College Football: The Rollercoaster of Perceptions
Welcome to the unpredictable world of college football, where the narrative surrounding a program can flip dramatically in just one week. This past Saturday, the contrasting scenes in Lexington, Kentucky, and South Bend, Indiana, provided perfect illustrations of this phenomenon, setting the stage for this week’s edition of “Overreaction or Underreaction.”
“There was a perception about our team this week, but it wasn’t reality.” — South Carolina coach Shane Beamer
Just a week prior, Beamer’s seat appeared to be warming up due to a tepid 23-19 victory over Old Dominion. However, the Gamecocks delivered a stunning performance as 10-point road underdogs, decisively defeating Kentucky 31-6. Now, with ESPN’s “College GameDay” heading to Columbia for their upcoming clash with LSU, the Gamecocks find themselves riding a wave of renewed enthusiasm. After a couple of rough outings, LSU isn’t quite the formidable opponent everyone expected at the season’s outset. South Carolina enters the matchup with a reinvigorated fan base and a confident squad, ready to seize the spotlight. A victory this week could drastically reshape perceptions of their season, making the early-season doubts feel like a distant memory.
“We’ve been here before. Now it’s time to get it fixed.” — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman
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Notre Dame faces significant challenges after suffering a surprising 16-14 defeat to Northern Illinois as a near 30-point favorite. Freeman’s observation is poignant: the Irish have encountered precarious situations before, recalling close calls against Toledo in 2021 and losses to Marshall and a struggling 3-9 Stanford team in 2022. The dialogue surrounding Freeman’s future at Notre Dame can wait, as the immediate focus shifts to the remainder of the Irish’s season: Did the loss to NIU derail Notre Dame’s aspirations, or is there still a glimmer of hope?
On the overreaction side, one could argue that losing at home to a MAC team as a 30-point favorite underscores that Notre Dame is not a legitimate contender for the College Football Playoff. Conversely, the underreaction perspective posits that an 11-1 record, which many anticipated for Notre Dame, is still achievable, potentially securing them a playoff berth. While that remains true, confidence in the team’s ability to string together ten consecutive wins has waned, especially with upcoming matchups against teams like Florida State that now look less daunting than they did earlier in the season.
Whatever stance you take, there’s validity to your opinion, and that’s the beauty of college football. Here are five additional points that warrant our collective focus—whether we are overreacting, underreacting, or responding just right is crucial for the ongoing discourse surrounding this beloved sport.
Overreactions and Underreactions in College Football
- We’re overreacting to … the struggles of top teams last Saturday. While Notre Dame was the only highly-ranked team to fall as a large favorite, several others faced close calls, including Penn State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Kansas State, and Arizona. However, let’s not hit the panic button just yet. Alabama experienced a similar situation last year when South Florida nearly upset them in a 17-3 win, only for the Tide to rebound and win 12 straight games leading to the Playoff. Early-season adversity can be a blessing in disguise.
- We’re underreacting to … the fact that one of the best freshmen in America is likely in Columbia, S.C. While names like Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith are generating buzz, South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart is making a name for himself early in the season. The former five-star prospect showcased his skills against Kentucky, accumulating 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Facing LSU’s talented tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. this week could catapult Stewart into national prominence.
- We’re overreacting to … the debate surrounding conference supremacy. In the marquee nonconference games of Week 2, Texas and Tennessee both secured emphatic victories over their Big Ten and ACC opponents, respectively, by a combined score of 82-22. This brought the SEC’s record against Power 4 nonconference foes to 5-6. As it stands, the ACC is at 5-5, the Big Ten at 4-4, and the Big 12 at 5-5. Any claims of a conference being head and shoulders above the rest are oversimplified; true parity exists.
- We’re underreacting to … Kyle McCord and Syracuse. Transfers are making waves, and McCord’s impact at Syracuse cannot be overstated. After being overlooked at Ohio State, McCord has thrived with the Orange, boasting a 69.4 completion percentage, eight touchdowns, and only one interception. With Florida State and Clemson struggling, Syracuse’s potential as a top-tier ACC team looks promising, especially under new head coach Fran Brown.
- We’re reacting perfectly to … the widespread disdain for the targeting rule. The targeting rule continues to spark controversy, as seen with Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson’s recent suspension after a questionable targeting call. While the intention behind the rule is admirable, its broad application often leads to unjust penalties. Players may be forced to alter their tackling techniques to avoid penalties, which could introduce new dangers. The targeting rule’s flaws need addressing, but meaningful changes may not arrive until next season.
(Top photo: Michael Clubb / USA Today)
