CFB’s biggest overachievers?

My vote goes to Wisconsin. Going back to 2006 when Bielema was hired, they have exactly ONE season with less than 8 wins (not counting the covid year). They have 9 10+ win seasons since then and I doubt they have a recruiting class ranked inside the top 15, maybe even top 20, in that span.
 
Thiefery said:
I would say Okie light as of now.. if u look at their recruiting history.. and being 2nd fiddle in a crappy state.. they have been a consistent winning program for over 2 decades now
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Speaking of crappy States,

Texas gets a "F" for quality of life​

 
A few years back on the other site, I did a thread for most overrated and a thread for most underrated by comparing the preseason and final AP Poll. Iowa was high on both. It was over 5 years ago, so I don't know what it would look like now. But when I did that, Iowa would finish ranked low or unranked when they entered the season Top 10 and when Iowa did finish Top 10, they entered the season ranked in the 20s or unranked.

Even last season, Iowa reached the #2 ranking halfway through the season (with 3 wins against overrated teams) and then went 4-4.
 
If you count 'sleepy little towns' with small in State populations, with no Major Metro areas close, and little in State talent to draw from, then Oklahoma and Alabama are the Overachievers here.
 
Wishbone said:
Speaking of crappy States,

Texas gets a "F" for quality of life​

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and 100% of people still rather live in Texas than in oklahoma
 
I think this is basically the same as asking who are the best coaches at small/medium sized schools.

For the B1G:
- Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern - this is a layup and the easiest answer every time
- Paul Chryst at Wisconsin (though at some point we have to start considering Wisky one of the big dogs)
- Kirk Ferentz at Iowa - longest tenure, always a difficult team to play, consistently has them competing for division titles, multiple NYE bowl appearances.

For a while, Dantonio at MSU is someone i would have had on this list too. Prior to his fall from grace.


Biggest underachievers gotta be every coach that has run through PSU. That's a team and school that should be on the level of Ohio State and Michigan but never seems to get there.
 
outofyourmind said:
If you count 'sleepy little towns' with small in State populations, with no Major Metro areas close, and little in State talent to draw from, then Oklahoma and Alabama are the Overachievers here.
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Alabama consistently produces a lot of talent, especially per capita and they’re surrounded by other talent rich states
 
Illustrious Potentate said:
No, currently. And has for a while.
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Illustrious Potentate said:
11 top 100 recruits and 21 blue chip recruits in the state for the upcoming class. Think 6 5 stars from the state too
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hall of fame game missed the point GIF
 
iowajerms said:
A few years back on the other site, I did a thread for most overrated and a thread for most underrated by comparing the preseason and final AP Poll. Iowa was high on both. It was over 5 years ago, so I don't know what it would look like now. But when I did that, Iowa would finish ranked low or unranked when they entered the season Top 10 and when Iowa did finish Top 10, they entered the season ranked in the 20s or unranked.

Even last season, Iowa reached the #2 ranking halfway through the season (with 3 wins against overrated teams) and then went 4-4.
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Iowa is one of those bogey teams i check for each season. If the Buckeyes are hosting, then I mentally chalk it up as a game they should win pretty handily. If its at Kinnick (especially at night), then I worry that it will be a very difficult game.
 
For the Big12, its gotta be Iowa State, right?

Perennial doormats for decades. Dan McCarney got them to a respectable level in the early 2000s, Matt Campbell has improved them further.

Dave Aranda at Baylor is an excellent coach, and Gary Patterson was an all-timer for overachieving coaches. But for me, Campbell and what he's done with ISU is the most impressive.
 
outofyourmind said:
If you count 'sleepy little towns' with small in State populations, with no Major Metro areas close, and little in State talent to draw from, then Oklahoma and Alabama are the Overachievers here.
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Well, they’re not. Now go away.
 
Coastal Carolina for recently as that’s a pretty quick rise and some great wins.

Boise State all time as they’ve proven they can play with much bigger schools.


Kansas State was mentioned and I looked and they’ve made the Big 12 championship 3 times and won once which is more than anyone else not OU or TX.

Wisconsin has made the B1G championship 6 times and since 1994 it’s rare they don’t go to a bowl so I think they deserve more respect than being called an over achiever.

Baylor under Art Briles over achieved because who would have thought Baylor would become a power in the Big 12. They were a doormat automatic win.
 
I am doing the Overrate and Underrated thing again but during the CFP Era. I have only 3 seasons so far. I took the preseason and final AP Poll and compared their rankings. I did not consider "Others Receiving Votes" ranking. If they are not ranked, I gave them a 26. I also considered their overall record for Overrated.

Underrated

1 Georgia Tech - unranked to #8
2 Mississippi State - unranked to #11
3 Boise State - unranked to #16
4 Missouri - #24 to #14
5 Arizona State - #19 to #12

no honorable mentions
1 Stanford - #21 to #3
2 Houston - unranked to #8
3 Iowa - unranked to #9
4 Oklahoma - #19 to #5
5 Michigan - unranked to #12

HM - Clemson - #12 to #2
HM - North Carolina - unranked to #15
1 USC - #20 to #3
2 Penn State - unranked to #7
3 Western Michigan - unranked to #15
4 Washington - #14 to #4
5 Virginia Tech - unranked to #16

HM - Oklahoma State - #21 to #11

Overrated

1 Oklahoma - #4 to unranked (8-5)
2 South Carolina - #9 to unranked (7-6)
3 Auburn - #6 to #22 (8-5)
4 Stanford - #11 to unranked (8-5)
5 LSU - #13 to unranked (8-5)

No honorable mentions
1 Auburn - #6 to unranked (7-6)
2 USC - #8 to unranked (8-6)
3 UCLA - #13 to unranked (8-5)
4 Georgia Tech - #16 to unranked (3-9)
5 Oregon - #7 to #19

HM - Georgia - #9 to unranked (10-3)
1 Michigan State - #12 to unranked (3-9)
2 Notre Dame - #10 to unranked (4-8)
3 Ole Miss - #11 to unranked (5-7)
4 TCU - #13 to unranked (6-7)
5 UCLA - #16 to unranked (4-8)

HM - Tennessee - #9 to #22 (9-4)
HM - Houston - #15 to unranked (9-4)
HM - Iowa - #17 to unranked (8-5)

11 preseason ranked teams (7 Top 15) finished unranked
 
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