September 28, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Gerald J. Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (4) and quarterback Brock Glenn (11) before the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Florida State Seminoles at Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagen Images This presidential campaign season, college football’s October surprises come in a variety of forms. There are breakout overachievers like Indiana and Pitt that have succeeded beyond their preseason expectations.
On the other hand, many teams have disappointed in the first half of the season. The trio of teams ranked in the AP top 25 at the start of 2024 that have since fallen out stand out as the most surprising underachievers at the midpoint.
Florida State
September 21, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (4) practices before the game against the California Golden Bears at Doc S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagen Images Florida State is the favorite choice for the highest-rated team of 2024 based on almost unanimous preseason expectations to be the last ACC team in December.
Having the dubious distinction of being the only power conference undefeated left for a berth in the four-team College Football Playoff provides the main storyline for Florida State’s 2024 season.
With an expanded playoff bracket, the only thing that can keep the Seminoles out this time will be their own inability to execute on the field. unfortunately, This has been the case in the state of Florida before most countries start their 2024 seasons.
A last-second loss to Georgia Tech in the season opener in Ireland brought the Seminoles’ bad streak from the previous season to a new continent and a new season. From No. 10 in the preseason rankings to a surprisingly bad 1-5 record – 1-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference – FSU has had more problems than we can count this season.
oklahoma state
Oklahoma State’s Allen Bowman (7) practices before the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Photo USA Today. The bye week couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have Week 7 to regroup amid a worsening three-game losing streak.
Ranked 17th to begin the campaign, Oklahoma State was projected to compete for the new-look Big 12 Conference championship. Instead, Mike Gundy’s team was effectively out of the race before the leaves turned autumn colors, losing 22–19 to Utah, 42–20 at Kansas State, and 38–14 against West Virginia. Had to face.
The most eyebrow-raising aspect of Oklahoma State’s conference struggles has been its 17.7-point-per-game average. Reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Doc Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II rushed for 282 yards against West Virginia in 2023 But he managed only 50 yards on 13 carries in this season’s Week 6 loss, highlighting Oklahoma State’s major offensive woes.
Gordon’s drop from 123.8 rushing yards per game last season to 64 through six games in 2024 is a byproduct of the Cowboys’ shaky passing game. Alan Bowman threw eight interceptions and completed less than 60 percent of his attempts in the first half of the season and was pulled against West Virginia for Garrett Rangel.
Gundy did not make any starts for Oklahoma State’s return to action on October 18 against BYU, but the decision is having a big impact on the Cowboys’ final six games.
Southern California
July 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of a Southern California Trojans helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at the Novo Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The college football pundit happily plays Charlie Brown while various incarnations of Southern California play Lucy. It seems like every year for the last 15 years, there has been a wave of hope that maybe this is the year USC comes back.
Then, the Trojans snap the ball, allowing us to kick it into the air.
USC opens its 2024 season ranked 23rd Defeated LSU in Week 1Which only attracted the audience towards that familiar place.
Sure, the Trojans left the Pac-12 after winning a single conference championship from 2009 until the league’s disbandment, but perhaps joining a new conference will be the catalyst USC needs to recapture its faded glory. .
Instead, the Trojans hosted fourth-ranked Penn State in Week 7, facing the real possibility of falling to 3–3, and worse, 1–3, in conference play.
Perhaps it’s an overreaction to a team that is just two games away from being undefeated. USC’s losses to both Michigan and Minnesota on the road were decided by last-minute, fourth-down touchdowns.
But while Michigan is the defending national champion, the 2024 Wolverines are clearly a step back from last year’s team. Minnesota came into last week’s matchup on a losing streak, potentially having its season spin out of control.
Meanwhile, USC is losing the battle for contention in the Big Ten, accumulating losses. Linebacker Eric Gentry is sidelined indefinitely, and defensive lineman Bear Alexander has opted to redshirt, leaving voids in the front seven that the Trojans may not be ready to fill for a long time. .