Full Rankings 1 through 55

For anyone that previously missed my rankings of the 54 teams in the MWC, MAC, WAC, CUSA, Sun Belt, Army, Navy, and BYU, here it is.

55. UCF--With the sanctions on the program, UCF will not be put into the weekly ranking.

54. UTSA--With a 2011 schedule that saw no FBS teams, UTSA struggled to a 4-6 record with their best win coming versus future Sun Belt team Georgia State.

53. South Alabama--The Jaguars went 6-4 last season facing a FCS schedule that also saw trips to North Carolina State and Kent State. USA held their own versus Kent State only losing by 8 points. The best win of last season was over UTSA in overtime.

52. Texas State--The Bobcats faced a FCS schedule with Texas Tech and Wyoming being their FBS opponents. Those games were disasters losing a combined 95-20 in those games. The Bobcats finished 6-6 with a season ending loss to Sam Houston State.

51. Massachusetts--The Minutemen played a FCS schedule that also included a trip to in-state foe Boston College. The Boston College game was a blowout losing 45-17. The Minutemen struggled to finish the season losing 4 of their final 5 games to finish 5-6.

50. New Mexico--The Lobos went 1-11 last season with their only win coming versus UNLV. New Mexico lost 8 of those games by 20 points or more.

49. Florida Atlantic--The Owls went 1-11 in 2011 with their only win coming versus UAB. FAU was shut out 3 times and failed to even record a single first down in a game versus Michigan State.

48. Akron--The Zips went 1-11 last fall with their only win coming versus FCS' Virginia Military Institute. The Zips lost by 20 or more points in 7 games on the season.

47. Memphis--The Tigers went 2-10 last fall with 6 losses by 20 points or more. One of the two wins was versus FCS opponent Austin Peay.

46. UNLV--The Rebels struggled to a 2-10 season in 2011 with 8 losses by 20 points or more. Both win were unexpected versus Colorado State and Hawaii. The Rebels lost 41-16 to FCS opponent Southern Utah.

45. UAB--The Blazers went 3-9 in 2011 with 6 straight losses to start the season. UAB won 3 of their final 6 games but lost all momentum with a season ending loss to FAU giving the Owls their only win of the season.

44. Tulane--The Green Wave went 2-11 in 2011 getting to play an extra game with a road trip to Hawaii to end the season. The Green Wave lost 6 games by 20 points or more including a 73-17 thrashing by the hands of the high flying Houston Cougars.

43. Middle Tennessee--The Blue Raiders went 2-10 with wins versus Memphis and Florida Atlantic, a duo of teams that went 3-21 last fall. 6 of the 10 losses were by 20 points or more with the Blue Raider defense giving up 20 points or more in 11 of 12 games.

42. Central Michigan--The Chippewas went 3-9 in 2011 with a head scratching win over MAC champion Northern Illinois. The Chippewas lost 6 games by 14 or more points capped by a 44-14 drubbing by rival Western Michigan.

41. North Texas--The Mean Green went 5-7 with alternating wins and losses for the final 8 games of the year. There is slight reason for optimism with all 4 conference losses coming versus the top teams in the Sun Belt. The bad news is that none of the 4 games were particularly close affairs so North Texas has a hill to climb to compete in the Sun Belt.

40. Rice--The Rice Owls went 4-8 in 2011 with the best win on the schedule versus a not so good Purdue team. 5 of the 8 losses were by 20 or more points including giving up 73 points to Houston in a 73-34 loss.

39. Idaho--The Vandals struggled to a 2-10 season last fall with a killer 6-game losing streak right in the middle. The Vandals may have some positives to look at in 2012 simply for the fact that 4 of the 9 losses were by 7 or fewer points. The offense must score more points after only averaging 20.3 last fall while giving up 33.3 points per game.

38. Buffalo--The Bulls went 3-9 in 2011 during a season that reminded many of the old days where Buffalo was one of the worst teams in the country. Of the three wins, one came versus 1-11 Akron, another came versus FCS opponent Stony Brook, and the third came as a stunner beating MAC runner up Ohio 38-37. 6 of their 9 losses were by 14 or more points.

37. Army--The Black Knights combined the worst passing attack in the nation with the best rushing attack  but were unable to have a second straight bowl season falling to 3-9 in 2011. Army played a tough schedule with 6 bowl teams to play but lost all 6 with a 3-point loss to San Diego State being the only close game. The 2012 schedule is slightly easier but it will be very difficult for the Black Knights to become bowl eligible again this fall.

