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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) /
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Nov 26, 2021; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and players sing the Eyes of Texas along with fans after a victory over the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and players sing the Eyes of Texas along with fans after a victory over the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /

Big 12

Most Overrated: Oklahoma State Cowboys

OSU had a truly special season in 2021, defeating Bedlam rival OU and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl en route to a 12-2 finish and the nation’s No. 7 overall ranking in the AP Top 25. The Cowboys should still be decent this year, but many folks are expecting to see another top 10-caliber team in Stillwater.

That might be tough to repeat, even with returning quarterback Spencer Sanders at the helm.

The Cowboys lost defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Ohio State in addition to several transfers and sixth-year seniors graduating. It was a special unit in 2021, but can they repeat that magic this fall under a new coordinator in former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason?

Most Underrated: Texas Longhorns

This is strange, right? The Longhorns normally receive tons of preseason accolades and ESPN-fueled hype based on their reputation and the latest recruiting rankings. Then, they stumble out the gate and suffer some infamous, exposing loss on national TV that everyone endlessly dissects and sometimes mocks.

Since 2009’s team lost to Alabama in the national title game, no Texas team has finished with fewer than four losses in a non-pandemic season.

This season feels different, though. It’s not just that head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns won the frenzied chase for prized recruit Arch Manning, who won’t arrive until after this season.

It feels like last year’s 5-7 debacle won’t be repeated — that the embarrassment of losing to Kansas and West Virginia will fuel this year’s squad. The Arch Manning momentum doesn’t hurt, in the meantime.

No one is really making much of the Longhorns right now — so it could be the perfect time for Texas to bounce back from a listless 2021. Ohio State transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers and talented wide receiver Jordan Whittington could rack up tons of points this fall for an improving Longhorns team. The Big 12 feels more wide open than in years past, too, which could allow Texas to contend for its first league title in 13 years.

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