College Football Power Rankings | 86-100
Several service academies sit within the top 100 of our CFB power rankings.
100) Air Force
Running game and defense, that’s what Air Force does! They led the nation in rushing yards per game last season, while the defense ranked third in the nation, despite giving up 49 points to Boise State.
It does help when you have New Mexico on your schedule, and the trip to face the Lobos should be a win on their 2021 record. That, combined with quarterback Haaziq Daniels, is the good news. The bad news is that they have to replace most of their starters on both sides of the ball. A repeat of 2019’s 11-2 record seems unlikely.
99) Georgia State
Cornelious Brown is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. The 6’5″ dual-threat QB tallied 24 touchdowns for an offense that ranked 32nd in the nation. The Panthers’ top rusher and receiver are back, too. However, the defense allowed nearly 32 points per game and lost a ton of production, with the most notable being the nation’s sack leader in Jordan Strachan.
Georgia State has a brutal three-game stretch in the middle of the season with trips to Georgia Southern, Louisiana, and Coastal Carolina that will make or break them.
98) Army
The 5-8 2019 season stands as a blip on what is becoming a continuously successful Army team under Jeff Monken. They lose a key contributor on either side of the ball in Sandon McCoy and Jon Rhattigan, but there’s plenty of returning offensive talent to get excited by.
The Black Knights held the opposition to under 10 points in six games last season. However, their defensive losses could ensure that attaining the same level of performance is unrealistic. Furthermore, road trips to Liberty, Wisconsin, and Ball State could limit their ceiling to nine wins.
97) Georgia Southern
After four years under center, Shai Werts has left the Georgia Southern building. There was plenty of excitement over the arrival of Georgia Tech’s former four-star QB James Graham. However, he missed spring ball with a personal issue, and currently, it looks like Justin Tomlin could be the starter for the season opener against Gardner-Webb.
There are big defensive departures, but in Derrick Canteen, they have a genuine NFL Draft prospect. Their six road games feature three teams ranked below them in our College Football Power Rankings, making another winning season extremely likely.
96) Navy
Ken Niumatalolo is 101-67 as the Navy head coach, but last year’s 3-7 record was one of the worst of his tenure. The resounding defeat to BYU, where the Midshipmen were clearly not ready to compete, set a negative tone for the entire season.
However, defensive momentum is on their side, allowing less than 20 points in each of their final three games. Their placing ahead of the other service academies in our College Football Power Rankings is predicated on their triple-option offense thriving with Jamale Carothers and new “quarterback” Xavier Arline.
95) East Carolina
It seems inconceivable that Holton Ahlers is only in his fourth year — he’s back again in 2021. The Pirates quarterback leads a stellar offensive cast that includes receivers C.J. Johnson and Tyler Snead, plus impressive running back Rahjai Harris.
Mike Houston’s team didn’t struggle to put points on the board last season, but they failed miserably at stopping other teams scoring on them. The defense ranked 103rd in the nation and has to contain the Marshall and UCF offenses on the road in this upcoming season.
94) Charlotte
After heroics in the 2019 season, the 49ers reverted to sub .500 form that’s been the hallmark of their short FBS tenure. However, Charlotte was a program ravaged by non-football issues last year. Furthermore, they bring in a host of Power Five transfers who should elevate their play on both sides of the ball.
They have the opportunity to spring a surprise on opening weekend when they battle Duke. Meanwhile, they host several teams below them in our College Football Power Rankings.
93) Toledo
It was a small sample size last season, but the Rockets went 4-2, with the offense ranked 21st and the defense ranked 36th in the nation. Toledo loses just one starter from their offense and returns their entire starting defense. With All-MAC players on both sides of the ball, can they compete in the conference?
Unfortunately for the Rockets, their two defeats came against the teams that are once again expected to lead the MAC in Ball State and Western Michigan. They host the Broncos but have to travel to the Cardinals and visit South Bend to face Notre Dame.
92) Western Kentucky
Although the defense was stellar last season, Hilltoppers fans won’t disagree when we say that the offense was sub-optimal. WKU returns their best defensive player in the hyper-productive DeAngelo Malone. Furthermore, offensive expectations should be through the roof with the arrival of Houston Baptist quarterback Bailey Zappe. The prolific passer is also joined by his HBU offensive coordinator and favorite wide receiver target.
They host potential C-USA frontrunners UTSA in their opening conference clash in a game that could shape their season.
91) Hawaii
A victory in the New Mexico Bowl ensured that Todd Graham’s tenure as Hawaii head coach got off to a winning start. Despite this, the Rainbow Warriors lacked their usual offensive flare while being serviceable on defense. The defense receives a boost with Power Five transfer Zacchaeus McKinney from Oklahoma expected to help against the run.
Their schedule contains two should-win games, including against New Mexico State. Meanwhile, they avoid Boise State, which is an enormous bonus to their chances of a winning record.
90) Colorado State
The Rams have one of the best tight ends in the nation in Trey McBride, and he returns for another go-around. Unfortunately for McBride — and Colorado State fans — you can expect the Rams to embrace head coach Steve Addazio’s ground-and-pound offense in his second year in charge.
Although the defense ranked just 104th in the nation, the return of star defensive end Scott Patchan is a significant boost for a unit that has to be better this year. Having Boise State, San Jose State, and Nevada on your schedule isn’t ideal, but they are all bouts at home.
89) Oregon State
The Beavers haven’t had a winning season since 2013, and it’s difficult to imagine that 2021 is the year that breaks that streak. They’ve lost their best player on both sides of the ball in Hamilcar Rashed Jr. and Jermar Jefferson, with Jefferson’s loss a blow to a running game that was the highlight of a poor 2020 campaign.
Colorado transfer quarterback Sam Noyer elevates their passing game, but the defense needs to step up too. They’ll likely prop up the Pac-12 as the lowest-ranked team from the conference in our College Football Power Rankings.
88) San Diego State
In Brady Hoke’s first season in charge of the Aztecs, the defense was superb, the offense was not, and the result was a 4-4 season. Unfortunately for San Diego State, the secondary has lost a ton of production. Still, the offense will continue to be predicated on the ground game that returns leading rusher Greg Bell.
To once again quote Madden, “if you have two quarterbacks, you have none,” and the Aztecs will hope someone emerges from a three-way battle that includes Mississippi State transfer Jalen Mayden.
87) South Alabama
The Jaguars haven’t had a winning season since they arrived at the FBS level in 2012. Can that change this season? They boast the nation’s leading returning wide receiver in Jalen Tolbert, who snagged 1,085 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2020. Furthermore, incoming transfer quarterback Jake Bentley and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite should ensure an enhanced offense.
The defense lost Riley Cole, but new head coach Kane Wommack has his roots on that side of the ball. Hosting Louisiana and Coastal Carolina at either end of conference play will go a long way to defining South Alabama’s season in the Sun Belt.
86) Arkansas State
After their worst record since 2010, the Red Wolves parted ways with Blake Anderson and replaced him with Butch Jones. He has his work cut out, upgrading a defense that ranked 112th in the country last season. Furthermore, the offense has lost their top receiver and rusher.
Jones’ arrival has seen a flood of transfer portal talent make its way to ASU Stadium. Incumbent QB Layne Hatcher is set to battle former FSU signal-caller James Blackman in a potential rotation.