Ohio’s defense held teams to 25.8 points a contest in MAC play, and there’s a strong foundation with nine returning starters. The path to bowl eligibility is aided by a crossover schedule that misses the projected top three teams – UAB, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech – from the West Division. A schedule featuring road trips to Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois won’t provide much room for error to get to a bowl. As usual in Lubbock, Texas Tech isn't hurting for skill players, as running back SaRodorick Thompson and receivers T.J. Vasher and Erik Ezukanma are poised to challenge for All-Big 12 honors. After a 2-10 record in 2018, Louisville went 8-5 and finished second in the Atlantic Division last fall. Helton’s background on offense suggests this unit should take a step forward after averaging only 25.4 points a game last fall. Sophomore Brennan Armstrong and Mississippi State transfer Keytaon Thompson are set to battle to replace Perkins, who accounted for 33 overall scores and over 4,000 yards of total offense in 2019. There’s no clear front-runner in the East for 2020, but Athlon gives a slight edge to WKU. The Blazers have room to improve on offense after managing only 23.1 points a game last year. The return of safety Ben DeLuca from a season-ending injury boosts the secondary and six other starters are back for 2020. New coach Ryan Silverfield inherits a team that went 12-2 and made an appearance in the Cotton Bowl after finishing 2019 ranked as the top Group of 5 team. Related: Big Ten Football Predictions for 2020. New defensive coordinator Nate Woody has seven returning starters to deploy in 2020. Dana Dimel has won just two games in two years at UTEP, and with only seven starters back, 2020 appears to be another rebuilding season in El Paso. If Chase Garbers can stay healthy, the junior has potential to rank among the league's top quarterbacks. Despite the question marks, a favorable schedule gives Drinkwitz a chance to guide the Tigers to a bowl in 2020. The offensive line should rank among the best in the ACC. The new staff has some intriguing options at quarterback, starting with New Mexico State transfer Josh Adkins, former LSU signal-caller Lowell Narcisse, and junior Frank Harris. Replacing quarterback Justin McMillan tops the list of offseason priorities for coordinator Will Hall. With an inexperienced quarterback taking over, the offense will have to lean even more on four starters back along the offensive line, and reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Brenden Knox (1,387 rushing yards) leading the way on the ground. All five starters are back along the offensive line, but question marks remain at running back and receiver Terrell Jana moves into the go-to role with Joe Reed and Hasise Dubois out of eligibility. Four starters are back to provide a good foundation up front, and senior quarterback Kenny Pickett returns after throwing for 3,098 yards last season. George Holani and Robert Mahone anchor a deep backfield, but big question marks remain up front with just one returning lineman. With four starters back up front, along with running backs Kevin Perkins (547 yards), Trivenskey Mosley (back from injury), and freshman Frank Gore Jr., there’s optimism for improvement. Second-year coach Tom Arth looks like the right choice to get this program on track, but it will take a couple of seasons to rebuild the roster. After a terrific freshman season, the Sun Devils will place their hopes of winning the Pac-12 South on the right arm of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Karl Dorrell previously worked at Colorado as an assistant and went 35-27 as UCLA's head coach from 2003-07. The Rams ranked third in the Mountain West in yards per play (6.24) last fall, so the potential for an explosive offense is in place. The receiving corps is thin on proven options, but the strength of the offense rests with running back Xazavian Valladay and a line that brings back four starters. Mike Neu delivered the best year of his four-season stint at his alma mater in 2019. Temple’s conference schedule features matchups against the projected top four – Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis and SMU – and road games at Tulane and Navy. WKU has the top-rated offensive line in the conference by Athlon Sports, with 1,000-yard rusher Gaej Walker back at running back and Jahcour Pearson, Jacquez Sloan and tight end Joshua Simon rounding out a key group of weapons in the passing game. The Tigers have won five consecutive ACC championships, so it's no surprise coach Dabo Swinney's team is a heavy favorite to claim No. Ole Miss has to play Florida in crossover play but catches rival Mississippi State in Oxford. