2022 College Football Winners & Losers

[PalsPal]

College football winners, losers of 2022 season: Alabama hits floor under Nick Saban

Winners:

Tennessee: Expectations were high heading into Josh Heupel's second season, but the Volunteers blasted through the ceiling. The offense hit the stratosphere behind quarterback Hendon Hooker, who finished as one of the most productive players in the nation. The headliner is obvious: The Vols knocked off Alabama for the first time during the Nick Saban era and pulled the goal posts to the ground. If not for a horrific November night at South Carolina, Tennessee would be in the College Football Playoff right now. Regardless, the vibes in Knoxville are impeccable.

Losers:

Alabama: The Crimson Tide received 54 of the 63 first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25 and seemed to be the overwhelming favorite to win the national championship with the best offensive (Bryce Young) and defensive (Will Anderson) players in the nation. However, the Tide were not their usual selves during a middling 10-2 campaign -- a program floor by Alabama standards. Alabama was 1-6 against the spread against winning teams and needed hectic finishes just to beat Texas and Texas A&M. It also ranked 127th out of 131 teams in penalties per game. Instead of ending with three straight SEC title, championship weekend featured Nick Saban pandering for a playoff spot. With Young, who is the heart and soul of a flawed team, likely off to the NFL, there will be plenty of soul-searching to do in Tuscaloosa.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ters-cfp-mold/

 

[PossumSlayer]

Popcorn time

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Vol went fron Unranked to #6 would say thats a good season.

 

[Spurhunter]

If PDB sees this the old trailer will get some new .38 caliber holes.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

Again with this? Identical records. Both teams going to the toilet bowl. Both losers the article should have read.

 

[Bamamonts]

It was definitely a down year for the Tide.
This team just never seemed to get it together.
I'm hopeful Bama will make some changes and be back on top next year.
Tennessee did a lot better than I thought they would. I had them at 8-4 at best.
I hate the season is over already. It seems like it just got started.

 

[Spurhunter]

Again with this? Identical records. Both teams going to the toilet bowl. Both losers the article should have read.

I'm going to try to explain this in simpleton terms so it doesn't go over your head. Team 1 was unranked preseason, picked to go 7-5, and finished the season 10-2, ranked #6. Team 2 was preseason #1, picked to win the NC, but finished 10-2, ranked #5, and out of the playoff. Team 1 beat Team 2 on the field, and curb stomped the other team that beat Team 2. If you can't decide which team had the better season you are not as smart as I thought you were, and believe me, that's a low bar to clear.

 

[Spurhunter]

I hate the season is over already. It seems like it just got started.

It goes by so fast! It's crazy how fast time flies the older I get.

 

[RobDooley]

In recent years the Vol Nation merely hoped for a 6-win season to be bowl eligible. This year the Vols surpassed everyone's expectations.

 

[iowavf]

I'm going to try to explain this in simpleton terms so it doesn't go over your head. Team 1 was unranked preseason, picked to go 7-5, and finished the season 10-2, ranked #6. Team 2 was preseason #1, picked to win the NC, but finished 10-2, ranked #5, and out of the playoff. Team 1 beat Team 2 on the field, and curb stomped the other team that beat Team 2. If you can't decide which team had the better season you are not as smart as I thought you were, and believe me, that's a low bar to clear.

I'm betting this still is clear yet?

 

[JBell]

If you can't decide which team had the better season

The one that is ranked higher……

 

[EastTNHunter]

I understand that this was a "down year" by Bama standards, but 90%+ of teams would have taken Bama's season over theirs. Nobody knows how next season will turn out, but if I was a betting man then I would have a hard time betting against Saban figuring out some solutions to the ailments that they experienced this season.

UT definitely looked much better, ahead of schedule, this season. Hard for a UT fan to not be excited about their team's future. Still have several things to figure out next season, but definitely have something to build upon

 

[Spurhunter]

The one that is ranked higher……

Alabama fans keep telling me that and even go as far to say they would rather lose to Tennessee and finish one spot higher in the polls than beat Tennessee and finish one spot lower. Of course that's total BS and anyone that honestly believes it doesn't understand the 3rd Saturday in October. Keep in mind the season isn't over. There will be a final ranking. Tennessee could have the higher ranking AND the head to head win. Then what will the bammers say? The team with the most wins over Mississippi schools in 2022 had the best season???

 

[PalsPal]

Exactly.

But, the whole premise of the article is how the season played out in relation to how they were perceived before it started.

Preseason, some stated that this was Saban's best team. And even if they had beaten TN and Lsu, this team just was missing something.

And to be clear, the article mentions several other teams.

Hint, one poster might be interested in what was said about A&M.

 

[UCStandSitter]

Again with this? Identical records. Both teams going to the toilet bowl. Both losers the article should have read.

Terlet bowl is a step up for the Vols and we'll take it

 

[Bamamonts]

Alabama fans keep telling me that and even go as far to say they would rather lose to Tennessee and finish one spot higher in the polls than beat Tennessee and finish one spot lower. Of course that's total BS and anyone that honestly believes it doesn't understand the 3rd Saturday in October. Keep in mind the season isn't over. There will be a final ranking. Tennessee could have the higher ranking AND the head to head win. Then what will the bammers say? The team with the most wins over Mississippi schools in 2022 had the best season???

Haha those Mississippi schools are tough.
I do like being ranked in front of Tennessee but I'd rather have the W on the 3rd Saturday in October.
I'd rather win that game than any game Bama plays.
By the way it's 317 Days till October 21 2023.

 

[Trey13]

Again with this? Identical records. Both teams going to the toilet bowl. Both losers the article should have read.

But one loser team had a lot better looking record than the other… Bammer best win is against TX

 

[Trey13]

I'm going to try to explain this in simpleton terms so it doesn't go over your head. Team 1 was unranked preseason, picked to go 7-5, and finished the season 10-2, ranked #6. Team 2 was preseason #1, picked to win the NC, but finished 10-2, ranked #5, and out of the playoff. Team 1 beat Team 2 on the field, and curb stomped the other team that beat Team 2. If you can't decide which team had the better season you are not as smart as I thought you were, and believe me, that's a low bar to clear.

He's a weirdo. They don't know how to think

 

[BamaProud]

Its all relative.
Alabama finished 10-2 and had their worst season in 15 years.
Tennessee finished 10-2 and had their best season in 15 years.

Both teams are going to fairly high-profile bowls. Bowl games that 90% of colleges would love to get an opportunity to play in. However, I don't know how many seniors/starters will actually participate on either team and Tennessee will be without their starting QB. Both teams could end up with 3 losses or maybe 11 wins.

And yes, there will be a final ranking. I made that point in another thread. ...but in the end, neither team won their Division, the SEC or the Natty. That is definitely sub-par for Alabama.

 

[buckaroo]

Its all relative.
Alabama finished 10-2 and had their worst season in 15 years.
Tennessee finished 10-2 and had their best season in 15 years.

Both teams are going to fairly high-profile bowls. Bowl games that 90% of colleges would love to get an opportunity to play in. However, I don't know how many seniors/starters will actually participate on either team and Tennessee will be without their starting QB. Both teams could end up with 3 losses or maybe 11 wins.

And yes, there will be a final ranking. I made that point in another thread. ...but in the end, neither team won their Division, the SEC or the Natty. That is definitely sub-par for Alabama.

Thats usually how it goes when one team is on the rise and one is going downward, and along with the win in October, how would the fans in bama land feel if Tennessee won 15 yrs in a row?