Printer-friendly versionCOLLEGE FOOTBALL 2013 PRESEASON TOP 25
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#1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has a few holes to fill on the offensive line, but the Crimson Tide is still the team to beat in 2013.
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#2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes must rebuild their defense, but the offense - led by Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller - should be enough to win the Big Ten in 2013.
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#3 Oregon Ducks
Chip Kelly is gone, but the Ducks return the Pac-12's top offense and plenty of talent on defense.
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#4 Georgia Bulldogs
With a young defense, Georgia will have to rely on a veteran offense to win the SEC East in 2013.
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#5 South Carolina Gamecocks
Expectations are high at South Carolina, as the Gamecocks return 11 starters from last season's 11-2 squad.
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#6 Clemson Tigers
Clemson is a heavy favorite to win the ACC, but non-conference games against Georgia and South Carolina will determine its place in the national title picture.
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#7 Stanford Cardinal
Stanford's defense is one of the best in the nation, but the offense has to find more playmakers to win the Pac-12 in 2013.
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#8 Texas A&M Aggies
Scoring points shouldn't be a problem in College Station. However, a defense that returns only five starters could prevent Texas A&M from winning the SEC West.
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#9 Louisville Cardinals
With the return of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the pieces are in place for Louisville to make a run at an unbeaten record in 2013.
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#10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Despite the loss of linebacker Manti Te'o, the Fighting Irish should be in the mix to play for the national title once again.
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#11 Boise State Broncos
The Broncos have a few holes to fill on defense, but the offense could carry this team to a unbeaten record in 2013.
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#12 LSU Tigers
How quickly LSU can rebuild its defense and find consistency at quarterback will determine how high the Tigers climb in the SEC West.
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#13 Florida Gators
Florida should have one of the SEC's top defenses. But the offense is once again a huge question mark.
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#14 Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines have holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but a favorable schedule should give Michigan a chance to contend for a BCS bowl.
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#15 Florida State Seminoles
Florida State must fill key voids on the defensive line and at quarterback, but the Seminoles should push for 10 wins in 2013.
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#16 Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Big 12 could be the most unpredictable BCS league in 2013. Led by a high-scoring offense, Oklahoma State is Athlon's pick to win the league.
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#17 Oklahoma Sooners
The development of quarterback Blake Bell and the the front seven on defense will be crucial to Oklahoma's Big 12 title hopes.
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#18 Texas Longhorns
Is Texas ready to win the Big 12? Getting more production from quarterback David Ash, along with improved play from the defense will be crucial to contend for the conference title.
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#19 Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers have a new coach and a quarterback battle,... Read More
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#20 TCU Horned Frogs
Nearly all of TCU's key personnel returns, which should give the Horned Frogs a chance to win the Big 12 in 2013.
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#21 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska's offense should be among the best in the Big Ten. But the defense is a major issue, especially in the front seven where several... Read More
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#22 Fresno State Bulldogs
Boise State is the favorite in the Mountain West. But don't count out Fresno State, which returns 16 starters for 2013.
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#23 Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State returns Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in Will Sutton, along with a dangerous offense.
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#24 Northwestern Wildcats
Led by an explosive offense, Northwestern will be a tough out in the Big Ten in 2013.
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#25 Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers need to find a quarterback, but there's plenty of firepower returning on offense. The defense must replace standout cornerback Jordan Poyer.
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#27 UCLA Bruins
UCLA has won back-to-back Pac-12 South titles, but the Bruins have a difficult schedule to navigate in 2013.
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#28 Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt is a program on the rise under third-year coach James Franklin. The Commodores return 13 starters from last year's 9-4 team.
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#29 Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are headed in the right direction under third-year coach Al Golden. But the defense has to play better if Miami is going to win its first Coastal Division title.
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#30 Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies look to rebound after a disappointing 2012 season and get back into ACC Coastal title contention.
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#31 Kansas State Wildcats
Despite losing some key personnel on both sides of the ball, Kansas State still has a chance to contend in the wide-open Big 12.
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#32 Michigan State Spartans
Can Michigan State overcome a questionable offense to win... Read More
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#33 Ole Miss Rebels
Thanks to a seven-win season and a top-five recruiting class, Hugh Freeze has Ole Miss as a program on the rise entering 2013.
