amid a potential suspension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cBYU has had recent success IN SPITE of Jake Ratzlaff and NOT BECAUSE of him,\u201d Cougars fan Steve wrote. \u201cHe didn\u2019t hurt BYU, so there\u2019s that. But he was never a QB that could put the team on his shoulders and win the game. If the ceiling for (freshman Bear) Bachmeier is as high as we are led to believe, the team could be a lot of fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biggest fallers<\/p>\n
On the flip side, fans at Virginia Tech, Kentucky, NC State, Wisconsin, Arizona, Maryland, Cal and UCF lost a tremendous amount of faith in where things stand with their favorite teams.<\/p>\n
The Hokies\u2019 hope dropped by a whopping 72 percentage points (from 98 to 26) following Brent Key\u2019s third season, which resulted in a 6-7 record.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrent Pry just doesn\u2019t seem like the answer in Blacksburg,\u201d Hokies fan Alex wrote. \u201cThe cultural fit for the school is perfect, but he doesn\u2019t seem to know how to win close football games. Last year\u2019s five one-score losses were a cruel gut punch to a team that had a ton of talent (even if we all know that Miami loss was on the officiating, not the coaching).\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Stoops, meanwhile, enters his 13th season in Lexington coming off a 4-8 season \u2014 the second-worst of his tenure there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Mark Stoops era hopefully becomes the Mark Stops (finally) era. He\u2019s beyond checked out as coach and the fan base is checking out with him,\u201d Wildcats fan Pete Gabbucci writes. \u201c6-6 Belk Bowls aren\u2019t cause for statues to be built for you when the playoffs field keeps expanding and INDIANA made it in already. Damn Hoosiers!\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke Fickell guided Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff in 2021, but his first two seasons in Madison have fallen short of expectations. Fans are tired of it.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200b\u200bCan\u2019t recruit, can\u2019t coach, can\u2019t manage. What can Fickell do?\u201d Wisconsin fan William Brown wrote. \u201cWas his CFP berth with the Bearcats just a fluke? We will most likely go 3-9 this year. Who keeps their jobs after having the three worst seasons and teams in college football and continues to do nothing about it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Other highlights from the Hope-O-Meter<\/p>\n
(Comments lightly edited for length and clarity.)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Christopher P., semi-optimistic Akron fan: \u201cThe team can\u2019t get its grades up to an acceptable level, they\u2019ve shown little improvement, and there\u2019s a palpable feeling that if they do, kids will get poached to \u2018better\u2019 teams. But they\u2019ve won two in a row against Kent State, and that\u2019s what\u2019s truly important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Diesel, semi-optimistic Alabama fan: \u201c(Kalen) DeBoer has one year to fix a four-loss opening season post-Nick Saban. No Mercy. Sweep the Leg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 John, pessimistic Arizona fan: \u201c(Coach Brent) Brennan isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 JR, pessimistic Arkansas fan: \u201cWhy continue to be Charlie Brown kicking the football? This staff has shown no consistency in recruiting or on-field production.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bob, optimistic Army fan: \u201cWe won\u2019t be as good as last year, but I trust Jeff Monken to keep us competitive and maybe get to 10 wins yet again. Beat Navy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 David, wait-and-see Auburn fan: \u201cThird year for (Hugh) Freeze. He has to produce or he\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jim, optimistic Boise State fan: \u201cThe team wants to prove they were more than just a venue for Ashton Jeanty. They are going to play hard and win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Thomas Hartnett, optimistic Boston College fan: \u201cBill O\u2019Brien is a good coach who gets the culture at BC.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tyler, optimistic Bowling Green fan: \u201cEddie. Freaking. George.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Beth, pessimistic Cal fan: \u201cWe are Charlie Brown in a world full of Lucy\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Adam L, optimistic Central Michigan fan: \u201cCoach (Matt) Drinkall is hopium into my veins every time he speaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mark, pessimistic Charlotte fan: \u201cWe\u2019ve had one winning season in school history.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jim, optimistic Cincinnati fan: \u201cWe\u2019ll either improve or have a new coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Andrew, optimistic Clemson fan: \u201cBest I\u2019ve felt heading into a season since Trevor (Lawrence) was under center.