The first installment of this series can be found here: Teams 31-40

The second installment can be found here: Teams 21-30

And the third installment can be found here: Teams 11-20

Again, the teams are listed in alphabetical order. The first true ranking will come out the week of Sept. 28. Teams 1-10 are all legitimate national title contenders and teams that will likely be among the group of 16 invited to the playoffs in November.

APPALACHIAN STATE
2008 record: 11-3 (8-0 Southern/1st)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to Richmond 33-13 in quarterfinals)
Last postseason victory: 2007 (beat South Carolina State 37-21 in first round)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 8/9
Players to watch: QB Armanti Edwards (64.1 comp%, 2,902 yards, 30 TD, 9 INT; 941 rush yards, 11 TD); WR CoCo Hillary (56 rec., 735 yards, 5 TD); RB Robert Welton (544 yards, 11 TD); LB Jacque Roman (130 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 1/2 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 INT); FS Mark LeGree (58 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 7 PBU, 10 INT).
The skinny: It seems the only thing that can slow Armanti Edwards is a downhill-rolling lawn mower. The superstar QB cut the heck out of his foot in a lawn-mower accident before training camp started, so he might be a little rusty when the Mountaineers open the season Sept. 5 at East Carolina. McNeese State comes to Boone a week later, so it’s not exactly an easy start for App. But with so many key players returning on both sides of the ball, it would be foolish not to call the Mountaineers one of the handful of favorites to be holding the hardware in Chattanooga in December. The Mountaineers do have three very difficult road SoCon games (at Furman, Wofford and Elon). But this is a program that has won 50 games in the last four seasons, and it would be stunning if the Mountaineers weren’t in the national title mix.

ELON
2008 record: 8-4 (6-2 Southern/3rd)
Last postseason appearance: None
Last postseason victory: None
Starters returning (offense/defense): 9/9
Players to watch: QB Scott Riddle (61.6 comp%, 2,871 yards, 24 TD, 15 INT); RB Brandon Newsome (931 yards, 2 TD); WR Terrell Hudgins (86 rec., 1,116 yards, 10 TD); LB Brandon Wiggins (80 tackles, 1 sack, 2 1/2 TFL, 3 PBU)
The skinny: The Phoenix put themselves in a perfect position to earn their first postseason berth, but they stumbled hard at Liberty, and those hopes were washed away. This will be the third year together for Riddle and Hudgins, and the chemistry between the two continues to evolve. Elon established a run game last season and was more than nine points a game better defensive than it was in 2007. With nine starters back on each side and Appalachian State visiting Rhodes Stadium this year, it’s not a stretch to see the Phoenix earning a playoff berth. The three-game stretch between Sept. 19-Oct. 3 (at Wake Forest, vs. Georgia Southern, at Furman) will tell us just how ready Elon is to compete in the SoCon.

JAMES MADISON
2008 record: 12-2 (8-0 CAA/1st South)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to Montana 35-27 in semifinals)
Last postseason victory: 2008 (beat Villanova 31-27 in quarterfinals)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 6/5
Players to watch: WR Rockeed McCarter (21 rec., 347 yards, 6 TD); DE Arthur Moats (65 tackles, 11 1/2 sacks, 4 TFL, 1 PBU)
The skinny: JMU won twice last season on ridiculously fluky plays, beating Richmond on a walk-off punt return touchdown and topping Villanova in the regular season on a Hail Mary at the end of the game. The Dukes’ season ended on an equally fluky note, as JMU turned it over four times in the semifinal home loss to Montana. (JMU was plus-5 in turnovers for the season). QB Rodney Landers, who threw for 1,534 yards and 21 TDs and ran for 1,770 yards and 16 TDs is gone, as is 1,000-yard rusher Eugene Holloman. But JMU has turned into one of those “re-loading” programs. The Dukes won’t win 12 games again this season. But they won’t sink far in the CAA race just because of personnel losses. The CAA schedule is favorable, as Richmond, Villanova and Maine all come to Harrisonburg. The toughest roadies are at William & Mary and Massachusetts.

MONTANA
2008 record: 14-2 (7-1 Big Sky/t1st)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to Richmond 24-7 in championship game)
Last postseason victory: 2008 (beat James Madison 35-27 in semifinals)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 6/6
Players to watch: WR Marc Mariani (69 rec., 1,308 yards, 15 TD); RB Chase Reynolds (1,583 yards, 22 TD); FS Shann Schillinger (108 tackles, 4 1/2 TFL, 10 PBU, 4 INT)
The skinny: Montana loses quarterback Cole Bergquist, who threw for 28 TDs and 8 INT. So what? Montana loses talent just about every season and just plugs holes. The Griz have made 16 straight playoff appearances and have won or shared the last 11 Big Sky titles. The last time they broke in a new QB (in 2007), they finished 11-1. And last season, when only three defensive starters returned, UM held opponents to 17.6 points per game. They don’t rebuild in Missoula. Ever. The two toughest Big Sky games are in Missoula this season (Eastern Washington and Weber State). Expect the Griz to roll to another league title and another seed in the FCS playoffs.

NORTHERN IOWA
2008 record: 12-3 (7-1 Missouri Valley/t1st)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to Richmond 21-20 in semifinals)
Last postseason victory: 2008 (beat New Hampshire 36-34 in quarterfinals)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/4
Players to watch: QB Pat Grace (62.3 comp%, 2,041 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT); WR Josh Collins (32 rec., 502 yards, 1 TD); RB Derrick Law (786 yards, 9 TD); LB Josh Mahoney (139 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 PBU, 3 INT)
The skinny: UNI may only return four defensive starters, but two of them combined for 249 tackles, so that’s a good starting point. RB Derrick Law takes on a larger role with Corey Lewis (1,314 yards, 11 TD) gone. The schedule is quite favorable. Southern Illinois and Youngstown State come to Cedar Falls, and UNI’s toughest league road games are at the XDSU’s (North and South Dakota State). Worst-case scenario, UNI loses three games and sneaks into the playoffs. Best-case scenario, the Panthers win the MVC and earn another FCS playoff seed.

