now should be okay at quarterback and loaded everywhere else. There are a few losses, but not enough to be a killer.

What To Work On: The Tigers have to improve the pass defense with most of the starters back, the offense has to slow down with the turnovers, and the explosion needs to return. The O was more than fine, but getting back to 2019 levels would be huge.

Bottom Line: It’s all about being able to challenge Cincinnati, and the Tigers have the parts to do it. It’ll be a loaded fight at quarterback to replace White, more than enough talent is back to repeat the 2020 8-3-level success, and the expectations should be sky high.

3. UCF Knights

Why To Be Happy: The offensive line should be a rock. The Knights always fill in the parts at the skill jobs, and QB Dillon Gabriel is back, but start with the offensive front five that appears to be loaded and build from there. The defense might have had issues, but the front six/seven is loaded with veterans and now a little bit of depth.

What To Work On: There were a ton of opt-outs and missing parts before 2020, and there are a whole slew of losses to the NFL from the 2021 version. The underclassmen are sticking around, but RB Greg McCrae, S Richie Grant, WR/RB Otis Anderson and WR Tre Nixon are just the main guys who have to be replaced, and …

Bottom Line: UCF needs to find the new stars in a hurry. The Knights will be dangerous and explosive again, but Cincinnati might be even better and several other American Athletic Conference teams will be strong. UCF doesn’t start 2021 by owning the league.

4. SMU Mustangs

Why To Be Happy: Shane Buechele is gone, and in comes Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai to push for the starting quarterback job to keep the machine up and going. North Texas transfer Tre Siggers is a perfect-fit running back for the attack to go along with an already deep backfield, all five starters are retuning to the offensive line, and best of all, WR Reggie Roberson is back.

What To Work On: It might not seem like much, but losing PK Chris Naggar to the NFL matters. He was an all-star who hit 17-of-21 field goals for a team that won two games by three points each.

Bottom Line: The Mustangs have the pieces to challenge for the American Athletic Conference title, but they’ve had them for the last two years and weren’t able to pull it off. If the quarterback situation is solid right away, they’ll be a true challenger to Cincinnati.

5. Houston Cougars

Why To Be Happy: It’s time for this offense to start working already, and it begins with QB Clayton Tune returning along with most of the defense. Active in the transfer portal, getting WR KeSean Carter and CB Alex Hogan from Texas Tech matters, and landing DE Tre Williams from Missouri should help, but …

What To Work On: This is one of the biggest X factor teams in the AAC with so many parts in flux and in the transfer portal. Positive consistency has been non-existent for the program, and this year’s team will need to come together fast with several new parts to be any sort of a player in an improved league.

Bottom Line: Now is when the Houston program might actually get rolling under Dana Holgorsen – at least that’s the hope. The program all but opted out in 2019 to get ready for 2020, and 2020 never got going for obvious reasons. A quick fix would be nice.

6. Tulane Green Wave

Why To Be Happy: There’s not a whole lot of messing around with the transfer portal – the team appears to be relatively settled. That’s a plus considering the 2020 version needs more tweaking than overhauling. The few losses might be more like upgrades if the new parts are as good as expected. As long as QB Michael Pratt keeps improving, look out, because …

What To Work On: The passing game needs work. The addition of Utah transfer RB Devin Brumfield will help the ground game that pays the program’s bills, but there weren’t enough third down conversions – that’s where Pratt has to be better. The secondary needs to get stronger, too.

Bottom Line: The Green Wave might not lead the league in rushing again, but it’ll still be a dangerous team with the right blend of parts to hang with anyone. However, this team has got to figure out how to get off to good starts and needs to be far more consistent.

– 2021 Pre-Spring AAC Rankings No. 7-11

2021 American Athletic Conference Rankings: Pre-Spring 7-11

Pages: 12

CFN 2021 ACC Football Rankings: Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the ACC teams.

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the ACC teams.

[jwplayer GOXHcfXn]

2021 ACC Rankings: Pre-Spring

ACC Atlantic Division

1. Clemson Tigers

Why To Be Happy: At the moment, the defense gets all 11 starters back after leading the ACC in total and scoring D. This was a young group up front, and now all the stars return. Linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector announced they’re returning for another year, corner Derion Kendrick is back, and on and on and on. Oh yeah … the offense did this last year without a few key receivers who’ll be back.

