10 Most Improved College Football Teams in 2014
We’ve reached the point in the 2014 college football season where positioning for the postseason has become a serious matter. Last week, the College Football Playoff selection committee released its first Top 25 poll, centering discussion on the chase for the four spots in the inaugural playoff.
With teams becoming bowl-eligible weekly, postseason projections are gaining relevancy too. Only four full regular-season weekends remain before conference championship weekend Dec. 5-6, making every win crucial.
This is the perfect time to examine which teams have truly improved from a year ago, going from good to great or just turning an awful situation into something worth cheering about. Here’s a look at the most improved teams in college football, listed alphabetically.
Air Force
1 of 10
2013 record: 2-10
Current record: 6-2
2013 was a miserable season for Air Force. Following six consecutive seasons qualifying for postseason play under coach Troy Calhoun, the Falcons had their wings clipped en route to a 2-10 finish, the program’s worst season since a 2-9-1 mark in 1980 and its first ever winless mark in conference play.
This fall, Calhoun and Co. have made that ugly season look like a complete outlier. With four games left, Air Force is already bowl-eligible and is still in the chase for the Mountain West championship.
The Falcons’ flexbone option offense has been very efficient, as Air Force averages 269.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 12 nationally. Senior quarterback Kale Pearson has been solid, throwing for 1,098 yards with nine touchdowns against two interceptions while adding 411 rushing yards and four scores.
Air Force is a sure bet to make postseason play. With games left against UNLV, Nevada, San Diego State and Colorado State, the only question is how good its destination will be.
Georgia Tech
2 of 10
2013 record: 7-6
2014 record: 7-2
Entering this fall, there was reason to wonder if Paul Johnson was on the hot seat at Georgia Tech. Johnson and his flexbone option offense gave the Yellow Jackets’ program a jolt when he arrived in 2008. In Johnson’s first two seasons at Tech, the Yellow Jackets went 20-7 with an ACC title (later vacated due to NCAA sanctions).
Over the next four seasons, however, Tech was just 28-25 overall, 19-16 in ACC play. Following last season, Johnson was forced to refute a report that he hoped to be bought out of his contract, and starting quarterback Vad Lee transferred suddenly to FCS program James Madison.
A year later, Johnson appears to have stabilized his situation on the Flats.
Tech has already matched its win total from a year ago and is a game behind Duke for the ACC Coastal Division lead. The Jackets lost to Duke, so they’d need to beat Clemson and N.C. State and have Duke lose twice in its final four games to make the ACC title game, but the progress is clear.
New starting quarterback Justin Thomas has proved adept at running Johnson’s offense, throwing for 14 touchdowns against four interceptions and also serving as the Jackets’ leading rusher with 721 yards and four touchdowns. This might not be an ACC title season, but there has been clear, measured improvement.
Kentucky
3 of 10
2013 record: 2-10
Current record: 5-4
There wasn’t much to smile about in Mark Stoops’ first season at Kentucky. The Wildcats looked overmatched against SEC opponents, coming within 10 points of a league foe only once during a 2-10 season, with the only wins coming over Miami (Ohio) and FCS foe Alabama State.
A young team has shown significant growth this fall. Although the ‘Cats have lost three consecutive games, they’ve been very competitive, playing No. 1 Mississippi State to the wire in a 45-31 defeat and falling at Florida in triple overtime.
Sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles has been solid, throwing for 2,235 yards with 13 touchdowns against five interceptions while serving as an excellent leader for the offense. Kentucky must beat either Georgia, Tennessee or Louisville in its final three games to become bowl-eligible, and it wouldn’t be wise to bet against the Wildcats in this scenario.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Memphis
4 of 10
2013 record: 3-9
Current record: 5-3
After making five bowl games in Tommy West’s nine seasons as head coach, Memphis’ program fell into a serious funk. Larry Porter’s two-year tenure was a disaster, with the Tigers struggling to a 3-21 record. Justin Fuente was hired following the 2011 season to turn things around.
It has taken Fuente time to build (he was 7-17 in his first two seasons), but he has broken through in his third season.
Memphis currently sits in a five-way tie for the American Athletic Conference lead and is one win from bowl-eligibility with games at Temple and Tulane and home games against South Florida and UConn remaining. Tulane, USF and UConn are a combined 7-18, meaning the program’s first bowl game since 2008 is highly likely.
Two of the Tigers’ three losses came to Ole Miss and UCLA, and their defense is solid, allowing 19.4 points per game (which ranks No. 15 nationally). At this rate, Memphis’ biggest problem might be hanging on to Fuente if power-five programs come calling.
Mississippi State
5 of 10
2013 record: 7-6
Current record: 8-0
Following a 9-4 record and Gator Bowl rout of Michigan in 2010, it was fair to wonder if Dan Mullen had plateaued at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs’ record over the next three seasons: 7-6, 8-5, 7-6. A year ago, MSU needed overtime wins in its last two games just to get bowl-eligible, although it ended with a flourish in a Liberty Bowl bashing of Rice.
This fall, Mullen has silenced any doubters. Following Saturday’s 17-10 win over Arkansas, the Bulldogs are unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in all three major polls, including the College Football Playoff Top 25. NJ.com's Gary Laney says that MSU, along with Florida State and Oregon, is in the driver's seat for a playoff bid.
They have a potent offense led by junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Dak Prescott, who is a mobile, tough passer. He has piled up 2,025 passing yards with 16 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding 725 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Tailback Josh Robinson is a bowling ball-esque runner with 951 rushing yards and 11 scores. The Bulldogs defense is not perfect but has done enough to win games thanks to the solid ground attack (255 yards per game, No. 16 nationally).
