The CFN 2019 college football rankings after Week 5.
This is a full-year process based on what has happened on the field – at least as much as possible – and not on projections or assumptions. It’s not about what you believe, it’s about what you can prove.
If you’re wondering why your team won easily and tumbled down the rankings – looking at you, Missouri fans last week – it’s because one game probably screwed everything up.
One strange result can affect an entire group of teams, so there are always wild changes until the head-to-head aspect starts to subside later in the season. For now, don’t get into a twist if there’s something that appears to be way, way off.
For example, the Air Force win over Colorado a few weeks ago continues to throw the rankings into a tailspin.
At the immediate moment, to be fair to the results, 3-1 Air Force – whose only loss is to unbeaten Boise State – has to be ranked ahead of 3-1 Colorado. The Falcons beat the Buffaloes 30-23.
Colorado has to be ranked ahead of 4-1 Arizona State, who has to be ranked ahead of both 4-1 Michigan State and 4-1 Cal, who has to be ranked ahead of 4-1 Washington.
Don’t even start with how this would’ve looked if Clemson was behind Appalachian State if North Carolina had converted that two-point conversion.
Again, to hammer this point home, if you have a problem with your team’s ranking, 1) be patient, it’ll all change if it keeps winning, and 2) look who it lost to and follow the trail from there.
Contact @ColFootballNews
CFN Rankings After Week 5
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
130. Akron Zips (0-5)
Week 5: UMass 37, Akron 29
Last Week Ranking: 128
Week 6 Opponent: Kent State (Oct. 12)
129. Bowling Green Falcons (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 127
Week 6 Opponent: at Notre Dame
128. UMass Minutemen (1-4)
Week 5: UMass 37, Akron 29
Last Week Ranking: 130
Week 6 Opponent: at FIU
127. FIU Golden Panthers (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 126
Week 6 Opponent: UMass
126. UNLV Rebels (1-3)
Week 5: Wyoming 53, UNLV 17
Last Week Ranking: 113
Week 6 Opponent: Boise State
125. Kent State Golden Flashes (2-2)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 124
Week 6 Opponent: at Wisconsin
124. UConn Huskies (1-3)
Week 5: UCF 56, UConn 21
Last Week Ranking: 123
Week 6 Opponent: USF
123. New Mexico State Aggies (0-5)
Week 5: Fresno State 30, New Mexico State 17
Last Week Ranking: 129
Week 6 Opponent: Liberty
122. UTEP Miners (1-3)
Week 5: Southern Miss 31, UTEP 13
Last Week Ranking: 122
Week 6 Opponent: UTSA
121. Rice Owls (0-5)
Week 5: Louisiana Tech 23, Rice 20 OT
Last Week Ranking: 121
Week 6 Opponent: at UAB
120. UTSA Roadrunners (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 119
Week 6 Opponent: at UTEP
119. South Alabama Jaguars (1-4
Week 5: ULM 30, South Alabama 17
Last Week Ranking: 118
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia Southern
118. ULM Warhawks (2-2)
Week 5: ULM 30, South Alabama 17
Last Week Ranking: 101
Week 6 Opponent: Memphis
117. New Mexico Lobos (2-2)
Week 5: Liberty 17, New Mexico 10
Last Week Ranking: 120
Week 6 Opponent: at San Jose State
116. Charlotte 49ers (2-3)
Week 5: Florida Atlantic 45, Charlotte 27
Last Week Ranking: 117
Week 6 Opponent: at FIU (Oct. 12)
115. Ball State Cardinals (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 116
Week 6 Opponent: at Northern Illinois
114. Central Michigan Chippewas (2-3)
Week 5: Western Michigan 31, Central Michigan 15
Last Week Ranking: 115
Week 6 Opponent: Eastern Michigan
113. UAB Blazers (3-1)
Week 5: WKU 20, UAB 13
Last Week Ranking: 109
Week 6 Opponent: Rice
