Georgia, Texas, and 10 Programs With Stocks on The Decline
Four weeks into the college football season, there are already plenty of teams that wish they could have a do-over.
And who wouldn't want a chance to do better the second time around?
Some teams have been free-falling since the season started, some just had big losses last week, other teams—despite a 4-0 record—have been winning in an unimpressive fashion.
Too bad there's no going back. Here are 10 programs with stocks on the decline.
10. TCU Horned Frogs
1 of 10
The Horned Frogs are 4-0 this season but have suddenly fallen back one spot in the rankings, with Oregon passing them in the AP poll.
Now that other top teams have started conference play, it's obvious that there will be a lot of consideration put into the quality of opponents.
TCU's next three games will be against Colorado State, Wyoming, and BYU—all of which have started the year with 1-3 records.
The Horned Frogs' stock could continue to fall if they don't learn to turn up their game.
The media sent them a clear message this week: the win against SMU (41-24) wasn't dominating enough.
Style points are necessary, especially if you want to be taken seriously. Otherwise they could find themselves falling further behind in the polls, to other teams playing in tougher conferences.
9. South Carolina Gamecocks
2 of 10
The Gamecocks let a big win get away when they failed to hold off the Auburn Tigers in the fourth quarter last weekend. Auburn was able to score two straight touchdowns and USC couldn't convert on its final drive, with seconds left to play, for a chance to tie the game with an eight-point play.
South Carolina started the game ranked No. 12 by the AP but its loss dropped them to No. 20 in the media's poll.
Next up after a week off will be the nation's top team, Alabama Crimson Tide.
After a promising 3-0 start, they'll probably finish Week 6 with another loss and a 3-2 record.
With more difficult SEC games later in their schedule, they could very well fall out of the top-25 rankings.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3 of 10
Had they avoided two last-second losses, the Irish could very well be 3-1 this year. Instead, they find themselves 1-3 to start the season.
Losers of three straight, they have already been written off by most pundits.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has even more pressure to right the ship in his first season with the team and prevent this program from a free-fall that began near the end of Charlie Weis' tenure.
They have to deal with Utah and USC later in the season, but have a somewhat favorable schedule this October, which starts with an important game against a Boston College team with a new quarterback.
If the Irish don't pick up valuable wins this month, they'll be facing another six-win season.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Brigham Young Cougars
4 of 10
The Cougars broke into the top 25 of the coaches' poll after their first win of the season. But their stay in the top 25 didn't last long.
Now three games later, their stock continues to plummet. Brigham Young has suffered three consecutive losses and now has a 1-3 record.
With a freshman quarterback taking snaps in Jake Heaps, it could be a long season for BYU.
Next up is a big rivalry game this Friday against Utah State on the road. Considering that their matches are historically played closely, the Cougars could possibly find themselves licking more wounds from four-straight losses.
Also ahead on their schedule will be two big Mountain West powerhouses in TCU and Utah, both away.
6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
5 of 10
Ranked No. 16 on the AP poll and 17 on the coaches' preseason poll, the Yellow Jackets have not looked like a top-ranked team at all this season.
In Week 2, they fell to a rebuilding Kansas Jayhawks football team, 28-25. Then the following week, they barely defeated an undermanned North Carolina squad 30-24, and last week lost to a surging North Carolina State team, 45-28.
As expected, they have fallen out of the rankings and appear to be nowhere close to making it back to the top 25 this season.
They have more difficult road games against Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Georgia later in their schedule. Add to that list a duel against top-ranked Miami (Fl.) and GT's biggest highlight this season could be their 41-10 win against South Carolina State.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
6 of 10
They were considered to be Big East title contenders to start the season, but with their 1-3 start, this team looks to be far from making any kind of significant impact this year.
Their loss to Utah got them started off on the wrong foot in Week 1. Now after getting blown out by Miami (Fl.) 31-3, there's no question that their confidence is shaky at best.
Pitt's stock is rapidly declining; however, they have a chance to turn things around this weekend against the Golden Panthers at home. If not, then they're in for a long season.
The tough opponents are West Virginia and Cincinnati late in their schedule.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
7 of 10
With only one loss so far this season (against Alabama), their 3-1 record has been somewhat deceiving since they remain ranked in the top 25. But their high ranking to start the season was more of a sign of respect for Joe Paterno. The reality is, this team is not that good and the truth will come to surface when they play through their schedule.
They were able to overcome a possible upset against Temple early last week, after the Owls had a 13-9 lead at the half. It was their field goal kicker Collin Wagner that came to the rescue, accounting for 16 of their total 22 points.
Their offense been absent so far. True freshman quarterback, Robert Bolden, has only thrown for three touchdowns this season. And the Nittanny Lions' top two running backs have accounted for only two touchdowns on the ground.
It's only going to get harder. It starts this weekend with Iowa on the road, a Penn State loss there and this JoePa team will be fortunate to finish the season with six wins.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
8 of 10
Three of their four games have been extremely close for the Sooners. Despite a perfect record, they have failed to win in style against Utah State, Air Force, and Cincinnati.
If they continue with their sloppy play, sooner or later their top-10 ranking will be questioned.
Fortunately for them, they'll have an opportunity to make a strong case at home against a Texas team that could still be shaken up after losing to UCLA.
But if they fall against Texas, they might have to wave a permanent goodbye to their spot in the top 10.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
9 of 10
Four games into the season and this Bulldogs team is already 0-3 against SEC competition.
And to think they started the year ranked No. 21 on the coaches' poll.
Last week's 24-12 loss against Mississippi State dealt a big blow to the program, which, heading into the game, had previously defeated Mississippi State 16 times out of their last 21 games.
All is not well with the fanbase, as some Georgia fans are already calling for Mark Richt's firing.
They have a lot of work to do in order to salvage their season. Florida and Auburn are still ahead on the schedule.
1. Texas Longhorns
10 of 10
No one's stock dropped more than the Texas Longhorns' last weekend. After all, perhaps only the Bruins players and coaching staff expected Texas to fall to an unranked team at home.
Texas started the season ranked No. 5 on the AP poll and have now dropped all the way to No. 21.
They came unglued against UCLA who forced them to commit plenty of turnovers—four lost fumbles and an interception.
UCLA attacked them from both sides of the ball. On defense, quarterback Garrett Gilbert was swarmed and pressured into making poor decisions and held to just one touchdown. On offense, they took it to the Longhorns with their running game for a total of 264 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
With an important Big 12 game against the Oklahoma Sooners this weekend, Texas needs to make a quick recovery.
Otherwise, its Big 12 title hopes could also fade away.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