What To Work On: Turnovers were a bit of a problem – especially fumbling – and the running game wasn’t its normal killer self. Travis Etienne is done, but the veteran O line has to be better at pounding away.

Bottom Line: It’s Clemson. It lost a transcendent NFL QB prospect in Trevor Lawrence, the most productive ACC running back ever in Etienne, and it’s going to be even better.

2. NC State Wolfpack

Why To Be Happy: The defense loses the main man Asim McNeill from the middle of the line, but everyone else of note appears to be back. Throw in a few key transfers – especially at safety – and the Pack should be nasty on that side of the ball.

What To Work On: Most of the offensive skill parts are back – helped by the return of leading receiver Emeka Emezie – but the production has to come. The O was fine, but it wasn’t explosive enough and there were too many turnovers.

Bottom Line: NC State was great at beating the teams it was supposed to, and the experience will be there to repeat the decent level of success of 2020, but big-time playmakers have to emerge.

3. Boston College Eagles

Why To Be Happy: It was a strong first season under head coach Jeff Hafley, and he gets the pieces back for the offense to be even more dangerous. The backfield of QB Phil Jurkovec and RB David Bailey will be great if …

What To Work On: The running game has to start working again. It wasn’t a function of the offensive style, but with all five offensive linemen expected to return to pave the way for Bailey, there’s no excuse for being 118th in the nation in rushing again.

Bottom Line: Just about everyone returns on offense, and the defense that needs a little reworking needs to start getting behind the line more. The Eagles will be stronger.

4. Florida State Seminoles

Why To Be Happy: There needs to be a whole lot of work and a whole lot more production, but almost all of the entire starting offensive 11 from the end of last season is expected to be back. The defensive side loses several key parts, but instant help appears to be on the way from the transfer portal.

What To Work On: Yeah, the offense. The defensive side has to generate some semblance of a pass rush, but the O has to be more efficient throwing the ball and has to figure out how to move the chains.

Bottom Line: 2020 couldn’t have been any worse for head coach Mike Norvell and the national title-level program. There’s experience, there’s a reset mindset, and … there’s a lot of work to do.

5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Why To Be Happy: The offense should be even more explosive and more dangerous. The offensive line returns almost intact, the receiving corps is loaded, and Sam Hartman – bowl meltdown against Wisconsin aside – is a terrific triggerman to run it all. There’s more than enough talent back on D to be fine, but …

What To Work On: Losing star end Carlos Basham matters. The pass rush was a problem for the Demon Deacons with him, and now it’s going to take a whole lot of work to get even more out of the D that has to work to hold serve.

Bottom Line: It’ll be more of the same. Dangerous, fun, explosive offense that should be able to keep up with just about everyone, but questionable defense that should have enough issues to make every game a shootout.

6. Louisville Cardinals

Why To Be Happy: The offense is going to be interesting with Georgia Southern option wizard QB Shai Werts transferring in to add another option. Expect more consistency and production from a team that should be able to keep up with just about everyone.

What To Work On: The receiving corps loses Dez Fitzpatrick and Tutu Atwell to the next level, and the linebacking corps has to replace almost all the starting linebackers along with nose tackle Jared Goldwire.

Bottom Line: Coming off a 4-7 season, the Cardinals have to bounce back quickly despite a slew of key departures compared to the rest of the Atlantic Division. Improvement on the O line and limiting the turnovers are a must.

7. Syracuse Orange

Why To Be Happy: The Orange have almost everyone back on offense and on the defensive front seven, and the arrival of Garrett Shrader from Mississippi State should help the quarterback room. The experience is there on both sides of the ball, but …

What To Work On: The secondary loses its top playmakers, and losing receiver and return man Nykeim Johnson to Kent State hurts, and … offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. The Orange have GOT to figure out how to block after not doing enough of it over the last few years.

Bottom Line: We know it’s possible for Syracuse to win – we all saw it a few years ago – but after a lost year with horrible play on both lines, the program has to get the infrastructure right.