112. WKU Hilltoppers (2-2)
Week 5: WKU 20, UAB 13
Last Week Ranking: 125
Week 6 Opponent: at Old Dominion
111. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-3)
Week 5: Michigan 52, Rutgers 0
Last Week Ranking: 111
Week 6 Opponent: Maryland
110. Georgia Southern Eagles (1-3)
Week 4: Louisiana 37, Georgia Southern 24
Last Week Ranking: 108
Week 6 Opponent: at South Alabama
109. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-1)
Week 5: Louisiana Tech 23, Rice 20 OT
Last Week Ranking: 107
Week 6 Opponent: UMass (Oct. 12)
108. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-3)
Week 5: Iowa 48, Middle Tennessee 3
Last Week Ranking: 106
Week 6 Opponent: Marshall
107. Ohio Bobcats (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 105
Week 6 Opponent: at Buffalo
106. USF Bulls (1-3)
Week 5: SMU 48, USF 21
Last Week Ranking: 99
Week 6 Opponent: at UConn
105. Tennessee Volunteers (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 98
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia
104. Georgia State Panthers (2-2)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 97
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas State
103. Texas State Bobcats (2-3)
Week 5: Texas State 24, Nicholls 3
Last Week Ranking: 96
Week 6 Opponent: ULM (Oct. 10)
102. Old Dominion Monarchs (1-3)
Week 5: East Carolina 24, Old Dominion 21
Last Week Ranking: 104
Week 6 Opponent: WKU
101. East Carolina Pirates (3-2)
Week 5: East Carolina 24, Old Dominion 21
Last Week Ranking: 114
Week 6 Opponent: Temple
CFN Rankings After Week 5
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 76-100, 50-75, Top 25
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
100. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-2)
Week 5: Florida Atlantic 45, Charlotte 27
Last Week Ranking: 102
Week 6 Opponent: Middle Tennessee (Oct. 12)
99. Northern Illinois Huskies (1-3)
Week 5: Vanderbilt 24, Northern Illinois 18
Last Week Ranking: 94
Week 6 Opponent: Ball State
98. North Texas Mean Green (2-3)
Week 5: Houston 46, North Texas 25
Last Week Ranking: 93
Week 6 Opponent: at Southern Miss (Oct. 12)
97. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-3)
Week 5: Temple 24, Georgia Tech 2
Last Week Ranking: 92
Week 6 Opponent: North Carolina
96. Western Michigan Broncos (3-2)
Week 5: Western Michigan 31, Central Michigan 15
Last Week Ranking: 95
Week 6 Opponent: at Toledo
95. Troy Trojans (2-2)
Week 5: Arkansas State 50, Troy 43
Last Week Ranking: 90
Week 6 Opponent: at Missouri
94. Arkansas State Red Wolves (2-2)
Week 5: Arkansas State 50, Troy 43
Last Week Ranking: 100
Week 6 Opponent: at Georgia State
93. Colorado State Rams (1-4)
Week 5: Utah State 34, Colorado State 24
Last Week Ranking: 103
Week 6 Opponent: San Diego State
92. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3)
Week 5: Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 27
Last Week Ranking: 89
Week 6 Opponent: at Kentucky (Oct. 12)
91. San Jose State Spartans (2-2)
Week 5: Air Force 41, San Jose State 24
Last Week Ranking: 88
Week 6 Opponent: New Mexico
90. Navy Midshipmen (2-1)
Week 5: Memphis 35, Navy 23
Last Week Ranking: 110
Week 6 Opponent: Air Force
89. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-2)
Week 5: Duke 45, Virginia Tech 10
Last Week Ranking: 87
Week 6 Opponent: at Miami
88. Boston College Eagles (3-2)
Week 5: Wake Forest 27, Boston College 24
Last Week Ranking: 86
Week 6 Opponent: at Louisville
87. Kansas Jayhawks (1-4)
Week 5: TCU 51, Kansas 14
Last Week Ranking: 85
Week 6 Opponent: Oklahoma
86. Coastal Carolina (3-2)
Week 5: Appalachian State 56, Coastal Carolina 37
Last Week Ranking: 84
