Final grades for all 128 teams in FBS college football
It’s time to hand out report cards to the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Alabama earns an A+ grade after defeating Clemson to capture the national championship, the program’s fourth under coach Nick Saban. Clemson earns the same grade for reaching the title game, marking another massive step forward for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.
Not every team will hold such a sterling GPA. Remember that all grades are relative: Eight wins might be a disappointment for one team and fantastic for another, depending on preseason expectations, recent history and the overall résumé of wins and losses.
So what grade did your team earn in 2015? Let's hand out team-by-team report cards for the entire FBS, with marks ranging from an A+ through a failing grade — the dreaded F.
Alabama | Clemson | Houston
Houston earns a perfect mark after going 13-1 and winning the Peach Bowl in Tom Herman’s debut.
Appalachian State | Iowa | Michigan | Michigan State | Navy | North Carolina | Oklahoma | San Diego State | Southern Mississippi | Stanford | Temple | Western Kentucky
Iowa’s Rose Bowl loss knocked the Hawkeyes down a peg. Michigan had a fantastic debut under Jim Harbaugh. Navy and Temple excelled in the American Athletic Conference.
Akron | Arkansas State | Bowling Green | Florida | Georgia State | Mississippi | Northwestern | Notre Dame | Ohio State | Oklahoma State | TCU | Utah | Washington State
Ohio State and Notre Dame had great but somewhat disappointing seasons. Washington State was one of the great surprises on the Power Five level.
Air Force | Arkansas | Baylor | Florida State | Georgia Southern | Louisiana Tech | Memphis | Pittsburgh | South Florida | Washington
Pittsburgh won eight games in its first season under Pat Narduzzi. Baylor and Florida State stumbled but managed solid finishes relative to their bouts with injury or inexperience.
Brigham Young | California | Connecticut | Georgia | Louisville | Marshall | Mississippi State | New Mexico | Oregon | Tennessee | Texas Tech | Toledo | Tulsa
This fall marked another step forward for Tennessee, but many expected more out of the Volunteers. Texas Tech returned to bowl play but had consistent issues on defense.
Central Michigan | Colorado State | Duke | LSU | Northern Illinois | Ohio | Penn State | West Virginia | Western Michigan | Wisconsin
Duke’s quest for a division title hit a snag in October and November. Likewise with LSU, which went from unbeaten to the second tier of the Southeastern Conference.
Boise State | Buffalo | Cincinnati | Middle Tennessee State | Nevada | New Mexico State | San Jose State | South Alabama | Southern California
USC lost its final two games to hit the offseason on a low note. New Mexico State’s three wins in Sun Belt Conference play were solid, given the program’s recent ineptitude.
Arizona | Florida International | Miami (Fla.) | Old Dominion | Texas A&M | Troy | Utah State | Virginia Tech
Once a dark-horse title contender, Texas A&M again struggled to make any noticeable impact in conference play. Virginia Tech was simply mediocre in Frank Beamer’s final season.
East Carolina | Indiana | Kansas State | Miami (Ohio) | Minnesota | Nebraska | North Carolina State | UCLA | UNLV | UTSA | Vanderbilt
It seems strange to say, but this year’s Indiana team should not have been satisfied with simply making — and then losing — a bowl game. UCLA was ineffective against high quality competition.
Arizona State | Boston College | Charlotte | Florida Atlantic | Illinois | Kent State | Kentucky | Massachusetts | Oregon State | Rice | Rutgers | SMU | Texas
Texas had a litany of concerns in Charlie Strong’s second season. Boston College won three games despite housing the nation’s most productive defense.
Army | Ball State | Colorado | Hawaii | Idaho | Iowa State | Louisiana-Monroe | Missouri | Syracuse | Texas State | Tulane | UTEP | Virginia | Wake Forest
Missouri was doomed by subpar quarterback play. Poor finishes led to coaching changes at Hawaii, Iowa State, Louisiana-Monroe, Syracuse, Texas State, Tulane and Virginia.
Eastern Michigan | Fresno State | Kansas | Louisiana-Lafayette | Maryland | North Texas | Purdue | South Carolina | Wyoming
Though Kansas didn’t win a game, the situation David Beaty inherited keeps the Jayhawks from earning the lowest grade. Fresno State’s recent decline is troubling.
Auburn | Central Florida | Georgia Tech
UCF was the nation’s worst team. Georgia Tech bottomed out in spectacular fashion. And Auburn was the biggest disappointment in college football.
PROJECTING COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S 2016 TOP 25
