2019 CFB Focus Preseason Rankings -- 31-40

31 UCF KNIGHTS

OFFENSE: SPREAD

Now we’ll get to see Josh Heupel’s coaching chops, as the Knights have an issue under center. 

Everyone knows about the wondrous McKenzie Milton and the horrific injury he suffered late last season. Darriel Mack Jr performed well and looked to have the inside track to starting. Only he broke his ankle in the offseason, an injury that won’t keep him out all year but long enough for UCF to go through some growing pains. Enter Brandon Wimbush, last of Notre Dame and the erratic arm. 

The Knights will be easier to defend without the specter of the pass looming over foes, so even with Greg McCrae, Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson – not to mention a few new pieces up front – yardage will be harder to come by. With Stanford and Cincinnati on the schedule early, Mack’s absence could be enough to tip the scales in favor of the opposition. The receiving corps is very good, and has the speed to take slants and curls to the house. Gabe Davis is the best of the bunch, but Tre Nixon is also a legit threat. Heupel wants to play tempo, which means he’ll need to keep things simple as Wimbush was not the best at reading defenses while in South Bend. Physical teams can press the receivers and upset the timing – something people saw in the Fiesta Bowl loss to LSU. The Knights couldn’t move the ball all day, and were pushed around pretty easily by the Tigers. Getting tougher on offense will be a big challenge in 2019.

DEFENSE: 4-3

Many P5 teams would kill to have a secondary as good as UCF’s – free safety Richie Grant is a bonafide star, and can play all over the field – in deep coverage, as a blitzing safety, as a nickel cover man. He’s that good. Brandon Moore and Nevelle Clarke aren’t exactly slouches, though, and Duke transfer Jordan Hayes is experienced and can hit.

The questions are in the front seven, a group that got gashed far too often on the ground last season (4.68 YPC, 91^st), and who also had trouble getting off the field (95^th in opponent third down conversions). DC Randy Shannon doesn’t do a lot of fancy stuff – he’ll line his guys up and hope that speed and agility gets it done. He’ll bring out blitzes at odd times and sometimes add a nickel cover man, but he typically keeps it simple.

The Knights MUST cut out the big plays this season, as they allowed 216 plays of 10-plus last season. If teams can get into an offensive groove they’ll be able to take the air out of the football and make UCF play left-handed. 

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: ATH Otis Anderson, who does a little bit of everything. He’ll line up offset in the backfield, in the slot as a receiver, he’s also a very good punt returner. He is UCF’s Swiss army knife.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: NT Cam Goode (RS), S Jordan Hayes (Duke transfer), QB Brandon Wimbush (Notre Dame transfer), LB Aundre Kearney (Virginia Tech transfer)

TOUGHEST GAMES: Stanford (S 14), at Cincinnati (O 4), Houston (N 2), at Tulane (N 23)

FUN NUMBERS: UCF averaged a play every 20.1 seconds, second fastest tempo in FBS

OVERVIEW: The Knights should once again be very good and will almost certainly be the fastest team in the AAC. But even with a baker’s dozen players returning, it’s the one that isn’t that’s causing the most worry – Milton. Truth be told, if Mack was starting I would be a bit higher on UCF. There is great talent and depth in the secondary, but not a lot of experience in the front seven. That could be an issue for a team that didn’t hold up well at the point of attack last season. The Knights will be good but won’t be the class of the AAC.

32 IOWA HAWKEYES

OFFENSE: MULTIPLE

Fans of old school football LOVE the Hawkeyes – they are throwbacks to the era of the huddle and being deliberate, which really stands out in this day and age of tempo football. They’ll play two backs and bludgeon teams to death, because they can. 

The offensive line is usually good, and this year is no exception as Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson are two of the best OTs in the game. Nate Stanley may not wow anyone with his numbers, but the guy knows how to play. He’s patient, he’ll wait for something to open up, and if it isn’t there he’ll throw it away. The tight end over the middle is a favorite play, and they’ve been able to run it EVERY SINGLE YEAR because they have great tight ends. We don’t know if that’s the case this year, though it could be. Nate Wietling and Shaun Beyer will get their chance to shine. Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the top threat out wide (15.7 YPC) and can get behind the secondary. 

