All 130 college football programs are ranked in wins, attendance, draft and more in the 2020 CFN Five-Year Program Analysis
Which college football programs are doing the best jobs overall, which once have all the advantages, and most of all, who’s winning?
At the end of the day, if your college football program wins a lot of games, everything else works out from the attendance, the draft picks, and the money that all follows from all of the success.
Created over two decades ago, the CFN Five-Year Program Analysis takes a look at several different factors to rank all 130 programs from all of the difference aspects.
When we first did this, Miami owned the 1990s. Florida and Nebraska had their say for a while, USC took over, and now you know who the big boys are.
How are the rankings determined? Click here for all of the category descriptions and all of the team-by-team rankings.
Contact @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings
Top 10 | 11-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | 101-130
Ranking Categories Explained
130 UTEP
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 9.48
2019 Ranking: 126
2018 Ranking: 123
2017 Ranking: 117
Biggest Positive: 4 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 8 FBS wins
Analysis: Years of struggles have led to this. UTEP won just eight games over FBS teams over the last five years, and all eight of them were bad wins – wins over FCS teams or teams that finished with three wins or fewer.
– CFN UTEP 2020 Team Preview
129 Texas State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 15.04
2019 Ranking: 124
2018 Ranking: 118
2017 Ranking: 114
Biggest Positive: 2 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 2.5 Bad Win Score
Analysis: When you only win eight games over FBS teams and you have a Bad Win Score of 2.5, that’s not good. The Bobcats haven’t won enough, the attendance has struggled, and the APR isn’t good.
– CFN Texas State 2020 Team Preview
128 UMass
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 15.25
2019 Ranking: 129
2018 Ranking: 130
2017 Ranking: 130
Biggest Positive: 5 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 1.12 Attendance Score
Analysis: It’s been tough being an independent. The team doesn’t win enough, the 11.5 Bad Loss score stinks, and there’s not enough of a home attendance to make anything work. The dismal APR score adds insult to injury.
– CFN UMass 2020 Team Preview
127 Kansas
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 16.46
2019 Ranking: 128
2018 Ranking: 127
2017 Ranking: 123
Biggest Positive: 2.66 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 6 FBS wins
Analysis: Boston College and Texas Tech last season, Central Michigan, Rutgers and TCU in 2018, Texas in 2015. Those are the six wins over FBS wins in the last five seasons. That’s it. There’s nothing else positive – including the attendance – across the board.
– CFN Kansas 2020 Team Preview
126 Rice
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 17.62
2019 Ranking: 117
2018 Ranking: 95
2017 Ranking: 78
Biggest Positive: 9.816 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 0 Quality Wins
Analysis: It’s been a simple issue – the football team doesn’t win enough football games. The Owls have won just 11 over FBS programs in the last five years, and none of them came against teams that finished with a winning record. The players rock in the classroom, though.
– CFN Rice 2020 Team Preview
125 Kent State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 22.52
2019 Ranking: 130
2018 Ranking: 125
2017 Ranking: 106
Biggest Positive: 9.74 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 1.25 Attendance Score
Analysis: The program finally knows what it’s like to win a little bit after going bowling last season, but it still needs to do a whole lot more to move up. The Attendance Score is a huge problem, and winning just 28% of all MAC games doesn’t help.
– CFN Kent State 2020 Team Preview
124 Coastal Carolina
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 23.18
2019 Ranking: 125
2018 Ranking: 128
2017 Ranking: 127
Biggest Positive: 9.69 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 1.16 Attendance Score
Analysis: There aren’t enough wins overall – it only had three years of stats in the mix – but the APR is good and there was enough success packed in the three seasons to start moving up a bit.
– CFN Coastal Carolina 2020 Team Preview
123 UConn
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 24.48
2019 Ranking: 121
2018 Ranking: 117
2017 Ranking: 105
Biggest Positive: 1 Elite Win
Biggest Negative: 9.762 APR Score
Analysis: UConn 20, Houston 17. The Huskies handed the Cougars their only loss of 2015, and that Elite Win is a huge help to the overall cause. Five players were drafted, and the APR Score is great, but there have to be more wins. Fast.
– CFN UConn 2020 Team Preview
122 UNLV
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 24.89
2019 Ranking: 122
2018 Ranking: 114
2017 Ranking: 118
Biggest Positive: 16 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 8 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The 16 FBS wins are the most by anyone ranked lower than 115th, but the real boost comes from the eight wins over teams that finished with winning records. That’s a problem, though – the program has been good enough to be able to beat a few nice teams to expect more than this overall.
– CFN UNLV 2020 Team Preview
121 San Jose State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 25.56
2019 Ranking: 120
2018 Ranking: 109
2017 Ranking: 75
Biggest Positive: 6 Draft Score
Biggest Negative: 1.49 Attendance Score
Analysis: Things started to get better last season with a few more wins, but they weren’t enough to come up with any sort of a boost. The Spartans are getting better, but the attendance is always going to be a problem, and winning more Mountain West games is a must.
– CFN San Jose State 2020 Team Preview
120 Ball State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 25.76
2019 Ranking: 119
2018 Ranking: 111
2017 Ranking: 89
Biggest Positive: Put it this way. 13 FBS wins are the most by anyone in the bottom eight. That’s about as nice a thing as can be said for a Cardinal program that struggled, but might just turn a corner with a strong team being built up.
Biggest Negative: 0.95 Attendance Score
Analysis: Put it this way … the 13 FBS wins
– CFN Ball State 2020 Team Preview
119 Liberty
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 26.03
2019 Ranking: 123
2018 Ranking: 126
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Biggest Positive: 56% winning %
Biggest Negative: 9.488 APR Score
Analysis: The Flames have only been in the FBS world for two years, so there aren’t enough bulk win stats to push out of the ranking doldrums. However, the program is starting to win, it went to a bowl, and it should start to make some noise with a few more decent campaigns.
– CFN Liberty 2020 Team Preview
118 New Mexico State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 26.33
2019 Ranking: 118
2018 Ranking: 121
2017 Ranking: 128
Biggest Positive: 9 Bad Wins
Biggest Negative: 29% winning percentage
Analysis: It’s been rough for New Mexico State to bust through – even with a winning season and a bowl victory a few years ago – without any one category that’s any good. When you “only” have nine bad wins, and that’s a plus, there’s a problem.
– CFN New Mexico State 2020 Team Preview
117 Charlotte
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 26.37
2019 Ranking: 127
2018 Ranking: 129
2017 Ranking: 129
Biggest Positive: 15 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.29 Attendance Score
Analysis: This is still a new program that’s getting stronger and stronger, coming off a trip to a bowl game. The fan base – at least the attendance – is still going to need time to build, but the trend is moving up overall.
– CFN Charlotte 2020 Team Preview
116 Rutgers
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 27.83
2019 Ranking: 109
2018 Ranking: 100
2017 Ranking: 84
Biggest Positive: 9.736 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 10 FBS Wins
Analysis: The program just doesn’t win football games. The Scarlet Knights have won fewer than 10% of their conference games, and ten FBS wins are miniscule. The saving stats are the APR and the attendance – 40,000 people a game is okay no matter how it works.
– CFN Rutgers 2020 Team Preview
115 East Carolina
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 28.18
2019 Ranking: 105
2018 Ranking: 80
2017 Ranking: 72
Biggest Positive: 3.8 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 20% Conference Winning %
Analysis: If the Pirates can just start winning on a regular basis, the fan base will be there to start cranking things up. The 14 FBS wins, though, aren’t good, and the 20% clip in AAC play stinks. Just two Quality Wins is a disaster.
