In a vacuum, declaring a team overrated before a single down has been played in the college football season might seem more than a little harsh. But the simple reality is not every team ranked in the Top 25 in the preseason will be there at the end.
Just last year, for example, only four teams ranked in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll top 10 – Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State – wound up in the top 10 of the final poll after all the playoff games and bowls. In all, 14 of last year’s preseason top 25 ended up unranked.
But while it’s safe to say a team’s preseason position is based on how it finished the prior campaign and not a predictor of future success, determining which teams won’t live up to their billing isn’t easy. There are always clues, however, and we’ve picked out a few to identify a handful of squads that could struggle to meet expectations.
LSU
We’ll state up front that LSU was on the opposite end of the spectrum last year, unranked entirely in the preseason and far exceeding projections by winning the SEC West. Nevertheless, slotting the Tigers in at No. 5 seems a tad optimistic, even given the program’s championship history. More consistency will be needed from a defense that had trouble hanging with top-tier attacks, and life in the SEC gets no easier with road trips to Ole Miss and Alabama on the schedule.
Southern California
The Trojans will be able to simply outscore most opponents. But – and this has been a familiar refrain for Lincoln Riley’s teams even going back to his Oklahoma days – can the defense get a stop when it absolutely has to have one? USC might improve on its No. 13 finish, but No. 6 could be a reach unless some help is provided for Heisman Trophy quarterback Caleb Williams. He can’t do everything himself.
LEFT OUT: The five biggest snubs in the preseason rankings
GRAPHIC: Why history is against Georgia finishing at No. 1
BREAKDOWN: Preseason outlooks for every preseason Top 25 team
Florida State
The Seminoles had what they think was a breakthrough season last year with 10 wins. There’s reason for major optimism with quarterback Jordan Travis and key offensive players. They could prove worthy of their No. 8 starting spot, but the key word there is prove. The road to the ACC title has gone through Clemson for nearly the last decade, and FSU has to go there in late September.
Texas
Last year’s 8-5 finish was a better result than the 5-7 debacle that was the 2021 season. It included a narrow loss to Alabama and a blowout win over rival Oklahoma. There are many pieces returning, including quarterback Quinn Ewers. But a No. 12 opening is still a stretch for a Longhorns roster long on potential but short on achievement. They still haven’t won the Big 12 title since 2009, and there’s going to be competition in a balanced league.
Texas A&M
The same unfulfilled expectations of the Longhorns can been applicable to their longtime rivals with whom they’ll be renewing acquaintances next year. The voters took a more cautious approach with the Aggies this time after whiffing mightily a year ago by starting them at No. 7. But even this No. 25 rating could be overly ambitious for a team coming off a losing record, with coach Jimbo Fisher on the hot seat and uncertainty on offense.