36. San Jose State--The Spartans had a solid 2011 season going 5-7 but were devastated by two separate 3-game losing streaks in the season. The 5 wins may have been more of a product of their schedule last fall as all 5 wins came versus teams with losing records. The Navy, Hawaii, and Fresno State wins were marred by all three teams having down years.

35. Colorado State--The Rams started 2011 winning 3 of 4 games including an overtime win over Utah State. After the great start, CSU went downhill quickly losing their final 8 games by an average margin of 36-20 with a 63-13 drubbing by the hands of Boise State. The Rams will struggle to beat their 3 wins of 2011 with a new coaching staff in 2012.

34. Troy--After an impressive 6-year reign as the Sun Belt Champs, the Trojans fell badly in 2011 with a 3-9 record. Troy again had a good passing game but the inability to run the ball, score regularly, or stop anyone from scoring landed them near the bottom of the Sun Belt. With a week 2 matchup versus Louisiana, the Trojans will find out quickly that climbing back up the Sun Belt is not an easy task.

33. New Mexico State--The Aggies were a very much improved team in 2011 going 4-9 with 2 other losses coming by 6 or fewer points. The defense was a letdown giving up a staggering 36.8 points per game while the offense could only muster 24.5 per game. With a tough non-conference slate this fall, it will be hard for the Aggies to improve to any more than 5 wins.

32. Miami (OH)--The RedHawks went 4-8 in 2011 but endured a three game losing streak to start the season and another to end the season. In between Miami (OH) went 4-1 with the only loss coming to Toledo. With an easier 2012 schedule, anything fewer than 5 wins would be a disappointment for the RedHawks.

31. Louisiana-Monroe--The Warhawks seemed to be right on the cusp of getting to that elusive .500 record last fall. With 6 of their 8 losses coming to bowl teams and another loss to a 7-5 team, the Warhawks only had one loss that was unexpected. With an easier non-conference schedule this fall, ULM could be the Sun Belt team to watch this year.

30. Kent State--The Golden Flashes looked very bad early in the season starting 1-6 and being outscored 28-10 during that portion of the schedule. Kent State rebounded and went 4-1 in the final 5 games with their only loss coming to a very talented Temple squad to end the season.

29. UTEP--UTEP was not a bad team in 2011 but the Miners were not good. UTEP was right in the middle nationally offensively scoring 26.6 points per game, good for 62nd best in the country. The Miners were held to 14 points or fewer in 2 games. The defense was torched against some very good offenses last fall. The Miner defense gave up 40+ points in 4 games last fall and gave up 30.3 points per game ranking them 86th nationally.

28. Hawaii--Hawaii followed the traditions set from the June Jones years and were a hard to stop air offense that could not stop anyone on defense. The Warriors threw for over 300 yards per game but were the 7th worst rushing attack in the country. Defensively, the Warriors gave up 30 or more points 6 times and every opponent scored at least 14 points on them. The defensive issues must be figured out if the Warriors want to go bowling again in 2012.

27. Ball State--Ball State started 2011 with a 5-3 record including losses to 2011 bowl teams South Florida, Oklahoma, and Temple. The final 4 games saw the Cardinals fall flat with 3 losses in 4 games, albeit against three bowl teams. The problem for Ball State is that they beat who they were supposed to be and lost to who they were supposed to lose to. With an out-of-conference schedule that should leave them at 2-2 the Cardinals must be one of the big three of the MAC; Toledo, NIU or Ohio or risk running the table in the MAC otherwise to earn a bowl berth this fall.

26. Eastern Michigan--In similar fashion to the week one opponents from Ball State, Eastern Michigan was 5-3 at one point last fall with fate in their own hands. Just like Ball State, the Eagles lost 3 of 4 to end the season at 6-6. The Eagles must rely upon their talented running game with a schedule that is not easy but is winnable. Road trip to Purdue and Michigan State highlight the non-conference slate but EMU could easily go 3-1 non conference and only have to win 4 conference games to be bowl eligible.