– CFN East Carolina 2020 Team Preview
114 ULM
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 20.63
2019 Ranking: 115
2018 Ranking: 113
2017 Ranking: 104
Biggest Positive: 9.664 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 1.32 Attendance Score
Analysis: The Warhawks are sort of winning, and they’ve been competitive, but the program should be better. The APR Score isn’t that great, and the 13 Bad Wins are too many. Winning just 40% of Sun Belt games isn’t good enough.
– CFN ULM 2020 Team Preview
113 Old Dominion
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 30.66
2019 Ranking: 102
2018 Ranking: 103
2017 Ranking: 107
Biggest Positive: 21 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 15 Bad Wins
Analysis: The 2019 Monarchs were disappointing, and there haven’t been enough wins overall, but the 21 FBS victories over the last five years aren’t bad for being this low. There’s not a lot to get excited about, though, from the other categories.
– CFN Old Dominion 2020 Team Preview
112 Akron
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 30.75
2019 Ranking: 106
2018 Ranking: 99
2017 Ranking: 115
Biggest Positive: 20 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 9.452 APR Score
Analysis: Going 0-12 in 2019 doesn’t help the cause. The 20 FBS wins in the previous four seasons are the saving grace to keep things from sinking any further. There’s just nothing to get interested in across the numbers board, with the 40% winning clip in MAC play one of the few positives.
– CFN Akron 2020 Team Preview
111 Bowling Green
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 30.98
2019 Ranking: 103
2018 Ranking: 78
2017 Ranking: 60
Biggest Positive: 40% Conference Winning Percentage
Biggest Negative: 1.62 Attendance Score
Analysis: The Falcons did just enough winning a few years ago to see the slide in the rankings – 60th in 2017?! – go any further, but this is bad. The Attendance Score is always a problem, and the 12 Bad Wins don’t help.
– CFN Bowling Green 2020 Team Preview
110 Oregon State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 32.09
2019 Ranking: 113
2018 Ranking: 98
2017 Ranking: 73
Biggest Positive: 8 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 18% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The Beavers haven’t won a whole lot of games lately with just nine victories over FBS teams over the last five seasons. The Attendance Score of 3.52 isn’t okay, and getting eight players drafted helps, but they have to be a LOT better in Pac-12 play.
– CFN Oregon State 2020 Team Preview
109 UTSA
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 33.53
2019 Ranking: 104
2018 Ranking: 93
2017 Ranking: 94
Biggest Positive: 1 Bad Loss
Biggest Negative: 15 Bad Wins
Analysis: Give UTSA credit for one thing despite the crash in the rankings over the last few years – it doesn’t lose to the miserable teams. The key in Conference USA is to not drop the games to the dregs, and the loss to North Texas – the only win of the Mean Green season – in 2015 is it. In this case, a Bad Win score of 15 isn’t that awful – you’re doing your job.
– CFN UTSA 2020 Team Preview
108 Georgia State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 34.45
2019 Ranking: 116
2018 Ranking: 124
2017 Ranking: 126
Biggest Positive: 7 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 7 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The Panthers’ run to a bowl game and a 7-6 season – with wins over Tennessee and Arkansas State – helped boost up the the program’s ranking despite the rough Attendance Score of 1.5 and horrible Bad Loss Score. Losing to Texas State last season hurts.
– CFN Georgia State 2020 Team Preview
107 South Alabama
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 34.70
2019 Ranking: 93
2018 Ranking: 87
2017 Ranking: 99
Biggest Positive: 6 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 28% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The Jaguars aren’t getting it done in the Sun Belt. They only have 15 FBS wins overall and can’t get enough big performances in conference play, but a win at Troy in 2017 and a victory over San Diego State on the road gave them a 2.5 Elite Win score to put a stop to the ranking freefall.
– CFN South Alabama 2020 Team Preview
106 Illinois
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 34.95
2019 Ranking: 101
2018 Ranking: 102
2017 Ranking: 95
Biggest Positive: 9.808 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 23% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The Lovie Smith era isn’t exactly taking off. Yeah, Illinois went to a bowl game last season, but the 17 FBS wins and a mere three Quality Wins aren’t getting it done. Getting almost 40,000 fans per game helps, and the APR Score is great, but the program doesn’t win enough Big Ten games.
– CFN Illinois 2020 Team Preview
105 New Mexico
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 35.00
2019 Ranking: 97
2018 Ranking: 96
2017 Ranking: 93
Biggest Positive: 1 Bad Loss Score
Biggest Negative: 33% conference win percentage
Analysis: The Lobos went to bowl games in 2015 and 2016, and everything fell off the map with with just two wins that weren’t against FCS or teams that finished with three wins or fewer over the last three seasons. The program has just one Mountain West win since late September of 2017.
– CFN New Mexico 2020 Team Preview
104 Eastern Michigan
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 36.64
2019 Ranking: 114
2018 Ranking: 122
2017 Ranking: 124
Biggest Positive: 23 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 1.41 Attendance Score
Analysis: It’s hard to move up too much when the attendance hovers around 14,000 a game and the team wins about 38% of its MAC games. However, the 23 wins for a program that struggled for so, so long is fantastic.
– CFN Eastern Michigan 2020 Team Preview
103 Tulsa
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 38.40
2019 Ranking: 112
2018 Ranking: 106
2017 Ranking: 82
Biggest Positive: 23 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 4.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The Golden Hurricane are struggling to get to 20,000 fans a game in the stands, and the 4.5 Bad Loss Score is crushing, but the 2-10 season of 2014 isn’t on the books anymore so the ranking went up. Improving the 9.4 APR and the 48% conference winning clip would help.
– CFN Tulsa 2020 Team Preview
102 Nevada
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 39.51
2019 Ranking: 100
2018 Ranking: 112
2017 Ranking: 101
Biggest Positive: 9.714 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 1.82 Attendance Score
Analysis: It seems like the Wolf Pack should be a whole lot better than this. They have a not-horrible 26 wins over FBS teams and six Quality Wins, the Bad Loss Score of 5 and the mediocre attendance are a drag.
– CFN Nevada 2020 Team Preview
101 North Texas
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 40.22
2019 Ranking: 94
2018 Ranking: 89
2017 Ranking: 102
Biggest Positive: 8 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 2 players drafted
Analysis: The Mean Green won 24 games over FBS teams over the last five years, and the eight wins over teams that finished with a winning record are great, but the 14 bad wins and 3.5 Bad Loss Score brought the ranking down.
– CFN North Texas 2020 Team Preview
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings
Top 10 | 11-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100
Ranking Categories Explained
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 100
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 100
100 Colorado State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 41.37
2019 Ranking: 78
2018 Ranking: 62
2017 Ranking: 68
Biggest Positive: 24 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 19 Bad Wins
Analysis: The Rams have been great at beating the bad teams, but they’re not doing enough to come up with victories over the good ones. The 24 FBS wins aren’t bad, and getting six players drafted is good, but the program should be a lot better than this.
– CFN Colorado State 2020 Team Preview
99 Central Michigan
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 41.37
2019 Ranking: 95
2018 Ranking: 85
2017 Ranking: 88
Biggest Positive: 25 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 5.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The 1-11 2018 season dropped the ranking like a rock, and it’s going to take a little while to rebound. The 1.46 Attendance Score is always going to sting, and the Bad Loss Score is a problem, but Jim McElwain turned things back around last year.
– CFN Central Michigan 2020 Team Preview
98 Miami University
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 41.97
2019 Ranking: 111
2018 Ranking: 120
2017 Ranking: 120
Biggest Positive: 8 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.63 Attendance Score
Analysis: Attendance will always be a problem for the RedHawks, and the 12 Bad Wins are good for the rankings, but the defending MAC champion is great in the classroom and have enough Quality Wins to overcome the 4.5 Bad Loss Score.
