The AP Top 25 poll just dropped on Monday, and yeah, we’re all talking about who’s overrated and who got snubbed. But honestly, the real story, the one that always pops off, is the unranked teams. Every single season, without fail, at least one squad nobody’s talking about ends up finishing way high, sometimes even in the AP Top 10. Forget the preseason hype; these are the teams that could actually shake things up.
Kansas State’s Sneaky Shot at the Big Time
Last season was a real letdown for Kansas State, no doubt about it. But get this, the Big 12 is pretty wide open right now, and that’s their golden ticket. The biggest move? Collin Klein is back as head coach, fresh off two seasons as Texas A&M’s OC. He’s coming home to take the reins, and that’s a huge deal. They’ve got playmakers, too. Avery Johnson is back at QB, and Joe Jackson, who almost hit 1,000 rushing yards last season, is back at RB. Klein just needs to unlock Johnson’s full potential, and if he does? Their schedule is shockingly nice. They dodge BYU, Utah, *and* Texas Tech this season. The toughest game they face is at home against Houston, right in the middle of the schedule. If they can put it all together, watch out.
Cal’s Defensive Juggernaut Ready to Roar
California’s schedule? It’s practically tailor-made for Tosh Lupoi’s first season as head coach. This guy knows winning defenses cold, coming from that strong Oregon program. And the best part? He doesn’t even need to stress about getting the offense rolling. Their sensational freshman QB, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, is back for his sophomore year, and Cal brought in three transfers to help him out at wide receiver, with Rutgers’ Ian Strong looking like his go-to guy. Add an experienced offensive line and the fact that they don’t play Miami this season, and you’ve got a recipe for success. If that young QB keeps progressing, Cal is going to turn some heads.
Clemson: Unranked For the First Time Since 2011? That’s About to Change
Okay, this one is wild. For the first time since 2011, Clemson is unranked to start the season. Like, what? That just doesn’t happen with Dabo Swinney. He’s got some serious questions to answer after a disappointing 2025, especially losing Cade Klubnik at QB and some key defensive players. But here’s the thing: Vic Burley and Sammy Brown are back at linebacker, and Gideon Davidson is holding down the RB spot. You don’t keep a program like Clemson down for long. This unranked start is a massive chip on their shoulder, and I’ve got a feeling they’re about to unleash some serious fury to prove everyone wrong.
So, yeah, the AP Poll is out, but don’t get too comfortable with those numbers. These unranked teams are hungry, they’ve got talent, and they’re gunning for the top. You’re going to want to keep an eye on these three, because the regular season is just getting started, and the chaos is going to be epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply