Link: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-20-teams-rise-2018
Alabama-Birmingham
Arizona
Buffalo
Florida Atlantic
Florida State
Houston
Iowa State
Louisiana-Monroe
Miami (FL)
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi State
Nebraska
Purdue
South Carolina
Temple
Texas A&M
Tulane
UCLA
West Virginia
Others to Watch
Akron
Baylor
Boston College
California
Georgia State
Old Dominion
UNLV
Utah State
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Nebraska
New athletic director Bill Moos hit a grand slam when he was able to bring Scott Frost back to Lincoln. Now after a successful two-year stint at UCF, Frost has his sights set on transforming Nebraska back into a Big Ten power. Expect progress in that area in 2018, as Frost and his staff will make an immediate impact on a team that went 4-8 last year. True freshman Adrian Martinez is a good fit for Frost’s spread attack and should push Patrick O’Brien and Tristan Gebbia for the starting quarterback job. The offense has talent at receiver to utilize with JD Spielman and Stanley Morgan, while running back Tre Bryant returns after missing most of 2017 due to injury. New coordinator Erik Chinander transformed a UCF defense that gave up 37.7 points a game in 2015 to one that allowed 24.6 the following year. Nebraska’s defense surrendered 36.4 points a contest last season but returns linebacker Dedrick Young (80 tackles), safety Aaron Williams (80 stops) and edge rusher Ben Stille (9.5 TFL). The Cornhuskers only lose three out of their top 15 tacklers from last season, and the front seven returns intact. With three home games to start 2018, Nebraska has an opportunity to start fast in Frost’s first season. And with Minnesota, Purdue and Illinois visiting Lincoln next fall, a bowl game should easily be within reach. Frost’s first season is all about building a foundation for the future. Looking ahead into the future, Nebraska is clearly on an upward trend with the Frost at the controls for 2019 and beyond.
Alabama-Birmingham
Arizona
Buffalo
Florida Atlantic
Florida State
Houston
Iowa State
Louisiana-Monroe
Miami (FL)
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi State
Nebraska
Purdue
South Carolina
Temple
Texas A&M
Tulane
UCLA
West Virginia
Others to Watch
Akron
Baylor
Boston College
California
Georgia State
Old Dominion
UNLV
Utah State
===========================
Nebraska
New athletic director Bill Moos hit a grand slam when he was able to bring Scott Frost back to Lincoln. Now after a successful two-year stint at UCF, Frost has his sights set on transforming Nebraska back into a Big Ten power. Expect progress in that area in 2018, as Frost and his staff will make an immediate impact on a team that went 4-8 last year. True freshman Adrian Martinez is a good fit for Frost’s spread attack and should push Patrick O’Brien and Tristan Gebbia for the starting quarterback job. The offense has talent at receiver to utilize with JD Spielman and Stanley Morgan, while running back Tre Bryant returns after missing most of 2017 due to injury. New coordinator Erik Chinander transformed a UCF defense that gave up 37.7 points a game in 2015 to one that allowed 24.6 the following year. Nebraska’s defense surrendered 36.4 points a contest last season but returns linebacker Dedrick Young (80 tackles), safety Aaron Williams (80 stops) and edge rusher Ben Stille (9.5 TFL). The Cornhuskers only lose three out of their top 15 tacklers from last season, and the front seven returns intact. With three home games to start 2018, Nebraska has an opportunity to start fast in Frost’s first season. And with Minnesota, Purdue and Illinois visiting Lincoln next fall, a bowl game should easily be within reach. Frost’s first season is all about building a foundation for the future. Looking ahead into the future, Nebraska is clearly on an upward trend with the Frost at the controls for 2019 and beyond.