Iowa needs to play from ahead because the run game has slipped the last few seasons, limiting their ability to catch up. Mismatches are easy to find because it’s not a super talented team. It just does what it does really well. Mekhi Sargent and Toren Young need to step up in the run game if the Hawkeyes want to achieve their goals.

DEFENSE: 4-2-5

Iowa was once again stellar on defense, holding foes to 18 points or fewer for the fourth time in the last six seasons. DE AJ Epenesa is a monster, netting 10.5 sacks and 8 hurries a year ago, and he wasn’t even a full-time starter! Teamed with Chauncey Golston, Iowa has one of the best end combos in the nation. Iowa typically has stout pluggers inside, but Brady Reiff and Cedric Lattimore are a bit more athletic and active. They hold the point well but aren’t much in the way of collapsing the LOS.

The linebackers are light on experience, but the secondary is very good, led by strong safety Geno Stone (4 INTs) and Matt Hankins (48 tackles, 3 PBU). Corner Michael Ojemudia doesn’t get a lot of headlines but has size and is Iowa’s best cover man. DJ Johnson has gotten praise from the coaching staff and could play the same hybrid as Amani Hooker did on the way to AA honors. Iowa did allow 28+ five times last year but made up for it two shutouts and games of 7 and 3 points.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, an experienced, speedy weapon who can test defenses deep. He averaged nearly 16 YPC and is a very good route runner. His only issue is size (175 pounds), making him easy to jam off the line. 

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: C Tyler Linderbaum (RS), NB DJ Johnson (RS), OT Ezra Miller, CB Daraun McKinney

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Iowa State (S 14), at Michigan (O 5), Penn State (O 12), at Northwestern (O 26), at Wisconsin (N 9), Minnesota (N 16), at Nebraska (N 29)

FUN NUMBERS: 34, the percentage of passes that were targeted to tight ends in 2018. That was easily the top figure in FBS, and would it expect it to go down with new faces at the position.

OVERVIEW: A lot of teams would be concerned with losing seven starters on defense, but Iowa has its system and it’s simply next man up. Golston and Johnson are new faces who could shine, and Epenesa is a player you cannot take your eyes off of. The question will be how much better can the Hawkeyes run the ball? If they can’t at least keep defenses honest then Stanley’s gritty efforts will end up wasted. The schedule is brutal, limiting the ceiling for the Hawkeyes. They could be the best in the West, but the record won’t show it.

33 CINCINNATI BEARCATS

OFFENSE: POWER RUN

Luke Fickell has molded the Bearcats in his image – tough, relentless, aggressive. Let’s see how tough they are with actual expectations.

Michael Warren was excellent at RB as a freshman, rushing for over 1300 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns. If he just gets a LITTLE bit better on first down the Bearcats could really be something. Because Warren wasn’t great on first down, QB Desmond Ridder had to be. He had a passer rating of 184.8 in third-and-long situations, and was second to only Trevor Lawrence among freshmen in blitz down success rate (11^th nationally). Like Warren, he needs to get better on first down. The Bearcats were behind the chains far too often last season and needed Ridder to bail them out a lot. Not sure if that’s sustainable. The offensive line loses three, and the receiving corps lost top target Khalil Lewis. 

Not to worry, because Cincinnati wants to ground and pound, and in Warren and Ridder they have one of the best combos in the land. Tavion Thomas and Charles McClelland add to the backfield depth.

DEFENSE: 4-3

Cincinnati loses three up front, notably interior Cortez Broughton. But DC Marcus Freeman shouldn’t have too much trouble as Malik Vann and Michael Pitts should be just fine. Kevin Mouhon is back after being out for the season with an injury, which will give a boost. 

LBs Perry Young and Bryan Wright will be asked to do more this season with younger guys in front of them, and Young should be especially hungry since his season was cut short by injury. Jarell White is the leading returning tackler (58, 7 TFL) and an excellent leader.

