Whether it’s politics or college football, polls are still an inexact science that try to predict outcomes.
So while there are 25 teams able to celebrate their inclusion in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll this season, there is also reason for hesitation. Many of them won’t be there when the season ends.
In the past three seasons, an average of 10 teams ranked in the preseason missed out on the final poll. That’s only a 60% success rate. That doesn’t account for other teams that started high and finished lower in the Top 25.
So the question is not if there are overrated teams in this year’s preseason poll, but which ones are overrated? Five teams immediately come to mind.
Yes, the Fighting Irish have not come close in their two College Football Playoff appearances in the past three years, but if you take a step back you can appreciate their success in that span. Brian Kelly’s team has gone 33-5 and finished in the top five twice. It’s not a surprise to see them firmly in the preseason top 10 this year.