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mark Whelan, optimistic Colorado fan: \u201cIf Coach Prime stays healthy and the offensive line improves, the Buffs could win eight games this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drake, optimistic Colorado State fan: \u201cLast year in the Mountain West. Taking the conference title and Boise\u2019s spot in the tourney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Alex, optimistic Connecticut fan: \u201cWe won a bowl last year. Surely, we can\u2019t fall back to Earth, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mike, optimistic Duke fan: \u201cDuke is back on the map. Two straight good coaching hires. Excited for (Darian) Mensah. I love the aggressive defense. Eight or nine wins would be a good outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Emma Porter, optimistic Florida fan: \u201cIf (quarterback DJ) Lagway is healthy and starts all season, I think we have a deep playoff run. If not, I think it gets ugly. But I\u2019m choosing to be hopeful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tom Bell, optimistic Florida State fan: \u201cIt can\u2019t be worse than 2024. Can it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bon, optimistic Georgia fan: \u201cFinally got receivers who catch, and Gunner (Stockton) is the next Stetson Bennett.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chris, optimistic Georgia Tech fan: \u201cBest chance in years to make a run for an ACC title!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tim C., optimistic Houston fan: \u201cWe may not be the best team in the Big 12, but (Coach Willie) Fritz has us going in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ethan, optimistic Indiana fan: \u201cHard not to be optimistic with Coach Cig. He wins. Google him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chad, optimistic Iowa fan: \u201c(Mark) Gronowski will win the Heisman and Iowa will make the playoffs. Air Iowa baby!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 JD, optimistic Iowa State fan: \u201c(Coach Matt) Campbell and (quarterback Rocco) Becht have an opportunity to build on a fantastic season. Some big shoes to fill at receiver, but Campbell always gets the most out of his guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brett S., optimistic James Madison fan: \u201cYear 2 of the (Bob) Chesney era. If you\u2019re not fired up, then you\u2019re probably not breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jack, optimistic Kansas fan: \u201cThis is the year we beat K-State (don\u2019t check my prediction from last year).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sarah Hancock, Kansas State fan: \u201cWE WILL WIN THE BIG 12!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Adrien, pessimistic Kent State fan: \u201cTo put it simply, we\u2019re not good. Hopefully, we get a win this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chad R., optimistic LSU fan: \u201cBrian Kelly had better do something with this roster. If he loses to Clemson, he needs to stay in South Carolina!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brian, pessimistic Marshall fan: \u201cThey lost everybody from players to the coaches to the damn AD since last season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brian, pessimistic Maryland fan: \u201cWe need a new coach to inject some life into a dead program that can do no better than 6-6 every year. The DMV is chock full of talent and the results continue to be middle of the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tom, optimistic Miami fan: \u201cCarson Beck is being wildly disrespected and Miami is going to show up this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Veronica, optimistic Michigan fan: \u201cI only need them to beat the Buckeyes, which is a given. We are in their heads.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ross Lamerson, optimistic Michigan State fan: \u201cTrusting the Jonathan Smith process and that Aidan Chiles will put it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Marty, optimistic Minnesota fan: \u201cIf Drake Lindsay can play well,\u00a0 I think the ceiling for this team can be 10 wins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Eric, pessimistic Mississippi State fan: \u201cBad last year, didn\u2019t get better, brutal schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Robert T., optimistic Missouri fan: \u201cI think 10 wins are possible. But eight or nine is more realistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Casey, optimistic Missouri State fan: \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m just happy my alma mater has finally stepped up to the big stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chris Napierkowski, optimistic Navy fan: \u201cPotential Heisman candidate in Blake Horvath, many returning players and a favorable schedule. Navy can certainly make the CFP this season!