25. Navy--The triple option attack of Navy let them down in 2011 with the Midshipmen struggling to a 5-7 record that saw them go on a 6-game losing streak. During that losing streak, the Midshipmen lost by an average of 39.5-26.5. The Midshipmen had the ability in game 11 to salvage a chance at going for a winning record versus Army but lost to San Jose State 27-24 and doom Navy to sitting at home during bowl season. With a lightened schedule that includes a trip to Ireland to start the season versus Notre Dame and a week 2 matchup versus Penn State, the Midshipmen should bounce back and go bowling again this fall.

24. East Carolina--East Carolina again had a very strong passing attack but failed to perform running the ball condemning the Pirates to a 5-7 record and no bowl. The defense improved from 2010 but still left gaping holes for opponents to exploit conceding 32.3 points per game, good for 23rd worst in the nation. The Pirates pride themselves with a difficult non-conference slate annually with South Carolina, North Carolina, and Navy all on the schedule. Virginia Tech is replaced with Appalachian State giving the Pirates a bit of a break. A return to bowl form is possible this fall.

23.  Bowling Green--The Bowling Green Falcons struggled to a 5-7 record in 2011 that was capped by two mid-season 3-game losing streaks. The Falcons were right on the cusp in some of the losses with 3 of the 7 losses coming by a touchdown or less. One-point losses to Wyoming and Ohio were both huge losses. If the Falcons can get by a tough opening stretch to start the season with games at Florida, Toledo, and Virginia Tech, then a winning record is very possible for Bowling Green.

22. Air Force--Air Force had an up and down 2011 season that saw the Falcons win versus every team they were expected to be and lose versus every team that was better than them. Every team that Air Force lost to was a 2011 bowl team headed by Boise State. 2012 sees Air Force with a much easier schedule that no longer has Notre Dame, Boise State or TCU. The Falcons could work this schedule to 10+ wins with a bowl win this fall.

21. Wyoming--The Wyoming Cowboys pulled off an interesting feat in 2011. The Cowboys went 8-5 but were outscored by 1.7 points per game on the season. The Cowboys lost to 5 bowl teams in Nebraska, Utah State, TCU, Boise State, and Temple last fall. 2012 could be a good year for Wyoming with only three scary road games on the schedule (Texas, Nevada, Fresno State). Getting Toledo, Air Force, Boise State, and San Diego State all at home could end with the Cowboys going 2-2. Another 8-win season is expected in Laramie.

20. Western Michigan--The Western Michigan Broncos used a passing game that averaged 337 yards per game in 2011 to make it to a bowl game and a 7-6 record last fall. The Broncos were the 18th ranked scoring offense in 2011 with 35.3 points per game but allowed 28.7 points per game on the season. With the return of Alex Carder and his 7234 career yards and 61 touchdowns, everyone expects the Broncos to make a major move for a division title this fall.

19. Marshall--Marshall was an up and down team that got up to beat Southern Miss, Louisville, and Florida International but failed to beat the top teams they faced otherwise. Marshall has a much easier schedule in 2011 with Virginia Tech replaced by Western Carolina and Louisville replaced by an average Purdue team. With home games versus Tulsa, UCF and Houston, this could be a very good year for the Thundering Herd.

18. San Diego State--The San Diego State Aztecs were hoping for great things in 2011 with an upperclassman dominated roster. The Aztecs were good versus the teams they were expected to beat capped by wins over Air Force and Army. When it came to playing the cream of the crop, the Aztecs could not get it done losing to Michigan, TCU, Wyoming, Boise, and Louisiana-Lafayette. All 5 of those teams were in bowl games in 2011. Despite the loss of important players, SDSU should do well with a significantly weakened schedule that replaces Michigan with Washington and no TCU.

17. Louisiana-Lafayette--The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns were the surprise team of the Sun Belt in 2011 with a 9-4 record and appearance in the New Orleans bowl. The Ragin' Cajuns started strong with wins in 6 of their first 7 games before losing 3 of their final 5 regular season games. UL ended the season with a last second win versus San Diego State. With non-conference games at Oklahoma State, home versus Tulane, at Florida, and home versus Lamar: the Ragin' Cajuns should go 2-2 out of conference. UL does get WKU, FIU, and Arkansas State at home in what is an interesting season for the Ragin' Cajuns.

