Week 5 brought clarity at the top of the college football landscape and chaos just beneath it. Alabama snapped Georgia’s home winning streak, Penn State once again faltered against a premier opponent, and the AP Poll has a very different look than it did just a week ago. Here are the three most overrated and three most underrated teams in the latest rankings.
Overrated
Penn State, No. 7
Penn State’s roster has the talent and experience of a top-ten program. The resume tells another story. The Nittany Lions loaded up on early-season cupcakes like Villanova and FIU and squandered their one real opportunity to make a statement in a home loss to Oregon. That game was winnable, and instead it reinforced James Franklin’s long-running struggles against elite opposition.
Quarterback Drew Allar has surprisingly struggled too, looking unsettled in the pocket and posting a dismal 48.4 QBR. Penn State is good enough to win ten games and should still make the CFP, but there is little justification for currently ranking them ahead of teams like Indiana or Texas Tech, both of whom have proven more on the field.
Georgia Tech, No. 17
Quarterback Haynes King is the real deal, but the Yellow Jackets’ overall profile does not justify a top-20 spot. Their signature win over Clemson is aging poorly, and their narrow escape against Wake Forest raised further questions.
Defensively, Georgia Tech ranks only in the middle of the ACC. Against decent competition, that won’t be nearly good enough. If King is not at his absolute best, this team struggles. A soft schedule could keep them afloat in the poll, but the underlying numbers suggest a fall is coming.
Arizona State, No. 25
Arizona State has put together back-to-back three-point wins over solid competition in Baylor and TCU. What is puzzling, though, is that the Sun Devils are ranked while Mississippi State is not. Both teams sit at 4–1, but Mississippi State owns the head-to-head victory on September 6 and its only loss came against a top-15 Tennessee squad.
Arizona State has a good team and a respectable résumé, but there is no case for ranking the Sun Devils ahead of Mississippi State at this stage of the season.
Underrated
Oregon, No. 2
Oregon has been the best team in the country, and that really isn’t even up for debate. They boast a top-five coach, a top-five quarterback, and balance across all three phases of the game. Their record and resume prove it.
The Ducks are undefeated after a gritty road win in Penn State’s Whiteout, and they did not just beat their first four opponents prior to the Nittany Lions. They dismantled them by a combined score of 203 to 37. The Ducks are also one of just two teams ranked top ten in both total offense and total defense, alongside Missouri. I may be splitting hairs here since they sit at No. 2, but I believe that is one spot too low and I will continue to make that case until proven wrong.
Indiana, No. 8
Indiana has shown every sign of being a legitimate playoff contender. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza might be the best signal-caller in the country, and his offense is downright scary, ranking top 10 in the country in both yards gained and points scored. Their 53-point demolition of No. 23 Illinois was a statement of intent.
The Hoosiers are remarkably balanced, nearly splitting rushing and passing yards evenly, and they take care of the football at an elite level. Mendoza has thrown just one interception in five games. Tougher challenges lie ahead, including trips to Oregon and Penn State on the horizon. But these rankings take place today, and with Mendoza’s poise and a culture that is fully bought in, Indiana looks every bit like a top-five team.
Vanderbilt, No. 16
Program reputation often plays too large a role in poll voting, and Vanderbilt is a prime example. This undefeated squad has scored at least 30 points in every game this season and deserves more respect than a mid-teen ranking.
Quarterback Diego Pavia has earned praise, but this roster is much more complete than advertised. The defense ranks in the top ten in both efficiency and total defense. On offense, running back Sedrick Alexander, tight end Eli Stowers, and a dominant OL give this team real balance. Vanderbilt has the pieces to compete with anyone, and it would not be surprising if they left Tuscaloosa with a second straight upset of the Crimson Tide.
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