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 David, pessimistic NC State fan: \u201cI\u2019m on board with CJ Bailey, Hollywood Smothers and Noah Rogers on offense. The defense is a massive question mark and with all the changes on the staff over the offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 NTK, optimistic Nebraska fan: \u201cThe 90s are back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Scott A, optimistic North Carolina fan: \u201cTotal program overhaul. Guy named Belichick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jonathan, pessimistic North Carolina fan: \u201c70 new players, a coach who has never coached a college game, and endless distractions caused by the coach\u2019s girlfriend don\u2019t give me much hope for the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tony, pessimistic North Texas fan: \u201cTeam constantly being raided by top five conferences. Hard to build anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Gavin, optimistic Northwestern fan: \u201cI\u2019m not over the moon, but I think 6-6 is a reasonable goal for Northwestern.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Max, optimistic Ohio fan: \u201cI think we have a good roster. We\u2019re coming off a MAC championship. So, maybe two MAC championships in a row?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jason, optimistic Ohio State fan: \u201cI\u2019m optimistic to see if Ryan Day can reload like Nick Saban, and I think this year\u2019s Ohio State has the potential to repeat as national champions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Edward, optimistic Oklahoma fan: \u201cWe have the best QB in college football this year.\u00a0 I think we will make the Playoff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Steve Jones, optimistic Ole Miss fan: \u201cLane Kiffin brought in fresh talent in the portal, and learned from last season\u2019s mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Kyle, optimistic Oregon fan: \u201cWe have a lot of really great recruits and transfers who will make an immediate impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mile, optimistic Oregon State fan: \u201cAfter losing so many coaches and players before last year, we have a core group who want to be here.\u00a0 Excited for the Beavers to play so many teams we usually don\u2019t play!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Doug, optimistic Penn State fan: \u201cOnly question mark is Drew Allar\u2019s ability to manage big games.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bill, optimistic Penn State fan: \u201cIt\u2019s Natty time for my Nittany Lions. Bank it!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jack, optimistic Pittsburgh fan: \u201cStarted 7-0 before the offense was crushed by injuries. Two returning All-Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dave, optimistic Rutgers fan: \u201cCoach Schiano gives me hope every season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Frank, optimistic Sam Houston fan: \u201cDon\u2019t think 10-2 is on the table again, but could see them sneaking their way into a bowl game, and in FBS that\u2019s a good outcome for a school still getting their legs under them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 MJH, pessimistic San Diego State fan: \u201cThe new head coach, Sean Lewis, is basically the ShamWow sales guy: Talk a mile a minute to try and sell his thing to both the players and the fans \u2014 \u2018Aztec Fast\u2019 \u2014 and it just doesn\u2019t work.\u00a0 There\u2019s no substance to the coach, his philosophy, or his style of play.\u00a0 The buyout can\u2019t shrink soon enough!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Landon, optimistic Stanford fan: \u201cAndrew Luck is bringing the intellectual brutality culture back. Run the damn ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 David Jacobs, optimistic Syracuse fan: \u201cThe schedule is brutal. But in Fran Brown I trust!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Charlie, optimistic TCU fan: \u201cJosh Hoover is the man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 John, pessimistic Tennessee fan: \u201cVols Twitter, is a perennial cesspool of despair, even when we have legit talent. With Nico (Iamaleava) out, I foresee a frustrated Vols fan base and misdirected ire toward (coach Josh) Heupel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Joe, optimistic Texas fan: \u201cExcited, but worried about the hype.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mark, optimistic Texas A&M fan: \u201cMarcel Madness. Taurean York is a first-team All-American. Gig \u2019Em!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jon, optimistic Texas Tech fan: \u201cMoney talks, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brandon, optimistic Texas Tech fan: \u201cBeing rich is fun. Win some football games this fall (10+) and keep the momentum going against these historic \u2018blue blood\u2019 programs. Wreck ’em!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jonathan F., optimistic Tulane fan: \u201cGet thru Ole Miss and let\u2019s roll (Wave)!