– 2021 Prespring ACC Coastal Rankings

2021 ACC Coastal Division Rankings: Pre-Spring

Pages: 12

Bowl Rankings: How Good Were All 25 Bowl Games?

How good were the games in the 2020-2021 bowl season? Ranking all the bowl games from the worst to the best.

How good were the games in the 2020-2021 bowl season? Ranking all the bowl games from the worst to the best.

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This was a miserable bowl season, but there were different levels of pain and suffering.

Out of the 25 bowl games played – with one big one still to go – 16 of them were double-digit blowouts, most of the close games were ugly-bad, and there wasn’t any classic that hasn’t already been memory dumped by anyone outside of the winning fan base.

But it was a bowl season – the fact that we got as many games as we did is incredible.

There’s still one little game to go with this turning into a ranking of the 26 best bowl games after Monday night.

Here’s how good the bowl games were this season.

Bowl Rankings
Total Duds | Bowls: No More, No Less
Decent Bowls | Good Bowls | Best Bowls

Bowl Rankings: Total Duds

These weren’t just the worst games of this bowl season. These made people question the world and their reason for living in it. None of them were 2018 Cheez-It Bowl-level awful, but …

25. Offerpad Arizona Bowl

Ball State 34, San Jose State 13
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 11
– 10 Thoughts on the Arizona Bowl

This one wasn’t fair.

Ball State will more than happily take the first bowl win in the program’s history, but San Jose State was walloped by COVID issues announced just before the game, the Mountain West champ was a shadow of its regular season self, and it got ugly immediately.

Ball State got up 27-0 in the first quarter starting with a pick-six, and were up 34-0 in the third before the Spartans finally got on the board with a kickoff return for a touchdown.

24. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Georgia Southern 38, Louisiana Tech 3
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 22
– 10 Things To Know from the New Orleans Bowl

Would Shai Werts play or not?

The Georgia Southern quarterback played through a shoulder problem, he was awesome, and this game was a disaster. The Eagles took a 21-0 first half lead, only allowed one measly Louisiana Tech field goal, and totally dominated.

Louisiana Tech was -4 in turnover margin, never had the ball, and generated 232 yards of total offense whether it needed them or not.

Werts? 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and 7-of-12 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown for the option attack.

23. The Rose Bowl Game Presented by Capital One

Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 9
– 5 Thoughts Reaction, Analysis: Rose Bowl

Start with the Rose Bowl being played in Arlington instead of Pasadena, and it goes downhill from there.

No one thought Notre Dame had a prayer, the game was supposed to be a light scrimmage, and that’s exactly what happened. It was 7-0 Crimson Tide five minutes in, and that was about it.

There was the slightest fraction of a moment in the second quarter when it looked like this might be interesting after a 15-play Irish touchdown drive to make it 14-7, but that only seemed to make Alabama mad.

DeVonta Smith caught a 34-yard touchdown pass just over two minutes later, and that was that.

22. LendingTree Bowl

Georgia State 39, WKU 21
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 23
– 10 Things To Know from the LendingTree Bowl

WKU was up 7-0 on a strong first quarter drive, the defense was doing okay, and …

Ugh.

Georgia State rolled for 27 straight points on three second quarter touchdown passes from Cornelious Brown, the defense forced three takeaways, and the team was in total control throughout. Even after WKU came up with a third quarter touchdown, it was all Panther O from there with scoring drive after scoring drive to go up 39-14 until the final moments.

21. GoodYear Cotton Bowl Classic

Oklahoma 55, Florida 20
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 3
– 10 Thoughts on the Cotton Bowl

The ONLY reason why this isn’t even lower is because Oklahoma was so much fun to watch.

It was over the moment most of Florida’s receiving corps opted out, there were more key players out, and Oklahoma put it away with a 17-0 lead – ended on a Tre Norwood pick six of Kyle Trask – in the first seven minutes.

Emory Jones and the Gators made it interesting for a little bit in the second quarter to pull within 17-13, but the Sooners ended the fun four plays later with a quick touchdown drive as part of a 38-point run to turn this into an embarrassment.

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