College Football is just one month away, so what better time to look ahead at the first full college football season for most teams in 2 years than right now.
UConn and Old Dominion sat out last season, which is why they earned the bottom two spots in this poll. New Mexico State played two games of spring football against FCS level talent, but in this poll, a wins a win, and that's how they ended up so high on this list. For the preseason I take my end-of-year rankings from the previous year, which are a little wonky with some teams playing up to 13 and others 4. As always though, winning percentage is used to help decide where teams are ranked and then their strength of win.
With that being said, let's take a look at the bottom feeders of college football from last season and heading into the 2021 season.
130.) UConn Huskies
2020 Record: Did not Play
What's Going On: The Huskies are now independents after being the doormat of the American since 2013.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: Did not play
WGO: The first team to announce they were not playing last season, the Monarchs have yet to play a game under head coach Ricky Rahne who was set to take over last season.
Prediction: 2-10
2020: 0-10 (Final Rank: 126)
WGO: Matt Viator was fired after last season's debacle and Terry Bowden takes over, but 2021 doesn't look much better. LSU, Coastal Carolina, App State, Liberty, and in-state rivals, the Ragin' Cajuns, were all ranked last season at some point.
Prediction: 1-11
2020: 0-5 (125)
WGO: The Falcons failed to earn a win in the shortened season, but with South Alabama and Murray State (FCS) coming to Northwest Ohio, they could actually have a winning record after 3 weeks.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 0-4 (120)
WGO: The Minutemen scored 12 points in the four games they played, but two of those games came against Top 25 opponents. They've got two games against FCS opponents and also UConn on the schedule. They should also easily score more than 12 points.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 0-6 (124)
WGO: Thomas Hammock has just 5 wins in his first two seasons, but he'll have MSU transfer, Rocky Lombardi, under center this season.
Prediction: 4-8
124.) Florida International Panthers
2020: 0-5 (128)
WGO: The worst of those who played last season both in on the field and off the field performance. Butch Davis' club led the nation in cancelled games with 7 due to COVID related issues.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 1-5 (116)
WGO: Tom Arth finally got a win in season number two, bringing his record to 1-17 overall. It won't get better with a trip to Auburn to start the year.
Prediction: 2-10
2020: 0-6 (122)
WGO: Marcus Arroyo is looking for win number 1 in season 2, but it may not come in week one as FCS Eastern Washington can be a trap game for those unprepared.
Prediction: 2-10
2020: 2-10 (114)
WGO: For my money, the Bobcats were the most exciting 2 win team last season. I'm attempting to put that money to good use when they head to Ypsilanti this fall.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 1-8
WGO: The Jeff Scott era started with a win and then followed with 8 straight losses. It will probably be ten straight before they get that second win.
Prediction: 1-11
2020: 0-9
WGO: The Les Miles era finished at 3-18 and ended with a scandal that happened while he was at LSU. Lance Leipold comes over from Buffalo much like Turner Gil did a decade ago. The good news is that they won't have to play Texas and Oklahoma every year after 2024.
Prediction: 1-11
2020: 1-5 (115)
WGO: Blake Anderson comes over from Arkansas State to replace Gary Anderson (no relation). A more favorable schedule should help them exceed last season's win total.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 0-9 (127)
WGO: Aside from being a pioneer for women in Power 5 football, there wasn't much Derek Mason had going for him in his final season. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea takes over the program.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 2-5 (105)
WGO: The Lobos were a feel-good story when they snapped a 14-game skid with back-to-back wins to end the season.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 2-4 (94)
WGO: It was a disappointing follow-up to Charlotte's first bowl season, but Will Healy and company will look to make some noise in a wide-open Conference USA.
Prediction: 5-7
2020: 1-6
WGO: A tough American Conference will leave little room for error. They have to travel to Cincinnati but get Memphis and UCF at home.
Prediction: 5-7
2020: 4-7 (90)
WGO: Steve Campbell is out and Kane Wommack is in from Indiana where he was the DC. He brings in former Texas star Major Applewhite to call the offense and Utah and South Carolina transfer Jake Bentley will take over under center.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 3-5 (86)
WGO: UTEP had won just two games in the last three seasons combined, so a 3-5 campaign was pretty great for Dana Dimel in year three.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 1-10 (119)
WGO: Dino Babers seat is probably feeling pretty hot right now. There are a lot of returning starters coming back, but it might take some Carrier Dome magic against Clemson to save his job.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 2-4 (91)
WGO: The Eagles finished the year on a two-game win streak and as usual were around in every game. It'll be tough to keep the Big Ten victory streak going (currently at 3) with a trip to Madison.
Prediction: 5-7
2020: 0-5 (123)
WGO: The Wildcats turn to Jedd Fisch who has always been an assistant minus the two games he served as an interim coach at UCLA back in 2017. The road schedule is unkind with trips to Oregon and USC.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 1-3 (108)
WGO: The Rams had 4 games canceled last season, so it will interesting to see what Steve Addazio can do with a full season. Their non-conference schedule could go either way with a trap game against the Jack Rabbits (FCS), a trip to Toledo, and a visit from Vanderbilt.
Prediction: 3-9
2020: 3-7 (101)
WGO: Jay Hopson bounced after just one game into the 2020 season (he had a winning record in his first four seasons) leaving the Eagles a bit of a mess. Will Hall comes over from Tulane where he was the OC.
Prediction: 6-6
2020: 3-7 (102)
WGO: After an 11-win campaign in 2019, the Midshipmen sunk to a three-win season, but could have had 4 if their game against USF hadn't been canceled. It's a tough stretch in 2021 with 8 teams on the schedule that were bowl-bound in 2020.
Prediction: 2-10
2020: 3-6 (99)
WGO: There's a chance that Rick Stockstill's record after 16 seasons dips below .500 as he currently sits at 94-92. CUSA is weak as mentioned, so there's a chance they can find some room to at least make a bowl.
Prediction: 6-6
2020: 4-6 (81)
WGO: The Mean Green made it to a bowl despite going 4-5 in the regular season thanks to teams opting out. They'll have trouble building off that moment thanks to a lack of returning skill players on the offensive side of the ball.
Prediction: 3-9
2021 Spring: 1-1 (69)
WGO: They should revel at a ranking this high because it's probably the highest it will be all season. The two spring games didn't exactly instill confidence.
Prediction: 2-10
2020: 3-6 (97)
WGO: Holton Ahlers brings some experience under center, but they start in Charlotte against Appalachian State and end at home against Cincinnati. Hopefully, they can find some wins in between.
Prediction: 4-8
2020: 2-3 (79)
WGO: Like FIU, Rice had 7 games canceled, but that didn't stop them from shutting down a high-powered Marshall offense. 9 of their games will take place in the state of Texas.
Prediction: 3-9
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