Previous Rankings: 130-121 120-111
110.)
Charlotte2018 Finish: 98 (5-7, 108.4 WP, 74.6 LP)
Head Coach: Will Healy (1st Season)
Last Bowl: None
Breakdown: The 49ers elected to make a coaching change last year after they lost four of their last six to just miss their first bowl appearance. Taking over is former FCS Coach of the Year Will Healy, who lead Austin Peay to their best season in 2017.
The offense was nothing to write home about as Charlotte ranked 115th in total offense. The defense however, was one of the stingiest against the run, allowing just 105 yards per contest (9th). As a unit, they were ranked 22nd in the country in total defense and return eight starters from that squad. They even held Tennessee to just 14 points.
Benny Lemay had a career year last season as he ran for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. He'll have the pleasure once again of running behind All-Conference left tackle, Cameron Clark.
Prediction: 6-6
109.)
2018 Finish: 127 (1-11, 127 WP, 45.7 LP)
Head Coach: Chris Ash (7-29 overall, 4th Season)
Last Bowl: 2014 Quick Lane Bowl
Breakdown: Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten things have not gone swimmingly, but that doesn't mean they've just rolled over and died. Despite losing to a MAC school in two straight seasons, and giving Kansas their first win over a Power 5 school in two years, they still showed fight. Ending the season on an 11-game skid, the Scarlet Knights still put scares into Northwestern, Indiana, Penn State, and Michigan State.The pass defense ranked in the top 20, but that's because teams ran all over them.
Leading rusher and receiver, Rahseem Blackshear is back and so is quarterback Art Sitkowski. Sitkowski had the dubious honor of throwing as many interceptions against Maryland (4) as he did touchdowns in the entire season. In fact there were only three games where he did not throw a pick, so hopefully experience sets in and he can help fix the 13.5 points per game (129th) Rutgers averaged last season.
Prediction: 2-10
108.)
Colorado State2018 Finish: 107 (3-9, 88.7 WP, 84.2 LP)
Head Coach: Mike Bobo (24-27 overall, 5th Season)
Last Bowl: 2017 New Mexico Bowl
Breakdown: Last year was a rough one both personally and professionally for head coach Mike Bobo. The offense got off to a fast start as K.J. Carta-Samuels set a school record with 537 yards passing, but as was often the case, the defense allowed too many points (37 per game) and the Rams came up short. They did achieve a win over a Power 5 school as they took advantage of a horrendous Arkansas team.
A good chunk from both the defense and offense will be missing and the offense will have to run through quarterback Collin Hill, who missed all of last year and half of 2017 with an ACL injury. CSU will also be without their leading rusher and two top receivers who all graduated.
Prediction: 4-8
107.)
Tulsa2018 Finish: 113 (3-9, 113 WP, 84.6 LP)
Head Coach: Philip Montgomery (21-29 overall, 5th Season)
Last Bowl: 2016 Miami Beach Bowl
Breakdown: After two successful campaigns under Montgomery, the Golden Hurricane has amassed just five wins in the last two seasons, mostly to a horrendous rushing defense (233 yards per game, 118th) and passing attack (177 YPG, 109th). Hopefully help has arrived in former Baylor starter Zach Smith who sat out last season because of transfer rules.
Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II also return to help anchor one of the better rushing attacks in college football (35th). The defense returns seven starters and hope they can at least duplicate their top ten rush defense and not have the reason be spacious areas for receivers to roam where they please.
Prediction: 3-9
106.)
Liberty2018 Finish: 78 (6-6, 94.8 WP, 70.8 LP)
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze (1st Year)
Last Bowl: None
Breakdown: The first season in the FBS was a moderate success for the Flames. They finished with a .500 record, but two wins came against FCS foes and they split their home-and-home with New Mexico State. Turner Gill stepped down in order to spend more time wife his wife, who has had health concerns in the past few years.
Gill is replaced by Hugh Freeze, who is fresh off his suspension by the NCAA for activities related to inappropriate behavior while serving as the head coach for Ole Miss. Freeze insists his transgressions are in the past, although the folks in Oxford certainly haven't forgiven him, as they are now finally bowl eligible after a two year ban.