– CFN Miami University 2020 Team Preview
97 Tulane
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 42.23
2019 Ranking: 107
2018 Ranking: 105
2017 Ranking: 113
Biggest Positive: 8 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 15 bad wins
Analysis: The Green Wave are slowing moving up under Willie Fritz. The APR Score should be a bit better than 9.6, and the attendance will always be an issue, but two straight seven-win seasons are changing the rankings.
– CFN Tulane 2020 Team Preview
96 FIU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 43.79
2019 Ranking: 96
2018 Ranking: 115
2017 Ranking: 121
Biggest Positive: 28 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 9.492 APR Score
Analysis: Butch Davis hasn’t been able to budge up the Golden Panthers all that much, but their 28 FBS wins over the last five years are good – they’re beating the bad teams in Conference USA. The APR and low attendance bring things down.
– CFN FIU 2020 Team Preview
95 Buffalo
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.12
2019 Ranking: 99
2018 Ranking: 107
2017 Ranking: 110
Biggest Positive: 10 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 4.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: It took a while, but Lance Leipold has turned Buffalo into a MAC powerhouse. The 27 FBS wins are good, and the ten wins over teams that finished with winning records are great, but the Bad Loss Score is keeping UB this low.
– CFN Buffalo 2020 Team Preview
94 Hawaii
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.15
2019 Ranking: 110
2018 Ranking: 119
2017 Ranking: 116
Biggest Positive: 26 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 4.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: It’s been a while since Hawaii made a whole lot of noise in the program rankings, but it’s been able to boost up fast with 26 FBS wins. More Mountain West victories would be nice – winning just 38% over the last five years – and the Bad Loss Score hurts.
– CFN Hawaii 2020 Team Preview
93 UAB
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.47
2019 Ranking: 90
2018 Ranking: 116
2017 Ranking: 122
Biggest Positive: 79% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 9.42 APR score
Analysis: It hasn’t been a bad run for Bill Clark and the Blazers since returning to life in 2017. Most impressively, only three years count since the program was off in 2015 and 2016, and yet it’s been able to win close to 80% of its Conference USA games with a whopping 11 Quality Wins.
– CFN UAB 2020 Team Preview
92 Arizona
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.68
2019 Ranking: 62
2018 Ranking: 51
2017 Ranking: 40
Biggest Positive: 4.55 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 33% conference winning percentage
Analysis: When you don’t win a lot of conference games, and you come up with a mere 21 FBS wins over five years, it’s hard to do much in the rankings. The Wildcats get Power Five attendance numbers, but the rest of the formula is lacking.
– CFN Arizona 2020 Team Preview
91 USF
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.83
2019 Ranking: 66
2018 Ranking: 72
2017 Ranking: 87
Biggest Positive: 60% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 4.5 Bad Win Score
Analysis: The Bulls were rocking and rolling a few years ago with 29 overall victories from 2015 to 2017, but a rough run over the end of 2018 through last year sunk the ranking. The problem? There were 22 FBS wins, and 18 Bad Wins.
– CFN USF 2020 Team Preview
Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings
Top 10 | 11-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | 101-130
Ranking Categories Explained
90 Louisiana
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 45.28
2019 Ranking: 98
2018 Ranking: 90
2017 Ranking: 70
Biggest Positive: 8 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 4.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: Losing the nine-win 2014 season hurt a bit in the rankings, but the success under Billy Napier over the last two years boosted up the Ragin’ Cajuns in a hurry. The attendance is always going to be light compared to the big boys, but the wins are coming.
– CFN Louisiana 2020 Team Preview
89 Georgia Southern
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 46.48
2019 Ranking: 92
2018 Ranking: 104
2017 Ranking: 97
Biggest Positive: 29 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 9.402 APR Score
Analysis: Beating Appalachian State over the last two seasons and boosting up the Elite Win Score has made a huge difference. The 29 FBS wins are solid, and winning close to 58% of all Sun Belt games are okay, but it’s going to take a few more big years to move up into the 80s.
– CFN Georgia Southern 2020 Team Preview
88 Middle Tennessee
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 47.54
2019 Ranking: 77
2018 Ranking: 75
2017 Ranking: 79
Biggest Positive: 30 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.60 Attendance Score
Analysis: The Blue Raiders dropped after a clunker of a 4-8 seasons, but the seven Quality Wins are good, and the 30 FBS wins are the most by anyone ranked 88 or lower. 16,000 fans a game and the 2.5 Bad Loss Score – losing to Rice last year really, really hurt – brings the ranking down.
– CFN Middle Tennessee 2020 Team Preview
87 Army
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 48.02
2019 Ranking: 84
2018 Ranking: 110
2017 Ranking: 125
Biggest Positive: 9.808 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 5.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: There are just enough losses to bad teams to keep the Black Knights from being a whole lot higher, and there won’t be a whole lot of players drafted, but the 11 Quality Wins, amazing APR, and decent attendance – over 30,000 a game – form a good base.
– CFN Army 2020 Team Preview
86 Maryland
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 48.35
2019 Ranking: 79
2018 Ranking: 73
2017 Ranking: 81
Biggest Positive: 13 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 23% conference winning percentage
Analysis: It’s been a rough run in the Big Ten for the Terps over the last five years. They’re saved from sinking further with almost 40,000 fans power game and getting 13 players drafted, but not winning conference games sunk the ranking.
– CFN Maryland 2020 Team Preview
85 Vanderbilt
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.13
2019 Ranking: 87
2018 Ranking: 77
2017 Ranking: 65
Biggest Positive: 9.9 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 19 FBS Wins
Analysis: It’s hard to do too much in these rankings when you only win 19 FBS games and 25% of the conference games over the last five seasons. The APR is phenomenal, and getting nine players drafted is great, but the wins aren’t there.
– CFN Vanderbilt 2020 Team Preview
84 SMU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 49.44
2019 Ranking: 108
2018 Ranking: 108
2017 Ranking: 109
Biggest Positive: 8 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 2.15 Attendance Score
Analysis: The numbers are improving in a hurry thanks to a ten-win season and with the 1-11 2014 off the books now. The attendance is low, and the APR Score of 9.586 is a tad low for the school, but the program is rising under Sonny Dykes.
– CFN SMU 2020 Team Preview
83 Purdue
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 44.69
2019 Ranking: 86
2018 Ranking: 97
2017 Ranking: 111
Biggest Positive: 4.5 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 32% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The 3-9 2014 season doesn’t count in the rankings anymore, and next year the 2-10 2015 campaign won’t be a part of this. There aren’t enough FBS wins – just 21 – and the conference winning percentage is too low, but the program is moving up.
– CFN Purdue 2020 Team Preview
82 Georgia Tech
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 50.63
2019 Ranking: 47
2018 Ranking: 44
2017 Ranking: 39
Biggest Positive: 9.816 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 23 FBS wins
Analysis: The Yellow Jackets were okay in ACC play under Paul Johnson, but the reboot last year under Geoff Collins led to a drop. They’re great in the classroom, and the attendance is fine, but the 23 FBS wins are way light.
– CFN Georgia Tech 2020 Team Preview
81 Wyoming
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 50.94
2019 Ranking: 91
2018 Ranking: 92
2017 Ranking: 100
Biggest Positive: 9 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 4 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: Craig Bohl has carved out his niche with the Cowboys. The 20,000 fans in the stands aren’t great, but the Quality Wins are strong and getting eight players drafted helps. It’s going to take one giant season, though, to get out of the 80s.
– CFN Wyoming 2020 Team Preview
80 Arkansas State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 51.37
2019 Ranking: 72
2018 Ranking: 68
2017 Ranking: 56
Biggest Positive: 78% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 3.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: There are just enough bad losses on the books to drag down what should be a much, much stronger ranking. The 36 FBS wins are the most by anyone ranked lower than 69, but the two players drafted and the 22,000 attendance hurt.