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia State (Oct. 12)
85. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-2)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 83
Week 6 Opponent: at Minnesota
84. Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 82
Week 6 Opponent: at Central Michigan
83. Marshall Thundering Herd (2-2)
Week 5: Cincinnati 52, Marshall 14
Last Week Ranking: 81
Week 6 Opponent: at Middle Tennessee
82. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (3-2)
Week 5: Southern Miss 31, UTEP 13
Last Week Ranking: 80
Week 6 Opponent: North Texas (Oct. 12)
81. Vanderbilt Commodores (1-3)
Week 5: Vanderbilt 24, Northern Illinois 18
Last Week Ranking: 79
Week 6 Opponent: at Ole Miss
80. Houston Cougars (2-3)
Week 5: Houston 46, North Texas 25
Last Week Ranking: 78
Week 6 Opponent: Cincinnati (Oct. 12)
79. Louisville Cardinals (2-2)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 76
Week 6 Opponent: Boston College
78. Purdue Boilermakers (1-3)
Week 5: Minnesota 38, Purdue 31
Last Week Ranking: 74
Week 6 Opponent: at Penn State
77. Nevada Wolf Pack (3-2)
Week 5: Hawaii 54, Nevada 3
Last Week Ranking: 66
Week 6 Opponent: San Jose State (Oct. 12)
76. Liberty Flames (3-2)
Week 5: Liberty 17, New Mexico 10
Last Week Ranking: 53
Week 6 Opponent: at New Mexico State
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 50-75, Top 25
75. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-1)
Week 5: Louisiana 37, Georgia Southern 24
Last Week Ranking: 52
Week 6 Opponent: Appalachian State (Oct. 9)
74. Fresno State Bulldogs (2-2)
Week 5: Fresno State 30, New Mexico State 17
Last Week Ranking: 75
Week 6 Opponent: at Air Force (Oct. 12)
73. Syracuse Orange (3-2)
Week 5: Syracuse 41, Holy Cross 3
Last Week Ranking: 36
Week 6 Opponent: at NC State (Oct. 10)
72. Maryland Terrapins (2-2)
Week 5: Penn State 59, Maryland 0
Last Week Ranking: 56
Week 6 Opponent: at Rutgers
71. Temple Owls (3-1)
Week 5: Temple 24, Georgia Tech 2
Last Week Ranking: 55
Week 6 Opponent: at East Carolina
70. Buffalo Bulls (2-3)
Week 5: Miami University 34, Buffalo 20
Last Week Ranking: 54
Week 6 Opponent: Ohio
69. Miami University RedHawks (2-3)
Week 5: Miami University 34, Buffalo 20
Last Week Ranking: 112
Week 6 Opponent: at Western Michigan (Oct. 12)
68. Oregon State Beavers (2-2)
Week 5: Stanford 31, Oregon State 28
Last Week Ranking: 91
Week 6 Opponent: at UCLA
67. Northwestern Wildcats (1-3)
Week 5: Wisconsin 24, Northwestern 15
Last Week Ranking: 47
Week 6 Opponent: at Nebraska
66. Stanford Cardinal (2-3)
Week 5: Stanford 31, Oregon State 28
Last Week Ranking: 44
Week 6 Opponent: Washington
65. NC State Wolfpack (3-2)
Week 5: Florida State 31, NC State 13
Last Week Ranking: 68
Week 6 Opponent: Syracuse (Oct. 10)
64. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 67
Week 6 Opponent: Texas
63. Tulane Green Wave (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 51
Week 6 Opponent: at Army
62. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-2)
Week 5: Ohio State 48, Nebraska 7
Last Week Ranking: 44
Week 6 Opponent: Northwestern
61. Washington State Cougars (3-2)
Week 5: Utah 38, Washington State 13
Last Week Ranking: 34
Week 6 Opponent: at Arizona State (Oct. 12)
60. UCLA Bruins (1-4)
Week 5: Arizona 20, Arizona 17
Last Week Ranking: 33
Week 6 Opponent: Oregon State
59. Ole Miss Rebels (2-3)
Week 5: Alabama 59, Ole Miss 31
Last Week Ranking: 72
Week 6 Opponent: Vanderbilt
58. Memphis Tigers (4-0)
Week 5: Memphis 35, Navy 23
Last Week Ranking: 70
Week 6 Opponent: at ULM
57. Iowa State Cyclones (2-2)
Week 5: Baylor 23, Iowa State 21
Last Week Ranking: 43
