FOX Sports: The Five Most Underrated Teams In 2016

[Saunders]

The start of the college football season is still months away, but it's never too early to preview the year ahead. The names at the top of the premature list of contenders haven't changed much with the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Clemson and LSU all being viewed as favorites to win a national championship, but we all know rankings almost never hold true from May until January.

Teams rise and fall with injuries and breakout stars, much like Oklahoma did with Baker Mayfield last season. There are a handful of teams that could do the same this year. Stewart Mandel released his Top 25 on Monday, but these are 5 underrated teams that could rise through the rankings as the year rolls on.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/college-football-most-underrated-teams-2016-michigan-state-nebraska-washington-051016

Nebraska

The Cornhuskers have flown somewhat under the radar in the Big Ten despite finishing in the Top 25 in each of the past five seasons. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. has been somewhat inconsistent, but he has the tools to be a great dual-threat weapon on offense. Last season, he threw for 3,030 yards and rushed for 400 more, totaling 29 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. And if he and the rest of his squad can close out games unlike a year ago -- Nebraska lost six one-score games -- they'll be in good shape.

 

[darkhorse85]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

 

[NUance]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Yeah, what's up with that? If we ended up ranked someplace I didn't see it.

:

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

Michigan State? Definitely. Nebraska? Maybe. Iowa? Bwahahaha! They're *over* rated, if anything. Didn't that Fox Sports author catch the Rose Bowl?

 

[StPaulHusker]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Yeah, what's up with that? If we ended up ranked someplace I didn't see it.

:

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

Michigan State? Definitely. Nebraska? Maybe. Iowa? Bwahahaha! They're *over* rated, if anything. Didn't that Fox Sports author catch the Rose Bowl?

I am reserving judgement on Iowa for a bit. I know they took a beating in the Rose Bowl but they return damn near that entire team that was one drive away from being in the CFP. Not saying the result would have been any different. Just that they make me nervous this year.

 

[Saunders]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Yeah, what's up with that? If we ended up ranked someplace I didn't see it.

:

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

Michigan State? Definitely. Nebraska? Maybe. Iowa? Bwahahaha! They're *over* rated, if anything. Didn't that Fox Sports author catch the Rose Bowl?

I am reserving judgement on Iowa for a bit. I know they took a beating in the Rose Bowl but they return damn near that entire team that was one drive away from being in the CFP. Not saying the result would have been any different. Just that they make me nervous this year.

They only return 5 on offense, 7 on defense.

https://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2016/FEB16/DBFeb16.html

IMO, Iowa and Northwestern were fluke teams last year.

https://twitter.com/paul_dalen/status/729863725532872704

https://twitter.com/paul_dalen/status/729865892914286592

 

[StPaulHusker]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Yeah, what's up with that? If we ended up ranked someplace I didn't see it.

:

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

Michigan State? Definitely. Nebraska? Maybe. Iowa? Bwahahaha! They're *over* rated, if anything. Didn't that Fox Sports author catch the Rose Bowl?

I am reserving judgement on Iowa for a bit. I know they took a beating in the Rose Bowl but they return damn near that entire team that was one drive away from being in the CFP. Not saying the result would have been any different. Just that they make me nervous this year.

They only return 5 on offense, 7 on defense.

https://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2016/FEB16/DBFeb16.html

I thought I read that it was 17.

Either way, they worry me.

And Northwestern has been a toss up game for us every year despite their record.

 

[Saunders]

Is that finishing in his own rankings the past five years or the AP or Coaches polls? I didn't think we were ranked either of the last two years at the end of the season. Or am I missing something?

Yeah, what's up with that? If we ended up ranked someplace I didn't see it.

:

Interesting to see three Big Ten teams on that list. It is Fox though.

Michigan State? Definitely. Nebraska? Maybe. Iowa? Bwahahaha! They're *over* rated, if anything. Didn't that Fox Sports author catch the Rose Bowl?

I am reserving judgement on Iowa for a bit. I know they took a beating in the Rose Bowl but they return damn near that entire team that was one drive away from being in the CFP. Not saying the result would have been any different. Just that they make me nervous this year.

They only return 5 on offense, 7 on defense.

https://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2016/FEB16/DBFeb16.html

I thought I read that it was 17.

Either way, they worry me.

And Northwestern has been a toss up game for us every year despite their record.

Yeah, agree on NW, other than 2014 when we handled them in their stadium pretty well. The thing with Iowa, is that when there's any sort of pressure or expectations, they crumble. But when there's no expectations, they do well, and Ferentz is good for 9+ win season every 4-5 years like clockwork.