By Tim Blasco

Frank Sinatra sings one of my favorite song “Here’s to the Losers.” Every year I grab Phil Steele’s College Football Preview and flip through so many articles it makes my head spin. There’s strength of schedule, top prospects for the draft, and even those “dark horse teams.” I played on a small football team in High School and we played our hearts out but never won anything. I eventually flip to the power rankings and look at the teams in last place.

Why should you care? Well despite a top ten look, or a Big Ten preview this is the first dihedralated look at a bottom ten preview in the power rankings ever done. History is being made! There’s also some teams you’ve never heard of and it could help you with your degenerate gambler uncle. It also helps me get clicks which most of you are tangentially required to click on something you have never seen before. “If it bleeds it leads!” Nothing is bloodier than a team that’s dead on arrival. These guys are truly out for the love of the game.

These are the worst teams of the 2016 NCAA Football Season in the 2016 Power Rankings.

128 Texas St.

HC: Everett Wither (Former DB/LB for Appalachian St) Last HC experience North Carolina

What you need to know: Texas St was an awesome Division I AA team. They are the 4th largest university in Texas and they have 7 players in the NFL. Despite several seasons of victory, only 3 out of 8 are losing seasons!

New coaching staff, 3 of which come from JMU (FCS). Almost all seniors graduated. This team will most likely have the toughest year in college football.

127 ULM

HC: Matt Viator (Former LB Coach under Nick Saban) Last HC experience McNeese St (78-33 from 2006-2015)

What you need to know: ULM lost almost every game they played last year. They lost to Alabama and Georgia but also lost a lot of games they should have won. Halfway through the season HC Todd Berry was fired. ULM suffered their worst record since 2003. They just couldn’t get anything going. Their 2 wins came from New Mexico St and Nicholls St. The only team to lose to Texas St. last year is just one ahead of Texas St. this year. DB Lenzy Pipkins looks like a future prospect though with 56 tackles last year.

Look for ULM at the bottom with Texas St in the Sun Belt Conference.

126 North Texas

HC: Seth Littrell (Former RB for Oklahoma 98-01) No former head coaching experience. He coached a record season at NC — most reception points in a season — and he has an all new staff.

What you need to know: Besides having an epic mascot and logo North Texas Mean Green doesn’t have a whole lot going for it this season. Last year they only won 1 game vs UTSA. Almost every other game was a loss by more than 14 pts. The defense needs work.

Two players to look out for: P Eric Keena and DT Bryce English.

125 Massachusetts

HC: Mark Whipple (QB at Brown University) Former and most recent experience was at UMASS (HERE) going 49-26 from 98-03.

What you need to know: UMASS leaves the MAC to become and INDEPENDENT. They have no prospect of a bowl this year. They did edge out a very good, but injured Temple University last year. Look for RB Marquis Young to have a breakout year and the rest of UMASS to fight some tough but losing battles.

124 New Mexico St

HC: Doug Martin (Former QB for Kentucky ’81-84) Past Head Coaching Experience Kent State (’04-’10)

What you need to know: The Aggies have a very competent RB in Larry Rose III. They have a pretty good receiving corps and that’s about….it. Although look to see some life from them as they attempt to prove relevancy in the Sun Belt Conference. The variety of some of the lighter conferences is what makes NCAA football so fun. Carson Wentz may actually never have been discovered without it.

123 UTSA

HC: Frank Wilson (RB at Nicholls St (’94-’96) First year coach.

The Roadrunners have never played a bowl game. They don’t have a long history though. In fact I really respect this program. They started in 2011, a relatively late year for a Division I College Football Program. They are the true meaning of gridiron and most of their players are local San Antonians! I really hope that good things happen this year with 12 starters back. Look for Sam Houston St transfer Jarred Johnson and LB Ronnie Feist to make some noise. RB AaRon Jones will be a threat to any defense. G Will Hernandez is a big guy with some a future in the NFL if he stays healthy. It will be a tough year for the UTSA Roadrunners look for them at the bottom but above North Texas in the Conference USA in 2016.

122 Tulane

HC: Willie Fritz (DB at Pitt (’78-’81) Multiple stops on the way here, including a stop at Blinn College (Junior College)

Tulane’s Defense looks pretty nasty and it starts with DT Tanzel Smart 6’1” 304 lbs. They actually have a good team but they are still rebuilding Coach Fritz likes to run the spread offense but lacks the tools. All of their winnable games are on the road and they will fight for every point this year. In the AAC-West there is no better place for OL or DL. That should make Football Stories Al Thompson happy. Although the rebuild will be quick the AAC is on the rise in terms of talent and skill.

121 Ball St

HC: Mike Neu (QB at Ball State, CFL Calgary Stampeders and Orlando Predators)

QB Riley Neal looks promising as well as Ball State’s future if they play injury free. DT Darnell Smith and 9 returning starters look pretty good. The only thing keeping them out of the basement in the MAC is a win against Eastern Michigan.

120 Miami, OH

HC: Chuck Martin (2 Time DII Football Championship Football Coach 74-7 overall)

The Red Hawks have some possible wins on their schedule as they face Eastern Michigan and Ball State. Their biggest problem is moving the ball. Their ypg dwindled all last year WR Rokeem Williams should help with that in addition to WR Kevonn Mabon.

119 Georgia St.

HC: Trent Miles (Indiana St 20-36 ’08-’12)

QB Conner Manning Jr. #7 has some big shoes to fill. former QB Nick Arbuckle was a threat to any defense. Most winnable games are at home. Georgia St. plays Air Force on the road and HC Miles specializes in recovering disheveled football squads.

118 South Alabama

HC: Joey Jones (WR at Alabama ’79) Coached South Alabama as an FBS team (23-4)

This is another developing team. QB Dallas Davis has a lot to sort out. If South Alabama gets a bowl game this year it will be awesome to see. There is some real speed on this team in CB Jeremy Reeves and KR Xavier Johnson.

Picture: http://www.istockphoto.com/photos/loser?phrase=Loser&sort=best&excludenudity=true
Statistics and Facts: Derived mostly and with great respect to Phil Steele’s College Football Preview