For every win, there is a loss which means that for every ranked team there is one that just stinks. Those under-.500 teams include the traditional (Kansas) and the surprising (Oregon).
Now we get to see how different teams from different areas bounce back in 2017. Here are five who will and five who will not:
Bouncing back
Virginia (2-10): Bronco Mendenhall went to 11 bowl games in 11 seasons at BYU. He didn’t forget how to coach and a manageable schedule should help.
Texas (5-7): The coaches already have the Longhorns ranked before Tom Herman has even won a game. They know the talent is there.
Michigan State (3-9): Who saw that record coming? It’s difficult to believe a program that solid for that long will continue to struggle.
Oregon (4-8): Willie Taggart was a brilliant hire and the Pac-12 is about to find out how good he is.
Florida Atlantic (3-9): He’s an odd duck, but Lane Kiffin will get guys open and get to a bowl game.
Staying down
Rutgers (2-10): Last year, four Big Ten teams beat Rutgers by a combined 224-0. It may be worse this year.
Notre Dame (4-8): Sad to say for the Irish, but Brian Kelly can change everything but the players and the schedule.
Arizona (3-9): And so we say goodbye in the desert to Rich Rodriguez.
Ole Miss (5-7): With all that has happened and all that has yet to happen, you just can’t see a path to a bowl game.
UConn (3-9): The Huskies open with Holy Cross. It might be the only game they win this season. What happened?
Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at pat.dooley@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.
