Overrated and Underrated College Football Teams - Reviewing NCAA CFB Rankings For Week 6

The Week 5 college football slate was another entertaining one filled with great games and drama. We're approaching the midway point of the 2023 campaign, so the contenders and pretenders are starting to reveal themselves. We'll get more clarity as the season moves along, but there are still some overvalued and undervalued teams ahead of Week 6.

Whether a team hasn't faced respectable competition or has looked impressive and exceeded expectations to this point, we have five programs that are improperly ranked this week.

It's time for the fifth article of a year-long series: Overrated and Underrated College Football Teams after the release of the weekly Associated Press Poll. All rankings listed are based on the AP Poll. When the College Football Playoff Rankings begin dropping ahead of Week 9, we'll pivot to focus on those standings instead.

Overrated College Football Teams For Week 6

Alabama Crimson Tide: No. 11

The Crimson Tide have looked impressive against Ole Miss and Mississippi State over the last two weeks. However, being blown out by Texas at home and sleepwalking through a game against South Florida still happened.

Nick Saban's team has a game at Kyle Field against Texas A&M coming up, then plays Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, and Kentucky. If Alabama dominates in those contests, it can certainly climb back up the rankings.

Jalen Milroe was moving on his 53-yard TD run. 💨
pic.twitter.com/nG2OdZU4mL

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) October 1, 2023

However, style points matter in college football, and this early on in the season -- there are three or four teams that deserve to be ranked ahead of Alabama.

LSU Tigers: No. 23

LSU is the only two-loss team found inside the top 25 ahead of Week 6. After Florida State put the beating on the Tigers in Week 1, LSU beat Grambling State, Mississippi State, and Arkansas (by three points). Then, Ole Miss hung 55 points and 706 total yards of offense on its defense.

Red Zone Rebels 🍿

706 Total Yards of Offense! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/oaSXI3Tjat

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 1, 2023

The team's 2023 resume does not scream "top 25 team". LSU has a road trip to undefeated Missouri this week, so it could have won and earned a place back in the rankings. However, the AP Poll voters somehow didn't think its embarrassing Week 5 performance was bad enough to move them out of the rankings altogether.

It's time to admit LSU was fool's gold heading into 2023.

Underrated College Football Teams For Week 6

Oklahoma Sooners: No. 12

Oklahoma hasn't exactly faced elite competition this season, but it has outscored its opponents 237-54 through five weeks. Head coach Brent Venables looks to have his defense playing strong, which will be important in the Red River Rivalry against Texas in Week 6.

Jayden Gibson. 🤯

Dillon Gabriel and Gibson get it all on 4th and 7.@TheJaydenGibson | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/JByg4fY2u9

— 𝕺𝖐𝖑𝖆𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖆 𝖛𝖘. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 (@soonergridiron) October 1, 2023

Ultimately, even though the Sooners don't have an overly impressive win on its resume, it would be tough to complain if the program leapfrogged No. 11 Alabama and No. 10 Notre Dame.

We'll know for sure whether Oklahoma is a legitimate contender after its bout with Texas, but for now, the Sooners deserve a little more love in the polls.

Miami Hurricanes: No. 17

So far this season, Miami beat a talented Texas A&M squad by 15 points and has outscored three lower-conference opponents 127-17. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is finally playing up to the hype, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns (one rushing) to just one interception through four games. He has completed over 74% of his passes thus far.

Behind a prolific quarterback, you can make real noise in college football.

I'm not asking for much more love in the polls for Miami, but the Canes should be ranked ahead of one-loss Oregon State and one-loss Ole Miss. Miami should have no issue putting a beating on Georgia Tech in Week 6 ahead of a potential battle of two undefeated teams with North Carolina in Week 7. This Miami team just looks different than the ones that have disappointed in the past.

Maryland Terrapins: Unranked

Behind fantastic quarterback play by fifth-year senior Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland is unbeaten through five games with an average winning margin of 25.4 points. Tua's little brother has already posted 16 total touchdowns and is leading an efficient offense led by head coach Mike Locksley, who used to work on Nick Saban's offensive staff.

Taulia x 6⃣ 🙌

Watch every TD Taulia Tagovailoa accounted for in @TerpsFootball's Week 5 win. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8BbiyZqdAP

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 1, 2023

Maryland's strength of schedule and resume shouldn't propel them into the top-15 discussion, but it should put them above No. 23 LSU -- who as mentioned, already has two losses.

The Terrapins have every chance to shock the nation on Saturday against Ohio State. If it can pull off the upset as an 18.5-point underdog, this lack of love from the AP voters won't be an issue any longer.

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