RICHMOND
2008 record: 13-3 (6-2 CAA/3rd South)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (beat Montana 24-7 in championship game)
Last postseason victory: Same
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/9
Players to watch: QB Eric Ward (64.1 comp%, 2,808 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT; 440 rush yards, 8 TD); WR Kevin Grayson (61 rec., 853 yards, 3 TD); LB Eric McBride (108 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 1/2 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 INT); CB Justin Rogers (55 tackles, 4 TFL, 13 PBU, 7 INT)
The skinny: Funny how FCS football works. If Richmond doesn’t squeak past William & Mary in overtime in the season finale, the Spiders probably don’t make the playoffs. They got one foot in the door and kicked it down, winning the whole thing. The biggest loss from that team is TB Josh Vaughan (1,884 yards, 20 TD). But Mike London’s crew returns just about everybody on a defense that allowed just 15.6 points per game and held all four playoff opponents to 20 points or less. The schedule is a doozy. In the first seven weeks, Richmond visits Duke, Delaware, James Madison and Maine and hosts Hofstra. There are no guarantees or weeks off in the CAA. Wearing the crown of defending champion only earns a team a target. Everyone is gunning for the Spiders this fall.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
2008 record: 9-3 (7-1 Missouri Valley/t1st)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to New Hampshire 29-20 in first round)
Last postseason victory: 2007 (beat Massachusetts 34-27 in quarterfinals)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/9
Players to watch: QB Chris Dieker (57.1 comp%, 2,083 yards, 16 TD, 10 INT); SS Marty Rodgers (82 tackles, 6 1/2 TFL; 1 PBU, 2 INT); CB Korey Lindsey (39 tackles, 1 TFL, 5 PBU, 6 INT)
The skinny: The Salukis must replace their top tailback and receiver, but the defense is sound and returns 14 of the top 15 tackles. SIU averaged 29.4 points per game last season, its worst total in five years. Still, SIU did just enough to secure the auto bid in the MVC thanks to a Week 3 home victory over Northern Iowa. The two MVC favorites meet in the middle of the season this time, with the game in Cedar Falls. Other than that, the schedule is easy, with only trips to Marshall and South Dakota State looking like road bumps. Another playoff berth looks to be in the cards for the Salukis.

VILLANOVA
2008 record: 10-3 (7-1 CAA/2nd South)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to James Madison 31-27 in quarterfinals)
Last postseason victory: 2008 (beat Colgate 55-28 in first round)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 8/7
Players to watch: QB Chris Whitney (69.0 comp%, 1,448 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT); RB Aaron Ball (1,081 yards, 13 TD); LB Osayi Osunde (75 tackles, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 2 INT)
The skinny: How much does a Hail Mary hurt? For Villanova, plenty. If the Wildcats don’t give up the fluke play to James Madison in a 23-19 home loss, Villanova is likely a playoff seed and hosts JMU in round two, rather than having to travel to Harrisonburg for the rematch. One thing was clear last year, though. Andy Talley’s bunch turned a corner after years of being a fringe playoff contender. With so much talent returning from a 10-win team, it’s hard to pick against the Wildcats, at least until you look at the schedule. Villanova travels to both James Madison and Richmond and draws New Hampshire on the road in the North.

WEBER STATE
2008 record: 10-4 (7-1 Big Sky/t1st)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to Montana 24-13 in quarterfinals)
Last postseason victory: 2008 (beat Cal Poly 49-35 in first round)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 6/3
Players to watch: QB Cameron Higgins (65.6 comp%, 4,447 yards, 36 TD, 13 INT); WR Tim Toone (84 rec., 1,525 yards, 7 TD); TE Cody Nakamura (48 rec., 729 yards, 10 TD); SS Beau Hadley (121 tackles, 1 sack, 1 1/2 TFL, 6 PBU, 4 INT)
The skinny: Weber State cost itself a seed and a home game in the first-round by losing the season finale at home to Eastern Washington. That forced the Wildcats to travel to Montana for a rematch of WSU’s win over Montana in Ogden. The Grizzlies won the second game and advanced to the FCS title game. Weber loses plenty defensively, but the return of Higgins alone is reason for optimism. The schedule is brutal, especially early, as Weber makes trips to FBS Wyoming and Colorado State and must play Eastern Washington and Montana on the road. Split those last two games, and Weber has an excellent shot of making a second straight trips to the playoffs.

WOFFORD
2008 record: 9-3 (7-1 Southern/2nd)
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (lost to James Madison 38-35 in first round)
Last postseason victory: 2007 (beat Montana 23-22 in first round)
Starters returning (offense/defense): 4/5
Players to watch: RB Mike Rucker (539 yards, 4 TD); CB Mychael Johnson (41 tackles, 1 TFL, 9 PBU, 1 INT)
The skinny: The scheme here is as important as the personnel, as Wofford’s option attack is a bear to prepare for. The Terriers must replace their top tailback, quarterback and receiver, along with a lot on defense. But Wofford just always seems to be in the mix in the SoCon, and with Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Elon all coming to Spartanburg, the league schedule is favorable. Wofford can probably only afford to lose one FCS game and still make the playoffs, though, because the Terriers scheduled two FBS games—at Wisconsin and South Florida. If the Terriers can get themselves into position, the finishing stretch is not terribly tough (at The Citadel, vs. Samford, at Furman).