James Wiggins is a linchpin in an experienced secondary, which helped hold foes to a nation’s best 48.6 completion percentage. Wiggins is rangy and covers like a corner but can really hit.  Cincinnati plays very aggressive press man and on-ball defense, and given the results one would have to say that’s a good plan. It may not work quite as well this year given the inexperience of the D-line, but there will still be plenty of chances.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER:  WR Alec Pierce. He played in 11 games a year ago but didn’t do much, but now is his time to shine. At 6-2, 210, Pierce can work the middle and break tackles.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: WR L’Christian (Blue) Smith (Ohio State transfer), OG Jeremy Cooper (RS), LB Darrian Beavers (UConn transfer)

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Ohio State (S 7), UCF (O 4), at Houston (O 12), at Memphis (N 29)

FUN NUMBERS: 126, the number of 10-plus yard plays the Bearcats allowed last season, third best in FBS.

OVERVIEW: The Bearcats fit the profile of a G5 program that’s ready to take off, but it may be one more year before they are really special as the losses along both lines will be hard to fill. But the players believe in Fickell and the coaching staff so maybe they can punch above their weight class. They’ll get the chance early, opening with UCLA and Ohio State. One note – Cincinnati plays excellent special teams, which should be no surprise since Fickell coached under Jim Tressel. James Smith was tops in the nation in punting efficiency and had a NET of 44.3, tops in the land.

34 MISSOURI TIGERS

OFFENSE: SPREAD

With the Drew Lock era over, Missouri will have a much different offensive look this season. OC Derek Dooley has been adaptable to his talent in the past, and he should tailor this year’s offense more to favor the ground game.

Kelly Bryant steps in at quarterback after leaving Clemson, and while he is an efficient thrower he isn’t really a DANGEROUS thrower, someone that’s going to instill fear into opposing secondaries. Dooley will get Bryant out on the edge to give defenses something to think about, and he’ll have less complex patterns for the wideouts.

The offensive line is good, especially in pass pro, and Larry Rountree is back as lead runner after gobbling up 1216 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. Rountree is more efficient than explosive, but that’s just fine. The receiving corps is deep and would actually be a perfect fit for Lock. Jonathan Nance comes over from Arkansas, Johnathan Johnson caught 59 passes last year and Jalen Knox is an emerging star on the outside. And then there’s TE Albert Okwuegbunam, who isn’t great after the catch but is, at 6-5, 255, an inviting target. It will be intriguing to see if Dooley can find the right balance of run and pass.

DEFENSE: 4-3

The Tigers are a mystery on defense – you expect them to be better than they are because Barry Odom is a defensive wizard. Then they can’t generate pressure without blitzing, leaving the secondary covering receivers for far too long, and finish 93^rd in YPA (7.7). The sack rate (108^th nationally) MUST improve if Missouri’s D is to reach elite status.

The talent is there, especially in the middle with tackling machine Cale Garrett at linebacker. He tallied 112 tackles last year and is the heart and soul of the unit, a relentless force that’s always in motion. JUCO transfer Sci Martin (originally an LSU signee) could help shore up the D-line after going through spring ball, and the coaches believe Jordan Elliott has unlimited potential inside. DeMarkus Acy was an All-SEC choice last year after picking off three passes and breaking up 10 more. He’s long and physical, and a challenge for receivers. This unit will go as far as the defensive line takes it.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: WR Jalen Knox, who will be counted on to replace uber-productive Emanuel Hall. He averaged nearly 16 YPC and scored three times and should be a favorite target of Bryant.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: S Jalani Williams, DE Sci Martin (JUCO), QB Kelly Bryant (Clemson transfer), WR Jonathan Nance (Arkansas transfer)

TOUGHEST GAMES: South Carolina (S 21), at Georgia (N 9), Florida (N 16)

FUN NUMBERS: 2.9, the percentage of pass attempts where Missouri quarterbacks took a sack, sixth best in the country.

OVERVIEW: This is a tough team to gauge – there is a lot of talent, and the defense can be downright nasty. But how much fight will there be if the bowl ban is upheld? If Missouri doesn’t feel like it’s playing for anything, the season could spiral out of control in a hurry. It will be interesting to see how Bryant’s final college football campaign will go. He was always a good kid, and was probably painted with a broad brush after leaving Clemson. But by all accounts he has put his head down and gone to work for the Tigers, which should make the loss of Drew Lock sting much less. Bryant isn’t the dynamic thrower Lock was, but he can run the football. If we knew more about Missouri’s fate we might put them higher because they look like a sneaky good team. The schedule is also VERY manageable, with a road trip to Georgia and a home date with Florida being the only really intimidating games after September.

