RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesThe preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is finally here, and with it comes a lot of familiarity. There are no surprises that programs such as Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, and Notre Dame have dominated the top five. However, there are also some surprises of note, such as Penn State being included despite a skewed sense of expectation surrounding the team. Still, the primary questions being asked are which squads truly deserve all the hype and those who may need to be faded. Here are the five programs who I believe to be either sleeping giants or paper tigers.
Overrated: No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers
It feels weird to start with the defending national champions, but this year's team does not have the same vibes as last year's. In to replace Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is TCU transfer Josh Hoover . While he has thrown for over 9,600 yards and for over 70 touchdowns, he's also highly turnover-prone, with 33 career interceptions. Add in the fact that on the defensive side of the ball, they lost nine key players from their championship-winning team, and there may be too many changes for Indiana to overcome. Expect a potential championship hangover.
Underrated: No. 13 LSU Tigers
The first SEC team on this list, the Tigers certainly have an upward-trending vibe to them. Having brought in Lane Kiffin as their new head coach, they also brought in the No. 1 transfer portal class as a result. That class includes former five-star O-lineman Jordan Seaton out of Colorado and Arizona State transfer QB Sam Leavitt , who has shown a lot of moxie and dual-threat dynamism throughout his career. Add in the defensive addition of Princewill Umanmielen, who had nine sacks with Ole Miss last year, and no SEC squad should want to go to Death Valley this year.
Overrated: No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels
While the Tigers benefit from a Lane Kiffin-led boost, the Rebels take a massive hit. I find it to be a bit of a shock the Rebels are ranked as high as they are considering the loss of defensive production and the fact Pete Golding is a first-time head coach. While he certainly showed a lot of grit in getting the Rebels to the CFP semifinals, the grind of the SEC season is a whole different beast. While Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are an exciting offensive duo, the Rebels' daunting schedule could see some major trip-ups that not even they can overcome.
Underrated: No. 24 Houston Cougars
Watch out, Big 12. The Houston Cougars are here to stay. Coming off of a 10-3 campaign in Willie Fritz's second year, they could be set to take the Big 12 by storm in a wide-open conference race. The return of former five-star QB Connor Weigman gives the offense an immediate boost as he continues one of college football's greatest career turnarounds. The addition of Tulane RB transfer Makhi Hughes reunited Fritz with one of the most dynamic running backs from the Group of 6 last year. Add in a stout defense led by senior LB Jaden Yates, and this team is no longer just fun and frisky.
Overrated: No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Yeah, they may be the defending Big 12 champions, but they certainly don't feel like it after a hectic offseason. At first, the Red Raiders thought they had landed the gem of the transfer portal in No. 1 QB Brendan Sorsby. but after an incredible off-field saga saw Sorsby step aside from football, they are now left with a QB room with more questions than answers. Will Hammond made some appearances last year and showed some upside, but he is still recovering from injury. That could force Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis into the spotlight. Also, despite some transfer portal additions defensively, the D may look wholly different than last year's dominant unit. The lights are shining bright on Lubbock, but not in a good way.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Who are the most overrated, underrated teams in latest US LBM coaches poll?
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