For the first time since George W. Bush’s presidency, excluding the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season, the matchup between Penn State and Michigan State will feature two unranked teams. Both the Nittany Lions and the Spartans have earned spots in this week’s Bottom 25 rankings, which chronicle college football’s most underperforming programs.
Penn State appeared poised to exit the list after a competitive showing against Indiana in Week 11. However, the Nittany Lions failed to protect a late lead, ultimately losing 27-24. Despite the loss, their valiant effort was recognized with a seven-spot improvement in the rankings. Michigan State slipped into the Bottom 25 during its bye week, as conference victories by North Carolina and Clemson created vacancies. The Spartans, who are 0-6 in Big Ten play, secured their only victory against a Power Four opponent in a September overtime win against Boston College.
Florida, a program that promotes itself as a national championship contender, is demonstrating one of the lowest floors among college football’s elite. The Gators suffered a 38-7 defeat to Kentucky, marking the Wildcats’ largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent since 1998 and their fourth win against Florida in the last five seasons. To put that in perspective, a comparable scenario would be Alabama losing to Mississippi State four times in five years. The Gators are now just one loss away from their fourth sub-.500 season in five years.
Arkansas may be heading toward its third two-win campaign in the last eight seasons. Now 2-7, the Razorbacks face a formidable closing schedule with games at LSU, at No. 10 Texas, and at home against Missouri. Playing for an interim coach, the team’s resolve will be severely tested down the stretch.
In a thrilling Bottom 25 matchup, Sam Houston earned its first win of the season by defeating Oregon State 21-17. The Bearkats staged an impressive comeback from a 17-0 deficit, despite generating only eight first downs and 157 total yards. The Beavers, who more than tripled Sam Houston in both yards and first downs, still managed to lose, demonstrating a remarkable level of ineptitude.
Boston College’s struggles extend beyond the gridiron. The 1-9 football team has not posted a winning record in ACC play since 2009, mirroring difficulties in other major sports. The men’s basketball team has not reached an NCAA Tournament since 2009, and the women’s team has been absent since 2006, leaving the men’s hockey and women’s lacrosse programs as the athletic department’s main bright spots.
With Sam Houston’s victory, UMass now stands as the only remaining winless FBS team. This is familiar territory for the Minutemen, who also started 0-9 in 2012 before finishing 1-11. After a recent 44-10 loss to Akron, UMass’s upcoming game against fellow Bottom 25 team Northern Illinois likely represents its best chance to avoid an 0-12 season.
Source link
