| Rank | Team | 1998
Ranking | '98 Record | Returning
Starters | Schedule
Strength |
| 41 | Southern Miss | - | 7-5 | 12 | 77 |
| All-America defensive end Adalius Thomas was Conference USA's defensive player of the year. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 42 | Fresno State | - | 5-6 | 12 | 99 |
| Quarterback Billy Volek's 3:1 TD-to-interception ratio helps make Bulldogs the class of the WAC. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 43 | Texas Tech | - | 7-5 | 14 | 42 |
| Haven't we heard this before? Red Raiders' Ricky Williams is the Big 12's best running back. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 44 | N.C. State | - | 7-5 | 14 | 48 |
| If Jamie Barnette throws for 2,474 yards, he'll become the ACC's alltime passing-yardage leader. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 45 | California | - | 5-6 | 14 | 2 |
| Sack exchange: In 1998 linebacker Sekou Sanyika had seven, but Cal's offensive line allowed 58. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 46 | Auburn | - | 3-8 | 15 | 16 |
| The Tigers welcome Tommy Tuberville, the Mr. Goodwrench of SEC coaches. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 47 | Texas Christian | - | 7-5 | 15 | 107 |
| The Horned Frogs improved by six wins in coach Dennis Franchione's first season. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 48 | Oklahoma State | - | 5-6 | 10 | 44 |
| Junior Tony Lindsay completed 68.1% of his passes as a freshman but only 49.5% last year. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 49 | San Diego State | - | 7-5 | 15 | 69 |
| Aztecs 240-pound defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is both a handful and a mouthful. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 50 | South Carolina | - | 1-10 | 15 | 17 |
| Gamecocks fans aren't booing, they're saying, "Lou!" No, they are booing, for tailback Boo Williams. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 51 | Stanford | - | 3-8 | 19 | 11 |
| With 19 starters returning, the Cardinal may refute its anagrammatical darn-soft reputation. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 52 | Louisiana Tech | - | 6-6 | 18 | 71 |
| Quarterback Tim Rattay, nation's total offense leader (403.3 yards a game), is back. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 53 | Nevada | - | 6-5 | 17 | 101 |
| David Neill threw for 3,249 yards and 29 touchdowns as a freshman in 1998. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 54 | Idaho | - | 9-3 | 18 | 112 |
| Big West champs must replace school rushing leader Joel Thomas, but the rest of offense is intact. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 55 | Oklahoma | - | 5-6 | 16 | 27 |
| With defensive whiz Bob Stoops running the show in Norman, OU could become known as DU. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 56 | Boston College | - | 4-7 | 12 | 58 |
| The Eagles may start two freshmen in the backfield: FB J.P. Comella and TB William Green. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 57 | Missouri | (21) | 8-4 | 11 | 37 |
| The Tigers' defense cut by half the touchdowns it allowed, from 42 in 1997 to 21 in '98. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 58 | Utah | - | 7-4 | 14 | 81 |
| Utes' first three foes (Washington State, Utah State and UNLV) combined for six wins in 1998. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 59 | Indiana | - | 4-7 | 17 | 49 |
| Big Ten freshman of the year, quarterback Antwaan Randle El, may also play flanker or slotback. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 60 | Wyoming | - | 8-3 | 14 | 75 |
| The Cowboys open at Tennessee and then take out their frustrations on Weber State. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 61 | Clemson | - | 3-8 | 11 | 4 |
| The Tigers have no returning offensive-line starters for the first time since 1943. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 62 | Washington State | - | 3-8 | 16 | 33 |
| Quarterback Matt Kegel, Ryan Leaf's first cousin, pulls into Pullman. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 63 | Houston | - | 3-8 | 16 | 73 |
| Micah Malone, who has starred at defensive end and linebacker, moves to strong safety. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 64 | Western Michigan | - | 7-4 | 17 | 100 |
| Wide receiver Steve Neal had a MAC-best 63 catches last fall. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 65 | Kansas | - | 4-7 | 16 | 34 |
| Under Terry Allen the Jayhawks are 7-1 when leading at halftime but 0-11 when trailing. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 66 | Toledo | - | 7-5 | 15 | 110 |
| Oft-injured redshirt guard Mike Lenix enters his seventh year with the Rockets. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 67 | East Carolina | - | 6-5 | 12 | 67 |
| David Garrard completed 61.6% of his passes as a freshman last year. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 68 | Southern Methodist | - | 5-7 | 12 | 92 |
| Leading Mustangs passer Chris Sanders transferred to Tennessee-Chattanooga. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 69 | Oregon State | - | 5-6 | 11 | 18 |
| Newcomer Dennis Erickson has been coach of the year in the Big Sky, Pac-10 and Big East. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 70 | Rice | - | 5-6 | 11 | 76 |
| With Air Force out of the conference, the Owls have the WAC's most potent spread-option offense. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 71 | Baylor | - | 2-9 | 19 | 31 |
| The Bears were last in Big 12 in rushing average (110.3 yards) and total offense (276.8) in '98. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 72 | Iowa | - | 3-8 | 13 | 23 |
| Only one offensive-line starter returns for the nation's fourth-worst rushing team in 1998. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 73 | Tulane | (7) | 12-0 | 11 | 86 |
| After a sublime 1998 season the Green Wave will crash. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 74 | Duke | - | 4-7 | 18 | 46 |
| New coach Carl Franks, a former Blue Devils tight end, inherits 18 starters. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 75 | Kentucky | - | 7-5 | 11 | 9 |
| Top NFL pick Tim Couch left town, as did the entire starting offensive line. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 76 | Army | - | 3-8 | 10 | 88 |
| The Cadets led the nation in rushing last year with 293.8 yards per game. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 77 | Illinois | - | 3-8 | 17 | 26 |
| Sophomore center Luke Butkus is former Illini great Dick's nephew. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 78 | Colorado State | - | 8-4 | 12 | 53 |
| Defensive end Clark Haggans has had 11 sacks in each of the last two seasons. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 79 | Iowa State | - | 3-8 | 16 | 38 |
| Darren Davis aims to be first Cyclones rusher to have three straight 1,000-yard seasons. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 80 | Maryland | - | 3-8 | 16 | 52 |
| Terps' top five receivers return (Yea!); Maryland ranked 103rd in passing last season (Boo!). CNNSI.com Team Preview |
