Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Most overrated, underrated college football teams by Power 5 conference

By John Scimeca

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 23: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans calls a play during the 2022 USC Spring Football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 23: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans calls a play during the 2022 USC Spring Football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney joins players for the Walk of Champions before the game with NC State University at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, September 25, 2021.Ncaa Football Clemson At Nc State
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney joins players for the Walk of Champions before the game with NC State University at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, September 25, 2021.Ncaa Football Clemson At Nc State /

ACC

Most Overrated: Clemson Tigers

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney always defends his team against the critics and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He’s entering this fall seemingly on the defensive, even though his team has qualified for six of the past seven College Football Playoffs and has recorded double-digit wins in every single season since 2011. That stretch has included two national titles.

Even though the Tigers kicked it into high gear later in 2021, it’s hard to forget how pedestrian the team looked: quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei finished the year with nine passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions while the offense sputtered to 26.3 points per game, No. 82 out of 130 FBS teams. Close calls against Syracuse and Boston College were sandwiched by defeats to NC State and Pitt.

Many assume that Clemson will be a lock to win the ACC and subsequently make the CFP this fall. Others, though, aren’t completely convinced that Swinney has completed righted the ship in upstate South Carolina.

Most Underrated: Louisville Cardinals

Things are pretty quiet right now around Louisville, which is fair considering that the program has only posted one winning season in the past four years. But some publications are listing Florida State, Boston College, and Wake Forest to finish ahead of Louisville in the ACC’s Atlantic Division standings — which seems too much.

Quarterback Malik Cunningham is dynamite. He is back to lead an offense that gained nearly 450 yards per game, which ranked No. 21 in the nation. The Montgomery, Ala., native threw for 2,941 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions while rushing for 1,031 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

Wide receiver Tyler Hudson joins the talented offensive cast from Central Arkansas, where he was an FCS All-American.

The Cardinals lost four games last year by less than one possession en route to a 6-7 finish after losing their bowl game. Expect things to look better in 2022, especially if the team can handle its opening three-game stretch of road games at Syracuse and Central Florida before hosting FSU.

Home/College Football News