Yard Dash: College Football’s Nine Biggest Busts at Midseason

Key Points:

• Several college football teams that started the season with high expectations are now struggling midseason, including Texas A&M, Penn State, Oregon, LSU, Washington, Michigan, Oklahoma, Clemson, and Vanderbilt.
• Texas A&M, ranked No. 8 preseason, is 3–3 and unranked, with offensive struggles and a difficult SEC schedule ahead, putting head coach Mike Elko under pressure.
• Penn State, initially ranked No. 18, is 2–3 and winless in conference play, underperforming despite an easier schedule and missing out on potential success under new coach Matt Campbell.
• Oregon, once a top-2 preseason favorite, has fallen out of the top 25 due to inconsistent play and questionable coaching decisions, jeopardizing their playoff hopes.
• LSU and Washington are also underperforming relative to preseason rankings, facing challenges in offense and defense, while Michigan and Oklahoma show signs of struggle despite occasional bright spots.
• Clemson and Vanderbilt are experiencing offensive difficulties, with Clemson tied for last nationally in touchdown passes and Vanderbilt's offense declining significantly without key players.