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier is a rising star, and there’s no shortage of targets at receiver to utilize, including Khalil Shakir (63 catches), CT Thomas and Octavius Evans. Four starters are back up front, but there’s a significant vacancy at running back with Tra Minter out of eligibility. Oklahoma transfer Mykel Jones and tight end Tyrick James top the list of weapons for the new quarterback on the outside, while three starters form a strong foundation up front. After winning just one contest in 2019, Central Michigan improved its win total by seven games to finish 8-6 overall. Question marks remain in the secondary with four new starters for 2020. Mason's team is filled with question marks — not an ideal scenario for a program coming off a 3-9 mark in 2019. Replacing first-round pick Jordan Love tops the list of fall priorities for coach Gary Andersen and new play-caller Bodie Reeder. The line lost three key contributors, along with edge rusher Curtis Weaver. Accessed 14 Mar. The situation is better at linebacker and in the secondary. If Trotter picks up where he left off at the end of 2019, Campbell’s team should show improvement in the win column. A road trip to Marshall won't be easy, but the Owls host both WKU and Charlotte. Charlotte’s defense finished 11th in Conference USA last fall, surrendering 32.4 points a contest. The secondary also has to identify two new starters at cornerback. With NC State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Florida State visiting Syracuse, Babers' team has a favorable home slate to find a way to get to six victories. Redshirt freshman Hayden Wolff would appear to have the inside track on the starting quarterback spot, but Stone Smartt, Steven Williams, and Messiah deWeaver will push for snaps. Indiana transfer Coy Cronk adds to a solid offensive line already set to feature two likely All-Americans in Alaric Jackson and center Tyler Linderbaum. The winner of the quarterback competition inherits an offense that averaged 34.3 points a game and brings back three starters along the line, leading rusher O’Shaan Allison (869 yards), and the top six statistical receiving options from 2019. However, the lack of offseason practice for a team returning just nine starters under a new staff creates some obstacles. An offense that averaged 40.4 points a game in 2019 is in good hands with quarterback Brady White, running back Kenneth Gainwell and receiver Damonte Coxie in place. Additionally, Howell has help from 1,000-yard rusher Michael Carter, and four starters are back on an offensive line that needs to get better in 2020. The month of November will be crucial for Leipold’s team. Building off that improvement hinges on restocking the trenches and adapting to a new play-caller. Oklahoma State’s opener against Tulsa was moved back a week to Sept. 19. The Mountaineers open up with an in-state showdown against Charlotte on Saturday. A run to six wins in 2020 isn’t out of the question, but Brennan has to replace quarterback Josh Love (3,923 yards and 22 TDs) and continue to improve a defense that allowed 31.9 points a game in 2019. A favorable home schedule – Memphis, Navy, Houston, and Cincinnati all visit Dallas – and the return of Buechele gives Dykes’ team a chance to compete for a spot in the AAC title game. Additionally, there's a new play-caller in Kerry Coombs. Get an overview of major world indexes, current values and stock market data. The Dave Aranda era in Waco starts this Saturday against Louisiana Tech. Brice is surrounded by a solid supporting cast, including running back Deon Jackson (641 yards), tight end Noah Gray and four starters return along the offensive line. Davis’ group has all-conference picks at each level, while recent transfers in linebacker Tyson Maeva (Boise State), cornerback Josh Turner (Iowa), and end Alexy Jean-Baptiste (Arkansas) should play a bigger role in 2020. The 2020 season could be a make-or-break year for Kevin Sumlin. Three starters off a line that surrendered 34 sacks must be replaced. Improvement on that side of the ball starts with better play up front after surrendering 50 sacks, and quarterback Tommy DeVito must take a step forward in his second season as the starter. Bohl has two capable quarterbacks in Sean Chambers and Levi Williams, with Chambers likely holding an edge to start in 2020. The team’s top two running backs – Xavier Jones and Ke’Mon Freeman are gone – but four starters provide a strong foundation up front. Regardless of which quarterback starts, the offense will lean on one of the ACC's top offensive lines, along with breakout candidate David Bailey at running back. Quarterback Mac Jones played well in relief of Tua Tagovailoa last year and will compete with five-star freshman Bryce Young to start in the fall. The Ducks are Athlon's pick to win the Pac-12, as coach Mario Cristobal's team can lean on a standout defense, left tackle Penei Sewell and a strong set of running backs until Tyler Shough or Anthony Brown settles in at quarterback. The defense showed marked improvement last fall, holding teams to just 19.7 points a contest after allowing 34.2 a game in ’18. Sails and linebacker Dwayne Boyles. D’Eriq King was solid in his debut for the ‘Canes, while the running game (337 yards) led the way in a 31-14 win over UAB. Until the quarterback situation stabilizes, Holtz can lean on running back Justin Henderson (1,062 yards). Kirk Ferentz's team has to break in a new quarterback (Spencer Petras) and must navigate a tough schedule, but the Hawkeyes will be a factor in the West Division title hunt. Klieman will have his work cut out this offseason, as the Wildcats return just nine starters and face five Big 12 contests — including swing games against West Virginia, TCU and Baylor — on the road. Getting to the postseason in 2020 will require a quarterback to emerge to replace Caleb Evans, who ranked second in the Sun Belt by averaging 