Earlier this week we took a look at some teams that we thought would get back to their winning ways in 2022. Now it’s time to reveal who we think may underachieve in 2022. Here are 10 college football teams that we think could have worse seasons in 2022 than they did in 2021.
Arizona State (8-5 in 2021)
ASU is a program in tumult entering the 2022 season. An NCAA investigation for recruiting violations looms over the program and five coaches have left, including defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce. The Sun Devils return just seven starters from last season’s team that went 3-4 down the stretch. Former Florida QB Emory Jones is set to replace Jayden Daniels and ASU will need to find some receivers for him to throw to.
Andre Johnson had 12 receptions in 2021 and he’s the team’s leading returning receiver. Leading tackler Kyle Soelle is back but there are just three other starters back alongside him on a defense that was underrated in 2021. How will things be different without Pierce?
It could be a long year in Tempe and maybe the final one for Herm Edwards’ as the Sun Devils’ coach.
– Nick Bromberg
Baylor (12-2)
The Big 12 looks wide open at the top in 2022 and there’s no reason to think that Baylor won’t be in the mix again. But this is a team that also looks worse than it was a year ago. Blake Shapen is set to be the team’s starting quarterback after winning the job in the spring. He’ll have a lot of new skill position talent around him. Baylor lost its top three rushers and top three receivers in the offseason. Replacing Abram Smith and Tyquan Thornton is key. Ben Sims is the only returning player on the roster who had more than 10 catches in 2021.
Three of the top four tacklers are also gone from the defense including Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard. Dave Aranda’s defense should be very good again, but with games at BYU, Oklahoma and Texas, we’re not sure Baylor gets to 10 wins this season.
– Nick Bromberg
Cincinnati (13-1)
How do the Bearcats follow up a College Football Playoff berth in 2022? The sequel will need to happen without a lot of key parts from that team that was undefeated until a semifinal loss to Alabama. The biggest replacement comes at quarterback where either Evan Prater or Ben Bryant is in line to take over for Desmond Ridder. Ridder accounted for 36 total touchdowns in 2021. Bryant comes over from Eastern Michigan and…