The “preseason polls don’t matter” people have more than enough material to work with in 2022.
Five teams that were ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 have flopped this season from College Football Playoff hopefuls to scrounging for bowl eligibility. The material? Three of these teams were ranked in the top 10, and the other two have losing records.
Which schools made this inglorious list heading into the final five weeks of the regular season? Which teams will go bowling? Here is a closer look at the five most disappointing Power 5 schools in 2022 to this point.
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Most disappointing college football teams
1. Texas A&M (3-4)
Preseason ranking: 6
Worst loss: A 17-14 defeat to Appalachian State on Sept. 10 was a shocker, but a 30-24 loss at South Carolina in Week 8 has once again turned up the heat on Jimbo Fisher.
What’s the problem? Texas A&M quarterbacks Haynes King and Max Johnson have combined for nine TDs and six interceptions, but it doesn’t help that the rushing attack ranks 105th in the FBS at 121 yards per game. The Aggies have three one-score losses, and they have 27 points in the fourth quarter through seven games. That’s not going to cut it for a program that has ranked in the top 10 in recruiting according to 247Sports.com’s rankings in each of the last four seasons under Fisher.
Will they go bowling? No. 15 Ole Miss and No. 18 LSU come to Kyle Field, and if the Aggies lose those games they would have to sweep Florida, Auburn and UMass in order to make a bowl game. Fisher’s buyout is $85.9 million. Would the Aggies really consider that if Texas A&M endures a losing season?
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2. Miami (3-4)
Preseason ranking: 16
Worst loss: Middle Tennessee State beat Miami 45-31 on Sept. 24, but a 45-21 loss to Duke in Week 8 in which the Hurricanes committed eight turnovers might be the winner.
What’s the problem? The Hurricanes have a -10 turnover ratio in their four losses, and those mistakes piled up against Texas A&M and North Carolina, too. The offense has been inconsistent under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. In their last three losses, the Hurricanes have 93 rushing attempts for 150 yards – an average of 1.6 yards per carry.
Will they go bowling? Tyler Van Dyke left the loss against Duke with an upper body injury, so that will be worth monitoring ahead of Saturday’s game at Virginia. The Hurricanes have home games against Florida State and Pitt and road games against Georgia Tech and No. 5 Clemson, the latter of which will see the Tigers going for their 40th straight home victory. It’s going to take work to get to six wins.
3. Notre Dame (4-3)
Preseason ranking: 5
Worst loss: Marcus Freeman’s first home game as head coach turned into a disaster in a 26-21 loss to Marshall on Sept. 10. That was not expected after a 21-10 setback at No. 2 Ohio State in Week 1.
What’s the problem? Tyler Buchner was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, but Drew Pyne has filled in admirably at quarterback. The Irish rank 117th in the FBS in turnover margin (-6), and a hit-or-miss passing attack averages 183 yards per game in the three losses. It’s been an up-and-down ride for Freeman and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. The Irish are just 2-2 in home games, and the 16-14 loss to Stanford on Oct. 15 was unexpected.
Will they go bowling? Yes, but the Irish might want to sweep Navy and Boston College to be sure. There are still three matchups against ranked opponents in No. 16 Syracuse, Clemson and No. 10 USC.
4. Michigan State (3-4)
Preseason ranking: 15
Worst loss: The Spartans lost 34-7 to Minnesota at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 24; the second in a four-game losing streak after a 2-0 start.
What’s the problem? A year after Kenneth Walker III rushed for 1,636 yards and 16 TDs, the Spartans are ranked 12th in the Big Ten with 106.1 rushing yards per game. The defense ranks 13th in the conference at 422.3 yards per game. Michigan State has not played complementary football for much of the season.
Will they go bowling? A 34-28 double-overtime victory against Wisconsin on Oct. 15 was a season-saver, and that was because the defense limited the Badgers to 283 yards and star receiver Jayden Reed had his first 100-yard game. A victory at No. 4 Michigan would be a season-maker for Mel Tucker, who is 2-0 against the Wolverines. A loss there, and Michigan State would have to at least split road games at No. 17 Illinois and No. 13 Penn State to have a chance at a bowl game, and that’s assuming they sweep Indiana and Rutgers.
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5. Oklahoma (4-3)
Preseason ranking: 9
Worst loss: Texas beat Oklahoma 49-0 in the Red River Rivalry was the Sooners’ worst margin of defeat in a rivalry that stretches back to 1903.
What’s the problem? First-year coach Brent Venables’ defense was shredded through a three-game losing streak against TCU, Kansas State and Texas. Oklahoma allowed 51.7 points per game and 587.3 yards per game in those losses. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel also was knocked out of the TCU loss and missed the Texas game.
Will they go bowling? No. 9 Oklahoma State is the only ranked team remaining on the schedule, so odds are the Sooners are going to win at least two of their last five games and reach the postseason. That wasn’t the expectation for a school that was picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason and is gearing up for the transition to the SEC in a few years.
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