– CFN Arkansas State 2020 Team Preview
79 Iowa State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 51.81
2019 Ranking: 83
2018 Ranking: 101
2017 Ranking: 103
Biggest Positive: 5.66 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 7 Quality Wins
Analysis: It’s not like Iowa State has always been solid. The Matt Campbell era has changed things around, and that includes losing the 2-10 2014 season out of the rankings. There aren’t enough big wins, but at least there are wins now.
– CFN Iowa State 2020 Team Preview
78 Northern Illinois
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 52.71
2019 Ranking: 60
2018 Ranking: 57
2017 Ranking: 45
Biggest Positive: 31 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.10 Attendance Score
Analysis: 2019 might have been rough, but the MAC powerhouse over the last several seasons didn’t fall down too far with decent winning numbers. Getting just 11,000 fans per game is a drag, and the 3.5 Bad Loss Score hurts.
– CFN Northern Illinois 2020 Team Preview
77 Duke
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 52.72
2019 Ranking: 67
2018 Ranking: 63
2017 Ranking: 58
Biggest Positive: 9.914 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 3 players drafted
Analysis: It seems like Duke had a whole lot more players sent off to the NFL – maybe it’s because of Daniel Jones – but the APR Score is amazing, as always, and the 13 Quality Wins are the strongest among anyone outside of the top 67.
– CFN Duke 2020 Team Preview
76 Fresno State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 52.91
2019 Ranking: 70
2018 Ranking: 66
2017 Ranking: 69
Biggest Positive: 11 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 45% conference winning percentage
Analysis: For all the fun Fresno State has had in recent seasons, three of the last five campaigns were losing ones. The Bulldogs have a whole slew of Quality Wins, but even with two trips to the Mountain West Championship, the league victories aren’t there.
– CFN Fresno State 2020 Team Preview
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 75
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 75
75 Syracuse
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 54.59
2019 Ranking: 82
2018 Ranking: 88
2017 Ranking: 74
Biggest Positive: 13 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 35% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The Orange came up with a strong 2018 season to help provide a boost, and now they’re rocketing up even with just 22 FBS wins and with a rough run in ACC play. How did it happen? A whopping 13 Quality Wins helped, as did losing the 3-9 2014 campaign.
– CFN Syracuse 2020 Team Preview
74 Colorado
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 55.08
2019 Ranking: 89
2018 Ranking: 84
2017 Ranking: 90
Biggest Positive: 11 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 36% conference winning percentage
Analysis: There aren’t a whole lot of FBS wins – just 25 over the last five years – but getting close to 46,000 fans per game in the stands is solid, and a whole lot of players are getting drafted. The Buffs are moving up.
– CFN Colorado 2020 Team Preview
73 Utah State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 55.24
2019 Ranking: 68
2018 Ranking: 64
2017 Ranking: 51
Biggest Positive: 10 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.98 Attendance Score
Analysis: It’s been an interesting ride for the Aggies, but the drop comes after losing the 10-4 2014 season from the ranking. They have decent enough numbers in other areas – seven players drafted and ten Quality Wins – to keep from dropping too far.
– CFN Utah State 2020 Team Preview
72 Air Force
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 55.35
2019 Ranking: 63
2018 Ranking: 70
2017 Ranking: 66
Biggest Positive: 63% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 17 Bad Wins
Analysis: Air Force is always among the elite in APR – the 9.943 score is amazing – and the 34 FBS wins are fantastic. However, there weren’t a ton of Quality Wins and the players drafted – just three – is always going to be an issue.
– CFN Air Force 2020 Team Preview
71 Virginia
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 55.83
2019 Ranking: 85
2018 Ranking: 94
2017 Ranking: 96
Biggest Positive: 9.704 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 2.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: One big season with a run to the ACC Championship game later, and Virginia rolled up the rankings. The 25 FBS wins are still too light, but the 11 Quality Wins and decent numbers in other spots boosted things under Bronco Mendenhall.
– CFN Virginia 2020 Team Preview
70 Texas Tech
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 56.12
2019 Ranking: 76
2018 Ranking: 67
2017 Ranking: 63
Biggest Positive: 11 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 33% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Where are the Big 12 wins? The Red Raiders only took down 33% of their conference games, but the 56,000 fans a game packing the house helped. Getting a slew of players drafted was massive.
– CFN Texas Tech 2020 Team Preview
69 Missouri
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 56.33
2019 Ranking: 41
2018 Ranking: 28
2017 Ranking: 27
Biggest Positive: 5.50 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 35% conference winning percentage
Analysis: There will always be a floor with a solid Big 12-caliber Attendance Score to go along with players drafted – 11 over the last five seasons – but the Tigers aren’t winning enough SEC games lately. The six Quality Wins are WAY low – Mizzou beats the mediocre, but not the good.
– CFN Missouri 2020 Team Preview
T67 Indiana
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.25
2019 Ranking: 81
2018 Ranking: 76
2017 Ranking: 83
Biggest Positive: 10 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 34% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Things might get better for the Hoosiers over the last few seasons -they got to a bowl game last year – but there aren’t enough Big Ten wins, there are just four Quality Wins, and 16 Bad Wins.
– CFN Indiana 2020 Team Preview
T67 Troy
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.25
2019 Ranking: 71
2018 Ranking: 74
2017 Ranking: 91
Biggest Positive: 35 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 20 Bad Wins
Analysis: Bad Wins is sort of a good/bad category. You can only beat who’s on you schedule, and give Troy credit for going 20-0 over the last five years against the miserable. The 35 FBS wins overall are great, and the ten Quality Wins are solid.
– CFN Troy 2020 Team Preview
66 Florida Atlantic
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.28
2019 Ranking: 88
2018 Ranking: 82
2017 Ranking: 112
Biggest Positive: 12 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.63 Attendance Score
Analysis: There were a few great years under former head man Lane Kiffin to make a big boost, but the lack of attendance and just getting six players drafted stalled things a bit. Even so, this was a great jump.
– CFN Florida Atlantic 2020 Team Preview
65 Southern Miss
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 57.42
2019 Ranking: 75
2018 Ranking: 86
2017 Ranking: 108
Biggest Positive: 32 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 19 Bad Wins
Analysis: The Golden Eagles got eight players drafted, and winning 68% of Conference USA games are great, but the 19 Bad Wins and the 9.494 APR Score aren’t strong. There need to be more victories over the top teams.
– CFN Southern Miss 2020 Team Preview
64 Marshall
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 58.11
2019 Ranking: 58
2018 Ranking: 54
2017 Ranking: 59
Biggest Positive: 34 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 2.4 Attendance Score
Analysis: The attendance part of the puzzle will always be an issue compared to the big boys, but the 34 FBS victories and ten Quality Wins are still strong. Taking down 60% of the Conference USA games is great.
– CFN Marshall 2020 Team Preview
63 Cincinnati
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 59.11
2019 Ranking: 74
2018 Ranking: 81
2017 Ranking: 62
Biggest Positive: 33 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 2 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The Bearcats were on their way up, and then Luke Fickell took things to another level. The attendance is always going to hit a ceiling, and two Bad Losses cost them a spot in the 50s, but the 33 FBS wins and 50% run in AAC play provided the boost.
– CFN Cincinnati 2020 Team Preview
62 Arkansas
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 59.15
2019 Ranking: 57
2018 Ranking: 52
2017 Ranking: 53
Biggest Positive: 6.25 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 23% conference winning percentage
Analysis: It wasn’t all that long ago that Arkansas was a major SEC player with the high-powered offense that threw a scare into the rest of the league. The Hogs won just 18 FBS games over the last five seasons, but getting 18 players drafted and the good attendance save the ranking from dropping further.
