On3 put together the rankings for most overrated programs in college football since the College Football Playoff began in 2014 using a comparison of preseason AP rankings to end of season results, and the Auburn Tigers took the top spot.
NEW: AP Poll Voters’ Most Overrated Preseason College Football Teams since 2014😬
(via @Brett_McMurphy) https://t.co/PMVgGk5im3 pic.twitter.com/B7ARASvgP2
— On3 (@On3) August 18, 2026
Finishing just ahead of the LSU Tigers, several notable SEC teams were included, with even Alabama coming in at No. 11 due to the sheer amount of times they were ranked No. 1 to start the year before falling short of a national title.
Ultimately, preseason rankings are for fans to be able to have something to talk about in the middle of August with the season just around the corner. With that being said, comparisons from the start of the season to the end of the season clearly show the Tigers have fallen short over the years.
With Alex Golesh now at the helm, his job is to change that, and he has the benefit of starting his first season without the burden of expectations for immediate success. If he can do the things he hopes to, it won’t be that way on The Plains for long.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