35 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

OFFENSE: POWER RUN SPREAD

It wasn’t all that long ago that Cal had one of the most exciting offenses in America – Jared Goff was under center, points were being scored in bunches. But once Goff left the scoring stopped, and so did the winning. The defense wasn’t good enough to pick up the slack, and Cal fell to five wins in 2016, leading to the ouster of Sonny Dykes. 

Defensive-minded Justin Wilcox took over, and took Cal to seven wins and a bowl game last year, despite having an offense that rivaled paint drying for excitement. But it could be much better this year, in year two of OC Beau Baldwin’s scheme. His Eastern Washington teams played fast and aggressive, but could also run the ball. There doesn’t appear to be the personnel to wing it all over the place, so look for Cal to lean on QB Chase Garbers to use his legs a lot. But he’ll have to be able to keep defenses honest somehow because Cal was 124^th in explosive passing last season. Maybe the addition of JUCO Trevon Clark and Michigan’s Kekoa Crawford will breathe some life into the air attack.

Christopher Brown came in with all sorts of accolades as a runner, but was sort of meh – just 37 carries behind Patrick Laird. Brown is big (6-1, 230) and powerful, and runs to contact, and will get the lion’s share of the carries. The offensive line needs reinforcements, but there is talent there.

DEFENSE: 3-4

To watch Cal play defense is to go back to an era where defense wasn’t a dirty word.

The Bears ranked ninth nationally in YPP (4.6) and were top 15 in most pass defense categories. The Bears pilfered 21 footballs, second most in FBS, and have an intact secondary back in 2019. Ashtyn Davis had five PBU and four INT from his free safety spot, and can cover like a corner. Running mate Jaylinn Hawkins was even better, with six picks, and corners Cameron Bynum and Elijah Hicks also got into the act. This is a really tough bunch to throw on. Cal gives up almost no explosive plays, mainly because it isn’t super aggressive but covers well enough that the front seven can get to the quarterback (32 sacks).

The line is fine, but the LBs are outstanding – Evan Weaver had 159 tackles – yes, you read that correctly – 6 PBU, 5 TFL and 4.5 sacks and was an unstoppable force. He should be even better as a senior. Tevin Paul should emerge as a force off the edge, and a healthy Cameron Goode will add athleticism to the unit. JUCO Kuony Deng is a 6-6, 225 athletic freak with a huge wingspan and a great closing burst. Even with some personnel losses, this unit looks just as tough as last year’s. Maybe even better.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: EDGE Tevin Paul, who has the potential to become a real terror rushing off  the edge. He’s quick and strong, and should have many more than the two sacks he had in 2018

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: QB Devon Modster (UCLA transfer), WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (USC transfer), WR Kekoa Crawford (Michigan transfer), LB Kuony Deng (JUCO), RB DeShawn Collins

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Washington (S 7), at Oregon (O 5), at Utah (O 26), Washington State (N 9), at Stanford (N 23)

FUN NUMBERS: 20, the number of interceptions thrown by Cal quarterbacks last year, second most in America. Only Rutgers (22) threw more.

OVERVIEW: If there was any team in America more destructive on defense but disjointed on offense, we can’t find it. Cal averaged just 21.5 ppg and limited foes to 20.5 ppg – in the Pac-12 – and lost six times. Hell, it beat Washington without scoring an offensive touchdown. You have to think things will be better this season, especially if Cal settles on being a hard-nosed running team. It has the personnel to do that, and it would help the defense immensely. That defense is something special and has seven back, and has really become the identity for the Golden Bears – sort of a reflection of head coach Justin Wilcox. If Cal can just find ways to score this season – even a little bit – its first eight-win season since 2015 is definitely within reach. The schedule is daunting, with road trips to Washington, Oregon, Utah and Stanford. But maybe Wilcox is content to be an outlier in a tempo-laden, scoreboard driven Pac-12.

36 BOISE STATE BRONCOS

OFFENSE: MULTIPLE

It’s not optimum to head into fall camp without a starter at quarterback, but that’s where Boise State finds itself after the graduation of Brett Rypien. The Broncos have recruited a pair of highly-touted freshmen, none more so than Hank Bachmeier (#14 Pro Style QB), who enrolled in the spring and has a leg up for the job. Fellow frosh Kaiden Bennett will fight for it as well, and dual threat Chase Cord could be the heaviest competition.