The Bulldogs still must travel to Alabama and Ole Miss this month, so a playoff appearance is far from sealed. However, it’s clear they’ve made huge progress this fall.
Ole Miss
6 of 10
2013 record: 8-5
Current record: 7-2
For Ole Miss fans, Saturday’s 35-31 loss to Auburn was one of college football’s most demoralizing defeats in recent memory. Star receiver Laquon Treadwell was stretching the ball into the end zone for the potential game-winning touchdown with under two minutes to play but was pulled down from behind, fumbling the ball away and suffering a season-ending injury in the process.
That said, little should take away from the Rebels’ emergence this season. Following 7-6 and 8-5 records in coach Hugh Freeze’s first two seasons, Ole Miss has become a legit force in the SEC West and nationally.
The Rebels own a win over then-No. 3 Alabama and lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing 13.2 points per game. Seniors Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt lead a nasty secondary that works with a strong defensive line to limit opponents. With FCS foe Presbyterian, Arkansas and No. 1 Mississippi State on the slate, the Rebels still have a shot at a 10-win regular season and a prime bowl game, an impressive step forward.
North Carolina State
7 of 10
2013 record: 3-9
Current record: 5-4
Dave Doeren’s first season at North Carolina State started off fine, with a 2-1 record and a hard-fought loss to a good Clemson team.
Then, the Wolfpack fell right off a cliff. N.C. State lost its final eight games, coming within 10 points of a win only once, and went 0-8 in the ACC.
This season has been significantly different. Saturday’s 24-17 win at Syracuse pushed the ‘Pack to the brink of postseason eligibility, which would be achieved with a win in the final three games against either Georgia Tech, Wake Forest or North Carolina. State has been far more competitive, taking an early 24-7 lead over defending national champion Florida State before falling 56-41.
Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett has been highly capable as the Wolfpack’s new quarterback, throwing for 1,982 yards with 17 touchdowns against just three interceptions. This team might not challenge for an ACC title, but it is a welcome improvement in Raleigh.
TCU
8 of 10
2013 record: 4-8
Current record: 7-1
If you’re looking for the best move by a college football coach last season, look no further than Gary Patterson’s move to revamp the TCU offense. Following a 4-8 season, Patterson junked his offense and hired Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham as his new co-offensive coordinators to install the “Air Raid” system.
It has paid off in spectacular fashion. Following Saturday’s final-play, 31-30 victory at West Virginia, the Horned Frogs are right in the mix for the Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff bid. Only a fourth-quarter collapse at Baylor stands between them and an unbeaten record, and they’re a game behind Kansas State for the Big 12 lead.
Patterson told Bill Nichols of The Dallas Morning News that he can't control national perception right now.
"I can’t do anything about the committee. All I know is we just beat the 20th-ranked team in the nation and we play the ninth-ranked team in the nation next week. We just played a great West Virginia team at their house and we just came back to beat them. If they don’t think that’s enough substance then they’re not watching the right film because we just did it not playing very well.
"
TCU visits K-State this week and then ends the season against Kansas, Texas and Iowa State. With a win, the Horned Frogs could realistically finish the regular season 11-1 as the Big 12’s top playoff hope.
The Frogs average 48.0 points per game, which ranks second nationally, and they’re led by junior quarterback Trevone Boykin, who has thrown for 2,472 yards with 22 touchdowns against four interceptions, adding 423 rushing yards and four scores on the ground.
The only question: Why didn’t Patterson turn to this system sooner?
Utah
9 of 10
2013 record: 5-7
Current record: 6-2
As this season began, Utah fans had reason to wonder if moving to the Pac-12 was the right call for their program. In the final three seasons in the Mountain West, the Utes were 33-6, including a 13-0 season in 2008. But following an 8-5 debut season in the Pac-12, Utah put up consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2012 and 2013, missing postseason play both years.
This fall, however, Utah has looked like it belongs in its new league. Only a one-point loss to Washington State and Saturday’s overtime loss to Arizona State separate it from a perfect record.
Tailback Devontae Booker has been one of the league’s best tailbacks with 990 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. The Utes have a tough finish to the season with games against No. 5 Oregon, Stanford and Arizona on the slate, but they’re clearly improved from a year ago.
West Virginia
10 of 10
2013 record: 4-8
Current record: 6-3
Following his first season at West Virginia, Dana Holgorsen was a very popular man. Why not? The Mountaineers went 10-3 with a Big East title and one of the most memorable routs in postseason history, a 70-33 Orange Bowl blowout of Clemson.
But entering this season, Holgo had reason to be uneasy. WVU went 7-6 in 2011 and slipped to 4-8 last fall, putting him squarely on the hot seat. As we round the bend into the final quarter of the season, he is firmly off that seat thanks to the Mountaineers’ improved play.
Although Saturday’s 31-30 last-play loss to TCU was disappointing, WVU owns a home upset of then-No. 4 Baylor, and its only other losses have come to Alabama and Oklahoma.
West Virginia’s “Air Raid” passing attack averages 325.8 yards per game, No. 11 nationally. Senior quarterback Clint Trickett has thrown for 2,925 yards with 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and senior receiver Kevin White is one of the nation’s most prolific wideouts with 75 receptions for 1,075 yards and eight touchdowns.
Saturday’s loss shuffled WVU back a bit in the Big 12 title picture, but Kansas State (which comes to Morgantown for a Thursday night game on Nov. 20) should have good reason to be wary of the Mountaineers.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
