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College football 2023: Most overrated, underrated teams by Power 5 conference

By John Scimeca

Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) gets set to run a play in the first half in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) gets set to run a play in the first half in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 05: Gervon Dexter Sr. #9 of the Florida Gators tackles Devon Achane #6 of the Texas A&M Aggies for a loss in the second half at Kyle Field on November 05, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 05: Gervon Dexter Sr. #9 of the Florida Gators tackles Devon Achane #6 of the Texas A&M Aggies for a loss in the second half at Kyle Field on November 05, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

SEC

Most overrated: Texas A&M

The Aggies will begin the 2023 season with the No. 23 AP Top 25 ranking. Texas A&M managed to lose to Appalachian State, South Carolina, and Auburn last season en route to a 5-7 finish. The sputtering offense only scored 22.8 points per game, good for second-to-last in the SEC in front of only Kentucky and No. 101 in the nation.

I don’t see Jimbo Fisher orchestrating a total rebound this season. There’s doubt that he’ll truly relinquish the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, and there seems to be a common assumption that the upperclassmen from 2022 will assuredly perform better this year.

The Aggies entered the 2021 season on a high, having barely missed the College Football Playoff the year before. The team was expected to be top-five material but ended up with four losses, all SEC West setbacks to Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and LSU. I have a similar feeling about this year’s Texas A&M squad.

Most underrated: Florida

The Gators find themselves in unusual territory entering the 2023 season after SEC media members tabbed the squad as the fifth-best team in the SEC East behind Kentucky and South Carolina.

Back-to-back losing records in 2021 and 2022 will do that to you, but second-year Billy Napier is turning things around in Gainesville, Fla. The rushing attack averaged more than 200 yards per game last year, and former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (who has 5,399 passing yards) should bolster the offensive unit to improve upon last year’s 6-7 record.

Transfers will make an impact on the defense, too, as guys like former Michigan safety R.J. Moten move to their next college stop with the Gators.

dark. Next. One of these 8 teams will win the national title in 2023

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