| Rk. |
School |
Comment |
| 26 |
East Carolina
|
Pirates head for another bowl game with veteran talent.
|
| 27
|
Oklahoma |
QB Josh Heupel looks to continue record-setting ways.
|
| 28
|
BYU |
Solid defense and nice supporting cast for a new quarterback. |
| 29 |
UCLA |
Superior recruiting classes start to pay dividends again. |
| 30 |
Michigan State |
Tough schedule interrupts Bobby Williams' honeymoon. |
| 31 |
Marshall |
Herd carries 17-game winning streak, but will drop off a bit. |
| 32 |
Oregon |
Quality QBs, overall balance, keep Ducks near Pac-10 lead. |
| 33 |
Virginia |
Cavs need to find offense following Thomas Jones era. |
| 34 |
Syracuse |
First, sort out QB race; second, rebound from disappointing '99. |
| 35 |
LSU |
Nick Saban hopes to bring first-year magic to talented team. |
| 36 |
Notre Dame |
Brutal early schedule not exactly what Bob Davie needs right now. |
| 37 |
Arizona |
Cats love being underdogs; have solid lines on each side. |
| 38 |
Mississippi State |
Great defense lost 8 quality starters, still has CB Fred Smoot. |
| 39 |
Auburn |
Underrated QB Ben Leard will help Tigers contend for a bowl bid. |
| 40 |
Minnesota |
Still good, but Gophers will struggle to duplicate '99 success. |
| 41 |
Arizona State |
With Ryan Kealy in trouble, ASU is short on QB experience. |
| 42 |
Georgia Tech |
Must find a way to overcome new QB and old defense. |
| 43 |
Stanford |
No repeat Rose Bowl trip, but Cardinal will still be tough to beat. |
| 44 |
Louisville |
Chris Redman is gone, but plenty of offensive weapons return. |
| 45 |
Arkansas |
Sophomore running back Cedric Cobbs ready for a breakout year. |
| 46 |
Maryland |
Is this the year the Terps finally learn how to win? |
| 47 |
Colorado State |
Should be right back in the thick of a crowded Mountain West race. |
| 48 |
North Carolina |
QB Ronald Curry says he's ready to go after '99 Achilles' injury. |
| 49 |
Indiana |
Hoosiers looking for help for QB Antwaan Randle El. |
| 50 |
Kentucky |
For all the controversy, new QB Jared Lorenzen better be good. |
| 51 |
Pittsburgh |
WRs Latef Grim and Antonio Bryant could be nation's finest duo. |
| 52 |
Fresno State |
Fine group of linebackers lead a run to consecutive bowl appearances. |
| 53 |
UAB |
Coach Watson Brown has Blazers rising quickly in Conference USA. |
| 54 |
Vanderbilt |
Dores have chance to break on through to the other side (a bowl). |
| 55 |
Boston College |
Defensive front gets overhaul while Eagles offense looks to soar. |
| 56 |
Texas Tech |
Pass-happy new coach Mike Leach ensures loads of fun at Tech. |
| 57 |
Oregon State |
Pushovers no more; secondary and running backs are special. |
| 58 |
N.C. State |
New coach Chuck Amato brings high-flying passing attack. |
| 59 |
Cincinnati |
Too young last year, Bearcats ready to grow up in 2000. |
| 60 |
SMU |
Ponies should run with the WAC pack with new one-back set. |
| 61 |
UNLV |
New QB Jason Thomas takes Rebels from last to first division. |
| 62 |
Hawaii |
Defense, not June Jones' touted offense, is team's strength. |
| 63 |
Kansas |
With 17 returning starters, Jayhawks could emerge as a surprise. |
| 64 |
Memphis |
Tigers need offensive playmakers, but defense is tough. |
| 65 |
Air Force |
Falcons always most dangerous in rebuilding years, like this one. |
| 66 |
West Virginia |
Team motto after disappointing 4-7 season: "Shock the nation." |
| 67 |
Oklahoma State |
Bowls a distant memory; pressure building on coach Bob Simmons. |
| 68 |
Boise State |
Two guys you should know: QB Bart Hendricks, CB Dempsey Dees. |
| 69 |
Toledo |
Gary Pinkel's team is the most serious threat to Marshall's MAC reign. |
| 70 |
Iowa State |
