Louisville was 102nd in my preseason college football rankings. After a historically awful two-win season, I thought the Cardinals were worse than 101 other FBS teams. I misfired…badly.
Eleven months after Louisville closed a two-win season with their ninth consecutive loss — and their fourth straight 30-point loss — the Cardinals are 5-3 and within striking distance of an eight- or nine-win season. With their win over Virginia in Week 9, they jumped to 32nd in the HERO Sports College Football Rankings, their highest ranking of the season, and 70 spots higher than their preseason ranking.
Again, I thought the Cardinals were worse than 101 other FBS teams. Now, entering Week 10, I think the Cardinals are worse than only 31 other FBS teams. Here's the real kicker: I gushed over the Scott Satterfield hire and thought 102nd was optimistic!
Three other teams have jumped at least 50 spots: SMU (55), Kansas State (54), and Air Force (52). SMU was the 22nd-ranked Group of Five team in the preseason rankings. Now, after an 8-0 start, the 19th-ranked Mustangs are the second-ranked Group of Five team.
Here's the full list of teams who've improved their ranking:
| Team | Preseason | Week 10 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 102 | 32 | 70 |
| SMU | 74 | 19 | 55 |
| Kansas State | 76 | 22 | 54 |
| Air Force | 89 | 37 | 52 |
| North Carolina | 82 | 36 | 46 |
| Kansas | 107 | 71 | 36 |
| Tulsa | 110 | 74 | 36 |
| Tulane | 86 | 51 | 35 |
| San Jose State | 128 | 94 | 34 |
| App State | 59 | 29 | 30 |
| Western Kentucky | 118 | 91 | 27 |
| Colorado | 93 | 67 | 26 |
| Georgia State | 120 | 95 | 25 |
| Wyoming | 104 | 79 | 25 |
| Memphis | 51 | 27 | 24 |
| Oregon State | 96 | 72 | 24 |
| Minnesota | 38 | 16 | 22 |
| USC | 47 | 25 | 22 |
| Boise State | 36 | 15 | 21 |
| Temple | 67 | 46 | 21 |
| Tennessee | 60 | 40 | 20 |
| Wake Forest | 43 | 23 | 20 |
| Baylor | 31 | 12 | 19 |
| San Diego State | 61 | 42 | 19 |
| Illinois | 100 | 84 | 16 |
| UCLA | 66 | 50 | 16 |
| Hawai'i | 80 | 65 | 15 |
| Texas Tech | 71 | 56 | 15 |
| Louisiana | 90 | 76 | 14 |
| UL-Monroe | 113 | 100 | 13 |
| Penn State | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| Ball State | 115 | 104 | 11 |
| Southern Miss | 99 | 88 | 11 |
| Central Michigan | 124 | 114 | 10 |
| Oregon | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| Navy | 77 | 69 | 8 |
| Rice | 130 | 122 | 8 |
| Pittsburgh | 52 | 45 | 7 |
| Indiana | 79 | 73 | 6 |
| LSU | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Utah | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| Arizona | 64 | 59 | 5 |
| Arizona State | 46 | 41 | 5 |
| Auburn | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Cincinnati | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| Kentucky | 40 | 35 | 5 |
| Oklahoma State | 35 | 30 | 5 |
| West Virginia | 75 | 70 | 5 |
| Georgia Tech | 87 | 83 | 4 |
| Ohio State | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Coastal Carolina | 123 | 120 | 3 |
| Iowa | 21 | 18 | 3 |
| Louisiana Tech | 78 | 75 | 3 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 95 | 92 | 3 |
| Colorado State | 101 | 99 | 2 |
| TCU | 33 | 31 | 2 |
| Cal | 45 | 44 | 1 |
| Florida | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 126 | 125 | 1 |
| UCF | 22 | 21 | 1 |
