Final Rankings 110-101: Big Name First Year Coaches Unite

The teams get slightly better, but that doesn't mean they had a season to remember. 13 teams this year had only three wins while seven went the extra mile to get four, including one in the final week. This is certainly not where Scott Frost imagined his first year at Nebraska to end up, or Chip Kelly at UCLA. So here's a look at all the teams that nearly escaped the dreaded bottom tier (teams ranked 100-130).
Earlier Rankings:130-121 120-111

110.)South Alabama (3-9, 107.3 WP, 62 LP)
The Jaguars were looking a 2-10 season in the face with the prospects of losing five straight and eight of their final nine. However, they took advantage of a generous Coastal Carolina team to end the year at 3-9. South Alabama was poised to return to a bowl after missing out in 2017, but it was more the same. Eight of their nine losses were by ten or more points.
Best Win: Coastal Carolina
Worst Loss: Louisiana Monroe
2017 Finish: 98

109.)Western Kentucky(3-9, 93.3 WP, 75.8 LP)
The Hilltoppers were involved in two of the more bizarre losses this season. After building a 21-0 lead, they were outscored 31-7 by Maine (FCS), although in WKU's defense, the Blackbears are currently in the FCS semi-final. Then they lost a game to Old Dominion in which the Hilltoppers and Monarchs combined to have three untimed field goals because of penalties.
ODU almost returned the second attempt by WKU for a touchdown, but fell short. However, a personal foul allowed a game winning field goal for the Monarchs. On a positive, WKU won their final two games, including a surprising win over Louisiana Tech.
Western fired Mike Sanford and lured Tennessee offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton, to lead the team in 2019.
Best Win: La Tech
Worst Loss: Maine (FCS)
2017 Finish: 81

108.)Kansas (3-9, 89.7 WP, 53.3 LP)
This is actually a great improvement for Kansas football. The Jayhawks snapped a 46-game road losing streak by winning at Central Michigan and then followed that up with a win over a Power 5 school (Rutgers) for the first time since 2016. That win also meant back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011 and a win over TCU in Octorber was their first win in that month since 2009.
But, they also lost to Nicholls (FCS) and blew a lead to rival Kansas State. That loss to the Wildcats meant the end for David Beatty, who was told that he would not be back in 2019. Instead, it's the Mad Hatter himself, Les Miles, who will lead the charge in Lawrence.
Best Win: TCU
Worst Loss: Nicholls (FCS)
2017 Finish: 129

107.)Colorado State (3-9, 88.7 WP, 84.2 LP)
Urban Meyer wasn't the only coach writhing in pain on the sideline. Mike Bobo was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, which caused numbness in his feet. He also had knee replacement surgery in the spring. The Rams struggled out the gates, but got a big win over Arkansas before being crushed in the Jim McElwain Bowl against Florida. In that game, CSU was paid $2 million as part of McElwain leaving the Rams to coach the Gators, which he is no longer doing.
After a terrible loss to Illinois State (FCS), they won back-to-back wins gave them a shot at a bowl. Five straight losses sunk their chances of returning to a postseason game.
Best Win: Arkansas
Worst Loss: Illinois State (FCS)
2017 Finish: 70

106.)UCLA (3-9, 72.3 WP, 48 LP)
The Chip Kelly era did not get off to a fast start. The Bruins dropped their first five, including two to top tier Group of 5 teams Cincinnati and Fresno State. Back-to-back wins had some thinking they could turn things around in PAC-12 play, but they would win only once more, although a major win against rival USC.
Best Win: Cal
Worst Loss: Colorado
2017 Finish: 78

105.)Illinois (4-8, 111.5 WP, 54.4 LP)
A near loss to Kent State in the opener should have been an indication for how this season was going to go. The Fighting Illini allowed 46 points or more in five Big Ten contests this year which made their 55-31 bludgeoning of Minnesota all the more strange. 201i9 may not look like it has a daunting non-conference schedule, but Akron and Eastern Michigan both feasted on Big Ten schools this season with the Eagles looking for their third straight win over a Big Ten foe. Somehow Lovie Smith will be around to coach these games.
Best Win: Minnesota
Worst Loss: Nebraska
2017 Finish: 118

104.)Akron (4-8, 110 WP, 79.5 LP)
The Zips had their opener canceled against Nebraska, but still found a way to stun a Big Ten team with a win over Northwestern. They followed that win another win and tested Iowa State, but things fell apart shortly after. Akron got a gift win against rival Kent State when they missed their extra point in overtime and feasted on lowly Central Michigan, but went 2-8 down the stretch.
After a disappointing finish the Zips fired Terry Bowden and have yet to name a replacement as of this moment.
Best Win: Northwestern
Worst Loss: Bowling Green
2017 Finish: 75

103.)Ball State (4-8, 109.5 WP, 60 LP)
The Cardinals were hard to figure out. On one hand they challenged Notre Dame, but then got beat by Western Kentucky. They went 3-5 in MAC play, but allowed 41 points or more in their final five conference games. The good news is that there weren't a lot of seniors in key positions so the Cardinals might be a tougher task in 2019.
Best Win: Western Michigan
Worst Loss: Western Kentucky
2017 Finish: 123

102.)UMass (4-8, 99.8 WP, 59.5 LP)
As a former, albeit brief, resident of the great state of Massachusetts, it hurts to see the Minutemen failing to make the transition to the FBS level. They are still without a bowl appearance after getting to 4-6 and losing their final two games by a combined 48 points. Mark Whipple got fired after the season and not for his insensitive postgame comments, but because of the ineptitude that is UMass football. On the bright side, only one loss was to a team that didn't make a bowl game.
Walt Bell leaves his brief stint as the Florida State offensive coordinator to become the new leader in Amherst. Bell of course helped lead an offense that will be remembered as the first Seminoles team to not make a bowl since 1981, so he's got that going for him, which is nice.
Best Win: Liberty
Worst Loss: Coastal Carolina
2017 Finish: 107

101.)Nebraska (4-8, 85.5 WP, 55.1 LP)
Scott Frost was supposed to be the savior in Lincoln, and while he still may be, his start was not so great. In fact it was historically bad for the Cornhuskers as they lost their first six games including one to Troy and a 46 point loss to Michigan at the Big House. Then things began to click as the Cornhuskers went 4-2 down the stretch and their final three losses were by less than five points each. Don't expect Nebraska to be a doormat in the Big Ten next season.
Best Win: Michigan State
Worst Loss: Troy
2017 Finish: 101