The Longhorns started in the top 10 and lost by only 7 to LSU but then fell to 6-5. Reason for optimism? the 'Horns crushed Texas Tech and then No. 11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl by 28 to end the season on a positive note. And QB Sam Ehlinger will be back. However, a euphoric bowl win in the 2018 season didn't exactly mean good things for 2019.
TEXAS QB SAM EHLINGER (11) IS BACK FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON AFTER LEADING THE LONGHORNS TO AN ALAMO BOWL WIN VS. UTAH.
15. Michigan (9-4)
The Wolverines are still way behind rival Ohio State. If 2019 wasn't the year, when can Jim Harbaugh and Michigan do it? The quarterback battle is something to watch (Dylan McCaffrey or Joe Milton). LB Cameron McGrone should be a leader on defense. There are also road games against Washington, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State.
16. Wisconsin (10-4)
The Badgers and Paul Chryst get the benefit of the doubt here, as RB Jonathan Taylor is going to the NFL and LBs Chris Orr and Zack Baun have finished their college careers. However, save for a rare off year in 2018, Wisconsin has proven to be the Big Ten West's best. QB Jack Coan (should he hold his job over Graham Mertz) might be asked to do more. The schedule won't be easy, either. The Badgers play Appalachian State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Minnesota in four consecutive weeks.
CHAMP: Complete national championship history for the FBS
17. North Carolina (7-6)
Why not have some fun? Sure, UNC went only 7-6, but the losses were by a combined 26 points. The biggest reason for optimism is obvious: QB Sam Howell. The highly regarded freshman was better than any fair expectation by passing for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions this past season. He has a bunch of talent around him, too, including RBs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams (totaling almost 2,000 combined yards) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome.
UNC QB SAM HOWELL MIGHT BE ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST QUARTERBACKS AS A SOPHOMORE.
18. Minnesota (11-2)
It's difficult to climb into the top-10 and become a championship contender. It's perhaps harder to stay there consistently. That's the task ahead for P.J. Fleck, who led the Gophers to an 11-2 season and another statement win against Auburn in the Outback Bowl. Minnesota loses a ton on defense (All-America pick Antoine Winfield Jr.) and top running backs Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks and WR Tyler Johnson — and OC Ciarrocca is now at Penn State. But QB Tanner Morgan (3,253 passing yards, 30 TDs) will still get to throw to Rashod Bateman (1,219 yards, 11 TDs).
19. Southern California (8-5)
The potential is there. QB Kedon Slovis finished with 3,502 passing yards and brings back a bunch of skill players led by WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The defense could also be better once the new coordinator is hired. But the truth remains the Trojans have gone 5-7 and 8-5 the past two seasons.
20. UCF (10-3)
After going 25-1 in 2017 and 2018, it was inevitable the Knights "fell" to 10-3 (6-2 AAC) in 2019. QB Dillon Gabriel had a good freshman season with his 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns — and UCF also has Darriel Mack Jr. and the possible return of McKenzie Milton after his serious knee injury. The Knights open the season at home against North Carolina and also play at Georgia Tech later in September.
21. Cincinnati (11-3)
Coach Luke Fickell has lead the Bearcats to 11-win seasons in each of the last two years and were close defeats to Memphis away from playing in a New Year's Six game. QB Desmond Ridder will lead the offense, while the defense should again be the AAC's best. RB Michael Warren II will be missed, however.
CINCINNATI AND COACH LUKE FICKELL WON 11 GAMES IN BOTH 2018 AND 2019.
22. Utah (11-3)
The Utes could have made the College Football Playoff. But a blowout loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game and then another blowout loss to Texas in the Alamo Bowl added a sour taste to the 2019 season. Now QB Tyler Huntley, RB Zack Moss, DE Bradlee Anae, and others standouts (like in the secondary) have to be replaced. South Carolina transfer QB Jake Bentley could take control. But coach Kyle Whittingham has won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons.
23. Iowa State (7-6)
The Cyclones got crushed by Notre Dame in the bowl game, but they were also close to picking up wins against teams like Oklahoma (failed 2-point conversion) and Baylor (lost on a field goal on the final play of the game). QB Brock Purdy is back, as are a bunch of other returning starters.
24. Iowa (10-3)
Three-year starter Nate Stanley has to be replaced, but the Hawkeyes should again field another typically strong offensive line for its group of leading returning rushers (Tyler Goodson first with 638 yards) and will again be stout defensively, no matter the departures. But Iowa does have road games against Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State. Losing star DE A.J. Epenesa to the NFL stings, as expected as it might have been.
RECORDS: College football's 9 winningest teams
25. Arizona State (8-5)
The Sun Devils have gone 7-6 and 8-5 in Herm Edwards' first two seasons. But Arizona State won their final three teams of the season, which included beating eventual Rose Bowl champion Oregon. QB Jayden Daniels could be one of the most exciting players in the country after his 2,943 passing yards (17 touchdowns with only two interceptions) and 355 rushing yards last season as a freshman.
