Overrated and Underrated College Football Teams - Reviewing NCAA CFB Rankings For Week 7

College football season is flying by, but there are still plenty of big-time games to be played before the 2023 campaign concludes. Contenders are beginning to establish themselves but some teams are likely fool's gold. We'll get more clarity as the season enters its second half, but there are still some overvalued and undervalued teams ahead of Week 7.

Whether a team hasn't been punished in the rankings enough after bad losses or vice versa, we have five programs that are improperly ranked this week.

It's time for the sixth 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 7

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: No. 21

There was a ton of optimism around the Notre Dame football program after the arrival of quarterback Sam Hartman from the transfer portal. The former Wake Forest signal-caller totaled 127 touchdowns in his five-year career as a Demon Deacon and looked to give the Irish a chance to compete with any team in the nation.

However, Notre Dame has already lost two games through its first seven weeks of action. Against Ohio State and Louisville, Hartman has completed 39 of his 63 passing attempts for 429 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. Even in the big win over Duke, he completed just 50% of his passes and scored no touchdowns.

Just call him the streak buster! 💪

Quincy Riley shuts down Sam Hartman's interception-less streak! 🚫@LouisvilleFB | #ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/DHiBeemv5n

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) October 8, 2023

Ultimately, Hartman and the Irish offense have failed to deliver when it mattered most, and it cost them a blowout loss to the Louisville Cardinals in Week 6. Notre Dame has Caleb Williams and USC rolling into South Bend this week, so it has another chance at a big win. However, this team should have fallen out of the rankings for now.

Kentucky Wildcats: No. 24

There is no shame in losing to the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who haven't suffered a regular season defeat since November of 2020. However, there is shame in being blasted by 38 points in a game where you were only a two-touchdown underdog. The Kentucky Wildcats did just that.

Final. pic.twitter.com/Xu6kMV0Yz9

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 8, 2023

Kentucky had a chance to establish itself as at least the second-best team in the SEC East but was never competitive in this battle in Athens in Week 6. NC State transfer Devin Leary, who completed at least 60% of his passes in each of his final three seasons in the ACC, has completed just 54.8% of his attempts for 12 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2023.

The team's five wins are over Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, Vanderbilt, and Florida. That said, a blowout loss should move them out of the top 25 until further notice.

Underrated College Football Teams For Week 7

Oklahoma Sooners: No. 5

Oklahoma has the second-best scoring margin in the FBS, beating its opponents by an average of 31.2 points per game. But more importantly, the Sooners took down their archrival over the weekend, handling the No. 3 Texas Longhorns 34-30.

Sooner Magic ✨#OUDNA | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/g46vRAJngI

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 7, 2023

OU has proven capable of winning a low-scoring dogfight and a good old-fashioned Big 12 shootout. Boomer Sooner has the best win in all of college football and deserves to be ranked ahead of at least Florida State and Ohio State for the No. 3 spot in the AP Poll.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has 131 total touchdowns to just 22 interceptions in his five-year collegiate career thus far. Behind a prolific quarterback and defensive-minded head coach, this Oklahoma team could compete in the College Football Playoffs come January.

Missouri Tigers: Unranked

Being outscored by 18 points in the second half is not ideal. The Missouri Tigers did that against LSU in Week 6. However, the trio of quarterback Brady Cook, running back Cody Schrader, and wide receiver Luther Burden III gives them the offensive firepower to compete with anybody on its schedule (minus maybe Georgia).

The NCAA leader in receptions and receiving yards was at it again yesterday.

11 catches for 149 yards from Luther Burden III (@lutherburden3) against LSU.

Here's a look at some of yesterday's Luther highlights: pic.twitter.com/jlrd9fRqxc

— Corey Miller (@corey_miller5) October 9, 2023

This explosive offense makes the Tigers look like a top-25 team, and its only blemish on its resume is a loss to an LSU team that had a huge talent advantage in this contest.

Is Missouri's loss worse than one-loss Miami's or two-loss Notre Dame's from Week 6? I don't think so. Yet those two teams are still found inside the top 25.

Wyoming Cowboys: Unranked

Wyoming hosted the undefeated Fresno State Bulldogs in Week 6 and emerged victorious. Now, the Cowboys' only loss is on the road against Texas, where the game was tied 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

For the second time this season the Cowboys defeated a Top-25 team 🤠💥 pic.twitter.com/bv8S6AMQ4e

— Wyoming Cowboy Football (@wyo_football) October 9, 2023

Led by head coach Craig Bohl, who started the North Dakota State FCS dynasty, this Wyoming team could likely beat a good chunk of power-five conference teams. If this program was more nationally recognized and had the exact same resume, it would be ranked inside the top 25.

A battle with undefeated Air Force awaits in Week 7, with the winner earning a top 25 spot in the polls.

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