Week 6 Opponent: TCU
56. Army Black Knights (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 45
Week 6 Opponent: Tulane
55. Baylor Bears (4-0)
Week 5: Baylor 23, Iowa State 21
Last Week Ranking: 58
Week 6 Opponent: at Kansas State
54. BYU Cougars (2-3)
Week 5: Toledo 28, BYU 21
Last Week Ranking: 37
Week 6 Opponent: at USF (Oct. 12)
53. Toledo Rockets (3-1)
Week 5: Toledo 28, BYU 21
Last Week Ranking: 77
Week 6 Opponent: Western Michigan
52. Kentucky Wildcats (2-3)
Week 5: South Carolina 24, Kentucky 7
Last Week Ranking: 29
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas (Oct. 12)
51. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3)
Week 5: South Carolina 24, Kentucky 7
Last Week Ranking: 62
Week 6 Opponent: at Georgia (Oct. 12)
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 26-50, Top 25
50. Missouri Tigers (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 61
Week 6 Opponent: Troy
49. Wyoming Cowboys (4-1)
Week 5: Wyoming 53, UNLV 17
Last Week Ranking: 60
Week 6 Opponent: at San Diego State (Oct. 12)
48. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-3)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 59
Week 6 Opponent: at SMU
47. San Diego State Aztecs (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 41
Week 6 Opponent: at Colorado State
46. Miami Hurricanes (2-2)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 37
Week 6 Opponent: Virginia Tech
45. UCF Knights (4-1)
Week 5: UCF 56, UConn 21
Last Week Ranking: 24
Week 6 Opponent: at Cincinnati
44. Pitt Panthers (3-2)
Week 5: Pitt 17, Delaware 14
Last Week Ranking: 23
Week 6 Opponent: at Duke
43. Florida State Seminoles (3-2)
Week 5: Florida State 31, NC State 13
Last Week Ranking: 71
Week 6 Opponent: at Clemson (Oct. 12)
42. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-2)
Week 5: Oklahoma 55, Texas Tech 16
Last Week Ranking: 50
Week 6 Opponent: Oklahoma State
41. Arizona Wildcats (3-1)
Week 5: Arizona 20, UCLA 17
Last Week Ranking: 49
Week 6 Opponent: at Colorado
40. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (4-1)
Week 5: Hawaii 54, Nevada 3
Last Week Ranking: 48
Week 6 Opponent: at Boise State (Oct. 12)
39. Utah State Aggies (3-1)
Week 4: Utah State 34, Colorado State 24
Last Week Ranking: 30
Week 6 Opponent: at LSU
38. Cincinnati Bearcats (3-1)
Week 5: Cincinnati 52, Marshall 14
Last Week Ranking: 55
Week 6 Opponent: UCF
37. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-0)
Week 5: Minnesota 38, Purdue 31
Last Week Ranking: 65
Week 6 Opponent: Illinois
36. Indiana Hoosiers (3-2)
Week 5: Michigan State 40, Indiana 31
Last Week Ranking: 69
Week 6 Opponent:Rutgers (Oct. 12)
35. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-3)
Week 5: Clemson 21, North Carolina 20
Last Week Ranking: 36
Week 6 Opponent: at Georgia Tech
34. Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-0)
Week 5: Appalachian State 56, Coastal Carolina 37
Last Week Ranking: 35
Week 6 Opponent: at Louisiana (Oct. 9)
33. Duke Blue Devils (3-1)
Week 5: Duke 45, Virginia Tech 10
Last Week Ranking: 66
Week 6 Opponent: Pitt
32. TCU Horned Frogs (3-1)
Week 5: TCU 51, Kansas 14
Last Week Ranking: 64
Week 6 Opponent: at Iowa State
31. SMU Mustangs (5-0)
Week 5: SMU 48, USF 21
Last Week Ranking: 63
Week 6 Opponent: Tulsa
30. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-0)
Week 5: Wake Forest 27, Boston College 24
Last Week Ranking: 29
Week 6 Opponent: Louisville (Oct. 12)
29. Kansas State Wildcats (3-1)
Week 5: Oklahoma State 26, Kansas State 13
Last Week Ranking: 25
Week 6 Opponent: Baylor
28. Utah Utes (4-1)
Week 5: Utah 38, Washington State 13
Last Week Ranking: 22
