Overrated and Underrated College Football Teams - Reviewing NCAA CFB Rankings For Week 8

The 2023 college football season has flown by, and we're getting a better picture of who might be among the four teams to compete in the College Football Playoffs. However, some teams with a high ranking in the AP Poll are likely to flame out, while other programs are underrated and are not being taken as seriously.

There are overvalued and undervalued teams all over the country. Let's dive in and analyze the four teams who are improperly ranked after Week 7 action.

It's time for the next 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 10, we'll pivot to focus on those standings instead.

Overrated College Football Teams For Week 8

Ohio State Buckeyes: No. 3

According to PowerRankingsGuru, the Ohio State Buckeyes have played the 53rd-toughest schedule thus far this season. Meanwhile, undefeated Florida State and Washington have both faced top-25 strength of schedules to this point.

The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame, which now doesn't seem as impressive. Its other wins? Indiana, Youngstown State, Western Kentucky, Maryland, and Purdue. Ohio State is not battled-tested and has only been challenged by a legitimately good team once this season.

Obviously, Ohio State deserves a spot inside the top seven, but it does not deserve to be ahead of Washington and Florida State, who have remained undefeated despite facing much more difficult competition. The Buckeyes square off with No. 7 Penn State next, so we'll see what they're made of during Week 8.

Penn State Week 💯 pic.twitter.com/pqSn6B2Axl

— Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) October 15, 2023

UCLA Bruins: No. 25

The Bruins have now lost two of its last three games to Utah and Oregon State, and its most impressive win was over Washington State -- who were just blasted by Arizona. UCLA looked like it could compete with anyone due to its strong defense, but the Beavers hung 36 points on them in Week 7.

B1G DUBS pic.twitter.com/V1ICY76ju1

— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 15, 2023

Next for Chip Kelly's squad is matchups with Stanford and Colorado, so this team will likely stick around in the AP rankings. However, its resume will be unimpressive when the season ends unless it beats in-city rival USC in mid-November.

Kelly hasn't been able to transform UCLA into looking like his high-powered Oregon teams from the early 2010s. This year is no different.

Underrated College Football Teams For Week 8

Washington Huskies: No. 5

Washington has faced the 15th-strongest schedule to this point and has dominated most of its competition. In Week 7, the Huskies emerged victorious against one of its top rivals, the Oregon Ducks. The win over Oregon is more impressive than any win No. 4 Florida State or No. 3 Ohio State has, and Michael Penix Jr. is now the runaway favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

Behind an elite college quarterback and plenty of high-level weapons on offense, this Washington team looks like it can match up with any team in the nation. Washington has been the slowest mover up the AP Poll, and it's confusing as to why that's happening.

ROME ODUNZE IS UNGUARDABLE

pic.twitter.com/CiMyDCOIVD

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 14, 2023

What more does Washington have to prove? Blue Blood programs are simply being ranked ahead of them because of their brand, rather than the results and style points we've seen on the field. Thankfully, Washington controls its own destiny in trying to get to the College Football Playoffs. Washington still has games against USC, Oregon State, and Utah, so its tough schedule continues -- unlike some other teams found inside the top 10.

North Carolina Tar Heels: No. 10

North Carolina beat an SEC team (South Carolina), a Big Ten team (Minnesota), and a Group of Five team (Appalachian State) that always gives big-conference teams trouble to begin its season. In the ACC, it has double-digit victories over Pitt, Syracuse, and Miami.

Final from Chapel Hill.#CarolinaFootball🏈 x #UNCommon x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/aavRk72Jpo

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 15, 2023

The Tar Heels have faced the eighth-toughest schedule through seven weeks, yet still sit at the No. 10 spot in the AP Poll. This is head-scratching, to say the least. I'm not sure what else Drake Maye and company have to do to earn the respect of the voters.

Expect North Carolina to begin the season 9-0 before contests against Duke, Clemson, and NC State. Clearly, no one is viewing this team as a playoff contender. But North Carolina controls its own destiny in the ACC.

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