Say what you want about the Big 12 Conference, but when it comes to being called “overrated”, none if its college football teams fit the billing.
In a new study put together by Action Network‘s Brett McMurphy, the most overrated college football teams based on preseason rankings and final rankings since 2014 only included one Big 12 team in the Top 25, and it was the Iowa State Cyclones at No. 22.
There were no Big 12 teams to be found on the rest of the list, which was highlighted by the perceived “blue bloods”, who often end up flopping once the actual games get played.
Top 25 Most Overrated College Football Teams (Per Brett McMurphy)
- Auburn
- USC
- Wisconsin
- Texas A&M
- LSU
- Texas
- Oregon
- Oklahoma
- Miami
- Florida State
- Clemson
- Stanford
- Michigan State
- Georgia
- UCLA
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Notre Dame
- North Carolina
- Ohio State
- Washington
- Iowa State
- Nebraska
- Arkansas
- Michigan
Since 2014, the beginning of the College Football Playoff era, Auburn is the nation’s most overrated team when comparing its preseason AP ranking to its final ranking.
McMurphy calculated the list by looking at each of the last 10 seasons and teams would get positive or negative points for each position they finished above or below their preseason ranking in final poll. Teams with most negative points were overrated.
Why Iowa State?
It is surprising that Iowa State found itself on this list, but the Cyclones did have a bust of a 2021 season when they were No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll and then finished the season unranked at 7-6. That season likely hurt the Cyclones in McMurphy’s calculations.
However, the season prior, 2020, Iowa State was the Preseason No. 23 team and finished the season at No. 10. But when you go back one more season to 2019, the Cyclones were ranked No. 21 and then finished that season unranked.
As for this upcoming season, it might be a strong opportunity for Iowa State to get itself off this list for next season, as the Cyclones are unranked in the Preseason AP Poll, however there are predictions that Iowa State could make a run to a Big 12 Championship.
