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College football 2021: Most underrated, overrated teams by P5 conference

By John Scimeca

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled out of bounds by Trey Morrison #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled out of bounds by Trey Morrison #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Arkansas and Texas A&M may surprise SEC fans this season. Mandatory Credit: Sam Craft/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas and Texas A&M may surprise SEC fans this season. Mandatory Credit: Sam Craft/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /

SEC

Most overrated: Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies made a case to be the nation’s No. 4-ranked team in order to earn a playoff bid last season in what would’ve been the school’s first appearance in the national semifinal. But hype for Texas A&M as a top-five team this year isn’t justified. Quarterback Kellen Mond is now with the Minnesota Vikings and four starters on the offensive line must be replaced.

The Aggies finished with four, five, or six (!) losses in each season between 2013 and 2019. The team looked strong in finishing last season with a 9-1 record and the Orange Bowl win over UNC, but here’s a bet that A&M will come crashing back to earth in 2021.

Most underrated: Arkansas Razorbacks

Second-year head coach Sam Pittman has the Razorbacks heading in the right direction after last year’s surprising, modest success — the team won three SEC contests, its highest conference win total since 2016. After back-to-back 2-10 seasons in 2018 and 2019, Arkansas fans had more to be happy about after 2020’s 3-7 mark against SEC-only competition.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson has seen only limited playing time behind outgoing starter Feleipe Franks, but the redshirt sophomore has shown flashes of brilliance and is a true dual-play threat. Pittman has the Hogs more aggressive and physical than before and with most starters returning, it’s conceivable to see the team reaching a bowl game this season for the first time since 2016.

In the 2021 SEC preseason media poll, Arkansas was picked to finish sixth place in the SEC West Division.

Next. Way-too-early preseason Top 25 projections for 2021. dark

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