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#34 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets return 16 starters and have a potential breakout star in quarterback Vad Lee.
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#35 Cincinnati Bearcats
Tommy Tuberville inherits a Cincinnati program that should be Louisville's top challenger in the American Athletic Conference.
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#36 Baylor Bears
Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin is gone, but Baylor remains a factor in the Big 12 bowl picture.
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#37 Washington Huskies
Can the Huskies win more than seven games for the first time under Steve Sarkisian?
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#38 North Carolina Tar Heels
With the one-year bowl ban over in Chapel Hill, North Carolina has its sights set on an ACC Coastal title.
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#39 Penn State Nittany Lions
After an impressive debut last season, Bill O'Brien has another difficult task ahead of him in 2013. The Nittany Lions are banned from postseason play once again, and the offense has no proven... Read More
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#40 Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats must replace quarterback Matt Scott, but there's plenty of talent returning to Tucson. If Arizona finds a few answers on defense, the Wildcats could be a top-25 team in 2013.
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#41 Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs look to rebound after a disappointing finish to the 2012 season.
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#42 Auburn Tigers
With Gus Malzahn returning to the sidelines at Auburn, along with plenty of talent from several strong recruiting classes, the Tigers could be in for a quick turnaround.
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#43 BYU Cougars
BYU enters its third season of Independence with a challenging schedule, but All-American linebacker Kyle Van Noy is back, along with a rising star at quarterback in Taysom Hill.
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#44 Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois looks to defend its MAC title, while making another run at a BCS bowl.
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#45 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Kliff Kingsbury should be a perfect fit in Lubbock, but the former Texas Tech quarterback needs a few years to build the Red Raiders into a Big 12 title contender.
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#46 Tennessee Volunteers
New coach Butch Jones looks to get Tennessee back on track after a disappointing stint under Derek Dooley. However, the Volunteers must replace quarterback Tyler Bray and two of the SEC's top... Read More
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#47 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Scarlet Knights look to build momentum for a move to the Big Ten in 2014.
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#48 Missouri Tigers
If quarterback James Franklin and running back Henry Josey are 100 percent, Missouri could be the SEC's most-improved team in 2013.
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#49 Arkansas Razorbacks
Bret Bielema makes the move from the Big Ten to the SEC, taking over an Arkansas team that looks to bounce back after a disappointing 4-8 mark last year.
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#50 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
The defending Conference USA champions have major holes to fill on defense, but the offense should be one of the best in the league.
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#51 UCF Knights
The Knights look to build off of the momentum and success of last season's 10 wins as they enter their first year as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
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#52 Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh makes its debut in the Atlantic Coast Conference facing more question marks than a CSI detective.
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#53 Maryland Terrapins
Randy Edsall looks to lead Maryland back to a bowl game in his third season with the progam, as the Terrapins prepare to move to the Big Ten in 2014.
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#54 NC State Wolfpack
NC State under new head coach Dave Doeren probably won't factor into the ACC Atlantic Division race, but this team should be able to make it to a fourth straight bowl game.
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#55 California Golden Bears
Sonny Dykes was a solid choice to replace Jeff Tedford at Cal, but expect plenty of growing pains this fall as the Golden Bears begin a new ear in Berkeley.
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#56 West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia lost most of its offensive firepower to the NFL Draft, so the Mountaineers will probably take a step or two back in Year 2 in the Big 12.
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#57 Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones will likely have to outperform expectations once again to earn their fourth postseason appearance in the last five years.
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#59 Indiana Hoosiers
A loaded home schedule and potent offense should find Indiana back in a bowl game in Kevin Wilson's third season with the Hoosiers.
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#60 Utah State Aggies
New head coach Matt Wells looks to maintain Utah State's momentum as Aggies move from WAC to tougher, new-look Mountain West.
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#61 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota looks to make more progress in the third season under coach Jerry Kill.
