College Football: 5 most underrated teams in 2016

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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There are many underrated teams in college football entering the 2016 season, from teams looking to make it to a bowl game, to teams competing for conference championships, but here are the five most underrated teams.

With the start of a new season upon us in college football, comes the discussion of what teams will be there for the playoff? What teams will make a bowl game? What teams will disappoint and who will surprise? The prospect of underrated teams always seems to be the hardest to guess in college football. You just never know who will surprise the college football world.

We know about Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Florida State, Oklahoma and all the other big boys of the college football world. Even teams that we know of and are projected to be conference contenders can still be underrated.

Then there are the teams that seemingly come out of nowhere and make a name for themselves, much like Mississippi State in 2014. No one except the Bulldogs themselves knew what they, as a team, were capable of. What team in 2016 can do what the Bulldogs did in 2014?

These are the five teams that are most likely to finish above where they are starting now at the beginning of the season. Whether that be in the initial AP Top 25 poll, the respective team’s conference rankings (or both), or even just national perception of that program. At season’s end these programs will be looked at quite differently than they were at the beginning of the 2016 season.

Oct 10, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) throws a pass against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 48-23. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

5. Colorado Buffaloes

Yes, Colorado actually has a chance to be a good team and make their presence known in the Pac-12 in 2016. No, they will not be competing for the conference championship but a step towards bowl eligibility is exactly what the program needs.

Colorado has not been to a bowl game since 2007 when it lost to Alabama, 30-24, in the Independence Bowl. After almost 10 years since that game, the time has come for the Buffaloes to become one of the better teams in college football by making it to a bowl game.

Colorado has Sefo Liufau back at quarterback after an injury in 2015. The offense, despite the loss of Nelson Spruce at receiver, should be balanced and has a playmaker in Phillip Lindsay at running back.

The Buffalo defense is what makes Colorado a team to watch in 2016. Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt leads a veteran, talented and fundamentally sound defense led by cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The defense returns a total of 9 starters from last season.

Colorado might not take the world by storm in 2016, but don’t be shocked if this team doesn’t upset a Pac-12 team or two and makes it to a bowl game this season. Colorado will only keep getting better.

Oct 24, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Darrius Sims (6) and running back Ralph Webb (7) and wide receiver Ronald Monroe (8) and wide receiver Trent Sherfield (10) and wide receiver Latevius Rayford (86) celebrate after defeating the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Vanderbilt won 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

4. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt is a sneaky team that not enough people seem to be paying attention to at the beginning of the 2016 season. The Commodores will be sure that people start to take notice by the time the season ends.

Vanderbilt’s strength is defense. In fact, Vanderbilt’s defense is one of the best in the entire SEC. Led by linebacker Zach Cunningham, the Commodores will be stout, the defense ranked number 28 in total defense in 2015 and returns 7 total starters from the 2015 unit.

The offense could be a weakness but more and more it seems like the offense could do well for the first time since James Franklin left the program.

Vanderbilt has Ralph Webb at running back, he’ll be one of the conferences best and will be the leader of the offense. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur will have to be a steady arm in order for the Commodores offense to be successful. Steady is what Vanderbilt has lacked at the quarterback position in recent years, but Shurmur looks talented enough to stabilize the offense.

In a very down year for the SEC East, the Commodores should be able to make some noise and become bowl eligible, possibly pulling off an upset along the way.

Dec 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood (34) rushes chased by Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Kevin Snyder (45) in the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

In their own conference, North Carolina is not underrated. In the national picture of college football, however, North Carolina is very underrated.

The Tar Heels are seen as the third best team in the conference behind Clemson and Florida State. Which makes sense, both FSU and Clemson are great teams but North Carolina deserves just as much respect.

North Carolina’s biggest perceived problem is at quarterback but new starter Mitch Trubisky looks like he’s the real deal. Elijah Hood returns at running back in a very stable and prolific offense. UNC averaged 7.28 yards per play in 2015. A prolific offense has become the staple of head coach Larry Fedora, 2016 should be no different.

The defense was much improved in 2015 but still needs to improve in the run game in order for 2016 to be a more successful season for the Tar Heels. Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has three starters returning on the defensive line which should automatically help with improvement.

North Carolina has a chance to show that they have improved in the first game against Georgia. A win against a strong SEC team will show that UNC is ready to challenge Clemson and FSU in ACC.

Oct 10, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) stretches out for a touchdown against New Mexico State Aggies linebacker Derek Ibekwe (3) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

2. Ole Miss

Ole Miss is a known commodity at this point. The program has ascended from a down trodden program in 2011 to a respected team that will take on Florida State in the season opener on Labor Day. Yet Ole Miss is still not seen by most as a team that can compete for a championship in 2016.

What do the Rebels have to do for respect?

Sure Ole Miss lost Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil. It won’t matter. Hugh Freeze has the talent to replace those players. The Rebels receiving corps is one of the best and deepest in the nation. The defensive line is nasty and fast. The offensive line presents questions but the new starters have game experience against top teams like Alabama and Florida, etc.

So why can’t Ole Miss beat Alabama and LSU in 2016? Where does the disbelief in the Rebels come from?

Ole Miss has Chad Kelly at quarterback, that alone gives them the edge on offensive matches against every team they will face in 2016.

If the defense is better than last year, and it has the talent to be just that, then look out for the Rebels. The college football world will know where the Rebels are as a team on Labor Day.

Oct 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) rushes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Oregon Ducks

Has there ever been a team that fell off of the face of the Earth of college football in history quite like the 2016 Oregon Ducks?

Oregon still has plenty of talent and one of the most talented running backs in the country in Royce Freeman, still on their team. Sure the Ducks had a terrible defense in 2015. Even with that bad defense, the Ducks were still one game away from the Pac-12 Championship.

The defense can and will be fixed. Brady Hoke was brought in as defensive coordinator to make sure that happens and happens fast.

They also bring in another transfer at quarterback for the 2016 season in Dakota Prukop, but a transfer quarterback worked just fine for them in 2015, the Ducks should be okay again in 2016, not to mention the weapons at receiver that Prukop will have in Charles Nelson and Darren Carrington.

Oregon also gets Pac-12 North favorites Stanford and Washington at home. The Ducks beat both teams in 2015 and are more than capable of doing it again.

The Ducks have not been an overlooked team in a long time and it could serve them well in 2016. Watch out for the Oregon Ducks, the most underrated team in college football in 2016.