202-dud: A look back into the biggest disappointments of the 2021 season.
2021: A return to normalcy; A return to glory. After a year of restrictions and testing, many programs looked to hit the field back in full stride or even better. The Group of 5 continues their attention-grabbing performances for the Committee, with Cincinnati finally cracking the Top 4 and UT San Antonio captivating the nation with #MeepMeep. However, despite the success of the Group of 5 and other Blue Bloods, 2021 revealed the chaos of college football with typical powerhouses falling off the map. Bleacher Report’s Morgan Moriarty ran an earlier season report, and well, not much has changed besides a few more teams. Here is a look at the biggest conference disappointments so far this college football season.
ACC
Clemson Tigers (7-3, 5-0)
Even though holding a winning record and currently second in the ACC Atlantic standings, Clemson's quick fall from the top has everyone raising eyebrows this season. The post Trevor Lawrence era is not going as smoothly as people thought, and questions are being asked about D.J. Uiagalelei’s play across the season. With a few close calls to lower opponents, has the Clemson formula been solved? NC State and Pittsburgh figured it out, while Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Boston College and Louisville almost did. Despite this year’s results, we can assume Clemson will be right back at the top in the next few years.
Miami Hurricanes (5-5, 3-3)
Coming in white hot, Manny Diaz and crew were looking to make some noise this 2021 season after an 8-3 2020 season. However, the Week 1 blowout against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game foreshadowed how the 2021 season would go for the ‘Canes: rough. The early portion of the season looked ugly, with losses to UNC and Virginia, and almost upset to Appalachian State at home. However, things were looking up in Week 7 with home victory over NC State, starting off a three game win streak. Then, the ‘Canes took a quick trip up Florida’s Turnpike to face the Seminoles, where some late game heroics by Florida State’s quarterback Jordan Travis provided heartbreak for Miami. The ‘Canes are still bowl eligible, if they can win one more game. However, the seat is warm for head coach Manny Diaz, and if he can’t get the job done, one can expect the “Turnover Chain” to be somewhere else.
SEC
Florida Gators (5-5, 2-5)
The Week 3 Gators looked like the Gators were expecting for a while with Dan Mullen at the helm: SEC contenders and possible playoff contenders. However, expectations were too high for Mullen and crew, as a Week 4 upset to Kentucky saw the demise of the season. Further questions are being raised after FCS Samford put up 42 points against Florida in the first half. The Gators pulled out the win, but speculation is raised with what should have been a “cake-walk” game. The Gators are still bowl eligible, yet the polarization from last season’s results will cause boosters and recruits some head tilts.
Big 12
Texas Longhorns (4-6, 2-5)
It has been over two years since Sam Ehlinger infamously said Texas is back after their 2019 Sugar Bowl victory, and well… Texas isn’t back. After a brief four years, head coach Tom Herman bought the rest of his $21 million contract. Steve Sarkisian replaced Herman, yet results are still mediocre. With a five game losing streak capped with a home loss to Kansas, Sarkisian finds himself on the hot seat, and many wonder how many Longhorns will enter the transfer portal. Although being a blue blood, the Kansas defeat will definitely hurt recruiting efforts for the Longhorns. The Longhorns will need to win out if they want to be bowl eligible, and if Coach Sark wants to keep his job safe (for now).
Iowa State (6-4, 4-3)
After the spectacular 2020 season topped with Fiesta Bowl win, things were looking up with the Cyclones. With Heisman hopeful running back Breece Hall, senior quarterback Brock Purdy, and electric tight end Chase Allen returning, the Cyclones were ranked #7 in the preseason. The hype was unreal for the Week 2 matchup against then #10 Iowa, where the Hawkeyes won 27-17 in Ames. Even though a loss at home to in-state rivals is never satisfying, the inconsistent Big 12 play hurt the Cyclones. A loss to then-unranked Baylor, then a nail-bitter of a win against then #8 Oklahoma State Cowboys, followed by an upset defeat in Morgantown versus West Virginia. It was a rollercoaster ride of confusion. The Cyclones are bowl eligible still, and head coach Matt Campbell is making something special in Ames. Although this year is disappointing compared to 2020, keep an eye out for Iowa State in the coming years.
Big 10
The Big 10 did not have any large disappointments this year. They actually either met expectations or surpassed them. (Congratulations to the Big 10!) Although there was a dip in performance from Iowa and Wisconsin, both are still in the top 25. The Big 10 has the second most teams in the Week 12 College Football Rankings with 5, only one behind the SEC. Unless an utter collapse and conference cannibalization occurs in the last few weeks, one should expect a large number of Big 10 teams to be playing near or on New Years.
PAC-12
USC Trojans (4-5, 3-4)
Starting at #15 in the preseason, it was looking like sunshine and palm trees in Los Angeles. However, after a blowout loss at home to Stanford, the Trojans fired head coach Clay Helton, despite posting a 65% win percentage. Things did not pick up with interim head coach Donte Williams, where the Trojans saw themselves out of PAC-12 title contention after Week 4 loss to Oregon State. According to the Trojan Wire, USC is being treated like a subpar program with the latest possible start time with their matchup against Cal on Dec. 4: 8 PM PST. The season is still hopeful with bowl eligibility, and the season could be saved for boosters with a win over UCLA on Sat. Nov. 20. Rumors are starting to spread with Dave Aranda of Baylor possibly being next at the helm for the historic program.
Arizona (1-9, 1-6)
Nobody will be going winless in college football this year after Arizona’s 10-3 win against Cal on their homecoming week. The Wildcats who have been a decently consistent program over the years, turned a full 180 in the wrong direction. It took the Wildcats two full years to win a game. After going 0-5 last year, there were no real expectations for the Wildcats, but no one expected this. Things got so bad down in Tucson this year, the program offered walk-on tryouts in mid-October to find some diamond in the rough to save their program. Luckily, the Wildcats did win a game, but it is still a long road ahead for the program and head coach Jedd Fisch.