We’re a few weeks into the 2025 college football season, with a few surprises and disappointments already standing out. So far, the biggest disappointment may be the Clemson Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP poll. In week one, they lost to the LSU Tigers in a top-10 battle.
However, early ACC play hasn’t been good for Clemson either. They lost to Georgia Tech and, on Saturday, trailed Syracuse throughout the game, losing by 10 points at halftime before falling to 1-3 overall, marking the first time under HC Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are in danger of going from preseason top-5 and a title contender to a complete afterthought.
That raises the question: who could be the college basketball equivalent? Based on our own preseason top-25 CBB power rankings, here are three teams that could also have weaknesses and be potential letdowns.
Alabama Crimson Tide (ranked 10th)
The Tide consistently has one of the best offenses in the nation under HC Nate Oats and still should, despite losing so much production. However, even if Labaron Philon emerges as an All-SEC player, the lack of proven frontcourt depth, combined with defensive concerns following Omoruyi's departure, remains a concern. There’s a lot of pressure on Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson to have an impact, or else Bama may not be as good as expected.
BYU Cougars (ranked 9th)
Having the No. 1 incoming freshman (AJ Dybantsa) on your team instantly makes you compelling, and returning leading scorer Richie Saunders gives the Cougars a high floor. But is the ceiling as high as we think? Top prospects who go to schools outside the Dukes and Kentuckys of the world have struggled, with the Rutgers duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Grant being the most recent examples. The Cougars will get the most attention in the Big 12, and if Dybantsa isn’t as good as advertised, they could be in danger of underachieving.
St. John’s Red Storm (ranked 5th
The Red Storm has as much talent as any team in the country, hence why it is ranked in the top five. However, the one glaring question with the roster is who’ll start at PG? Idaho State transfer and Big Sky POY guard Dylan Darling is most likely, but if he’s not ready for the power conference level, St. John’s offense could get dysfunctional quickly. And with so many incoming transfers needing the ball in their hands, there are multiple ways this group could struggle.