| Rank | Team | 1998
Ranking | '98 Record | Returning
Starters | Schedule
Strength |
| 1 | Penn State | (17) | 9-3 | 17 | 14 |
| JoePa's 50th season in Happy Valley will have a happy ending in New Orleans. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 2 | Florida State | (3) | 11-2 | 14 | 24 |
| For all their success the Seminoles have only one national title this decade. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 3 | Arizona | (4) | 12-1 | 17 | 30 |
| Streak of seven straight road wins will be put to the test on Aug. 28 at Penn State. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 4 | Tennessee | (1) | 13-0 | 13 | 29 |
| The defending national champs' last win at Florida was in 1971. Vols try again on Sept. 18. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 5 | Ohio State | (2) | 11-1 | 13 | 22 |
| Tailback Michael Wiley leads active Buckeyes in career completions with five. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 6 | Nebraska | (19) | 9-4 | 14 | 13 |
| Cornhuskers may alternate Eric Crouch and Bobby Newcombe at quarterback. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 7 | Florida | (5) | 10-2 | 9 | 19 |
| Home winning streak (now 27) to be tested by Tennessee, Alabama and Florida State. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 8 | Texas A&M | (11) | 11-3 | 16 | 50 |
| Aggie 6-foot, 260-pound sophomore fullback Ja'Mar Toombs buries defensive backs. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 9 | Georgia Tech | (9) | 10-2 | 15 | 54 |
| The Yellow Jackets returned an NCAA-record seven fumbles for touchdowns in 1998. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 10 | Colorado | - | 8-4 | 15 | 55 |
| New coach Gary Barnett is focusing on a rushing attack that averaged only 123.2 yards in '98. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 11 | Wisconsin | (6) | 11-1 | 14 | 65 |
| The Badgers bring back eight starters from the nation's No. 1 scoring defense. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 12 | Notre Dame | (22) | 9-3 | 11 | 20 |
| The Irish were national champs in 1966, '77 and '88 but are a long shot in '99. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 13 | Miami | (20) | 9-3 | 17 | 32 |
| Improved Hurricanes meet Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State in first five weeks. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 14 | UCLA | (8) | 10-2 | 14 | 6 |
| The Bruins, 99th in total D in 1998, have third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 15 | Michigan | (12) | 10-3 | 15 | 3 |
| The Wolverines are coming off their worst rushing season in 35 years (151.7 yards a game). CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 16 | Alabama | - | 7-5 | 17 | 5 |
| Tide to stage home game vs. Tennessee on campus for the first time since 1930. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | (23) | 9-3 | 13 | 70 |
| The Hokies lead the nation in blocked kicks (61) during this decade. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 18 | Georgia | (14) | 9-3 | 11 | 43 |
| How good is quarterback Quincy Carter? Three other Dawgs signal-callers transferred. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 19 | Southern Cal | - | 8-5 | 15 | 12 |
| Successive Saturdays in Tucson and South Bend will decide the Trojans' fate. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 20 | Texas | (15) | 9-3 | 13 | 25 |
| Eight players, unhappy with playing time, have left since 1999 Cotton Bowl win. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 21 | Purdue | (24) | 9-4 | 13 | 8 |
| Drew Brees threw for 3,983 yards and 39 TDs in 1998, both Big Ten records. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 22 | Arkansas | (16) | 9-3 | 12 | 47 |
| Anthony Lucas and Joe Dean Davenport (61 catches between them in 1998) are ball Hogs. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 23 | Kansas State | (10) | 11-2 | 10 | 68 |
| Punt returner David Allen is 562 yards from 50-year-old NCAA punt-return-yardage record. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 24 | Marshall | - | 12-1 | 19 | 113 |
| Opener at Clemson is toughest hurdle to an undefeated season for the Thundering Herd. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 25 | Arizona State | - | 5-6 | 14 | 10 |
| Tailback J.R. Redmond will follow 6'6", 305-pound tackle Marvelous Marvel Smith. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 26 | Brigham Young | - | 9-5 | 12 | 59 |
| Linebacker Rob Morris, the Mountain West's hardest hitter, is nicknamed Freight Train. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 27 | Louisville | - | 7-5 | 19 | 91 |
| Quarterback Chris Redman led the nation's top offense (559.6 yards per game) in 1998. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 28 | Virginia | (18) | 9-3 | 15 | 35 |
| Senior tailback Thomas Jones was the ACC's runaway rushing leader a year ago (1,303 yards). CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 29 | Louisiana State | - | 4-7 | 15 | 41 |
| Quarterback Josh Booty makes his debut at 24; top target is brother Abram, 20, a junior. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 30 | Syracuse | (25) | 8-4 | 13 | 57 |
| The Orangemen hit the road for Big East showdowns at Virginia Tech and Miami. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 31 | Air Force | (13) | 12-1 | 12 | 83 |
| Key conference clash on Oct. 30 at Brigham Young, where Falcons are winless since 1982. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 32 | Mississippi | - | 7-5 | 17 | 51 |
| New coach David Cutcliffe tutors a second Manning, freshman quarterback Eli. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 33 | Michigan State | - | 6-6 | 14 | 7 |
| Season-ticket holders are happy: Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State visit. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 34 | Oregon | - | 8-4 | 14 | 21 |
| Reuben Droughns, averaging 164.8 yards rushing when hurt in 1998's sixth game, returns. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 35 | Mississippi State | - | 8-5 | 9 | 62 |
| Schedule (no Florida, Georgia or Tennessee) a blessing for an offense with two starters back. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 36 | West Virginia | - | 8-4 | 14 | 64 |
| Quarterback Marc Bulger led Big East in passing (289 yards per game) a year ago. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 37 | Washington | - | 6-6 | 13 | 1 |
| Bad Blood Bowl: New coach Rick Neuheisel faces his former team, Colorado, on Sept. 25. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 38 | Miami (Ohio) | - | 10-1 | 16 | 108 |
| Top returning rusher, Travis Prentice, is RedHawks' gridiron Wally Szczerbiak. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 39 | North Carolina | - | 7-5 | 11 | 61 |
| Tar Heels are the only school with a 4-0 bowl record over the last four years. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
| 40 | Minnesota | - | 5-6 | 18 | 63 |
| The Gophers should be 4-0 when Wisconsin and Ron Dayne visit on Oct. 9. CNNSI.com Team Preview |