Whoever gets the job will have a nice slew of weapons, including big play threat John Hightower (16.3 YPC) and Khalil Shakur. Octavius Evans and Akilian Butler add to the depth, but won’t flourish if the ground game doesn’t work.

Andrew Van Buren (163 yards) is the leading returning rusher but he will likely get a lot of work early as the ground game takes center stage. Robert Mahone and freshmen Marcus Washington and George Holani will all get their chances. Things up front are really good with all five starters back. None is better than AA candidate Ezra Cleveland at left tackle. Cleveland is big and nasty and has an NFL future. Guard John Molchon also has a professional future, and the quintet plays very well together. There may be more running the ball, at least early, which likely leads to a slightly less potent offense.

DEFENSE: 3-4

The defense has seven back but loses coordinator Andy Avalos to Oregon. New DC Jeff Schmedding is from Eastern Washington, and his transition should be easier with veterans at every level. David Moa is back after a redshirt season but was second-team all-league in 2017. He’s quick and tough to move inside. EDGE Curtis Weaver has 20.5 sacks in two seasons and should add to that this year as the best pass rusher in the league. The utilization of a true 3-4 should help Weaver and his LB mates wreak havoc. 

The secondary is standout, led by corner Avery Williams (2 INT, 9 PBU) and safety Kekoa Nawahine (71 tackles), another who looks to have an NFL future. This group has big time potential and should be one of the better defenses in the entire country.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: WR John Hightower, who could be in line to become a premier deep threat after averaging over 16 YPC and scoring six touchdowns. Highly touted as a JUCO, Hightower can take the top off a defense

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: QB Hank Bachmeier, TE Austin Griffin (JUCO), WR DK Blaylock, RB George Holani

TOUGHEST GAMES: vs. Florida State (A 31), Air Force (S 20), at BYU (O 19), at Utah State (N 23)

FUN NUMBERS: 10, the consecutive seasons Boise State has produced a 1,000-yard rusher, best in FBS.

OVERVIEW: It’s not often that we see the Broncos in this much of a rebuilding stage. Fortunately for them, recruiting has been good, and there are ample replacements. They’re just SO young, especially at quarterback. All of the scholarship QBs on the roster have thrown a combined 10 passes. That’s a pretty scary thought, though it becomes a little less so when examining the schedule. Boise gets Air Force at home early, then goes to BYU in mid-October. After that it’s pretty easy, as they skip Fresno State and San Diego State, so another winning season and contention for a league title is not out of the question. If Bachmeier – or whomever wins the QB job – can simply be good then the Broncos will be all right. The defense should be excellent and will carry things until the young pups on offense find their bite. Getting off to a good start in the opener against Florida State is imperative as it could set the table for a nice run. Lose that one and maybe the young guys lose a bit of confidence, and the season doesn’t go as expected. Boise State has won at least eight games for 21 straight years, and we don’t see that ending this season.

37 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

OFFENSE: SPREAD

One constant in college football has been wide-open Oklahoma State offenses. The Cowboys throw and throw some more, but change may be coming after losing OC Mike Yurcich to Ohio State. In his place steps Sean Gleeson, who molded Princeton’s offense into a scoring machine (47 ppg) and loved using exotic formations. He also didn’t shy away from quarterback runs, which is why it’s like that redshirt frosh Spencer Sanders gets the starting nod. 

Sanders has nice size and a very good arm, but he’s also elusive and brings a component the Cowboys have lacked over the years – the ability to move the chains with his legs. Fans will see a good number of RPOs, and even if it isn’t Sanders running the ball, the ground game will be humming early so he can get comfortable.

Chuba Hubbard should have a big season after averaging 6 YPC late in the season. He can run between the tackles or outside and should get the lion’s share of the work. Tylan Wallace has a claim for best receiver in college football, though his production may slip just a bit with the inexperience at quarterback. Wallace is a big play waiting to happen (17.3 YPC, 12 TD) and is the anchor for a very nice group that includes Dillon Stoner and CJ Moore. The offensive line is always good, and guard Marcus Keyes could be an All-American in 2019.

