Recent years have shown that preseason polls in college football can be misleading. The release of the AP Top-25 should be a celebration, but it often causes consternation among fans who believe their favorite team or conference is being under-ranked or under-represented.
Defying the Odds
Many championship-winning teams have found themselves ranked outside the top-10 of the inaugural AP Poll of any given season. Let’s look at five notable examples from the turn of the 21st century. The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, led by Coach Curt Cignetti, are a prime example of shattering preseason expectations. Despite being ranked lower, they won the whole championship, playing an infinitely harder schedule.
The 2013 Florida State Seminoles, led by Coach Jimbo Fisher, started the season at 11 but ended up being one of the defining teams of the 2010s and the last ever BCS champion. The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners, led by Coach Bob Stoops, were only one spot higher than the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers and also defied the odds to win the national championship.
The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes, led by Coach Jim Tressel, and the 2010 Auburn Tigers, led by Coach Gene Chizik, are other examples of teams that proved preseason rankings wrong. These teams, despite being ranked lower, went on to achieve great success and win championships.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