– CFN Arkansas 2020 Team Preview
61 Wake Forest
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 59.64
2019 Ranking: 80
2018 Ranking: 91
2017 Ranking: 98
Biggest Positive: 9.804 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 2.71 Attendance Score
Analysis: Dave Clawson has turned Wake Forest into a factor. The wins are coming on a regular basis, and the 12 Quality Wins provided a giant pop to overcome the 38% ACC winning clip and the smallish attendance.
– CFN Wake Forest 2020 Team Preview
60 Ohio
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 60.06
2019 Ranking: 69
2018 Ranking: 69
2017 Ranking: 67
Biggest Positive: 36 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 1.89 Attendance Score
Analysis: Frank Solich has created a MAC power, even if the program can’t get a conference championship through the recent run. There are lots of wins, the APR is great, and the conference winning percentage of 68% is strong. The attendance, though, is an issue.
– CFN Ohio 2020 Team Preview
59 Boston College
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 60.34
2019 Ranking: 61
2018 Ranking: 59
2017 Ranking: 85
Biggest Positive: 14 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 35% conference winning percentage
Analysis: BC is good at the little things. The APR is fantastic, and getting players drafted isn’t a problem, but the 25 FBS wins are a little light and the Bad Loss Score of 3 hurts.
– CFN Boston College 2020 Team Preview
58 North Carolina
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 61.69
2019 Ranking: 65
2018 Ranking: 42
2017 Ranking: 29
Biggest Positive: 10 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 9.588 APR Score
Analysis: The Tar Heels are starting to boost back up again. Getting 14 players drafted is good, and the ten Quality Wins are strong, but they’re not going to move up until they win more ACC games – winning fewer than 50% of their tries.
– CFN North Carolina 2020 Team Preview
57 BYU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 61.75
2019 Ranking: 64
2018 Ranking: 58
2017 Ranking: 49
Biggest Positive: 31 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 3.5 Bad Win Score
Analysis: Getting over 57,000 fans in the house will always keep BYU from falling too far, and the 31 FBS wins were great, but getting just six players drafted and the 14 Bad Wins were low.
– CFN BYU 2020 Team Preview
56 Kansas State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 62.38
2019 Ranking: 56
2018 Ranking: 46
2017 Ranking: 33
Biggest Positive: 31 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 9 Quality Wins
Analysis: The Wildcats are beating the teams they’re supposed to, but there aren’t enough wins over the decent-to-great squads. The 49% winning clip in the Big 12 isn’t okay for a program with the ability to push for a whole lot more.
– CFN Kansas State 2020 Team Preview
55 South Carolina
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 63.29
2019 Ranking: 48
2018 Ranking: 37
2017 Ranking: 24
Biggest Positive: 7.72 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 23 FBS wins
Analysis: It helps when you have one of the most loyal-large fan bases in the college football, with over 77,000 fans showing up through thick and thin. However, the Gamecocks have only won 40% of their SEC games over the last five years.
– CFN South Carolina 2020 Team Preview
54 California
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 63.47
2019 Ranking: 73
2018 Ranking: 79
2017 Ranking: 77
Biggest Positive: 14 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 38% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Justin Wilcox has turned the program around. It’s starting to win more, it’s going to bowl games, and it’s moving up fast in the rankings. The relatively light attendance – 43,000 per game – is a limit, but the APR is great and getting 14 players drafted is fantastic.
– CFN Cal 2020 Team Preview
53 Louisiana Tech
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 65.84
2019 Ranking: 55
2018 Ranking: 65
2017 Ranking: 57
Biggest Positive: 38 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 2.19 Attendance Score
Analysis: Very, very quietly, Louisiana Tech has put together a nice run with a whole lot of FBS wins, a 68% winning run in Conference USA, and with 12 players getting drafted. It isn’t beating a whole lot of great teams with just nine Quality Wins, but the team is 19-1 in Bad Win situations.
– CFN Louisiana Tech 2020 Team Preview
52 Nebraska
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 66.16
2019 Ranking: 43
2018 Ranking: 36
2017 Ranking: 23
Biggest Positive: 8.97 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 27 FBS wins
Analysis: Really, Nebraska? 27 FBS wins over the last five years? The Huskers have only won 41% of their conference games, when you have over 89,000 fans showing up every Saturday, there’s a hard floor on how far the program can drop.
– CFN Nebraska 2020 Team Preview
51 WKU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 66.63
2019 Ranking: 46
2018 Ranking: 38
2017 Ranking: 34
Biggest Positive: 39 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 1.62 Attendance Score
Analysis: The ranking is still relatively high with the 12-2 2015 and 11-3 2016 seasons still counting. The 15 Quality Wins are fantastic, but the Bad Loss Score of 5 is disastrous. The 2019 season-opening loss to Central Arkansas will be on the books for a long, long time.
– CFN WKU 2020 Team Preview
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 50
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 50
50 Louisville
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 67.60
2019 Ranking: 40
2018 Ranking: 24
2017 Ranking: 20
Biggest Positive: 9.838 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 53% conference winning percentage
Analysis: One bad 2018 season was hard to bounce back from. The Cardinals won 31 FBS games and have 12 Quality Wins, but attendance – averaging just under 50,000 a game – is a bit light for a Power 5 program, and there aren’t enough ACC wins.
– CFN Louisville 2020 Team Preview
49 Kentucky
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 68.63
2019 Ranking: 59
2018 Ranking: 83
2017 Ranking: 92
Biggest Positive: 12 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 45% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The last few years have boosted up the UK program in a big hurry. Disastrous just four years ago, now the Wildcats are up in the top 50 with ten players drafted, 32 FBS wins, and enough good parts to keep trending up.
– CFN Kentucky 2020 Team Preview
48 Toledo
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 68.78
2019 Ranking: 38
2018 Ranking: 41
2017 Ranking: 42
Biggest Positive: 39 FBS Wins
Biggest Negative: 2.07 Attendance Score
Analysis: Even though the ranking is dropping, this is still strong for a MAC program that gets around 20,000 fans per game. Getting eight players drafted is good, and the 39 FBS wins are strong.
– CFN Toledo 2020 Team Preview
47 Western Michigan
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 69.95
2019 Ranking: 53
2018 Ranking: 60
2017 Ranking: 71
Biggest Positive: 14 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.91 Attendance Score
Analysis: This is Tim Lester’s program now, but give PJ Fleck plenty of credit for the ranking being this high. The 13-1 2016 season is still in the mix with 36 FBS wins, and getting ten players drafted is a huge help. Lester has won enough games to keep the program moving up.
– CFN Western Michigan 2020 Team Preview
46 Navy
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 70.06
2019 Ranking: 52
2018 Ranking: 43
2017 Ranking: 48
Biggest Positive: 37 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 4 players drafted
Analysis: Everything remains solid for Ken Niumatalolo’s program, winning 68% of its American Athletic Conference games with 14 Quality Wins and no bad losses. The APR is phenomenal, as always, and winning 37 FBS games is outstanding.
– CFN Navy 2020 Team Preview
45 Baylor
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 70.18
2019 Ranking: 51
2018 Ranking: 34
2017 Ranking: 17
Biggest Positive: 14 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 49% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Remember, there’s a 1-11 2017 season still in the mix here. The boost back up under Matt Rhule now gets passed on to Dave Aranda, with a whole slew of players being drafted and with 32 FBS wins despite that one miserable season.
– CFN Baylor 2020 Team Preview
44 Arizona State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 70.19
2019 Ranking: 37
2018 Ranking: 29
2017 Ranking: 36
Biggest Positive: 15 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 47% conference winning percentage
Analysis: ASU has been fine. Not great, not too bad, but … fine. The 30 FBS wins aren’t quite enough, and it seems like there were more than 12 players drafted. It’s all enough to come up with a decent ranking, but it’s … fine. It should be stronger.
