Where do all 130 college football teams rank going into the spring of 2021? Here’s one thing to know about every team along with the pre-preseason ranking.
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College Football News Rankings: 2021 Spring
2020 might have been awful, but after all the issues and all of the problems, there’s one massive positive for your 2021 college football enjoyment …
Extra eligibility.
It’s a one-time thing with 2020 seniors being allowed the opportunity to come back and play one more season, and that means more talent, more experience, and higher expectations than ever before across the board.
Before spring football kicks in full force, how do all of these teams with all of this experience look? Here’s our ranking from 1 to 130, and as always, don’t get too ticked or too excited – we’ll probably change this up for our Preview 2021 rankings this summer after all the transfer and spring football dust has settled.
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College Football News Rankings 2021 spring
130-101 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
AAC | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | C-USA
Ind | MAC | MW | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
2020 CFN Final Rankings
130 UMass
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 127
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 126
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 130
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 104
One Thing To Know: Transfer portal, transfer portal, transfer portal – in both ways. The Minutemen are bringing in the parts, but they’re also losing a massive amount of players. Head coach Walt Bell has to keep battling to find something that works.
2021 Ind Spring Rankings
129 New Mexico State
2020 CFN Final Ranking: NR
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 128
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 127
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 124
One Thing To Know: Blow off the blowout loss to Tarleton State -yeeeeeeeeesh – and focus more on the program getting a few live spring scrimmages to see what it has. It’s a young team that needs the work – obviously.
2021 Ind Spring Rankings
128 UConn
2020 CFN Final Ranking: NR
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 130
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 126
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 129
One Thing To Know: After missing 2020, the program is completely rebuilding with a whole lot of new parts. The defense has to be able to do something right after a disastrous few seasons.
2021 Ind Spring Rankings
127 Bowling Green
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 126
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 125
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 124
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 118
One Thing To Know: The defense will be among the MAC’s most experienced, but the passing game has to start working.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
126 Old Dominion
2020 CFN Final Ranking: NR
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 121
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 125
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 105
One Thing To Know: Back after a year off – and a disappointing 2019 – the Monarchs get to finally start the Ricky Rahne era. They’re loaded with veterans from a few years ago to go along with UCF transfer QB Darriel Mack.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
125 Akron
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 123
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 129
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 129
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 102
One Thing To Know: It’s a far more experienced team – everyone is back on offense – in the third year under Tom Arth with the potential to be more than just a speed bump.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
124 ULM
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 124
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 124
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 100
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 89
One Thing To Know: New head coach Terry Bowden won’t bring an instant turnaround, but he’s a great get along with offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez. The offense is going to be far, far better.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
123 Texas State
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 111
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 121
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 114
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 123
One Thing To Know: The offense is going to be a blast and the defense should be strong helped by the transfer portal. It’s going to be a more dangerous team.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
122 UTEP
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 121
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 127
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 128
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 130
One Thing To Know: More competitive in 2020, the Miners need to find a stronger passing game to do more. Enough of the starting 22 is back to matter.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
121 Northern Illinois
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 122
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 117
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 92
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 38
One Thing To Know: The Huskies are still rebuilding in a loaded MAC West. Michigan State QB Rocky Lombardi helps, but they lose key transfers.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
120 South Alabama
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 108
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 123
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 119
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 109
One Thing To Know: Former Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack – and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite – might just turn this thing around in a hurry starting with Utah/South Carolina transfer QB Jake Bentley and with almost everyone back on both sides of the ball.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
119 Middle Tennessee
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 119
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 102
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 107
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 59
One Thing To Know: NC State QB Bailey Hockman makes up for the transfer of Asher O’Hara, but it’s the defensive side that needs the most work after a disastrous few seasons.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
118 Eastern Michigan
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 107
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 113
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 80
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 71
One Thing To Know: It’s the X factor team in the MAC with 23 starters expected back and with Cincinnati QB transfer Ben Bryant upgrading the position.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
117 Troy
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 84
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 105
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 90
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 33
One Thing To Know: A bit of a Sun Belt wild card, the Trojans have the experience with all 22 starters potentially back. Getting Missouri QB Taylor Powell might be an upgrade.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
116 North Texas
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 118
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 108
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 111
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 51
One Thing To Know: Will there ever be a defense? Just about everyone is back to go along with a few key transfers, and the Mean Green offense will continue to be fun.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
115 UNLV
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 120
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 109
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 106
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 107
One Thing To Know: Head coach Marcus Arroyo went through a true rebuilding season, but he gets back RB Charles Williams and enough veterans on both sides to take another step forward.