311.1 total yards a game last fall. James Proche will be missed at receiver, but Reggie Roberson (43 catches) and tight end Kylen Granson headline a group of talented playmakers on the outside. Volunteers were unable to scrimmage on Saturday due to 44 players being unavailable. Butch Davis has guided FIU to three consecutive bowl games and another trip to the postseason should be within reach for 2020. BaylorDave Aranda was a strong hire to replace Matt Rhule, and the former LSU defensive coordinator inherits one of the league's top quarterbacks in Charlie Brewer. Last year’s No. Alabama's defense slipped on the stat sheet last year, but better luck in the health department — especially in the front seven — will make a big difference. The Orange took a step back last fall, regressing from a 10-3 record in 2018 to a 5-7 mark in '19. Alabama transfer Nigel Knott is another name to watch in the secondary. Washington StateNew coach Nick Rolovich is one of the offseason's top hires, and running back Max Borghi is underrated nationally. With a handful of swing games at home – Georgia State, Coastal Carolina and ULM – some improvement on defense, combined with a quarterback emerging provides a path to bowl eligibility for the Trojans. The one-two punch of Larry Rountree III and Tyler Badie at running back is one of the better tandems in the SEC. Related: Ranking the Mountain West Coaches for 2020. Related: MAC Football 2020 All-Conference Team. Vollen Schutz genießt du außerdem bei allen Artikeln mit eBay-Garantie und Zahlungsabwicklung über eBay. End Chris Rumph is one of the ACC's top edge rushers, with safety Michael Carter set to anchor the secondary. The former West Virginia offensive coordinator could turn to Memphis transfer Brady McBride over Tyler Vitt at quarterback to spark an offense that managed only 18.4 points a game in 2019. Josh Adkins – the projected starting quarterback – decided to transfer in the spring, leaving junior college recruit Jonah Johnson and redshirt freshman Weston Eget to battle under center. Charlotte is a program on the rise with Will Healy at the helm. Ole MissLane Kiffin inherits an Ole Miss program without a bowl appearance since 2015. For the first time in program history, the Demon Deacons have played in four consecutive bowl games. But this group will miss lineman Mosese Fifita, linebacker Kyle Johnson and safety Jeremy Fejedelem. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne headline an explosive offense, while a favorable schedule should give coordinator Tony Elliott plenty of time to find the right answers up front and break in a couple of new receivers after Justyn Ross was lost for the year due to a neck injury. However, rebounding back to a winning mark in 2020 won’t be easy. Linebacker Erroll Thompson should thrive in this defense. Gabriel won’t have big-play threat Gabriel Davis to throw to, but the receiving corps is in good hands with Tre Nixon, Marlon Williams and tight end Jake Hescock in place. Steve Addazio was a surprise hire at Colorado State, but the former Boston College coach has plenty to work with. The Aggies return the most starters (16) of any team in the West Division, including quarterback Kellen Mond. Hafley is a rising star, but a limited offseason and a tough crossover schedule (at Virginia Tech and North Carolina) add to the challenge of being a first-year coach. Tight end Jared Rice will be missed, but Zane Pope (47 catches), Keric Wheatfall (18.1 ypc), and Jalen Cropper form a promising trio of weapons on the outside. As usual, the ground game won't be an issue. With seven starters back, this unit should rank among the best in the Pac-12. Ole Miss allowed 6.3 yards a play and 36.2 points a game in '18 but cut those totals to 5.8 a snap and 26.5 per contest in '19. 1 running back role with Kesean Strong departing, while four returning starters hope to guide improvement along a line that allowed 52 sacks in 2019. Texas A&M trades Georgia for Vanderbilt, hosts LSU and does not play Clemson in non-conference action. The return of Daelin Hayes from injury helps to alleviate concerns at end following the departure of Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara. 1 target Tylan Wallace after his 2019 season ended early due to a knee injury. Coordinator Clark Lea has to reload at defensive end and in the secondary, but don’t expect the Fighting Irish to fall too far off last year’s defensive totals (17.9 ppg allowed). The Hilltoppers play at UAB in crossover play, but Marshall visits Bowling Green on Oct. 10. Receivers Kobe Smith and Jesse Matthews and tight end Daniel Bellinger are back as the top targets for Baker, and the Aztecs should have one of the top lines in the Mountain West. The rest of the offense is in good shape, as four starters are back to anchor the line, four of the top five receiver return, and the one-two punch of Destin Coates and Seth Paige will fill the void left behind by Tra Barnett at running back. As expected, the transition from an option attack to a spread offense wasn't easy. East Carolina gave up 7.3 yards a play in AAC games and surrendered 33.7 points a contest. UAB’s defense has ranked near the top of the conference in each of the last three seasons and should be a shutdown group once again. There are fewer question marks on the other side of the ball. The Bobcats