Cyclones need to build momentum with soft September schedule. |
| 71 |
Central Florida |
Vic Penn is a fine quarterback, but needs help. |
| 72 |
Houston |
Passing game will be dangerous under new coach Dana Dimel. |
| 73 |
Wyoming |
New coach Vic Koenning counted on to bring continuity. |
| 74 |
Iowa |
Hawkeyes will be better, but Big Ten makes rebuilding tough. |
| 75 |
Missouri |
Anemic offense, porous defense doesn't get better overnight. |
| 76 |
San Diego State |
Too many questions, schedule too tough to get a winning season. |
| 77 |
Wake Forest |
The C.J. Leak era begins with only six starters back from bowl team. |
| 78 |
Washington State |
Cougs rely on young skill like QB Jason Gesser to hasten rebuilding. |
| 79 |
Idaho |
Vandals tune in to new (Tom) Cable system. |
| 80 |
Akron |
Zips talking conference title after breakthrough 7-4 season. |
| 81 |
Louisiana Tech |
Brian Stallworth is solid post-Tim Rattay quarterback. |
| 82 |
California |
Strong defense takes step back; offense not yet ready to step up. |
| 83 |
Rice |
Defense will have to carry offense, new quarterback, through Sept. |
| 84 |
Tulane |
What happened to program that went 12-0 two seasons ago? |
| 85 |
South Carolina |
Lou Holtz turns to spread offense to end 21-game losing streak. |
| 86 |
Western Michigan |
Without Tim Lester, will be hard-pressed to approach success of '99. |
| 87 |
Temple |
More-reasonable schedule could mean four victories. |
| 88 |
Navy |
Loss of QB Brian Madden (torn ACL in spring) hurts a lot. |
| 89 |
San Jose State |
Spartans can score, but must improve No. 113-ranked defense. |
| 90 |
Army |
Army decree: Call them the Black Knights first, Cadets second.
|
| 91 |
Northwestern |
Randy Walker will win in Evanston ... but not this year. |
| 92 |
New Mexico |
So, exactly how many guys does it take to replace Brian Urlacher? |
| 93 |
Baylor |
Take a knee, Coach, and then we'll talk. |
| 94 |
Ohio |
Dontrell Jackson was one of better freshman QBs last season. |
| 95 |
Miami (Ohio) |
Who'll score the touchdowns without Travis Prentice around? |
| 96 |
Duke |
Blue Devils made a run last year, but brace for tough 2000. |
| 97 |
UTEP |
Too-young defense is bad timing for new coach Gary Nord. |
| 98 |
New Mexico State |
In last year of Big West, Aggies could contend for first title ever. |
| 99 |
Rutgers |
If Terry Shea doesn't have a winning season, he's gone. |
| 100 |
Nevada |
Wolf Pack will need a year to adjust to step up to WAC. |
| 101 |
Northern Illinois |
Nineteen starters return from encouraging 5-6 team. |
| 102 |
Arkansas State |
Quarterback Cleo Lemon needs sweet senior season. |
| 103 |
Utah State |
Mick Dennehy takes over after four very good years at Montana. |
| 104 |
Kent |
Another losing season would bring the heat on Dean Pees. |
| 105 |
Louisiana-Monroe |
After 5-6 in Bobby Keasler's first season, Indians look for more. |
| 106 |
Central Michigan |
Former Michigan assistant Mike Debord starts from scratch. |
| 107 |
Bowling Green |
Gary Blackney made big staff changes after another losing season. |
| 108 |
Eastern Michigan |
New coach Jeff Woodruff has a good one in QB Walt Church. |
| 109 |
North Texas |
Mean Green's offensive attack isn't mean or offensive. |
| 110 |
Tulsa |
Golden Hurricane hasn't won more than four games since 1991. |
| 111 |
Middle Tenn. St. |
Year 2 in Division I-A will be as tough as the first. |
| 112 |
La.-Lafayette |
Ten starters back from offense that was shut out three times in '99. |
| 113 |
Ball State |
Cardinals are 1-21 over the past two seasons. |
| 114 |
Connecticut |
New Division I-A program did beat Buffalo last season. |
| 115 |
Buffalo |
Sorry, Bulls, but you'll have to prove it before you're elevated. |