7 Most Overrated Teams in the 2015 Preseason AP Poll
Sunday marked another important milestone on the road to the 2015 college football season. The Associated Press released its annual preseason Top 25 poll, sparking discussion on Twitter and message boards around the nation.
The AP poll no longer has any sort of binding influence on college football's postseason, as the College Football Playoff (which releases its first top 25 on Nov. 3) now uses its own rankings to determine the four participants. But the poll does set expectations and standards for programs, fair or not.
That said, this edition will bear little resemblance to the final one, which will be released following the national title game in January. A year ago, nine teams that began the season in the top 25 ended it outside the rankings, and three teams that began the season unranked ended it in the top 12.
That means there are a few teams that are overrated. Who are they? Let's take a look. Here are seven teams that, with their performances this year, will make Associated Press voters look a bit foolish.
Arkansas
1 of 7
Bret Bielema is building something in Fayetteville. The Arkansas Razorbacks entered November 2014 riding a 17-game SEC losing streak, and it would have been fair to wonder if Bielema made a mistake leaving a secure situation in Wisconsin for Arkansas.
But then the Hogs broke through with SEC wins over LSU and Ole Miss, qualified for the Texas Bowl and laid a 31-7 whipping on former Southwest Conference rival Texas to finish 7-6. That sent the hype train barreling out of the station, and why not?
The Razorbacks, however, suffered a serious blow last weekend when Jonathan Williams, half of the FBS' only pair of returning 1,000-yard rushers, suffered a foot injury that is expected to sideline him for the season. The other, Alex Collins, is still around, but he'll have to carry a heavier load.
Then there's the matter of a defense that must replace six starters, including standout contributors like Trey Flowers, Darius Philon and Martrell Spaight. The schedule is also unforgiving, with trips to Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU.
Arkansas will make some noise this fall and should qualify for a second consecutive bowl appearance. But No. 18 is too high for the Hogs.
Auburn
2 of 7
Last fall, Auburn was one of the biggest disappointments in college football. The Tigers were No. 6 in the preseason poll but ended the year at No. 22 following an 8-5 campaign that cost defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson his job. The Tigers couldn't stop SEC foes, allowing 32.8 points per game (10th in the league), and yielded at least 31 points to each of their final seven FBS foes.
There's no question that Will Muschamp's presence will improve Auburn's defense. Muschamp flamed out as Florida's head coach, but he has a well-deserved reputation as a defensive guru following stops at Auburn, LSU and Texas. Per Ethan Bernal of the Montgomery Advertiser, linebacker Kris Frost can already see a difference under Muschamp's watch.
"We know how much we have to step up to the plate and make a difference. We're ready to do that. We're already better as a defense, and we're ready to excel each and every day. The competition we have at each position allows us to work hard and get better doing a lot of great things. We're extremely excited, and we trust our coaches a lot. We trust Coach Muschamp. We know that we have the opportunity to be a premier defense, and we're ready to do that.
"
Auburn returns six defensive starters from 2014. That may or may not be a good thing. The Tigers will also add ends Carl Lawson, who redshirted last fall due to a torn ACL, and five-star recruit Byron Cowart to an anemic pass rush.
But they return only one starter in the secondary. Can Georgia transfer Tray Matthews and Michigan transfer Blake Countess bolster that group? Muschamp's schemes will help, but is the talent upgrade enough to make a real difference?
New starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson was impressive in spring practice and has drawn comparisons to Cam Newton for his mix of passing and rushing abilities, but there are rightful concerns about his top receiver, D'haquille Williams, following a pair of suspensions in the past eight months.
Should this team be ranked ahead of returning national runner-up Oregon? Auburn will be improved, but No. 6 is a bit much to start.
Florida State
3 of 7
Under Jimbo Fisher, Florida State has reestablished itself as one of the nation's best programs. The Seminoles have three consecutive ACC titles under their belt and are 27-1 over the last two seasons, with a national title and a College Football Playoff appearance to their credit.
This, however, is a reloading year in Tallahassee. The 'Noles return 10 starters, including only three on offense and one on the offensive line (sophomore left tackle Roderick Johnson). Among those they have to replace are a Heisman Trophy winner and top overall NFL draft pick (quarterback Jameis Winston); the program's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards (Rashad Greene); the program's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns among tight ends (Nick O'Leary); and a pair of All-Americans on the defensive line (Mario Edwards Jr. and Eddie Goldman).
Fisher is also counting on sophomore tailback Dalvin Cook to carry over his impressive finish to the 2014 season. Cook on Monday was acquitted of battery after an alleged incident outside a Tallahassee bar in July. Per Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel, Cook's suspension was immediately lifted and he was reinstated to the roster.
