Week 9 AP Top 25: Overrated, underrated teams in new CFB rankings

The Week 9 AP Top 25 is out but which teams are overrated and which of the Top 25 teams are underrated in the new college football rankings?

Well. How’s that for the first week of Big Ten football?

Ohio State’s defense looks incredible. Granted Nebraska might not be that stout a team on offense. They did, after all, take Luke McCaffrey, a quarterback, and say, “Your brother has gotten me a ton of fantasy points at tailback. Why don’t you give it a shot?” And let’s not forget Justin Fields, whose lone incompletion was a catchable ball, dropped after a great defensive play.

Ryan Day is making sure his star quarterback has as many easy throws as possible, paving the way for an inevitable Heisman Trophy. Next week they’ll increase the degree of difficulty a bit when they draw Penn State.

Speaking of which, Michael Penix was probably down. But that doesn’t mean Penn State has any room to complain. If you go to overtime with a team that can barely eclipse 200 yards of offense, you get what you deserve. There is a silver lining: the Nittany Lions can go ahead and park the hype train early. They weren’t going to beat Ohio State or Michigan this year.

Finally, Michigan. The Wolverines made Minnesota look like a team that earned their ranking playing a subpar schedule in 2019.

Week 9 AP Top 25

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Oklahoma State
7. Cincinnati
8. Texas A&M
9. Wisconsin
10. Florida
11. BYU
12. Miami
13. Michigan
14. Oregon
15. North Carolina
16. Kansas State
17. Indiana
18. Penn State
19. Marshall
20. Coastal Carolina
21. USC
22. SMU
23. Iowa State
24. Oklahoma
25. Boise State

Overrated: No. 6 Oklahoma State

Apart from being a man, isn’t Mike Gundy supposed to be some kind of offensive wizard? The Cowboys have eclipsed 30 points exactly once this year, and that was against Kansas, who has yet to hold anyone to under 30 points this year. Stop trying to make the Big 12 happen. It’s not going to happen.

Underrated: No. 11 BYU

If BYU played a slate of every team in Texas (and they pretty much have), they would still be undefeated. Which is impressive, since Texas is back. Until the Cougars are given their proper space in these rankings, i.e. higher than Oklahoma State, they will remain underrated.

Overrated: No. 15 North Carolina

You don’t get to lose to Florida State one week and then pretend everything is OK the next. The fourth best team in the ACC (thanks Notre Dame!) is more a 19-22 kind of team than No. 15. Let’s keep racking up wins against mediocre ACC teams and finish with three losses and hopes that next year is better.

Underrated: No. 12 Miami

The Hurricanes are at least as good as Wisconsin, who somehow vaulted into the Top 10 because they beat up perennial powerhouse Illinois. So Miami got thumped by Clemson. Everyone in the ACC this year is going to get thumped by Clemson. The ‘Canes are worthy a spot higher than this.

Overrated: No. 17 Indiana

No. Absolutely not. You don’t fail to gain 200 yards on offense until overtime and get rewarded by being thrust into the Top 25. Penalize Penn State all you want (and you should). But that was a game Indiana loses nine times out of 10. Come on.

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