DEFENSE: 4-2-5

Defense was merely a suggestion last year in Stillwater as the Cowboys ranked 80^th or lower in every important category.

There was too much boom or bust, as OSU was able to get to the quarterback (39 sacks), but when they didn’t the secondary couldn’t make any stops.Even with major personnel losses, the aggressive play on defense won’t stop. Oklahoma State has to hope it can force turnovers (a category in which it was -9 last season) or it could be a repeat of last season.

Big time questions loom up front, but linebacker Calvin Bundage is a talent (62 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4 QBH). Corners AJ Green (11 PBU) and Rodarius Williams (8 PBU) are the most experienced members of the secondary, but they will need to be on the same page as the front seven, something that wasn’t always the case last year. They never settled on a base look, changed schemes often -- sometimes in-game --  and were utterly lost most of the year. That must get better, especially with the lack of experience on offense.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: QB Sanders came in with a lot of hype last season but ended up redshirt so he could put on some muscle. He had an excellent spring and looks to be a very good fit for the new, enhanced offense.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: QB Spencer Sanders (RS), DT Sione Asi (JUCO), RB Dezmon Jackson (JUCO), CB Thomas Harper, TE Grayson Boomer, DE Kyle Junior (Bowling Green transfer)

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Texas (S 21), Baylor (O 19), at Iowa State (O 26), TCU (N 2), Oklahoma (N 30)

FUN NUMBERS: 13, the number of years in a row Okie State has finished above .500.

OVERVIEW: It’s conceivable that the Cowboys start fast out of the gate as they have a very easy non-league slate. That should give them some confidence heading into a crucial road test with Texas. That game could dictate which direction the season goes. If Sanders hits the ground running then this will be your typical high-flying Oklahoma State offense. But if he struggles, what then? A freshman quarterback lacking confidence is a recipe for disaster. Backup Dru Brown is more the prototype OSU QB, with a big time arm and a pocket presence. The defense needs to get better, especially at stopping explosive plays. The Pokes were 99^th in YPP allowed, and that may not get much better this year with weaker personnel and the same gambling mentality on defense. Even if the defense is an issue, we know that Mike Gundy always finds a way to reinvent things. That alone should be enough to keep the Cowboys competitive, though if the defense doesn’t improve it could be a real issue. If they can steal a game or two where they are underdogs, Okie State can leap into contention.

38 BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS

OFFENSE: SPREAD

A year after having one of the worst run games in America, Brigham Young gained some toughness and found its winning ways. That came from the hire of LSU OL coach Jeff Grimes as OC, who instilled power concepts along with some new-fangled (gasp!) RPOs and fly sweeps. You know, adding some spice to the offense.

It also helped that QB Zach Wilson played beyond his years as a freshman, throwing just 3 INTs to 12 TDs after taking over for Tanner Mangum in midseason. Wilson comes into the season with the starting gig and has a group of receivers that are largely interchangeable, and he could be in line for a big season operating behind of the best OLs in college football. 

Talon Shumway may be the best of the receiving group, though big things are expected from sophomore Gunnar Romney. TE Matt Bushman is largely unheralded but has an NFL future and can get down the seam to create mismatches. The Cougars ground game will get a boost from South Carolina transfer Ty’Son Williams and an offensive line that returns four, including sophomore center James Empey, who graded out as one of the best in the country last season.

DEFENSE: 4-3

People don’t talk much about BYU’s defense, but the Cougars ranked 18^th in the country last year in total D and have eight starters back. Especially stout against the run (3.7 YPC), BYU is content to let the action come to it and make the play. Injuries played a role in some veterans missing spring drills, but they should be good to go once the season starts.

Linebacker Zayne Anderson is a leader and will benefit from the presence of the rather large Khyiris Tonga (6-4, 340) inside to clog up blockers. Safety Austin Lee is a hitter, and his supporting cast is surprisingly good. BYU doesn’t churn out top-flight corners, but Dayan Ghanwoloku – who can also play safety -- had two PBU last year and is viewed by the coaches as a potential playmaker.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER:  LB Isaiah Kaufusi, the team’s leading returning tackler and a guy who has a non-stop motor and the speed to impact the game.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: LB Chaz Ah You, LB Keenan Pili, CB Eric Ellison (JUCO), LB Max Tooley (RS), OT Harris LaChance (RS)

TOUGHEST GAMES: Utah (A 31), USC (S 14), Washington (S 21), Boise State (O 19), at San Diego State (N 30)

FUN NUMBERS: 4, the number of P5 opponents BYU opens with this season – the only team in America that does so.