– CFN Air Force 2020 Team Preview
43 Pitt
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 72.21
2019 Ranking: 54
2018 Ranking: 47
2017 Ranking: 43
Biggest Positive: 9.802 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 2.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: It’s been a nice run under Pat Narduzzi with 31 FBS wins and winning 60% of the ACC games. The 15 Quality Wins are good, but the two Bad Losses – at North Carolina in 2018 and to the Tar Heels in 2017 – are a drag.
– CFN Pitt 2020 Team Preview
42 Ole Miss
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 72.87
2019 Ranking: 27
2018 Ranking: 23
2017 Ranking: 26
Biggest Positive: 21 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 35% conference winning percentage
Analysis: It’s a good ranking considering the 25 FBS wins are tied for the fewest of anyone in the top 54. The 21 drafted players is a massive number, and the 2.5 Elite Win Score, but winning just 35% of SEC games led to the big drop.
– CFN Ole Miss 2020 Team Preview
41 Washington State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 73.57
2019 Ranking: 39
2018 Ranking: 56
2017 Ranking: 76
Biggest Positive: 39 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 3.03 Attendance Score
Analysis: Mike Leach might not have won a whole lot of big games or division titles, but he was able to come up with 39 wins over FBS teams with a fantastic 16 Quality Wins. The nine players drafted are low for a Power Five program, and the attendance is always going to be a little light, but it’s a good situation for Nick Rolovich to walk into.
– CFN Washington State 2020 Team Preview
Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings
Top 10 | 11-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | 101-130
Ranking Categories Explained
40 Northwestern
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 74.27
2019 Ranking: 30
2018 Ranking: 48
2017 Ranking: 54
Biggest Positive: 9.95 APR Score
Biggest Negative: 8 players drafted
Analysis: Remembering the barriers at Northwestern – Pat Fitzgerald has to find very, very smart people – the 38 FBS wins are impressive. The APR is always going to be among the elite, the attendance is always going to be low, and it’s always going to be a fight, but winning 62% of Big Ten games is amazing.
– CFN Northwestern 2020 Team Preview
39 UCF
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 74.34
2019 Ranking: 36
2018 Ranking: 39
2017 Ranking: 55
Biggest Positive: 17 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 9 players drafted
Analysis: Next year. Just wait until we do this next year when the 0-12 2015 season doesn’t count anymore in the rankings. If UCF is able to have any sort of a season and do what it’s supposed to, it’s going to be 2021’s highest riser. Losing all of the 3.5 Bad Loss Score will be a huge help, too.
– CFN UCF 2020 Team Preview
38 West Virginia
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 74.45
2019 Ranking: 34
2018 Ranking: 50
2017 Ranking: 50
Biggest Positive: 17 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 3.75 Bad Win Score
Analysis: There might not have been enough big wins under Dana Holgorsen, but he got a whole lot of players drafted. Neal Brown had a rough first year, but he’s got the pieces in place to boost the ranking back up in a hurry. The 11 Quality Wins are a bit low for a team ranked this high.
– CFN West Virginia 2020 Team Preview
37 Minnesota
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 75.02
2019 Ranking: 50
2018 Ranking: 49
2017 Ranking: 52
Biggest Positive: 36 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 43% conference winning %
Analysis: The big 2019 season helped boost up the ranking with 13 Quality Wins, two Elite Wins, and all that along with a fantastic 9.85 APR Score. There have to be more conference wins to get up higher, and the 4.49 Attendance Score is way low for a top Big Ten program, but this is a good ranking.
– CFN Minnesota 2020 Team Preview
36 NC State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 75.53
2019 Ranking: 35
2018 Ranking: 55
2017 Ranking: 61
Biggest Positive: 21 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 45% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Even with a dud of a 2019, the Wolfpack have done a decent job with 31 FBS wins and getting 21 players drafted. However, winning just 45% of the ACC games isn’t okay, and the 9.644 APR Score is too low.
– CFN NC State 2020 Team Preview
35 UCLA
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 75.96
2019 Ranking: 28
2018 Ranking: 16
2017 Ranking: 14
Biggest Positive: 24 drafted players
Biggest Negative: 40% conference winning percentage
Analysis: UCLA has a weird ranking. It’s not like it’s winning as much as it should be, but it’s still able to stay relatively high up with 24 players dragged and just enough victories over the last five years to get by. However, the 8-5 2015 season won’t count next year.
– CFN UCLA 2020 Team Preview
34 Virginia Tech
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 77.81
2019 Ranking: 32
2018 Ranking: 25
2017 Ranking: 31
Biggest Positive: 15 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: No Elite Wins
Analysis: The Hokies have been in a bit of a holding pattern overall. The 34 FBS wins are low to be ranked this high, but the 15 players drafted and the 60% winning clip in the ACC is good enough. The big, giant wins have to come to move up.
– CFN Virginia Tech 2020 Team Preview
33 San Diego State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 77.93
2019 Ranking: 42
2018 Ranking: 45
2017 Ranking: 47
Biggest Positive: 44 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 3.35 Attendance Score
Analysis: How good has this run been for San Diego State? Winning 73% of Mountain West games and 44 FBS games overall are as good as anyone outside of the top 27. The problem is the relatively low Attendance Score. The wins are there.
– CFN San Diego State 2020 Team Preview
32 Houston
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 78.57
2019 Ranking: 29
2018 Ranking: 35
2017 Ranking: 44
Biggest Positive: 4.5 Elite Win Score
Biggest Negative: 9.496 APR Score
Analysis: The lousy 2019 dragged the ranking down a bit, and the Cougars will have to rock in 2020 to make up for the loss of the 13-1 2015 season. The 37 FBS wins are good, and the 15 Quality Wins are strong, but again, it’s 2015 that has the program this high.
– CFN Houston 2020 Team Preview
31 Temple
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 78.92
2019 Ranking: 49
2018 Ranking: 71
2017 Ranking: 80
Biggest Positive: 75% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 3.13 Attendance Score
Analysis: Think about how amazing it is that Temple is this high. It went from 1991 to 2008 without a winning season, and now it has 40 FBS wins over the last five seasons while becoming a major player in the American Athletic Conference. The 17 players drafted aren’t bad, either.
– CFN Temple 2020 Team Preview
30 Tennessee
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 79.63
2019 Ranking: 33
2018 Ranking: 31
2017 Ranking: 32
Biggest Positive: 9.56 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 40% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Really, Tennessee? A 40% winning clip in the SEC? The massive attendance will always help, and the 16 Quality Wins are a big bonus, but it’s going to take a strong few years under Jeremy Pruitt to roll into the top 25.
– CFN Tennessee 2020 Team Preview
29 Memphis
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 80.66
2019 Ranking: 44
2018 Ranking: 53
2017 Ranking: 64
Biggest Positive: 42 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 3.72 Draft Score
Analysis: Memphis blew up the rankings with big season after big season, winning 42 FBS battles and winning 73% of their American Athletic Conference games. The attendance is always going to be a limiting factor, and the 11 drafted players are too low, but it has become one of the best of the Group of Five programs.
– CFN Memphis 2020 Team Preview
28 TCU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 83.06
2019 Ranking: 20
2018 Ranking: 30
2017 Ranking: 41
Biggest Positive: 19 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 4.44 Attendance Score
Analysis: The attendance is hardly awful, but it’s low for a strong Power Five program. The 35 FBS wins are okay, but Gary Patterson has proven that he can win a whole lot more. Winning 56% of Big 12 games isn’t okay.
– CFN TCU 2020 Team Preview
27 Appalachian State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 84.08
2019 Ranking: 45
2018 Ranking: 61
2017 Ranking: 86
Biggest Positive: 50 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 6 players drafted
Analysis: The number of drafted players is low, and the 2.38 Attendance Score hurts, but Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson. Those are the only schools with more FBS wins over the last five years than Appalachian State. Winning 88% of the conference games helps the cause a wee bit.
