B/R CFB Community: College Football Programs in Need of More Love
We’re underrating somebody. That much is certain.
As college football turns the page on Week 3 and welcomes in Week 4, there are undoubtedly a slew of football programs not being recognized for quality work early on.
That changes now. Today is not about celebrating Georgia’s brilliance or USC’s sudden offensive explosiveness.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No, this is about giving love to the teams not getting enough of it.
To help us do that, we asked B/R readers to tell us what programs are underappreciated as of now. While many were provided, a few notable submissions jumped out.
Let the love for these CFB teams flow.
Rock (On) Chalk
User: @Cwaller
Response: Kansas!
This is the coolest story in the sport, and I am not sure it's even up for discussion. I am absolutely thrilled to see the Jayhawk at 3-0 entering Week 4, and I will use this platform to glow about their potential moving forward.
The fact that Kansas isn’t ranked in the Top 25 of the AP poll is criminal, and it’s not just because of the "wow" factor involved.
The Jayhawks just delivered back-to-back road wins against West Virginia and Houston. (These are very solid wins.)
Head coach Lance Leipold has turned this program around faster than anyone could have envisioned. Quarterback Jalon Daniels, who was superb last week, certainly has played a huge part in the success.
Oh, and Kansas currently has the nation’s No. 3 scoring offense. That is not a typo.
How bad has it been? Kansas has not had more than three wins in a season since 2009, the total it sits at right now. While the Jayhawks will undoubtedly lose at some point, the progress is hard to put into words.
If you are not respecting this team just yet, now is the time. What a moment.
The Huskies Are Here
User: @pissedsportsfan
Response: Washington. They look phenomenal.
As we gush about Kansas and the art of the CFB revamp, we must celebrate Washington's brilliance as well. In fact, it’s startling how much different this team looks from the one we saw last year.
The Huskies beat Michigan State 39-28 at home. For much of the game, the score was far more lopsided than that. (It got momentarily weird near the end, although Washington still won by double digits.)
Regardless, transfer QB Michael Penix Jr. was once again excellent, throwing for 397 yards and four touchdowns. He looks like a completely different quarterback from the one we saw at Indiana.
Before Saturday, Washington had beaten Kent State and Portland State. While it was clear that the offense had improved, the performance against Michigan State took this to another level.
We’ve spent the offseason debating Utah or USC in the Pac-12. While Washington still has much to prove to enter that conversation, the Week 3 performance is worthy of attention.
Happy, Happy Valley
User: @philliephenom
Response: Penn State without a doubt
Well, Auburn fans certainly don’t think Penn State is underrated. After this past weekend, that much is certain.
If I’m being honest, I underrated this team entering the season. Even after the Nittany Lions beat Purdue in Week 1, I had my doubts. No matter what happens next, it's safe to say that Penn State needed more love.
Now, Auburn might not be a good football team. Let’s address that right away. What we saw in that game, however, were some developments that could be sizable moving forward.
Freshman running back Nick Singleton is a star. His impact could be enormous the rest of the way, and I implore you to watch him if you haven’t already.
The defensive line was also awfully impressive Saturday, and that will be beneficial once Big Ten play really heats up. Throw in a few capable QBs, led by experienced vet Sean Clifford and uber-talented freshman Drew Allar, and there is a recipe for prolonged success.
Penn State plays Central Michigan and Northwestern before traveling to Michigan in the middle of October.
That is shaping up to be one of the most meaningful games of the college football season.
Is the Power Finally On?
User: @BigMoe338
Response: FSU!
For years, something was wrong if Florida State wasn’t 3-0. But after a long stretch of mediocre football, those days faded away.
Well, until now.
It’s a tad surprising that the Seminoles are not ranked in the AP poll, having pocketed wins over LSU and Louisville thus far. The most recent win over the Cardinals was particularly impressive considering the game was played on the road and FSU lost a series of key players to injury throughout.
Reaching this level of program stability has not been easy for head coach Mike Norvell, who began the season squarely on the hot seat.
For at least the time being, that seat has cooled. Assuming the injury to Jordan Travis does not sideline him for many weeks, which appears to be the case thus far, FSU might be able to carry this momentum through conference play.
The wins have not been overwhelming, and significant tests are still to come. It is still refreshing to see such a storied program find itself, at least for now, after waiting so long to feel success once again.
After Boston College this week, FSU plays Wake Forest, NC State and Clemson. Let's celebrate the start, although let's see where things stand one month from now.
Gopher It
User: @rockslayer
Response: How about Minnesota, they looked electric
Of the teams mentioned, Minnesota might be flying under the radar more than just about any other. Given the way P.J. Fleck has injected his personality into the program, this feels somewhat surprising.
This team has had success over the past few years. If it continues, and it certainly might, the celebration will follow.
Minnesota does look electric, @rockslayer. That isn't the issue.
The issue is that the Gophers have looked electric against New Mexico State, Western Illinois and Colorado. The Buffaloes, the best win to date, might be one of the worst teams in college football this year.
Now, don’t view this as a slight. Minnesota has outscored these teams 149-17 this season. The Gophers have been dominant.
Bigger than that, Mohamed Ibrahim, the team’s star running back, looks healthy and explosive after suffering a season-ending injury last year. Having Tanner Morgan back at QB is a really nice luxury as well.
This Saturday, we’ll have a better idea of the type of team Minnesota is.
The Gophers travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State. While the Spartans lost to Washington this past weekend, they’ll certainly be a solid measuring stick.
A win here, and we'll no longer be able to knock the schedule. With a road game at Penn State coming a few weeks later, any knocks on the path to success will soon be forgotten.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
