NCAAF · 19 minutes ago

Ranking the 10 Most Overrated Teams in College Football Right Now (Week 9)

Grant White

Host · Writer

10. UCLA Bruins
Still undefeated, the UCLA Bruins climbed even higher in the AP Top 25. However, we still have major reservations about this team's playoff credibility.

Most notably, Nico Iamaleava was lost for the season. While Ty Dieffenbach stepped up against Michigan State, it's unlikely he experiences sustained success. The senior struggled against FCS competition last season and will face stiffer competition before the end of the year.

UCLA's yards per play are on the decline. After averaging 7.1 yards per play through the first four games of the season, the Bruins are down to 5.3 yards per play over their last three. That downward trajectory will continue with Dieffenbach under center.
1. BYU Cougars
We probably all should have seen this coming. A week after being gifted a win over visiting Notre Dame, the BYU Cougars traveled to Central Florida for a Big 12 clash versus the UCF Knights. BYU's defense collapsed toward the end of the contest, ending their unbeaten streak and casting the Cougars from second in the Top 25.

For the second straight week, BYU was outgained by its opponents. This time, by a more substantive margin. UCF tallied 463 yards to BYU's 373, yielding -0.2 net yards per play for the visitors.

This was a classic letdown spot for the Cougars, and they did nothing to disprove that theory. With Arizona State scheduled in Week 9 and the Holy War in Week 10, BYU could find itself in a fight for the Big 12 Championship Game, let alone a playoff spot.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers narrowly survived a Week 8 test versus Michigan. While they moved up the rankings, we're still not convinced this is a playoff-caliber team.

Indiana's offense continues to struggle. A week after mustering 15 points against Ohio State, the Hoosiers needed overtime to reach 13 against the Wolverines. Josh Hoover completed a laughable 44.4% of his passes, and 25 of IU's 212 yards came in overtime.

Indiana's only real test came in last week's loss to the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers have an unobstructed path to the Big Ten Championship Game, but they don't deserve to be there.
3. Ole Miss Rebels
Last year, the Ole Miss Rebels could beat you on both sides of the football. This iteration of the team continues to hemorrhage yards and demand too much from its offense. As we saw in Week 8, that's not a recipe for success.

For the second time in four games, the Rebels' defense looked completely out of sorts. Leading up to the SEC showdown versus Texas, the Longhorns were averaging a less-than-stellar 314.5 yards per game against Power 4 opponents. Ole Miss offered no resistance, letting the hosts trot for 419 and a season-best 7.1 yards per play.

Ole Miss can't be taken seriously until it figures out its defense. With Georgia on the horizon, the Rebels are spiraling toward their third loss of the season and a meaningless bowl game.
4. USC Trojans
We are witnessing the demise of the USC Trojans in real time. Sadly, they will fall a few more times before they bottom out.

There are holes in the Trojans' defense, but we didn't expect their offense to fall completely flat in Madison. Jayden Maiava threw two interceptions, USC came up short on two crucial fourth-down conversions, and collectively, the team netted -17 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Altogether, this was one of the more dismal offensive performances across college football this season.

If you can't beat Wisconsin in October, you don't deserve to play for a championship in December or January. An ugly loss for an overrated team.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders hadn't really been tested this season. Sure, they had to get past the Houston Cougars (more on them later) earlier in the season, but it was an otherwise lackluster schedule. Unfortunately, we got a glimpse of who this team really is in Week 8.

The Red Raiders were utterly defenseless against the Cincinnati Bearcats' offense, particularly against the run. The Bearcats went off for 255 yards on 40 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per rush.

With some of the losses up front last offseason, we should have expected Texas Tech's defensive struggles. That also means that we should reset expectations moving forward.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide used to beat opponents unmercifully. Now, they wait for their opponents to beat themselves.

Bama ended its two-game skid, but it didn't look good in doing so. The Crimson Tide trailed heading into the fourth quarter against Texas A&M, allowing the Aggies to hang onto the football for over 33 minutes. If not for their three turnovers and absent-minded play-calling in the second half, the Aggies could have easily dispatched Alabama at home.

This was supposed to be Alabama's triumphant return to the Top 10. All they did was reinforce the concerns we already had.
7. Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars consistently come up short against premier competition and can't seem to take the next step in their collective development.

After their opening drive of the second half, the Cougars had built themselves a 10-0 lead over the Utah Utes, with just over 20 minutes left in the game. Utah marched 75 yards on just five plays on the subsequent drive, shifting all of the momentum in its favor. The Utes would go on to outscore the visitors 21-3 the rest of the way, amplifying our concerns surrounding the Cougars' defense.

Houston ranks among the worst passing defenses in the country. Moreover, they collapsed against the run at Rice-Eccles Stadium. That's a bad combination with a high-octane opponent in their immediate future.
8. James Madison Dukes
This was supposed to be academic. On the heels of their first playoff appearance, the James Madison Dukes were supposed to run roughshod over their Sun Belt Conference competitors. Instead, they couldn't even get past the Appalachian State Mountaineers in Week 8.

The Dukes had seemingly built themselves a comfortable lead. Up 21-13 at the start of the fourth quarter, JMU allowed Appalachian State to put up 18 points in the final stanza, and needed a last-minute score to force overtime. They went on to net -4 in the extra frame, allowing the Mountaineers to secure the win on a field goal.

We can't take anything for granted with the Dukes anymore. Already with two narrow wins against conference opponents, don't assume James Madison is destined for the Sun Belt Championship Game.
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers
In a game where the ranked team lost, you may be surprised to see the Minnesota Golden Gophers on our list. But with Minnesota just missing the Top 25, we're here to caution you about the Golden Gophers' prospects going forward.

Minnesota's offense is not built to compete against the top teams in the Big Ten. They totaled just 209 yards of offense throughout their Week 8 battle against Iowa, netting a paltry 3.4 yards per play and finishing the game with -0.9 net yards per play. If not for the Hawkeyes' four turnovers, this would have been a very different outcome.

Four of Minnesota's next five games come against ranked opponents. The other comes on the road against Penn State. Unfortunately, we wouldn't be surprised if this team doesn't even make a bowl game appearance.
10. UCLA Bruins
Still undefeated, the UCLA Bruins climbed even higher in the AP Top 25. However, we still have major reservations about this team's playoff credibility.

Most notably, Nico Iamaleava was lost for the season. While Ty Dieffenbach stepped up against Michigan State, it's unlikely he experiences sustained success. The senior struggled against FCS competition last season and will face stiffer competition before the end of the year.

UCLA's yards per play are on the decline. After averaging 7.1 yards per play through the first four games of the season, the Bruins are down to 5.3 yards per play over their last three. That downward trajectory will continue with Dieffenbach under center.
1. BYU Cougars
We probably all should have seen this coming. A week after being gifted a win over visiting Notre Dame, the BYU Cougars traveled to Central Florida for a Big 12 clash versus the UCF Knights. BYU's defense collapsed toward the end of the contest, ending their unbeaten streak and casting the Cougars from second in the Top 25.

For the second straight week, BYU was outgained by its opponents. This time, by a more substantive margin. UCF tallied 463 yards to BYU's 373, yielding -0.2 net yards per play for the visitors.

This was a classic letdown spot for the Cougars, and they did nothing to disprove that theory. With Arizona State scheduled in Week 9 and the Holy War in Week 10, BYU could find itself in a fight for the Big 12 Championship Game, let alone a playoff spot.

Ranking the 10 Most Overrated Teams in College Football Right Now (Week 9)

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