Week 6 Opponent: at Oregon State (Oct. 12)
27. USC Trojans (3-2)
Week 5: Washington 28, USC 14
Last Week Ranking: 21
Week 6 Opponent: at Notre Dame (Oct. 12)
26. Washington Huskies (4-1)
Week 5: Washington 28, USC 14
Last Week Ranking: 20
Week 6 Opponent: at Stanford
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: Top 25
25. Cal Golden Bears (4-1)
Week 5: Arizona State 24, Cal 17
Last Week Ranking: 19
Week 6 Opponent: at Oregon
24. Michigan State Spartans (4-1)
Week 5: Michigan State 40, Indiana 31
Last Week Ranking: 42
Week 6 Opponent: at Ohio State
23. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)
Week 5: Arizona State 24, Cal 17
Last Week Ranking: 41
Week 6 Opponent: Washington State (Oct. 12)
22. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 40
Week 6 Opponent: Arizona
21. Air Force Falcons (3-1)
Week 5: Air Force 41, San Jose State 24
Last Week Ranking: 39
Week 6 Opponent: at Navy
20. Boise State Broncos (4-0)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 38
Week 6 Opponent: at UNLV
19. Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-2)
Week 5: Auburn 56, Mississippi State 23
Last Week Ranking: 28
Week 6 Opponent: at Tennessee (Oct. 12)
18. Texas A&M Aggies (3-2)
Week 5: Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 27
Last Week Ranking: 13
Week 6 Opponent: Alabama (Oct. 12)
17. Virginia Cavaliers (4-1)
Week 5: Notre Dame 35, Virginia 20
Last Week Ranking: 18
Week 6 Opponent: at Miami (Oct. 12)
16. Iowa Hawkeyes (4-0)
Week 5: Iowa 48, Middle Tennessee 3
Last Week Ranking: 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Michigan
15. Michigan Wolverines (3-1)
Week 5: Michigan 52, Rutgers 0
Last Week Ranking: 16
Week 6 Opponent: Iowa
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1)
Week 5: Oklahoma State 26, Kansas State 13
Last Week Ranking: 15
Week 6 Opponent: at Texas Tech
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)
Week 5: Penn State 59, Maryland 0
Last Week Ranking: 14
Week 6 Opponent: Purdue
12. Texas Longhorns (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 11
Week 6 Opponent: at West Virginia
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-1)
Week 5: Notre Dame 35, Virginia 20
Last Week Ranking: 12
Week 6 Opponent: Bowling Green
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | Top 10
NEXT: Top Ten
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25
10. Oregon Ducks (3-1)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 10
Week 6 Opponent: Cal
9. Florida Gators (5-0)
Week 5: Florida 38, Towson 0
Last Week Ranking: 9
Week 6 Opponent: Auburn
8. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0)
Week 5: Wisconsin 24, Northwestern 15
Last Week Ranking: 6
Week 6 Opponent: Kent State
7. Clemson Tigers (5-0)
Week 5: Clemson 21, North Carolina 20
Last Week Ranking: 2
Week 6 Opponent: Florida State (Oct. 12)
6. Auburn Tigers (5-0)
Week 5: Auburn 56, Mississippi State 23
Last Week Ranking: 8
Week 6 Opponent: at Florida
5. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0)
Week 5: Oklahoma 55, Texas Tech 16
Last Week Ranking: 7
Week 6 Opponent: at Kansas
4. Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 4
Week 6 Opponent: at Tennessee
3. LSU Tigers (4-0)
Week 5: DIDN’T PLAY THIS WEEK
Last Week Ranking: 3
Week 6 Opponent: Utah State
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)
Week 5: Ohio State 48, Nebraska 7
Last Week Ranking: 5
Week 6 Opponent: Michigan State
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0)
Week 5: Alabama 59, Ole Miss 31
Last Week Ranking: 1
Week 6 Opponent: at Texas A&M (Oct. 12)
CFN Rankings After Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25