Liberty had no issues scoring at 33 points per contest, but the defense allowed 36. Half of the offense and defense return for a solid core, but the Flames will have to win seven games to ensure a shot at a bowl with their less than stellar strength of schedule.
Prediction: 5-7
105.)
Navy2018 Finish: 118 (3-10, 100 WP, 57.3 LP)
Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (87-58 overall, 12th Season)
Last Bowl: 2017 Military Bowl
Breakdown: It was unfamiliar territory in Annapolis, as the Midshipmen finished with a losing record for the first time since 2011 and only the third since 2002 when Paul Johnson initially took the reins before turning the program around. The option did it's job as far as gaining yards, but points where not found quite as often (25 per game, 95th). The defense also made things hard by allowing opponents to get ahead quickly and neutralize the option as they had six game where they gave up at least 35 points.
To make matters worse, they lost to both Air Force and Army, with the Black Knights having turned the tides in the rivalry with three straight victories over Navy.
Overall just five starters return on both sides of the ball. Malcolm Perry returns for one final season under center with just one mission this year, Beat Army.
Prediction: 7-5
104.)
Air Force2018 Finish: 97 (5-7, 105.4 WP, 60.4 LP)
Head Coach:Troy Calhoun (87-67 overall, 13th Season)
Last Bowl: 2016 Arizona Bowl
Breakdown: Things could have gone much differently for the Falcons in 2018 as they suffered five losses by eight points or fewer. Seven starters on each side return, including the thunder and lightning duo of Kade Remsberg and Cole Fagan, who combined to rush for nearly 1,600 yards.
It will be up to Donald Hammond III to conduct the offense and hopefully maintain their spot as one of the top three rushing teams in the country. The defense hopes to be equally stingy against the run as they ranked 15th in the nation.
Prediction: 5-7
103.)
Louisiana Monroe2018 Finish: 77 (6-6, 84.7 WP, 79.5 LP)
Head Coach: Matt Viator (14-22 overall, 4th Season)
Last Bowl: 2012 Independence Bowl
Breakdown: The Warhawks return an important piece in dual-threat quarterback Caleb Evans, who hopes he can get that one win ULM needed in 2018. There were a couple of close calls, but none worse than the three point loss to Louisiana in the final game of the year to end their season.
Six players return on both sides of the ball to bring back some stability, but they'll certainly be focusing on not turning the ball over. For as good as Evans was, he threw 12 interceptions that proved to be the difference in the -12 turnover margin that ranked tied for sixth worst.
Prediction: 5-7
102.)
Kansas2018 Finish: 108 (3-9, 89.7 WP, 53.3 LP)
Head Coach: Les Miles (1st Season)
Last Bowl: 2008 Insight Bowl
Breakdown: The Jayhawks actually made a big stride last year as they won as many games as they had in the previous three combined. All three wins came against FBS schools for once and they could've had more if they hadn't choked away games against FCS Nicholls State, rival Kansas State, and nearly knocked off Texas.
Using this big step, the administration made a huge splash and hired the "Mad Hatter", Les Miles, who won a National Title with LSU in 2007. Miles has his work cut out as only six total starters on both sides of the football returns including running back Pooka Williams Jr.
Williams won the Big 12 Freshman Player of the Year, but shortly after was arrested and charged with domestic battery. He was granted diversion and the charge will be kept off his permanent record, but Miles has yet to allow Williams back onto the team at this point and time.
Prediction: 3-9
101.)
Florida Atlantic2018 Finish: 93 (5-7, 94.2 WP, 53.7 LP)
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (16-10 overall, 3rd Season)
Last Bowl:2017 Boca Raton Bowl
Breakdown: Lane Kiffin wasn't feeling himself as much in 2018 after a breakout debut in Boca Raton in 2017. His biggest issue in 2019 will be who's going to carry the rock for the Owls? FAU ranked 13th in rushing and 14th in total offense, but have no one with much experience returning. B.J. Emmons transferred from a full backfield in Alabama to join the one-time Crimson Tide offensive coordinator.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Robison would've likely had to shoulder some more burden in the offense this season, but was accused of sexual battery and suspended indefinitely. This follows an already building record as he was kicked out of Oklahoma after being arrested for public intoxication.
Indiana transfer Nick Tronti will likely take the reins, although Justin Agner has seen some time throughout the spring.
Prediction: 4-8
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