College football’s most overrated teams since 1989
Each year as we await the start of college football, the preseason top 25 polls coming out feels like a right of passage. No, it doesn’t mean games are back, but it certainly indicates that they’re close.
When those polls come, the “overrated” game one nearly every college football fan participates in. Who does the media love because they have a flashy quarterback and a friendly head coach? Which team is rated highly only because of what they did 20 years ago?
If you’re a college football fan you know you’ve asked or said these things before. Heck, probably even about your favorite team. Who are the most overrated teams since 1989 however?
Stassen compiled the stats on how every team has finished in the AP rankings compared to their preseason rankings from 1989-2020. A Reddit user then went and added the information for 2021 and 2022.
Here are your most overrated teams in college football since 1989. Notre Dame was listed in the top 5, find out where below.
Georgia
Georgia has come a long way in turning their tide. For years they failed to meet preseason hype but that narrative has changed as the enter 2023 looking for a third straight national title.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: –33.5
Tennessee
Tennessee made a return to glory of sorts in 2022 but not after years and years of trying. The Vols jump from unranked in the preseason to finish sixth nationally bumped them down (or up, depending on how you look at it) a few spots.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: –44
Auburn
After starting 2021 as a preseason top-15 team, Auburn finished the year unranked. They entered 2022 unranked and finished that way, which is largely why you saw a coaching change there this past off-season.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -48.5
UCLA
Maybe it’s the power blue uniforms or maybe it’s the LA-lights. Whatever the reason, UCLA is often ranked fairly high to start the season. It’s just rare they actually finish there.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: –50.5
Clemson
The narrative has largely changed for Clemson, who used to be a master of starting the reason ranked high, only to face-plant by late October.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -56
Florida
When I was growing up it almost felt like by default that Florida would be in the preseason top-five. That means, a slip-up or two meant a long way to fall for the Gators when they didn’t go nearly perfect.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -71
LSU
LSU has an interesting last couple of years. In 2021 they fell off from a preseason No. 16 ranking to finish unranked, resulting in the end of the Ed Orgeron era. In Brian Kelly’s first year they then went from unranked to a 16th overall finish in the AP Poll.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -80.5
Texas A&M
Hey look, Texas A&M finally finished in the top 10 of something!
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -81
Michigan
Thanks to a couple of great seasons that ended in College Football Playoff berths, Michigan is down a few spots (in a good way) in recent years.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -89.5
Miami (Florida)
As great as Miami has been during their peaks, a lot of voters have thought they simply belong there for good. Will they finally be turning the ship around in year two of Mario Christobal?
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -99.5
Notre Dame (Tied for 4th)
The good news for Notre Dame: In 2012 they went from unranked in the preseason to the BCS Championship game.
The bad news? That’s largely the exception to the rule for the Fighting Irish.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -103.5
Florida State (Tied for 4th)
It’s incredible that Bobby Bowden had Florida State get loved enough to be a top-six team in the preseason each year from 1988-2002. More impressive? It took until 2001-02 for those teams to not finish in the top 10! However, just two top-10 finishes since 2001 have seen the Noles drop. But at least they did make the most of one of those top-tens, winning it all in 2012!
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -103.5
Oklahoma
In 2000, Oklahoma went from preseason No. 21 to national champs. However, in 16 of the 22 years that have followed they finished ranked lower than they began the season, including going from No. 9 to unranked in 2022.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -118.5
USC
USC actually saw a slight step in the right direction in 2022 as they finished the year ranked 12th after starting it 14th. 2012 is what really stings the Trojans as the pre-season No. 1 went just 7-6, finished unranked, and lost 26 points in this system as a result.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: –127
Texas
I’ll go ahead and just get it out of the way.
Texas is indeed back.
No. 1, baby! Just not the way they’d like. In Mack Brown’s final four seasons at Texas, the Longhorns started in the preseason top-15 but failed to finish ranked three times, including 2010 when they were No. 5 to start the year. Since winning it all in 2005, Texas has finished the year ranked lower than their preseason rank eight times while outplaying the number just three, including last year when they finished 25th.
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: -138.5