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#62 Virginia Cavaliers
Mike London's rebuilding project at Virginia has stalled after a 4-8 record last season. There's no shortage of talent in Charlottesville, and after a staff shakeup, the pressure is on London to... Read More
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#63 San Jose State Spartans
The Spartans continue to make progress under coach Mike MacIntyre.
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#64 San Diego State Aztecs
Despite the departures of quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman, the Aztecs will remain in the mix for six wins and a bowl appearance.
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#65 Kentucky Wildcats
First-year coach Mark Stoops has made all of the right moves so far. But the Wildcats face a steep climb to have a winning record in 2013.
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#66 UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
The Ragin' Cajuns are Athlon's pick to win the Sun Belt in 2013.
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#67 Navy Midshipmen
Sophomore quarterback Keenan Reynolds looks to lead Navy to a bowl game for the ninth time in 10 seasons.
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#68 Washington State Cougars
Washington State was supposed to improve under Mike Leach's watch, but the Cougars slid to a 3-9 record in 2012. Although last season was a big disappointment, Washington State should be more... Read More
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#69 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes have watched their win total decline for three straight seasons, and with a question mark at quarterback, Iowa may struggle to get bowl eligible once again.
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#70 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
If the Demon Deacons can avoid the injuries and youth that plagued this roster in 2012, they could be one of the most-improved teams in the ACC.
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#71 South Florida Bulls
“Do something.’’ It’s the mantra of Coach Willie Taggart — and it’s appropriate for a South Florida program that hasn’t done nearly enough in recent seasons.
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#75 Syracuse Orange
Is Syracuse football back on track? After a disappointing 2011 season, coach Doug Marrone hopes to get the Orange back in the postseason.
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#76 Nevada Wolfpack
Nevada looks to challenge Boise State in its first season in the Mountain West.
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#77 East Carolina Pirates
East Carolina will be in position to earn its seventh bowl bid in the last eight years and contend for the Conference USA East Division title.... Read More
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#79 Toledo Rockets
Toldeo turns to 32-year-old rookie head coach Matt Campbell to continue Rockets' recent winning ways.
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#80 UL Monroe Warhawks
Behind quarterback Kolton Browning, ULM should push for the Sun Belt title in 2013.
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#82 Air Force Falcons
Calhoun and his program have tumbled into a slump, but this edition of the Falcons has the potential for revival.
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#83 Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies have recorded consecutive 5–7 seasons since Randy Edsall took the Huskies to the Fiesta Bowl in 2010.
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#84 Boston College Eagles
The Eagles have liabilities at all three levels of defense and are destined to endure a third straight losing season.
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#85 Colorado Buffaloes
The Buffaloes will show improvement, but wins could be difficult to come by this year.
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#86 Illinois Fighting Illini
Coach Tim Beckman inherited a team that won back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history.
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#87 Bowling Green Falcons
The Falcons should continue moving up the ladder in the MAC, and the top rung is next.
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#88 Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas will need to show significant progress this fall to climb out of the Big 12 basement.
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#89 Ohio Bobcats
Ohio has all of the skill players necessary to build the MAC’s best offense.
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#90 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech should expect another season of bowl-eligibility.
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#91 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers made one of the offseason's most intriguing coach hires by selecting Bobby Petrino to replace Willie Taggart.
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#92 Houston Cougars
Offense wasn't a problem at Houston last year, but the defense was one of the worst in the nation. The Cougars hope to rebound behind a revamped coaching staff in 2013.
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#93 Wyoming Cowboys
The Cowboys were one of the Mountain West's biggest disappointments last season. But with quarterback Brett Smith returning, Wyoming could return to the postseason in 2013.
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#94 SMU Mustangs
Conference USA's West Division is up for grabs, but SMU needs a big season from Texas transfer Garrett Gilbert at quarterback.
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#95 Colorado State Rams
Jim McElwain was a good hire for Colorado State, but quarterback play will likely make or break the Rams' 2012 season.
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#96 Memphis Tigers
Memphis is on the right track under coach Justin Fuente, but moving to the American Athletic Conference will be a step up in competition.
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#97 Temple Owls
New coach Matt Rhule looks to build on the success of previous coaches Al Golden and Steve Addazio.
