1-A Football Under-/Over-ratedness (1989 to present)

[Sonny]

Trivia time.... Name the top 10 most overated and underated teams in 1-A football over the last 15 seasons. For consideration, a team must have been ranked in at least 5 (of the 15) seasons.

Underated means their final poll standing was the furthest above the preseason poll standing over the span (1989-present).

Overrated means their final poll standing was furthest below their preseason poll standing over the span in question.

Note: These numbers do not really reflect how good the teams are; they instead reflect how well they lived up to preseason expectations.

(Personal take: I think this mighty interesting because poll/regional bias is higher in the preseason when there are no games/data to consider.)

[CATLAX MAN]

For overrated, it's got to be Notre Dame. They always do not fulfill pre-season expectations.

[bste_lax]

Underrated, Kansas State. That is about the time Bill Snyder took the head coaching job and made them into a winning program. Their record pre-Snyder vs. Snyder's tenure is a huge difference.

So I am guessing that their pre-season ranking was low for much of the 90's until they were considered a Top-15 team in the late 90's/early 00's.

[KnoxVegas]

As for underrated, show me VPI! How about Boise St., Maryland, Louisville, Northwestern, K-State, Wisconsin, Colorado St., Clemson and LSU.

Overrated, I go with Notre Dame, Tennessee, Oregon, Nebraska, USC (for the decade I recall as the 1990s), Alabama, Colorado, Penn State, Texas A&M (R.C. Slocum & Franchione anyone?) and how about Miami?

[wheelz33]

i bet michigan will be on the overated list. first year they havent been in a while...

[TexOle]

The Horned Frog in me has to add TCU. They would have played in 2 BCS bowls in the current format.

[BigheadTodd]

utah 2 years ago?
maybe BYU when they were so hot and got blown out in hawaii?
I lead a very sheltered life the last ten years.

[laxative]

The SEC? J/K Unfortunately, I think the gutty little bruins have been underrated as of late. They suck big time this year though.

[DanGenck]

Wisconsin has to be on the under list. Kansas State too.

Texas A&M is my only lock for the over list.

[Beta]

Overrated: Big 12 runners up playing for the national championship, Penn State, Michigan until they lose to OSU, Auburn (every other year, followed by a great year), Utah in their BCS year

Underrated: LSU, Florida, Wisconsin BY FAR (a 1 loss team this year to Michigan by 2 Tds and not in the AP top 10).

LSU and Florida aren't so much "underrated" as they have a few losses, but when you play Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia in a 5 week span and only come out with 1 loss...it happens. (LSU/Arkansas next week is gonna be a good game btw.

[Sonny]

Remember the results are cumulative. (Not just specific for one season.) It's over the entire 15-year period.

[DanGenck]

If we're talking 15 years, then some other smaller teams like BYU will be on the last too.

[Beta]

I admit my lack of intelligence on this topic then...since I honestly didnt start watching college football till my jr year of high school. which certainly wasnt 15 years ago. Blasted NFL!

[Sonny]

Top 20 most underrated teams (over the last 15 years):
Washington State
Oregon
Kansas State
Louisville
Mississippi
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Boston College
North Carolina State
California
Iowa
Alabama
Mississippi State
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Arizona State
Georgia Tech
Brigham Young
West Virginia
Illinois

Top 20 most overrated teams (over the last 15 years):
Michigan
Southern Cal
Texas
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Clemson
Florida
Florida State
Miami
Texas A&M
Tennessee
Syracuse
LSU
Washington
Penn State

LINK:
http://preseason.stassen.com/over-under/teams.html

[laxative]

I love being overrated! You should see our overrated trophy room!