NCAAF · 1 hour ago

Ranking the 10 Most Overrated Teams in the College Football AP Poll

Grant White

Host · Writer

10. Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies Team Profile
- Head Coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: N/A
- Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Walters
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (5-4)
- 2025 Finish: 7th in the Big Ten
In-state rivalry games are always closer than expected, but that doesn't excuse the Washington Huskies' Week 1 performance versus Washington State.

Washington was prohibitive -24 chalk against the Cougars, and needed 14 fourth-quarter points just to reach 24. More concerningly, they allowed Washington State to stay within striking distance throughout the contest, needing a score on their penultimate drive to make the score look respectable.

Washington has set a low bar after their Week 1 win, and we don't trust the Huskies to climb over it throughout the season.
1. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Jason Beck
- Defensive Coordinator: Jay Hill
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2)
- 2025 Finish: 5th in the Big Ten
Sometimes, you can't help but think the deck is stacked.

At this point, everyone has seen the end of the Michigan Wolverines' Week 1 debacle versus Western Michigan. The replay officials somehow found a second that was missing off the clock, allowing Bryce Underwood to heave a Hail Mary into the end zone, securing a one-point win for the Wolverines.

It was a shameful performance, in which Michigan fell 27 points short of covering the spread and only put up 279 yards of total offense.

We'll hazard a guess that the only people still voting for the Wolverines are Michigan-based.
2. Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks Team Profile
- Head Coach: Dan Lanning (5th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Drew Mehringer
- Defensive Coordinator: Chris Hampton
- 2025 Record: 13–2 (8-1)
- 2025 Finish: Lost in College Football Playoff Semifinals
Formerly the second-ranked team in the country, the Oregon Ducks narrowly escaped a Week 1 showdown versus Boise State. Still, their position in the standings is higher than it should be.

There are more than a few blemishes on Oregon's box score. First, they had 10 penalties for 90 yards. Second, they went 0-3 on fourth-down conversions and just 4-12 on third-down conversions. Finally, and most notably, they allowed Boise State to hang onto the football for nearly 33 minutes, losing the possession battle.

The Ducks may be able to skate by against a Group of 6 opponent with those metrics, but they will get buried against Big Ten teams when they put up similar numbers.

Don't get too comfortable inside the Top 10, Oregon.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders Team Profile
- Head Coach: Joey McGuire (4th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mack Leftwich
- Defensive Coordinator: Shiel Wood
- 2025 Record: 12-2 (8-1)
- 2025 Finish: Lost in College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
The Texas Tech Red Raiders fell one spot in this week's ranking. Given their abysmal performance against Abilene Christian, they probably deserved to fall a lot further.

Texas Tech entered its Week 1 gimme against the Wildcats as meaty -45.5 chalk. They didn't come close to covering that number, recording a 33-10 win while putting up a less-than-expected 471 yards of offense. The most concerning aspect of the Red Raiders' performance is that their starters played most of the game.

We didn't expect this offense to contract in 2026, but their season-opening performance has us doubting. Texas Tech could struggle against the Big 12's premier teams this season.
4. Auburn Tigers
Auburn Team Profile
- Head Coach: Alex Golesh (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Joel Gordon
- Defensive Coordinator: DJ Durkin
- 2025 Record: 5-7 (1-7)
- 2025 Finish: 13th in the SEC
The Auburn Tigers continue to garner votes in the AP Poll, but it won't be long before they fall by the wayside.

While the Tigers have fallen on hard times, big things are always expected in Auburn. The former college football heavyweights rebuilt their program this offseason, brought in a new coach, and still barely escaped with the win over Baylor. Auburn was priced as -7.5 favorites, and needed a two-point conversion stop to assure itself victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

In the end, the Tigers were outgained and put up just 389 yards against a wonky Bears' defense. With that, Auburn fans should prepare themselves for another season of disappointment.
5. Missouri Tigers
Missouri Team Profile
- Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz (7th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Chip Lindsey
- Defensive Coordinator: Corey Batoon
- 2025 Record: 8-5 (4-4)
- 2025 Finish: 8th in the SEC
The Missouri Tigers are one of the few risers in this week's poll who still find themselves on our overrated list. They easily dispatched Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Thursday night, but our preseason concerns remain unabated.

Mizzou marched out to a 40-0 lead at halftime before removing its starters and coasting to a 54-14 win. In doing so, they fell short of the -55.5 spread but secured the moral victory behind their home faithful.

