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Heading into Week 6 of the 2024 college football season, the slate as a whole didn't look great on paper. However, it ended up being arguably the most exciting week of the season. A whopping five top-11 AP teams lost in Week 6. Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, USC, and Michigan were all defeated on the road, while Miami needed late-game heroics to stay undefeated.
Hopefully, Week 7 comes anywhere close in terms of excitement and surprising outcomes. This week's slate is headlined by matchups between Oklahoma and Texas, Ohio State and Oregon, LSU and Ole Miss, and Kansas State and Colorado. This slate could set the stage for the College Football Playoff, and the season is officially heating up.
It's time for the next article of a year-long series: Overrated and Underrated College Football Teams, after the weekly Associated Press Poll release. All rankings listed are based on the AP Poll.
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Week 7 College Football AP Poll Rankings
BREAKING: Week 7 College Football AP Poll🚨https://t.co/I0JQio4O3K pic.twitter.com/RZmllXXtQO
— On3 (@On3sports) October 6, 2024
Overrated College Football Teams For Week 7
Tennessee Volunteers: No. 8
Week 6 Result: L at Arkansas (14-19)
Through Tennessee's first four games, the Vols appeared to be an unquestioned national championship contender. Its offense put up a modest showing in the win over Oklahoma a few weeks ago, but it seemed like Josh Heupel's unit could simply turn it on when needed.
That was not the case against the Razorbacks, as Tennessee scored just two touchdowns, and QB Nico Iamaleava was held to just 156 passing yards.
The Vols' defense looks good enough to compete with the best of the best, but Iamaleava showed signs of being an inexperienced redshirt freshman in his first career loss, and we haven't seen Tennessee's offense play with consistency since 2022 with Hendon Hooker.
The 12-team playoff format means Tennessee can still accomplish everything it wants to, but for this week, it's a little confusing that the Vols are ranked ahead of No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 10 Clemson.
Michigan Wolverines: No. 24
Week 6 Result: L at Washington (17-27)
The defending College Football Playoff National Champions have a new head coach and virtually an entirely new starting lineup, so regression was expected in 2024. However, Michigan has already lost two games through its first six contests, including on Saturday against a mediocre Washington team.
The loss to No. 1 Texas can be excused, but this early in the season, losing to the Huskies to drop to 4-2 should get your program booted from the rankings, especially after its defense failed to show up.
Opps lol, @CollegeGameDay 🤷 pic.twitter.com/8VpgidNPLA
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) October 6, 2024
At least SMU, Army, and Navy have a case to be ahead of UM at this point in the year.
Underrated College Football Teams For Week 7
Miami Hurricanes: No. 6
Week 6 Result: W at Cal (39-38)
The Hurricanes have narrowly survived each of the last two games and should not jump any undefeated programs, but good teams find a way to win by any means necessary, so a one-spot jump over Georgia makes sense.
A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES FROM NO. 8 MIAMI 🔥
MIAMI WITH AN UNREAL 25-PT COMEBACK TO BEAT CAL 😳 pic.twitter.com/iNYK7nuoVK
— ESPN (@espn) October 6, 2024
Yes, the Bulldogs would be favored against Miami, but that has not been the criteria for rankings this season, so it should not apply now. Miami is a legitimate undefeated team that is eyeing a top-four seed in the CFB, and Heisman contender Cam Ward gives Miami a chance to win at the highest level against any opponent.
BYU Cougars: No. 14
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
BYU was out of action last week, but it's unclear why the undefeated and impressive Big 12 team is behind one-loss Notre Dame and one-loss LSU in the polls. BYU has one of the most impressive wins among all top-25 teams, a 29-point domination against No. 18 Kansas State (No. 13 at the time.)
Big brands often get "special" treatment in the rankings, especially early in the season, but if the Cougars continue to win as expected, this one will take care of itself.
Boise State Broncos: No. 17
Week 6 Result: W vs. Utah State (62-30)
Boise State has just one loss this season, and it came against the current No. 3 team in the country (Oregon) -- on the road -- by just three points. Running back Ashton Jeanty is on a 13-game pace for over 2,600 rushing yards and a whopping 41 rushing touchdowns.
College football feels a lot more balanced this year, so don't count the Broncos completely out of at least being competitive if they can secure a College Football Playoff spot. Having a stud running back doesn't always mean your program can win big, but Jeanty is approaching a Reggie Bush or Barry Sanders level of impact and excellence.
The AP voters should have Boise State ahead of No. 16 Utah and No. 15 Texas A&M, both of whom have worse losses.
ASHTON JEANTY ON HIS FIRST CARRY OF THE GAME 🤯
HEISMAN HIM.
(via @CFBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/wNOpT7QJ23
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) October 5, 2024
Honorable Mentions:
-
- Navy: N/R
- Army: N/R
- Indiana: No. 18
Army & Navy improve to a 10-0 combined record for the first time since 1945 💪 pic.twitter.com/ve5DV9sO9G
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 5, 2024
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