OVERVIEW: BYU is putting together a nice roster of talent, and its frontline players can hold up against just about anyone, but depth is still lacking. That means the Cougars must stay healthy and get contributions from players who haven’t been thrown into the fire. The die will be cast early as BYU faces Utah, Tennessee, USC and Washington in the first month of the season. A split of those four – or even three wins – could set BYU on a course of prosperity the rest of the season. But if it gets hit and the mouth and can’t respond, then who knows how the new faces will react? It’s a thin line being walked, but as long as Wilson is under center BYU has a shot. He looks like a real star, something BYU used to produce with regularity in the 80s and 90s but haven’t for some time. If he takes off, watch out.

39 NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK

OFFENSE: SPREAD/STRETCH RUN

There is a lot of new for the Wolfpack in 2019, most of it on offense. Not only did they suffer major personnel losses, but successful OC Eli Drinkwitz took the head coaching job at Appalachian State. So a new offense, with young personnel, in a conference that’s improving … doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, does it? Well, Dave Doeren has done more with less for quite some time, and was optimistic coming out of spring ball that NC State has some playmakers. Whether or not they are ready for the challenges of big-time college football remains to be seen.

There is a legit competition at quarterback, though junior Matt McKay appears to have an edge over Florida State transfer Bailey Hockman and freshman Devin Leary. McKay is a big, strapping young man who isn’t afraid to wing it. But he also has the ability to run, which could help him settle in.

The ground game will need a boost, and it’s not certain that heralded recruit Ricky Person Jr can provide it. He gained just 471 yards a year ago and looked like more a chain-mover than a home-run hitter. Freshman Zonovan Knight could fit that role with his speed, and he should get his share of carries after exciting in the spring. The receiving corps returns Emeka Emezie (53 catches, 5 TD), who moves out of Kelvin Harmon’s shadow into the spotlight. Thayer Thomas proved reliable as a freshman and Tabari Hines has something to prove as an Oregon transfer who didn’t play a ton.

The offensive line is a work in progress, with three new starters. Guard Joshua Fedd-Jones is the best of the group.

DEFENSE: 4-2-5

A usually reliable pass defense suffered as major personnel losses gutted NC State’s defensive front. The Wolfpack finished 108^th in pass defense, and didn’t really get consistent at pressuring the quarterback until late in the season. Getting upfield will be a priority this year, and the charge will be led by James Smith-Williams, who had six sacks and four hurries a year ago. He is a standout, but there is a lot of young talent, including a pair of incoming freshmen would could really shake things up.

The linebacker group is young but talented, led by soph Isaiah Moore (69 tackles, 5 TFL, 6 QBH). Payton Wilson was a heralded recruit last year but redshirted after an early season injury and should be ready to roll.

Jarius Morehead could become a household name this season after leading the squad in tackles (81) and interceptions (3) from his safety spot. He has excellent instincts and is always around the football. Stephen Griffin is the other veteran in the secondary, which may need to rely on underclassmen more than it wants to.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: DE James Smith-Williams, the latest in a long recent line of standout Wolfpack pass rushers. He did well last year, netting six sacks, but may be tasked with even more responsibility as the DL is very young.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS:  RB Zonovan Knight, DE Savion Jackson, DT Joshua Harris, LB Payton Wilson (RS), WR Tabari Hines (Oregon transfer), WR Devin Carter (RS), QB Devin Leary (RS), LB Drake Thomas

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Florida State (S 28), Syracuse (O 10), Clemson (N 9)

FUN NUMBERS: 128, NC State’s ranking in percentage of non-sack runs that gained at least 4 yards (39 percent). The ground game MUST improve.

OVERVIEW: With so much youth on hand, it may be asking a lot of the Wolfpack to finish this high. But Doeren is one the better coaches around and succeeds just when you’re ready to count him out. The schedule is not a killer, which should allow for a fast start and building confidence prior to a showdown with Florida State. Doeren knows the payoff is down the road, either next year or 2021, but he believes in his young players and feels an excitement for the challenge ahead. If the ground game can get going this could be a very methodical, grind-it-out team. And the defense will benefit from that. Maybe we’re being a tad optimistic, but we like the Wolfpack to slightly exceed expectations.