– CFN Appalachian State 2020 Team Preview
26 Oklahoma State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 84.31
2019 Ranking: 25
2018 Ranking: 21
2017 Ranking: 25
Biggest Positive: 18 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 11 Drafted Players
Analysis: It’s a rock-solid top 25ish program under Mike Gundy. The 5.53 Attendance Score isn’t anything great, but it’s good enough. The Quality Wins are terrific, there aren’t any Bad Losses, and winning 62% of Big 12 games is decent. The problem? The 11 drafted players are by far the fewest by anyone in the top 26.
– CFN Oklahoma State 2020 Team Preview
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 25
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 25
25 Oregon
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 84.33
2019 Ranking: 21
2018 Ranking: 20
2017 Ranking: 12
Biggest Positive: 18 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 5.55 Attendance Score
Analysis: The Ducks give away just enough points with the Attendance Score to matter, but everything else is about to bust open wide with the talent being brought in. the slight drop comes from losing the 13-2 2014 season from the books. Don’t expect the program to be this low again, though, for a while.
– CFN Oregon 2020 Team Preview
24 Texas
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 86.01
2019 Ranking: 31
2018 Ranking: 40
2017 Ranking: 35
Biggest Positive: 5 Elite Win Score
Biggest Negative: 53% conference win percentage
Analysis: Texas has won just 53% of its Big 12 games over the last five years? Seriously? The mere 13 drafted players are almost as embarrassing, but the huge Attendance Score of 9.49 and huge Elite Win Score helped provide the bump.
– CFN Texas 2020 Team Preview
23 Mississippi State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 86.81
2019 Ranking: 24
2018 Ranking: 27
2017 Ranking: 37
Biggest Positive: 20 drafted players
Biggest Negative: 45% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The Bulldogs were able to overcome a bad conference win percentage with a ton of drafted players, 17 Quality Wins, and a 9.76 APR Score. The 33 FBS wins are a bit light, but this is still a nice overall ranking.
– CFN Mississippi State 2020 Team Preview
22 Florida State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 87.30
2019 Ranking: 6
2018 Ranking: 5
2017 Ranking: 4
Biggest Positive: 19 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 9.406 APR Score
Analysis: This is what happens when a 13-1 run to the College Football Playoff doesn’t count in the rankings. FSU was able to overcome a few bad recent years, but that’s slowing down with just a 53% winning run in ACC play and just 33 FBS wins. By comparison, there were 35 FBS wins from 2012 to 2014.
– CFN Florida State 2020 Team Preview
21 Texas A&M
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 89.45
2019 Ranking: 22
2018 Ranking: 26
2017 Ranking: 15
Biggest Positive: 10.03 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 53% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The 13 Quality Wins are the fewest by anyone in the top 30, and it’s the only team in the top 33 without an Elite Win. Winning 53% of SEC games isn’t good, and the APR could be better, but the attendance is amazing, the 22 drafted players is a huge boost, and the 35 FBS wins aren’t bad.
– CFN Texas A&M 2020 Team Preview
Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings
Top 10 | 11-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | 101-130
Ranking Categories Explained
20 Michigan State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 89.89
2019 Ranking: 16
2018 Ranking: 10
2017 Ranking: 9
Biggest Positive: 5.5 Elite Win Score
Biggest Negative: 55% conference winning percentage
Analysis: It’s a drop, but it’s still a great ranking considering the mediocre last few seasons. There aren’t enough Big Ten wins lately, and the 14 drafted players are a bit low, but the 5.5 Elite Win Score is a saving grace for the other issues. Watch out, though – the 12-2 2015 season doesn’t count next year.
– CFN Michigan State 2020 Team Preview
19 Miami
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 95.63
2019 Ranking: 19
2018 Ranking: 17
2017 Ranking: 28
Biggest Positive: 27 drafted players
Biggest Negative: 63% conference winning percentage
Analysis: The ranking stayed strong even with a disappointing 2019. Getting 27 players drafted is a massive help, and the 19 Quality Wins are great, but it’s been a hard time being consistently great in the ACC.
– CFN Miami 2020 Team Preview
18 Utah
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 97.10
2019 Ranking: 23
2018 Ranking: 33
2017 Ranking: 38
Biggest Positive: 42 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 4.63 Attendance Score
Analysis: Two straight trips to the Pac-12 Championship helped crank up the ranking several spots. The 9.852 APR Score is fantastic, and getting 24 players drafted is impressive, and the wins are there. Kyle Whittingham continues to do a great job.
– CFN Utah 2020 Team Preview
17 Iowa
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 99.53
2019 Ranking: 26
2018 Ranking: 32
2017 Ranking: 46
Biggest Positive: 45 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 1.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: It’s not the worst negative in the world, but the 2016 loss to North Dakota State kept the Hawkeyes from flirting with the top ten. Winning 66% of Big Ten games is good in a division with Wisconsin, and the 9.7 APR Score is great. Five seasons in a row of eight wins or more provided the bump.
– CFN Iowa 2020 Team Preview
16 Stanford
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 100.11
2019 Ranking: 8
2018 Ranking: 6
2017 Ranking: 5
Biggest Positive: 22 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 4.33 Attendance Score
Analysis: It goes to show just how amazing the program has been under David Shaw – with the 9.86 APR Score and 22 Quality Wins – that it could have a total clunker of a 2019 season and still be up this high. However, it’s going take a huge year to not drop further with the 12-2 2015 season not on the books next season.
– CFN Stanford 2020 Team Preview
15 USC
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 100.28
2019 Ranking: 13
2018 Ranking: 7
2017 Ranking: 10
Biggest Positive: 71% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 9.684 APR Score
Analysis: Trojan fans might want their program to be playing for national championships again and be in the mix for the top five – USC was a lock for the top spot for a time – but this is still a nice ranking considering the all-around numbers are just fine. The biggest key? Winning Pac-12 games. Win at least 70% or more in conference, and everything else falls into place.
– CFN USC 2020 Team Preview
14 Auburn
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 102.98
2019 Ranking: 15
2018 Ranking: 11
2017 Ranking: 21
Biggest Positive: 4 Elite Win Score
Biggest Negative: 37 FBS wins
Analysis: By most normal standards, winning 37 FBS games in five years would be seen as a plus. For Auburn, that’s the lowest mark by anyone in the top 18. A few huge wins over Alabama helped push up the ranking a bit, and getting 23 players drafted helps, but it’s the SEC. Winning 55% of conference games isn’t good enough.
– CFN Auburn 2020 Team Preview
13 Boise State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 104.40
2019 Ranking: 12
2018 Ranking: 15
2017 Ranking: 19
Biggest Positive: 50 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 13 drafted players
Analysis: Still the star of the Group of Five programs, Boise State has done 83% of its Mountain West games, has a massive Elite Win Score of 6, and it has enjoyed 50 FBS wins. The 3.28 Attendance Score and the 13 players drafted are a drag, but everything else is great.
– CFN Boise State 2020 Team Preview
12 Washington
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 107.19
2019 Ranking: 17
2018 Ranking: 22
2017 Ranking: 30
Biggest Positive: 23 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 67% conference winning percentage
Analysis: Washington has one of the worst conference winning percentages for a program ranked in the high rent district of the top 15, but the 42 FBS wins, great APR, and strong other scores helped keep the rise of the last few years going. It could get even better next year after the mediocre 7-6 season of 2015 goes away.
– CFN Washington 2020 Team Preview
11 Florida
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 110.83
2019 Ranking: 18
2018 Ranking: 19
2017 Ranking: 11
Biggest Positive: 34 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 17 Quality Wins
Analysis: Remember, there’s a 4-7 2017 season still on the books. Dan Mullen’s success is pushing Florida into the top ten territory, with plenty of players being drafted and the Attendance Score always great. There need to be more big victories, though, with the 17 Quality Wins tied for the fewest by anyone in the top 20.
