Coming into a football season, every team has different levels of expectations. For some, it will be difficult to reach sky-high expectations. For others, there are little-to-no expectations altogether. As usual, teams overachieve and underachieve. Here are five teams that exceeded expectations and five that have disappointed. 

OVERACHIEVED: TCU

TCU is 11-0 and on the brink of a Big 12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs were predicted to finish seventh in the conference heading into the season. The job that new coach Sonny Dykes has done at TCU is immaculate and deserves a ton of praise. 

WALK-OFF WIN!!!!!@TCUFootball is 11-0 for the first time since 2010 😈 pic.twitter.com/4IoTcJ6dQK

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 19, 2022

 

UNDERACHIEVED: Kentucky 

Coming into the season, some expected the Kentucky Wildcats to compete for the spot in the SEC title game. Through a quarter of the season, it appeared that they could have a chance in doing just that. They were ranked as high as seventh in the nation before a midseason collapse saw them drop five of their last seven games.

OVERACHIEVED: Tennessee 

Heading into the season, Tennessee was predicted to finish third in the SEC East and fifth overall in the league. Tennessee has turned out to be one of the best teams in the country and, before losing to South Carolina this past weekend, had a chance to make the College Football Playoff for the first time. Josh Heupel has the Volunteers well ahead of schedule and is in the process of building Tennessee back to national prominence. 

This rules. pic.twitter.com/jVUsVLymYG

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 16, 2022

 

UNDERACHIEVED: Baylor

In the preseason, Baylor received the most first place votes in the Big 12. Needless to say, the season has been an incredibly large disappointment in Waco, Texas. Currently sitting at 6-5, the Bears have not lived up to the preseason hype and have underachieved.

OVERACHIEVED: Georgia 

Some may suggest that it is crazy to have Georgia listed as a team that overachieved in 2022 considering they are the defending National Champions and were picked to win their division. However, with the amount of outgoing talent after their National Championship victory, some predicted the Bulldogs to take a slight step back. That was not the case, as Kirby Smart has his team looking like the best in the nation once again. 

 

UNDERACHIEVED: Notre Dame

Notre Dame came into the season ranked fifth in the nation. They would open the season by losing a game to Ohio State, immediately followed by an embarrassing loss to Marshall. Notre Dame was expected to be a playoff contender. Unfortunately, the slow start and offensive issues will prevent that from happening. They have, however, turned their season around and have won five in a row. 

Stanford & Marshall have beaten Notre Dame this season. They are a combined 0-7 versus all other FBS opponents.

— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) October 16, 2022

 

OVERACHIEVED: Washington 

Washington had a rough 2021. The Huskies finished 4-8, and it resulted in head coach Jimmy Lake being fired midway through the season. Kalen DeBoer would take over, and expectations were not high for the program. They were expected to be a mid-tier Pac-12 team, but they have risen above expectations and are now the 12th ranked team in the nation. It has been a fabulous first season in Seattle for Kalen DeBoer. 

⚠️ 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 ⚠️

7-0 at Husky Stadium this season. Thank you Husky Nation 🙌#NoLimits #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/zlSQpAwj1H

— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 20, 2022

 

UNDERACHIEVED: Arkansas 

Arkansas opened the season ranked 19th in the preseason poll. The Razorbacks would make their way all the way up to 10th before they, like Kentucky, would go on to lose five out of seven and fall out of the top 25. It certainly has not been the season that Arkansas fans expected after the great year that was 2021. 

OVERACHIEVED: USC 

When USC hired Lincoln Riley, some people, myself included, thought it might take a year or two for him to get it figured out in Los Angeles. Instead, Riley has the Trojans in a prime position to make the College Football Playoff as we head into Week 12. 

That was an incredible CFB game last night…@uscfb is going to the @CFBPlayoff if they win out…Also, if I had to vote today I would probably put Caleb Williams at the top of my Heisman ballot…Would be Lincoln Riley's 3rd QB in 6 years as HC! Wow

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 20, 2022

 

UNDERACHIEVED: Alabama 

This was supposed to be the revenge tour for the Crimson Tide. They returned Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr. and countless other incredible players. They were the preseason number one. The season has not gone according to plan as the Crimson Tide have lost multiple games and aren’t even attending the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.