40 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
OFFENSE: AIR RAID

If something works once, why not try it again? That could be Mike Leach’s thought process as he enters 2019 with a second straight grad transfer quarterback.

Gardner Minshew broke numerous Pac-12 records last year, and while Gubrud may not be quite as prolific, he definitely showed he can wing it at Eastern Washington, amassing over 11,000 passing yards and more than 100 touchdowns. Gubrud did miss the spring with an ankle injury, but has an embarrassment of riches to work with as Davontavean Martin, Dezmon Patmon and Easop Winston all had over 50 grabs last year. Winston and Martin scored eight TDs, but there is more than enough to satisfy everyone. 

Max Borghi will go from change-of-pace back to workhorse this season, and has the running style that is a perfect fit. He can run through contact, and is stronger than he looks. He’s also an excellent pass catcher (53, 12 total TDs), which means he has a big place in this offense. Freshman Jamir Thomas was rated among the top 50 at his position and should get some work.

The offensive line returns four, which is important in such a pass-centric scheme. The ball gets out of the QBs hand so quickly that sack numbers will always be low, but these guys can also maul when the run game is called upon. Wazzu shows the same six or seven plays formation-wise, but will tinker with movement and run different routes depending on coverage. They could look the same for three steps and then break off in a way that was completely unexpected. That’s next to impossible to defend.

DEFENSE: 3-3-5

It used to be that the defense at Washington State was window dressing – if it made stops, fine. If it didn’t, Leach figured he would just outscore the opposition. But the hire of Tracy Claeys showed he was serious about getting that side fixed, and it worked. Wazzu was top 40 against the run and was good at forcing negative plays (11%, 22^nd nationally). WSU has somehow and been plus in turnovers in two of the last three years. The aggressive style of D forces a lot of miscues. 

There isn’t a lot of experience up front, which could cause some issues – but there is talent and depth, and that could count for something. Lamonte McDougle fortifies the middle after coming over from WVU in 2017 and redshirting last year, and he will be surrounded by lighter, faster players instead of the bulk you normally see along the D-line.

Jahad Woods is a standout at linebacker, netting 82 stops in 2018 and being the lone holdover in the LB corps. Willie Taylor III and Dominick Silvels have experience and will move into larger roles this season.

The secondary is small but physical, and will be led by corner Marcus Strong (6 PBU, 3 INT). Skyler Thomasa moves from safety to nickel to better utilize his tackling abilities. The loss of Jalen Thompson over the summer will be a blow as there was little experience behind him.

Wazzu decreased its  points allowed for a fourth straight season, though the lack of experience could put an end to that streak.

BREAKOUT PERFORMER: RB Max Borghi, who flashed as a freshman and should take on a much more pronounced role this season. He’s great catching the ball out of the backfield, which is a staple of a Mike Leach offense.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: RB Jamir Thomas, S Bryce Beekman (JUCO), CB Daniel Isom, QB Gage Gubrud (Eastern Washington transfer), NT Lamonte McDougle (RS, West Virginia transfer), CB Derrick Langford (JUCO)

TOUGHEST GAMES: at Houston (S 13), at Utah (S 28), at Oregon (O 26), at Cal (N 9), Stanford (N 16), at Washington (N 29)

FUN NUMBERS: 13, the number of sacks allowed last year, amazing considering that the Cougars attempted 677 passes. That figure was eighth best in FBS

OVERVIEW: Well, now look what you’ve done, coach Leach. You’ve welcomed expectations. That will happen after an 11-win campaign, but it won’t be easy to duplicate given how brutal the schedule is. Road trips to Utah, Oregon, Cal and Washington could limit Wazzu’s ceiling, but you know it will play to the final whistle. If Gubrud is even half as good as Gardner Minshew this offense will once again roll. The defense could also be improved in year two under Tracy Claeys, and they will bring the pressure as often as possible. It may be asking too much for Wazzu to hit double digit victories in 2019, but given Leach’s history can we totally rule it out?