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#98 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
The Blue Raiders were one of the most-improved teams in the nation last year. And coach Rick Stockstill looks to continue that momentum in MTSU's first season of Conference USA play.
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#99 UTEP Miners
New coach Sean Kugler and Texas A&M transfer quarterback Jameill Showers look to vault UTEP into Conference USA West title discussion.
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#100 New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico looks to continue its improvement in the second year under coach Bob Davie.
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#101 Kent State Golden Flashes
Repeating as MAC East champs will be difficult for first-year coach Paul Haynes, but Kent State should reach bowl-eligibility for the second straight season.
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#102 Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan looking to ride senior quarterback Alex Carder and experienced offense to first MAC title in more than 20 years.
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#103 Buffalo Bulls
With a solid returning group and after winning three of its last four to close out 2012, Buffalo could take another step forward in the MAC East this fall.
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#104 UNLV Rebels
With 14 returning starters and solid depth on both sides of the ball, the pressure is on fourth-year coach Bobby Hauck to get this team to six wins and a bowl game.
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#105 Arkansas State Red Wolves
Finding an adequate replacement at quarterback is the key to first-year coach Bryan Harsin's hopes of leading Arkansas State to a third straight bowl game and making a push for the Sun Belt... Read More
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#106 Troy Trojans
Troy should be a threat on offense with quarterback Corey Robinson leading the way, but the defense will have to take a quantum leap forward for the Trojans to contend in the Sun Belt this... Read More
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#107 UAB Blazers
If UAB can survive a brutal non-conference schedule, the Blazers could threaten to finish in the upper echelon of a revamped Conference USA.
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#108 Southern Miss Golden Eagles
First-year coach Todd Monken takes over at Southern Miss, who went winless in 2012, looking to restore credibility on offense and show improvement on defense.
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#109 Tulane Green Wave
Curtis Johnson enters his second season at Tulane with an improved roster and a chance to double the Green Wave's 2012 win total.
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#110 North Texas Mean Green
North Texas looks to continue to show improvement in its third year under Dan McCarney as the Mean Green begin play in Conference USA this fall.
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#111 Central Michigan Chippewas
An easy schedule helped Central Michigan get back to the postseason last year. Can the Chippewas build on that success in 2013?
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#112 Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
The RedHawks have won only eight games in Don Treadwell's first two seasons and must replace quarterback Zac Dysert and receiver Nick Harwell this year.
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#113 Army Black Knights
The Black Knights need to replace quarterback Trent Steelman and improve a defense that allowed 35 points a game last year.
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#114 Akron Zips
Terry Bowden's rebuilding project at Akron continues with plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball.
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#115 Texas State Bobcats
The Bobcats are on the move once again, moving from the WAC to the Sun Belt. A couple of key transfers should improve a defense that allowed 33.5 points a game last year.
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#116 Florida Atlantic Owls
The Owls are moving to a new (tougher) conference and have significant question marks to answer on both sides of the ball this season.
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#117 South Alabama Jaguars
The Jaguars were competitive in their first season of Sun Belt play and should continue to make progress in 2013.
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#118 FIU Golden Panthers
The Golden Panthers fell short of expectations last season, which resulted in a coaching change. Things won't be any easier for FIU in 2013, as it moves from the Sun Belt to Conference USA.
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#119 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
The Rainbow Warriors hope new quarterback Taylor Graham provides a spark to one of the nation's worst offenses.
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#121 UTSA Roadrunners
The Roadrunners used an easy schedule to finish 8-4 last season, but the going will be tougher with a move to Conference USA in 2013.
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#122 New Mexico State Aggies
Change is the key word in Las Cruces this offseason. The Aggies have a new coach, quarterback and won't have a conference home for 2013.
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#123 Idaho Vandals
Idaho is a team in transition in 2013. There's a new coach, quarterback and a one-year stint as an Independent.
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#124 UMass Minutemen
The Minutemen are eligible to play for a bowl, but Charley Molnar's team is still a ways away from being a contender in the MAC.
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#125 Georgia State Panthers
Georgia State faces an uphill battle in its transition from FCS to FBS this season. However, the program has a good recruiting base and coach Trent Miles was one of the offseason's best hires.... Read More