ranked third in conference-only games by holding teams to 5.6 yards a snap last fall. Filling the void left behind by tackle Justin Madubuike and improving the pass defense will be a priority this fall. The Cardinals showed marked improvement in coach Scott Satterfield's debut. KansasTurning Kansas into a consistent bowl team in the Big 12 wasn't an overnight operation for coach Les Miles. Until the pieces fall into place on offense, the Panthers can lean on a defense that returns six starters and should show improvement after allowing 27.2 points a game. Quarterback Micale Cunningham, running back Javian Hawkins and receiver Tutu Atwell form one of the nation's top trios for an attack that averaged 33.1 points a game — up from 19.8 in 2018. End Carlos Basham Jr. (10 sacks) is one of the ACC's top defenders, with Ryan Smenda and Ja'Cquez Williams back at anchor the linebacker position. Tight end Mitchell Wilcox is gone, and a go-to receiver must emerge, but there’s experience back in the receiving corps thanks to the arrival of transfer tight end Mitchell Brinkman and the return of receivers Randall St. Felix, Eddie McDoom and Bryce Miller. However, thanks to some quick scheduling, Baylor was able to book a non-conference matchup against Houston for Week 3. The Black Knights’ 2020 schedule is filled with uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but coach Jeff Monken’s squad has the pieces on both sides of the ball to return to a bowl. Monken has to replace the team’s top two rushers from last season, but the cupboard isn’t empty. New defensive signal-caller Brian Ward inherits a group that has a ways to go after giving up over six yards a play last fall. The Tigers open the season on Saturday at Wake Forest. The Bears still need improvement up front after allowing 38 sacks last fall, and go-to receiver Denzel Mims must be replaced. A schedule featuring crossover games versus Texas A&M and LSU isn't easy. Quarterback Jarret Doege gave the team a spark in the last three games of last season and should be able to build on that. Eight starters return from a defense that held teams to 22.5 points a game and led the ACC with 51 sacks. South CarolinaThe 2020 season could be a make-or-break campaign for Will Muschamp. A couple of junior college recruits could provide instant help while safety Nick Cross is a rising star and a key part of the rebuilding effort for Locksley. Florida transfer Feleipe Franks is expected to start under center, and the Razorbacks have an underrated group of skill players around him, including running back Rakeem Boyd and receivers Michael Woods and Treylon Burks. The Blazers have won the West Division in back-to-back years, and coach Bill Clark’s team enters 2020 as a heavy favorite to win the conference. This unit gave up 5.95 yards a snap last fall, but with the experience in place, a step forward on the stat sheet is likely. Improvement is desperately needed up front after allowing 45 sacks in 2019. Quarterback Spencer Sanders had a promising debut last year, and the receiving corps is among the best in college football thanks to the return of No. A trip to the Big 12 Championship Game should be within reach in 2020, especially as coach Matt Campbell's team returns one of the league's top quarterbacks (Brock Purdy) and a defense that has ranked near the top of the Big 12 in each of the last three seasons. Air Force won’t throw it often, but Calhoun has to replace the offense’s top three receiving targets from 2019. The return of tackle Walker Little after missing nearly all of 2019 due to injury is a boost up front. This unit will miss linebacker Cole Christiansen and cornerback Elijah Riley, but Arik Smith (83 tackles) should fill the void left behind by Christiansen while Kwabena Bonsu (six TFL) and Edriece Patterson (five) add playmaking ability in the trenches. Healy’s biggest concern on offense rests with a rebuilt line and how the group transitions to a new play-caller (Mark Carney). The Wildcats enter this season on a seven-game losing streak and face a difficult schedule featuring crossover games against Oregon and Washington, along with road trips to UCLA, Utah and Oregon State. New coach Mel Tucker will have his work cut out for him in 2020. An inconsistent offensive line is starting over with four new full-time starters, but there's good skill talent at running back and Seth Williams (14.1 ypc) is one of the SEC's top receivers. A revamped staff should help on that side of the ball, especially with big-time talents like Jay Tufele and Drake Jackson poised to create havoc up front. As mentioned a couple of times in the AAC team write-ups here, there’s not much separation in the middle of the league. An early-season schedule featuring matchups at Michigan State and Minnesota, along with home games versus Penn State and Wisconsin, isn't the easiest slate for a program breaking in four new starters on the offensive line and needing to settle on a quarterback. Steady senior quarterback Ian Book leads the way for an offense that averaged 36.8 points a game in 2019. Also, the Commodores are likely to start a quarterback — either Jeremy Moussa or Ken Seals — that doesn't have a snap of experience at the SEC level. Arizona's defense has not finished higher than eighth in the Pac-12 in fewest points allowed in each of the last six years.