Florida State has recruited well recently, and that can't be discounted. But many of those talented recruits will be counted on this fall, so you have to expect growing pains. The Seminoles won't be going away as a national brand anytime soon, but No. 10 is a little high given all the uncertainties surrounding 2015.
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Georgia Tech
4 of 7
Georgia Tech enjoyed one of the most surprising seasons in college football in 2014, compiling an 11-3 record that included an ACC Coastal Division title and an Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State. It was the Yellow Jackets' best season since 2009, when they last won the ACC title.
This fall, no one's sleeping on the Jackets, who return 13 starters. They're led by standout junior quarterback Justin Thomas, who rushed for a team-best 1,086 yards while also displaying solid passing skills last season.
Tech, however, has myriad holes to fill around Thomas. The team's top receivers, DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller (who combined for 1,157 yards and 13 touchdowns) are gone, as are the top four rushers behind Thomas (Synjyn Days, Zach Laskey, Charles Perkins and Tony Zenon). The top returning back is Broderick Snoddy, who had 28 carries for 283 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. He's recovering from a broken leg suffered in November against Clemson.
Paul Johnson's system is one that relies as much on scheme as it does players, but putting so many new parts into the system at the same time is cause for concern. So is a schedule that includes games at Notre Dame, Clemson and Miami and home games against Florida State and Georgia.
Will the Yellow Jackets be ACC Coastal contenders, and could they repeat their division title? Sure. Are they the No. 16 team in the nation? Not at the moment.
Notre Dame
5 of 7
Notre Dame's 2014 season was defined by streaks. The Fighting Irish started 6-0, and only a controversial pass interference call late at Florida State prevented them from improving to 7-0 with an upset of the defending national champions. After beating Navy, Notre Dame ended the regular season on a four-game losing streak and only salvaged an 8-5 record with a Music City Bowl win over LSU.
The Irish return 16 starters, and junior quarterback Malik Zaire has been handed the keys to the offense following turnover-prone Everett Golson's transfer to Florida State.
The defense should be better with the return of 10 starters as well as senior cornerback KeiVarae Russell, who is back following a yearlong academic suspension. It remains to be seen, however, if Zaire, a mobile quarterback, can run the offense effectively. And the defense allowed 29.2 points per game last fall, which ranked 82nd in the nation. Will a year's experience and Russell's addition make a significant difference?
The Irish will be better than 8-5 this fall, but No. 11, at least to begin with, is a little optimistic.
Oklahoma
6 of 7
2014 was a year to forget for Bob Stoops and Oklahoma. The Sooners began the season with much hype and were ranked No. 4 in the AP preseason poll. That hype never materialized, though, as OU went 8-5 and ended the season with a thud: an overtime loss to archrival Oklahoma State and a merciless 40-6 thumping at the hands of Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
Stoops cleaned house, hiring offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, an Air Raid aficionado, away from East Carolina. The Sooners picked Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield as their quarterback Monday, per Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman. He beat out Cody Thomas and 2014 starter Trevor Knight, who threw 14 touchdowns against 12 interceptions last fall.
Mayfield will get to work with running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon—who returns following a yearlong suspension for a charge of assaulting a female OU student—and wideout Sterling Shepard, but senior center Ty Darlington is the only returning starter on the offensive line.
A defense that allowed 25.9 points per game last fall returns only six starters, although linebacker Frank Shannon, who spent last season on a university suspension after an alleged sexual assault, will make an impact. But the Sooners still must fix a pass defense that allowed 276.2 yards per game last fall, which ranked ninth in the Big 12 and 120th nationally.
With all of these issues, a No. 19 ranking is quite high.
Ole Miss
7 of 7
Ole Miss had a solid season in 2014, going 9-4 with wins over then-No. 3 Alabama and archrival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. The offseason, however, was tainted by the 42-3 drubbing that TCU laid on Hugh Freeze's bunch in the Peach Bowl.
The Rebels return 16 starters from 2014 and welcome back both standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil and fleet-footed wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from broken legs. But they still need to find a replacement for graduated quarterback Bo Wallace, who alternately thrilled and frustrated fans with inconsistent performances. Former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly is competing with sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade for the job.
While the defense features standouts like tackle Robert Nkemdiche, one of the nation's best linemen, its secondary is replacing a pair of All-Americans in Cody Prewitt and Senquez Golson. Tee Shepard and Tony Bridges received rave reviews this spring, but we'll have to see how quickly they adjust to frontline SEC duty.
Ole Miss also must travel to Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Mississippi State this fall while hosting Texas A&M, Arkansas and LSU. That's a difficult slate, and it could knock the Rebels down at least several rungs from their No. 17 perch.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