– CFN Florida 2020 Team Preview
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 10
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings, The Top 10
10 Wisconsin
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 113.94
2019 Ranking: 7
2018 Ranking: 8
2017 Ranking: 16
Biggest Positive: 52 FBS wins
Biggest Negative: 20 players drafted
Analysis: The Badgers just can’t get by Ohio State. The lack of Elite Wins – a score of 4 – is just enough to keep them from moving up higher, but the APR Score of 9.866, is impressive and the 21 Quality Wins are fine. Badgers get drafted, but the 20 taken are the fewest of any in the top 12.
– CFN Wisconsin 2020 Team Preview
9 Notre Dame
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 119.29
2019 Ranking: 10
2018 Ranking: 13
2017 Ranking: 8
Biggest Positive: 25 Quality Wins
Biggest Negative: 1.5 Bad Loss Score
Analysis: The 36-28 home loss to Michigan State in 2016 was the Bad Loss that kept the Irish out of the top seven, but everything else is strong. The 47 FBS wins are enough to keep them among the elite, and the 27 players drafted are impressive under Brian Kelly. The 25 Quality Wins are the most by anyone outside of the top six.
– CFN Notre Dame 2020 Team Preview
8 Michigan
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 120.19
2019 Ranking: 14
2018 Ranking: 18
2017 Ranking: 18
Biggest Positive: 11.09 Attendance Score
Biggest Negative: 17 Quality Wins
Analysis: There are two ways to look at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. The 47 FBS wins are only behind Penn State, Georgia, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson among Power Five programs – the guy doesn’t get enough credit for winning a whole lot of games.
However, the 17 Quality Wins are tied for the fewest by anyone in the top 20, and the win over Notre Dame last season was the lone tally in the Elite Win Score category. Yeah, he wins a lot of games, but he has a hard time in the big ones – but you knew that already.
– CFN Michigan 2020 Team Preview
7 Penn State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 121.08
2019 Ranking: 10
2018 Ranking: 14
2017 Ranking: 22
Biggest Positive: 7.5 Elite Win Score
Biggest Negative: 25 players drafted
Analysis: What’s the difference between Penn State and, say, Michigan? The Elite Win Score of 7.5 is massive for the Nittany Lions. On the relative down side, while the program cranks up NFL talent, the 25 players drafted are the fewest of anyone in the top nine. That’s hardly a big knock considering all the winning James Franklin is doing.
– CFN Penn State 2020 Team Preview
6 Georgia
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 128.66
2019 Ranking: 5
2018 Ranking: 9
2017 Ranking: 13
Biggest Positive: 75% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 9.634 APR Score
Analysis: You’re doing something right when you’re winning 75% of your SEC games. Georgia isn’t having a problem getting the talent under Kirby Smart – 26 players were drafted – and it’s not having issues winning a whole lot of games with 49 FBS victories. Now the Dawgs just have to beat Alabama, going 0-3 over the last five years.
– CFN Georgia 2020 Team Preview
5 LSU
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 141.06
2019 Ranking: 9
2018 Ranking: 12
2017 Ranking: 7
Biggest Positive: 39 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 9.518 APR Score
Analysis: It helps when you go 15-0 with possibly the greatest season in college football history. The Tigers moved up fast with their massive 2019, and now they have the big numbers across the board to get into the top five. Get the great players, send them to the NFL, and win a ton of games. The Draft and Attendance Scores are huge.
– CFN LSU 2020 Team Preview
4 Oklahoma
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 142.10
2019 Ranking: 4
2018 Ranking: 4
2017 Ranking: 6
Biggest Positive: 91% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 2.75 Bad Win Score
Analysis: Oklahoma is right where you’d think it should be considering all the success and all of the College Football Playoff appearances – and all of the CFP losses.
The 57 FBS wins are enormous, but the top three on the list are in another world. All the numbers are incredible with a 91% winning run in the Big 12, a giant 10.5 Elite Win Score, and with enough overall to stay just ahead of LSU.
– CFN Oklahoma 2020 Team Preview
3 Ohio State
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 171.26
2019 Ranking: 2
2018 Ranking: 2
2017 Ranking: 2
Biggest Positive: 47 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 8.5 Elite Win Score
Analysis: Yeah, Ohio State dropped down a spot, but it’s just a shade behind college football’s dominant top two. It’s close, though, and it’s ten miles ahead of No. 4 Oklahoma.
The Attendance Score is only behind Michigan, the 47 players drafted are only behind Alabama, and the 91% conference winning percentage is only behind Clemson among Power Five programs. The only possible knock is a 8.5 Elite Win Score that’s the fourth-best in college football, but it’s the difference between being amazing and being in the top two.
– CFN Ohio State 2020 Team Preview
2 Clemson
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 172.71
2019 Ranking: 3
2018 Ranking: 3
2017 Ranking: 3
Biggest Positive: 95% conference winning percentage
Biggest Negative: 8.14 Attendance Score
Analysis: Syracuse 27-24 in 2017, and Pitt 43-42 in 2016. That’s it. There but for a few plays, Clemson would be spotless in ACC play over the last five seasons, but winning a college football-best 95% of conference games will have to do.
The Attendance Score is only an issue because it gives away a few points to the schools with the 100,000+ stadiums, but that’s the only slight knock. The 64 FBS wins and 46 Quality Wins are both No. 1, but even with everything Dabo Swinney has done to crank up a super-power, there’s still a giant chasm between No. 2 and …
– CFN Clemson 2020 Team Preview
1 Alabama
Five-Year Program Analysis Score: 186.88
2019 Ranking: 1
2018 Ranking: 1
2017 Ranking: 1
Biggest Positive: 50 players drafted
Biggest Negative: 2.75 Bad Win Score
Analysis: The unstoppable run in the rankings keeps rolling on.
Bama has become a factory for NFL talent with only Ohio State coming remotely close to the 50 players drafted from Nick Saban’s program. Winning 90% of SEC games is almost underloved considering the losses are what often get remembered, and the 62 FBS wins are only behind Clemson.
The 14 Elite Win Score is on top of the heap, the APR is good, the attendance is great, and once again, Alabama has the No. 1 program in college football.
– CFN Alabama 2020 Team Preview
NEXT: CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings Categories Explained
CFN Five Year Program Analysis Rankings Categories Explained
Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
FBS Wins: Victories over FBS teams – no credit given for scheduling an FCS program.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By FBS Wins | By Conference
Attendance Score: This is what funds everything else. It’s the average of the attendance divided by 1,000 for the score – average 21,698 fans per game over five years, get a score of 2.17.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Attendance | By Conference
Quality Wins: Wins over FBS teams that finished with winning records.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Quality Wins | By Conference
Elite Wins: Wins over FBS teams that finished with two losses or fewer, or on the road over teams that finished with three losses or fewer. An extra 0.5 added for a win over a two-loss team on the road. Bowls count, too.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Elite Wins | By Conference
Bad Losses: Losses to FCS teams or to FBS teams that finished with three losses or fewer. An extra 0.5 taken away from a Bad Loss at home.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Bad Losses | By Conference
Bad Wins Score: Wins over FCS teams or to FBS teams that finished with three losses or fewer. Score is -0.25 per Bad Win.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Bad Wins | By Conference
Elite Loss Score: Losses to teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer. Score is +0.25 per Elite Loss.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Elite Losses | By Conference
Conference Win %: Self-explanatory. Total records are taken from independent teams.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By League Win % | By Conference
Draft Score: How many players were drafted by the NFL? Score is half the number of players drafted.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By Draft | By Conference
APR Score: The Academic Progress Rate. Score determined by an average of the last five years divided by 100.
Ranking Programs 1-130 By APR | By Conference
