2022 Coaches Ballot he was launched on Monday, and there weren’t many surprises on the prime. Alabama took first place, adopted by Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson. Notre Dame got here in at No. 5, with Michigan, Texas A&M, Utah, Oklahoma and Baylor rounding out the highest 10.
The place these groups find yourself in December is anybody’s guess, however for now it is nonetheless speak season, which suggests it is time to yell at one another on the prime of our lungs concerning the rankings that had been simply launched. Which crew is overrated? Which crew is underrated? Listed below are my ideas on the place the Division I head teaching employees missed the mark within the first version of the Coaches Ballot.
Overrated: no. 5 Notre Dame
Look, I really like Marcus Freeman. The Combating Irish’s first-year coach has injected new vitality into this system, and it is paying off — particularly on the recruiting path. This 12 months, although, a preseason top-5 rating is a bit absurd.
The absence of working again Kyren Williams, security Kyle Hamilton and quarterback Jack Coan are all points that should be addressed earlier than you possibly can anoint the Combating Irish as reliable playoff contenders. Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne are strong choices at quarterback, however neither has sufficient expertise to raise this crew into the highest 5 proper now. All-American Brandon Joseph taking on one of many security roles after a profitable stint at Northwestern is a giant deal, however we’ve got to see it earlier than we consider it.
Underrated: no. eight Utah
The damaging stigma related to the Pac-12 seems to have value the Utes right here. They boast a giant one-two punch with dual-threat working again Cameron Rising and working again Tavion Thomas. Plus, they’re virtually at all times sturdy up entrance, and the presence of coach Kyle Whittingham makes them the best-coached crew within the convention (sure, USC with Lincoln Riley included). Defensively, they look like getting beat up for his or her dramatic Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State regardless of being weak within the secondary.
Utah isn’t solely the very best crew within the Pac-12, however must be thought of a reliable playoff contender. It appears the remainder of the coaches within the nation have not caught on but.
Overrated: no. 7 Texas A&M
The Aggies are the darling of the SEC and a scorching decide to battle Alabama for the West division title, however a No. 7 seed is simply too quickly. The Aggies have a three-way battle at quarterback with LSU switch Max Johnson, final 12 months’s starter Haynes King and freshman Conner Weigman. Coach Jimbo Fisher calls for extra from his quarterbacks than just about another coach within the SEC, so anticipating any of the three to step in and turn into a distinction maker is a bit aggressive.
Moreover, championship-caliber groups run 9 or ten deep alongside the defensive position. The Aggies lack expertise in that space and might want to depend on three or 4 true freshmen from the stellar 2022 recruiting class to serve in that rotation. They is perhaps proficient, nevertheless it’s an enormous problem for an 18-year-old to go up towards juniors and seniors who’ve grown into their our bodies.
The Aggies aren’t Alabama’s important risk within the West. That title belongs to Ole Miss. Talking of which…
Underestimated: no. 24 Ole Miss
An excessive amount of emphasis was positioned on the absence of star quarterback Matt Corral and never sufficient emphasis was positioned on the offensive expertise introduced by the gamers introduced in by coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin was upgraded to working again with TCU switch Zach Evans and SMU switch Ulysses Bentley IV. The Rebels additionally introduced in hybrid receiver/tight finish Michael Trigg and versatile receiver Jaylon Robinson from UCF. The quarterback battle between Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmeyer will dominate fall camp, however Kiffin will likely be superb both method.
If they’ll play satisfactory protection, this crew must be a critical contender for an additional Sugar Bowl bid and is actually Alabama’s largest risk within the SEC West.
