After four weeks of college football, we still don' quite have an idea of who to trust in the sport. Especially in the nation's top two conferences, different teams are starting to separate themselves, while others still have questions to be asked about them. For example, do the Texas Longhornslook like the No. 1 team in the country? Are the Iowa Hawkeyes for real? And which SEC surprises and Big Ten disappointments are most intriguing. Here are the nation's most overrated and underrated teams from the latest coaches poll.
Overrated: No. 1 Texas
It always feels weird to overrate the No. 1 team in that nation, but the Longhorns have looked anything but. Ever since that fourth quarter comeback against Ohio State, Texas' offense has looked flat. Arch Manning has shown
no signs of improvement and one of the nation's most loaded rosters looks wasted. In their win over Tennessee, they had 11 penalties, which almost cost them the game in the end. If it weren't for Will Muschamp's defense, especially Colin Simmons, the Longhorns could very well be 2-2. They may be undefeated for now, but tougher tests await them in SEC play. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.
Underrated: No. 8 Florida
Year 1 under Jon Sumrall couldn't have gotten off to a better start. The Gators are 4-0 for the first time in six years and they now own one of the nation's most important wins. They absolutely demolished Ole Miss and in the absence of Kewan Lacy, Jadan Baugh may have just taken the reins as the nation's best running back. He now has 600 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year through only four games. Meanwhile, while Aaron Philo has not been tested yet, he has managed the offense beautifully. In three weeks time, the Longhorns come to Gainesville in what could be the biggest game for the Gators in quite some time.
Overrated: No. 24 Michigan
Michiganlooks like the worst 3 win team in the country. Many college football fans already believe they should be after an inexplicable refereeing decision against Western Michigan, and their sole "quality" win is against a putrid Oklahoma squad who looks worse and worse every week. Now, they got what they deserved with a last second victory for the Iowa Hawkeyes, raising the questions of karmic revenge. For now, it doesn't matter how Michigan wins or loses. It will almost always be ugly and that is not sustainable in the slightest.
Underrated: No. 14 Iowa
Speaking of those Hawkeyes, we may have a new Big Ten dark horse in town!(sorry, Penn State fans) The Iowa Hawkeyes have themselves one of the most dramatic wins of the season on their resume already and while they have to hang their hats on Michigan remaining ranked, for now, it looks to be a solid win. Now, Hank Brown and the offense are just slightly above average, but with that defense, they can hang tough with anybody. Besides, Iowa fans would have certainly taken a 4-0 record with a QB who has thrown for 700 yards and 5 touchdowns through the month of September before the season started. Now though, the fun begins for the Hawkeyes, as next week, they welcome the Buckeyes to Kinnick Stadium. A win there and they're no longer fun and frisky.
Overrated: No. 18 USC
Continuing the Big Ten trend... how many times do we have to watch USC crumble under Lincoln Riley when it matters most? In yet another disappointing loss, the Trojans couldn't even slow down Oregon backup QB Dylan Raiola after a scary injury to Dante Moore. Plus, it's not a good look when the player who injured him is laughing and celebrating on the sidelines. Now, the Trojans's good start to the year has been erased by the same mistakes they continue to make: average defending and lack of discipline. Suddenly, despite Penn State's loss this week, that game in Happy Valley on October 10th looms large for both teams.
Underrated: No. 16 Mississippi State
The legend of Super Kamario Taylor continues to grow as the Bulldogscontinue to roll. What this young man is doing at the age of 19 is absolutely mind blowing. In their first ranked win since 2014, the Bulldogs came back from a 7 point fourth quarter deficit as Taylor flashed his elite traits, with 360 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns, and also a touchdown on the ground. With the schedule only getting tougher from here on out, we'll see if Taylor can continue to display the level of performance he has over these first four weeks. Still, with games against Alabama, LSU, Texas and their rivals Ole Miss coming up, the Bulldogs are no longer just a feisty underdog.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Most overrated/underrated teams in Week 4 coaches poll