16. Utah State--The Utah State Aggies went 7-6 in 2011 with 5 of their losses coming in a disastrous 2-5 start to the season. The Aggies won their next 5 games to get to 7-5 with a bowl game versus Ohio. The Aggies lost 24-23 to Ohio to end at 7-6. Utah State lost all 6 games by 10 or fewer points with 2 one-point losses. The Aggies must play better defense after giving up nearly 28 points per game last fall. There are 4 tough games on the schedule (Utah, @Wisconsin, @BYU, @La. Tech) but 5 games that are almost guaranteed wins. Games versus Colorado State, San Jose State, and New Mexico State will decide how the Aggies finish this fall.

15. Fresno State--The Fresno State Bulldogs went 4-9 in 2011 in a disappointing season that saw long time coach Pat Hill lose his job. Fresno State was young last fall and look to be the team to make the biggest jump in 2012. Quarterback Derek Carr threw for over 3500 yards in his first year as a starter and is expected to be all-conference this fall in the Mountain West. Fresno does have a tough schedule with trips to Oregon, Tulsa, Boise, and Nevada but should go bowling with a significant improvement in wins

in 2012.

14. Western Kentucky--The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers went 7-5 in 2011 to give the Hilltoppers their 1st winning season as a member of the FBS. The Hilltoppers were coming off of 0-12 and 2-10 seasons and lost their first 4 games of the season including an embarrassing loss to FCS team Indiana State, 44-16. With an 0-4 schedule in hand and a trip to rival MTSU, WKU came up with a win in double overtime to start a streak in which the Hilltoppers won 7 of their next 8 games with the only loss coming to national runner-up LSU in Baton Rouge. While losing their biggest offensive weapon in running back Bobby Rainey, the Hilltoppers still return starters all over the field. This could be the time for the first bowl berth for WKU since its jump to the FBS.

13. Florida International--The Florida International Golden Panthers went into 2011 as the odds-on favorite to win the Sun Belt. FIU started strong with three wins before losing 4 of 6 games to put them at 5-4 after the loss to WKU. Another 3-game winning streak salvaged the season and earned the Golden Panthers another bowl at 8-4. FIU lost to Marshall 20-10 in the bowl game. This FIU team is senior oriented and big things are expected out of the Golden Panthers in 2012.

12. Southern Methodist--SMU started the 2011 season with great expectations to make noise nationally. Everything went wrong in the season opener in which the Mustangs were thrashed 46-14. SMU turned things around with a 5-game winning streak that saw SMU beat nationally ranked TCU in overtime. The Mustangs again fell to earth losing 4 of 5 games before ending the season on a 2-game winning streak. The Mustangs have a Texas heavy schedule that includes 9 of the 12 games in the state of Texas with trips to Baylor, UTEP and Rice in addition to their home games. This could be a special year for the

Mustangs.

11. Nevada--The Nevada Wolfpack looked good against the bad teams while struggling against the top opponents in 2011. Of the 6 losses by Nevada, 5 came versus 2011 bowl teams including Oregon, Boise State, and Southern Miss. The Wolfpack have an easier non-conference slate that starts with a tricky trip to underachieving California followed by a home game versus South Florida. If the Wolfpack can get by those games, the season ending game versus Boise State could be a game Mountain West game for the ages.

10. Northern Illinois--The Huskies are coming off of one of the best few years of football ending with the graduation of record setting quarterback Chandler Harnish. The Huskies ended 2011 at 11-3 including an impressive 9-game winning streak to end the season. Every time the Huskies get counted out and told that it is someone else's turn to take control, NIU finds a way to surpass expectations once again.

9. Houston--In similar fashion to the #10 ranked NIU Huskies, the Houston Cougars start 2012 trying to replace a legend at quarterback. Case Keenum departed the Cougars with 19,217 yards passing and 155 touchdowns in his career. Those numbers are nearly impossible to account for. The Cougars did get a taste of life without Keenum as he missed nearly all of the 2011 season with a knee injury. Houston went 5-7 and missed a bowl but were able to find out how to handle the team Post-Keenum. The Cougars break in Tony Levine who took over the team to win the Ticket City bowl and earn the head coaching job with the departure of Kevin Sumlin.

8. Toledo--The Rockets were so close to making some major noise in 2011 but missed out on several opportunities to make a name nationally. Toledo ended the 2011 season at 9-4 with 3 of the 4 losses coming by a combined 11 points. The Rockers were one of the most exciting teams in the country with 42.2 points scored per game while allowing 31.7 points per game. The Rockets were a part of games that ended with 63-60 and 66-63 scores in consecutive weeks. The Rockets also scored at least 42 points in their final 6 games of the season. Toledo must figure out how to replace Adonis Thomas at running back and Eric Page at wide receiver to prove they are worthy of their high ranking to start the season.

