College Football Top 130 Team Rankings for 2021
College football's 2021 season is slated to start in late August, but it's never too early to project where all 130 teams will finish at the end of the year.
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Athlon ranks all the teams based on where they think they will finish following the completion of the 2021 season.
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma
4. Ohio State
5. Georgia
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Cincinnati
9. Oregon
10. North Carolina
11. Florida
12. Notre Dame
13. Wisconsin
14. Miami (FL)
15. Arizona State
16. Iowa
17. LSU
18. USC
19. Penn State
20. Texas
21. Indiana
22. Washington
23. Louisiana-Lafayette
24. Coastal Carolina
25. TCU
26. Utah
27. Mississippi
28. Oklahoma State
29. Auburn
30. Central Florida
31. Boise State
32. Michigan
33. West Virginia
34. Missouri
35. Kentucky
36. Liberty
37. Nevada
38. Minnesota
39. UCLA
40. North Carolina State
41. Virginia Tech
42. Boston College
43. Northwestern
44. Pittsburgh
45. Florida State
46. Arkansas
47. Louisville
48. Wake Forest
49. Nebraska
50. Mississippi State
51. BYU
52. San Jose State
53. Kansas State
54. California
55. Appalachian State
56. Tennessee
57. Maryland
58. Baylor
59. Virginia
60. Purdue
61. Houston
62. Colorado
63. Southern Methodist
64. Tulane
65. Tulsa
66. Stanford
67. Alabama-Birmingham
68. Washington State
69. Fresno State
70. Texas-San Antonio
71. Toledo
72. Ball State
73. Texas Tech
74. Memphis
75. Oregon State
76. South Carolina
77. Georgia Tech
78. Rutgers
79. Michigan State
80. Army
81. Wyoming
82. Air Force
83. Illinois
84. Marshall
85. San Diego State
86. Syracuse
87. Ohio
88. East Carolina
89. Navy
90. Vanderbilt
91. Arizona
92. Miami (OH)
93. Western Michigan
94. Buffalo
95. Duke
96. Hawaii
97. Florida Atlantic
98. Georgia State
99. Western Kentucky
100. Kent State
101. South Florida
102. Louisiana Tech
103. Colorado State
104. Charlotte
105. Central Michigan
106. Troy
107. Georgia Southern
108. Arkansas State
109. Southern Mississippi
110. New Mexico
111. Eastern Michigan
112. North Texas
113. Rice
114. Texas State
115. Kansas
116. Utah State
117. Middle Tennessee State
118. Temple
119. South Alabama
120. UNLV
121. Florida International
122. Northern Illinois
123. Texas-El Paso
124. Old Dominion
125. Akron
126. Connecticut
127. Louisiana-Monroe
128. Bowling Green
129. Massachusetts
130. New Mexico State
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49. NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers hope for a breakthrough in coach Scott Frost's fourth year at the helm. Nebraska doesn't have a bowl appearance under Frost, but an experienced roster provides optimism for reaching six wins in 2021.
Offensive Strength: Quarterback Adrian Martinez hasn't quite played up to his freshman level over the last two years. However, he's entering his fourth year as the starter and key transfer portal additions at running back and receiver should help get the offense get back on track. There's also potential for an improved offensive line.
Offensive Concern: Nebraska's scoring average has decreased from 30 points a game in Frost's first year (2018) to 23.1 last year. Can Martinez get back on track? And how fast can the transfer additions turn the skill positions into a strength? The Cornhuskers have to do a better job at limiting turnovers (18 lost in '20).
Defensive Strength: Nebraska's defense is on the right track going into 2021. After allowing 5.96 yards per play in 2019 (Big Ten-only games), this unit cut that total to 5.46 in 2020.
Defensive Concern: The Cornhuskers need to continue last year's improvement in a big way for this program to reach a bowl. This defense also needs to do a better job at limiting big plays and creating more pressure (13 sacks last year) on opposing quarterbacks. Linebacker Will Honas is out indefinitely after a spring knee injury.
