| Rank | Team | Comments | Prior | |
| 1 |  | North Dakota State | A ton to replace, including a head coach. But there's more tradition here than anywhere in FCS. The machine is still rolling. | |
| 2 |  | James Madison | A new head coach here also. Same story as above, there's a train leaving the station. Last year was a track change, not a derailment. | |
| 3 |  | Eastern Washington | 2018 finalist returning a dynamic quarterback in Barriere. The offense will be potent and the defense looks better. Still a winner. | |
| 4 |  | Jacksonville State | A hiccup last year cost the Gamecocks a four plus year conference winning streak. Just winning the OVC isn't enough anymore. | |
| 5 |  | Weber State | The Wildcats are usually predicated to shutting down teams with their defense. But the offense will carry them early. | |
| 6 |  | UC Davis | Quarterback Maier might be the best in the country and so might their offense. If the defense does enough, anything is possible. | |
| 7 |  | Wofford | Wofford just keeps grinding along. That says a lot because the SoCon is pushing to make the top three conferences, a top four. | |
| 8 |  | South Dakota State | Replacing an all-time program quarterback will be important. But everything else is there. Can they jump the Bison hump? | |
| 9 |  | Nicholls | Nicholls used to be an afterthought. Now, they're the focus on conversation in the Southland. And they'll be tough again. | |
| 10 |  | Elon | Losing their coach to JMU has to sting. But the team Cignetti left behind might end up better than the place he went. | |
| 11 |  | Illinois State | Can the Redbirds put together an entire season? The last few have started well, then fell flat. All the potential, now let's see results. | |
| 12 |  | Montana | The Grizzlies have a lot returning. The schedule is a bear, sorry for the pun. But such is life in the Big Sky. | |
| 13 |  | Indiana State | The trendy pick to click this year. Having won their last five and missed the playoffs, the Sycamores are looking to prove all wrong. | |
| 14 |  | Towson | Offensively, the Tigers may be the CAA's best. However, the road schedule is brutal. Can they overcome it and be playoff bound? | |
| 15 |  | Sam Houston State | 6-5 is a decent season for most programs, not SHSU. Expect a bounce back. If the defense holds up its end, they could be scary. | |
| 16 |  | Chattanooga | The Mocs will play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation. If they stay up to the challenge, playoffs will follow. | |
| 17 |  | Maine | The Black Bear defense should continue to dominate. But a tough schedule, including two FBS games leaves little margin for error. | |
| 18 |  | Montana State | Bobcats return talent all over the field, more than enough to make the playoffs again. The schedule is tough, but could still be worse. | |
| 19 |  | Furman | SoCon tri-champion last year - no playoffs. That's gonna stick in the Paladins craw. Expect a very focused effort all year. | |
| 20 |  | Yale | Yale returns 21 of 22 starters from last year. How does that happen? Improvement on last year's 5-5 seems a near lock. | |
| 21 |  | SE Missouri State | LB Hall is one of the three best players in the country. The defense should be top notch and the offense still has QB Santacaterina. | |
| 22 |  | Lamar | Cardinals look to build off a 2018 playoff run. The defense has many holes to fill, but there's enough to be on the fringe, at least. | |
| 23 |  | Northern Iowa | They're replacing a lot. The O-line is better and the weapons will be there for a new QB. The defense should be there as always. | |
| 24 |  | Kennesaw State | After a huge graduating class, the Owls will look to reload quickly. If they can survive Monmouth later, the Big South should be theirs. | |
| 25 |  | Citadel | A triple-option outfit with almost everyone back. Opponents will see them as Nightmare Saturday. Tough schedule, tough out. | |