7. Southern Miss--The Golden Eagles of Southern Miss were 9 points from a perfect season in 2011 with a 6-point loss to Marshall in game 2 as well as an inexplicable 3-point loss to bottom-dweller UAB in November. In a continuing fashion of the top 10 teams, the Golden Eagles must replace a 10000 yard career passer in Austin Davis. In addition to key players lost to graduation, the Golden Eagles must break in a new head coach. Coach Ellis Johnson has head coaching experience at Gardner-Webb and the Citadel but no head coaching work at the FBS level.

6. Tulsa--The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes are one of the most decorated teams in the nation to not make it to a BCS bowl game during its existence. Tulsa is always right on the verge of the top 25 but tend to play a schedule that limits the chances of going undefeated and playing in an Orange or Sugar bowl. 2011 was the perfect example with 3 games versus top 10 opponents in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Boise State among their first 4 games of the season. The Golden Hurricanes ended the season with losses to #8 Houston and one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of the season in BYU. Tulsa must also replace a starting quarterback in GJ Kinne who threw for 9472 yards in three seasons as a starter. Tulsa has a group of quarterbacks ready to take the load and a system that is extremely quarterback friendly making the Golden Hurricanes the easiest quarterback transition of the top 10 teams.

5. Arkansas State--Arkansas State was a very surprising team in 2011. The Red Wolves came out of nowhere to go 10-3 with the first FBS 10-win season in school history as well as the team's first Sun Belt championship. Quarterback Ryan Aplin led the team with 3588 yards passing and 588 yards on the ground but saw things finally come together with a defense that gave up only 20.8 points per game. Coaching should not be as big of an issue as at other schools for the simple facts that Hugh Freeze was only there for 1 season and new coach Gus Malzahn is one of Freeze's best friends. The offense may differ slightly but Malzahn will base things around Aplin and look to give the Red Wolves back-to-back Sun Belt Championships.

4. Louisiana Tech--The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were 8-5 in 2011 but were so close to a special season last fall. 4 of the Bulldog's 5 losses were by 7 points or fewer with an overtime loss to SEC team Mississippi 26-20. After a rough 1-4 start to the season, the Bulldogs won 7 games in a row before losing to a very talented TCU team in the Poinsettia Bowl. With a non-conference schedule that gets Houston without Keenum, a down Illinois team, an average Virginia team, UNLV, and Rice; this could easily be a 10-win season for the Bulldogs in 2012.

3. Ohio--The Ohio Bobcats were so close in 2011 to winning the MAC and having a chance at their first 11-win season in FBS school history but could not hold a big lead versus NIU. The Bobcats return all-conference nominee Tyler Tettleton at quarterback for a team that threw for nearly 250 yards per game in 2011. The Bobcats were +8.4 in point margin and return key players all over the field. With an opening game at reeling Penn State and everyone watching, the Bobcats have a chance to gain national attention in week one. Tricky games versus New Mexico State and at Marshall come before a conference slate that does not include NIU or Toledo.

2. Boise State--The Boise State Broncos were one of the most dominant teams in the nation last fall and came a single missed field from playing for a national championship. The Broncos have to replace quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Doug Martin who accounted for 59 total touchdowns as a duo. Moore is gone after setting the national winning mark for starting quarterbacks with 50 in his career. 2012 is no ride in the park for the Broncos with a trip to East Lansing to face Michigan State opens the season. Boise State also faces BYU in week 3 and has a trip to Southern Miss on October 6. A step back looks likely for the Broncos in 2012, but the locals still expect at least 9 wins for Boise State this fall.

1. Brigham Young--The Brigham Young Cougars ended 2012 at 10-3 with a win in the Armed Forces bowl over fellow top 10 team Tulsa. The Cougars started badly with losing 2 of three games to start the season, including a 54-10 loss to Utah. Things changed for the Cougars with a change at quarterback to Riley Nelson. Once Nelson took control, the Cougars only lost 1 more game while scoring at least 38 points per game in 6 of the final 7 games of the season. The Cougars start the season with a game versus  Washington State to start the season as well as games at Utah and Boise State that will test just how good this BYU team is. The Cougars also face Notre Dame and Georgia Tech on the road in what could be one of the hardest schedules in the nation.