Wayne Staats is a senior interactive producer for NCAA.com. His work has also appeared in the Augusta Chronicle, augusta.com and Land of 10. He is a graduate of Penn State University.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/...ootball-rankings-preseason-top-25-2020-season
15. Michigan (9-4)
The Wolverines are still way behind rival Ohio State. If 2019 wasn't the year, when can Jim Harbaugh and Michigan do it? The quarterback battle is something to watch (Dylan McCaffrey or Joe Milton). LB Cameron McGrone should be a leader on defense. There are also road games against Washington, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State.
16. Wisconsin (10-4)
The Badgers and Paul Chryst get the benefit of the doubt here, as RB Jonathan Taylor is going to the NFL and LBs Chris Orr and Zack Baun have finished their college careers. However, save for a rare off year in 2018, Wisconsin has proven to be the Big Ten West's best. QB Jack Coan (should he hold his job over Graham Mertz) might be asked to do more. The schedule won't be easy, either. The Badgers play Appalachian State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Minnesota in four consecutive weeks.
CHAMP: Complete national championship history for the FBS
17. North Carolina (7-6)
Why not have some fun? Sure, UNC went only 7-6, but the losses were by a combined 26 points. The biggest reason for optimism is obvious: QB Sam Howell. The highly regarded freshman was better than any fair expectation by passing for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions this past season. He has a bunch of talent around him, too, including RBs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams (totaling almost 2,000 combined yards) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome.
18. Minnesota (11-2)
It's difficult to climb into the top-10 and become a championship contender. It's perhaps harder to stay there consistently. That's the task ahead for P.J. Fleck, who led the Gophers to an 11-2 season and another statement win against Auburn in the Outback Bowl. Minnesota loses a ton on defense (All-America pick Antoine Winfield Jr.) and top running backs Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks and WR Tyler Johnson — and OC Ciarrocca is now at Penn State. But QB Tanner Morgan (3,253 passing yards, 30 TDs) will still get to throw to Rashod Bateman (1,219 yards, 11 TDs).
19. Southern California (8-5)
The potential is there. QB Kedon Slovis finished with 3,502 passing yards and brings back a bunch of skill players led by WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The defense could also be better once the new coordinator is hired. But the truth remains the Trojans have gone 5-7 and 8-5 the past two seasons.
20. UCF (10-3)
After going 25-1 in 2017 and 2018, it was inevitable the Knights "fell" to 10-3 (6-2 AAC) in 2019. QB Dillon Gabriel had a good freshman season with his 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns — and UCF also has Darriel Mack Jr. and the possible return of McKenzie Milton after his serious knee injury. The Knights open the season at home against North Carolina and also play at Georgia Tech later in September.
21. Cincinnati (11-3)
Coach Luke Fickell has lead the Bearcats to 11-win seasons in each of the last two years and were close defeats to Memphis away from playing in a New Year's Six game. QB Desmond Ridder will lead the offense, while the defense should again be the AAC's best. RB Michael Warren II will be missed, however.
22. Utah (11-3)
The Utes could have made the College Football Playoff. But a blowout loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game and then another blowout loss to Texas in the Alamo Bowl added a sour taste to the 2019 season. Now QB Tyler Huntley, RB Zack Moss, DE Bradlee Anae, and others standouts (like in the secondary) have to be replaced. South Carolina transfer QB Jake Bentley could take control. But coach Kyle Whittingham has won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons.
23. Iowa State (7-6)
The Cyclones got crushed by Notre Dame in the bowl game, but they were also close to picking up wins against teams like Oklahoma (failed 2-point conversion) and Baylor (lost on a field goal on the final play of the game). QB Brock Purdy is back, as are a bunch of other returning starters.
24. Iowa (10-3)
Three-year starter Nate Stanley has to be replaced, but the Hawkeyes should again field another typically strong offensive line for its group of leading returning rushers (Tyler Goodson first with 638 yards) and will again be stout defensively, no matter the departures. But Iowa does have road games against Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State. Losing star DE A.J. Epenesa to the NFL stings, as expected as it might have been.
RECORDS: College football's 9 winningest teams
25. Arizona State (8-5)
The Sun Devils have gone 7-6 and 8-5 in Herm Edwards' first two seasons. But Arizona State won their final three teams of the season, which included beating eventual Rose Bowl champion Oregon. QB Jayden Daniels could be one of the most exciting players in the country after his 2,943 passing yards (17 touchdowns with only two interceptions) and 355 rushing yards last season as a freshman.
Wayne Staats is a senior interactive producer for NCAA.com. His work has also appeared in the Augusta Chronicle, augusta.com and Land of 10. He is a graduate of Penn State University.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/...ootball-rankings-preseason-top-25-2020-season