Austin Simmons still has something to prove, and losing the turnover battle to an FCS team isn't a good look. Things could get real for Missouri as it takes on an underappreciated Kansas squad in Week 2. This could be the highest we see the Tigers this season.
6. Houston Cougars
Houston Team Profile
- Head Coach: Willie Fritz (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Slade Nagle
- Defensive Coordinator: Austin Armstrong
- 2025 Record: 10-3 (6-3)
- 2025 Finish: 4th in the Big 12
The Houston Cougars are one of several teams with a legitimate shot at taking down the Big 12 this season. If their season-opening performance is any indication, they could be relegated to another meaningless bowl game instead.

Week 1 was supposed to be Conner Weigman's triumphant season debut. Instead, he threw just one touchdown and one interception while totaling 30 rushing yards on nine carries.

Houston never looked comfortable against Oregon State and gave up way too many yards on defense. With just one week to prepare before a pivotal Week 3 clash versus Texas Tech, things could unravel in a hurry for the Cougars.
7. UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Team Profile
- Head Coach: Bob Chesney (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Dean Kennedy
- Defensive Coordinator: Colin Hitschler
- 2025 Record: 3-9 (3-6)
- 2025 Finish: 12th in the Big Ten
Pundits are still guarded on the UCLA Bruins, and deservingly so. The Bruins haven't had a winning season since 2023 and have looked completely out of sorts against Big Ten competition. Sadly, their Week 1 showing did nothing to resolve those concerns.

UCLA opened with a road game versus Cal, but was still installed as -2.5 chalk. While they walked away with the ATS win in a 45-24 triumph, the game was much closer than the score implies. These teams were tied entering the fourth quarter before the Bruins closed on a 21-0 run.

Cal held onto the ball for almost 35 minutes and put up 410 yards against a leaky Bruins' defense. The people who voted for UCLA this week will soon come to regret their decisions.
8. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Team Profile
- Head Coach: Brent Brennan (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Marcus Arroyo
- Defensive Coordinator: Brian Ward
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (6-3)
- 2025 Finish: 5th in the Big 12
We're done giving the Arizona Wildcats the benefit of the doubt. Every year, we think this could be the time it all comes together for Arizona, and every year, we are bitterly disappointed.

For context, this total closed at 59.5 with the Wildcats priced as -32.5 favorites. Implicit in that, Arizona was supposed to run away with a one-sided victory. Instead, they put up just 35 points with backup quarterback Sawyer Anderson throwing a pick-six, allowing Northern Arizona to cover the spread.

Sure, Zona's defensive performance was better than expected, but that doesn't alleviate the offensive concerns. If this team can't find ways to score against Northern Arizona, it will struggle mightily against BYU in Week 2.
9. James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes Team Profile
- Head Coach: Billy Napier (1st Season)
- 2025 Record: 12-2 (8-0)
- 2025 Finish: Lost in the CFP First Round
The James Madison Dukes were going to be hard-pressed to replicate last year's success. After a nail-biting Week 1 win, we have more questions than answers.

Credit to the Dukes for covering the Week 1 spread versus Liberty. The Flames inched closer with a score partway through the fourth quarter, coming up short on their next drive and allowing JMU to run out the clock.

In the end, James Madison was outgained 321-291 and had the pigskin for just 22:38. If we played this same game 99 more times, we're confident that the Dukes lose more often than they win.
10. Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies Team Profile
- Head Coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: N/A
- Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Walters
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (5-4)
- 2025 Finish: 7th in the Big Ten
In-state rivalry games are always closer than expected, but that doesn't excuse the Washington Huskies' Week 1 performance versus Washington State.

Washington was prohibitive -24 chalk against the Cougars, and needed 14 fourth-quarter points just to reach 24. More concerningly, they allowed Washington State to stay within striking distance throughout the contest, needing a score on their penultimate drive to make the score look respectable.

Washington has set a low bar after their Week 1 win, and we don't trust the Huskies to climb over it throughout the season.
1. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Jason Beck
- Defensive Coordinator: Jay Hill
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2)
- 2025 Finish: 5th in the Big Ten
Sometimes, you can't help but think the deck is stacked.

At this point, everyone has seen the end of the Michigan Wolverines' Week 1 debacle versus Western Michigan. The replay officials somehow found a second that was missing off the clock, allowing Bryce Underwood to heave a Hail Mary into the end zone, securing a one-point win for the Wolverines.

It was a shameful performance, in which Michigan fell 27 points short of covering the spread and only put up 279 yards of total offense.

We'll hazard a guess that the only people still voting for the Wolverines are Michigan-based.