2021 MW Spring Rankings
114 Miami University
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 93
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 111
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 47
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 70
One Thing To Know: The RedHawk defensive front should be among the MAC’s best, and the passing game will be a plus.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
113 Ohio
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 109
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 96
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 51
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 30
One Thing To Know: The Bobcats will have the offense to fight for the East title but the D line has to be more disruptive.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
112 Charlotte
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 116
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 115
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 72
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 93
One Thing To Know: The transfers will help in a big way with Texas A&M QB James Foster and Iowa RB Shadrick Byrd to start. Now the defense has to find the stars up front.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
111 Southern Miss
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 117
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 98
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 68
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 75
One Thing To Know: New head coach Will Hall has players in place, but now they have to prove they can produce. The defense should be far, far better with a slew of Power Five transfers coming in.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
110 FIU
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 125
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 110
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 85
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 43
One Thing To Know: Chalk out the disaster of 2020 to a young team in strange year. The defense has the stars returning to be better, but the offense has to find something that works.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
109 Western Michigan
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 97
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 103
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 42
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 76
One Thing To Know: There are just enough key personnel losses to matter, but the offensive line should be among the MAC’s best.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
108 Central Michigan
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 105
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 107
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 71
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 128
One Thing To Know: Washington QB transfer Jacob Sirmon should instantly help the O, but it’ll be the defensive back seven that shines.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
107 New Mexico
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 95
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 118
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 120
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 110
One Thing To Know: There were signs late last year that the team was going to grow into something interesting under Danny Gonzales, and now he has a senior-loaded team that should be even stronger.
2021 MW Spring Rankings
106 UTSA
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 102
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 119
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 118
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 112
One Thing To Know: Head coach Jeff Traylor did wonders in his first season, and now he has a good team to work around starting with RB Sincere McCormick. There’s too much experience to not make a push for a bowl game.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
105 Rice
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 106
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 116
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 115
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 127
One Thing To Know: It’s been a slow turn back to respectability, but the team started to look the part late. There’s a good base for a sneaky-good defense to go along with the running game.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
104 Georgia Southern
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 78
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 84
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 55
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 28
One Thing To Know: The team is going to be much better than this ranking if the offensive line comes together fast. The O loses QB Shai Werts to Louisville, but adds former Georgia Tech starter James Graham.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
103 Arkansas State
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 112
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 93
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 67
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 72
One Thing To Know: Butch Jones should be a terrific fit for the job. The defense needs to be a whole lot better, but the offense should be a blast starting with Florida State transfer QB James Blackman potentially leading a veteran group.
2021 Sun Belt Spring Rankings
102 WKU
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 115
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 97
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 40
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 111
One Thing To Know: WKU would like to have an offense now. Former Houston Baptist bomber Bailey Zappe will upgrade the passing game, and his receivers are coming along for the ride. If the O can match the D … look out.
2021 C-USA Spring Rankings
101 Buffalo
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 63
2020 CFN Preseason Ranking: 83
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 39
2018 CFN Final Ranking: 34
One Thing To Know: It won’t be the team last year’s was, but the offense is still going to be a killer if the line comes together fast.
2021 MAC Spring Rankings
College Football News Rankings 2021 spring
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
