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Major SEC Program Dubbed College Football's Most Overrated Team Ahead Of Week 1
By Grant Bricker,
5 hours ago
It is a rare feat for the preseason No. 1 overall team to finish the season at the identical rank in the College Football Playoff era. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, and Clemson Tigers have all achieved that feat.
It is one thing to live up to expectations, but many teams do not each season. Since 2014, Action Network's Brett McMurphy has ranked the most overrated and underrated teams in college football based on how they finished each season compared to their original ranking. Teams received positive or negative points for how far off from their preseason ranking they finished.
Based on his system, McMurphy believed that the Auburn Tigers were the most overrated team since 2014.
Auburn's highest preseason ranking in the playoff era was sixth in 2014. The Tigers have not lived up to their rank historically. Auburn finished 8-5 that season and ended the year with a loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Outback Bowl.
That team featured quarterback Nick Marshall, running back Cameron Artis-Payne, wide receiver Sammie Coates, and cornerback Jonathan Jones.
Auburn went to the national championship game the previous year but lost to Heisman winner Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) in second-half action of the BCS National Championship Game.
Mickey Welsh via Imagn Content Services&comma LLC
Recently, Auburn's highest preseason ranking was 11th in 2020. The Tigers fired head coach Gus Malzahn in December of that year, and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Auburn's last national title was in 2010, behind Heisman winner Cam Newton. The Tigers started the season ranked 22nd and finished as the top team in college football.
Auburn is now led by Hugh Freeze as head coach. The team returns players like quarterback Payton Thorne, running back Jarquez Hunter, and offensive lineman Dillon Wade.
The Tigers added talent from the portal, such as former Penn State Nittany Lions receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, former Georgia State Panthers receiver Robert Lewis, and former Alabama safety Antonio Kite.
Auburn kicks off the 2024 season against Alabama A&M on Aug. 31. The game will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
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