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brett S., pessimistic UAB coach: \u201cI fear that Trent Dilfer is a lame duck coach and this team is not ready to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Alex, optimistic UCF fan: \u201cGus is gone! Thank goodness. Can\u2019t get worse than run-it-up-the-middle Gus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ryan, optimistic UCLA fan: \u201cMassive upgrade at QB, then who knows what\u2019s going on anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dylan E., optimistic UNLV fan: \u201cDan Mullen, big names in the transfer portal, and a bright future!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Deion Moore, pessimistic USC fan: \u201cWe are like a rutterless ship. The Lincoln Riley era has been full of false hope and broken dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Shane Hall, optimistic Utah State fan: \u201cCoach Mendenhall is a great coach and a great fit at Utah State. If we\u2019re not bowling this year, I\u2019m certain we will be next!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Regis P., pessimistic UTEP fan: \u201cCollege athletics come to die in El Paso.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Will, optimistic Wake Forest fan: \u201cWake\u2019s record won\u2019t be great. But we have a new coach and better vibes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nathan, optimistic Washington fan: \u201cJedd Fisch has rebuilt the roster, rebuilt the coaching staff and appears to be running a highly organized program. The program appears to be hitting on all cylinders again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Butch, pessimistic Washington State fan: \u201cHow can you win when you\u2019re treated like a farm team by the system?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jim, optimistic West Virginia fan: \u201cI\u2019m not sure that 70-plus transfers and a retread head coach hoping to return the glory days will work, but it\u2019s more exciting than another year of the same frustrations under Neal Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 CP Campbell, optimistic Western Kentucky fan: \u201cWKU always seems to get the most out of Coach (Tyson) Helton\u2019s offense and they have a knack for finding gunslinging QBs hiding under rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Steve, pessimistic Wyoming fan: \u201cSmall market team with next to no chance to compete with the big schools.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jim Harris, optimistic Wyoming fan: \u201cIf you aren\u2019t optimistic as a Cowboys supporter, then what\u2019s the point? Better to be disappointed than not to dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen \/ The Athletic; Icon Sportswire \/ Getty, James Gilbert \/ Getty)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If there\u2019s something we\u2019ve learned over time with the annual Hope-O-Meter survey, it\u2019s that one disappointing season can…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":324184,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[9436,4715,4707,843,331,4706,1784,7643,4709,4713,7,4716,5042,4728,4725,1286,4720,4719,4722,577,1868,3364,2972,2549,71,22805,4727,4712,49,48,4604,4714,4717,8243,69,1787,4723,2743,3861,4729,4726,4710,4431,3862,4724,5041,1078,4721,4711,22804,4708,4718,3863,3201,1300,2785],"class_list":{"0":"post-324183","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-baylor-bears","9":"tag-boston-college-eagles","10":"tag-cincinnati-bearcats","11":"tag-clemson-tigers","12":"tag-college-football","13":"tag-connecticut-huskies","14":"tag-culture","15":"tag-duke-blue-devils","16":"tag-east-carolina-pirates","17":"tag-florida-state-seminoles","18":"tag-football","19":"tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","20":"tag-houston-cougars","21":"tag-illinois-fighting-illini","22":"tag-indiana-hoosiers","23":"tag-iowa-hawkeyes","24":"tag-iowa-state-cyclones","25":"tag-kansas-jayhawks","26":"tag-kansas-state-wildcats","27":"tag-louisville-cardinals","28":"tag-maryland-terrapins","29":"tag-memphis-tigers","30":"tag-miami-hurricanes","31":"tag-michigan-state-spartans","32":"tag-michigan-wolverines","33":"tag-middle-tennessee-blue-raider","34":"tag-minnesota-golden-gophers","35":"tag-navy-midshipmen","36":"tag-ncaa","37":"tag-ncaa-football","38":"tag-nebraska-cornhuskers","39":"tag-north-carolina-state-wolfpack","40":"tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","41":"tag-northwestern-wildcats","42":"tag-ohio-state-buckeyes","43":"tag-oklahoma-sooners","44":"tag-oklahoma-state-cowboys","45":"tag-penn-state-nittany-lions","46":"tag-pittsburgh-panthers","47":"tag-purdue-boilermakers","48":"tag-rutgers-scarlet-knights","49":"tag-smu-mustangs","50":"tag-south-florida-bulls","51":"tag-syracuse-orange","52":"tag-tcu-horned-frogs","53":"tag-temple-owls","54":"tag-texas-longhorns","55":"tag-texas-tech-red-raiders","56":"tag-tulane-green-wave","57":"tag-tulsa-golden-hurricane","58":"tag-ucf-knights","59":"tag-virginia-cavaliers","60":"tag-virginia-tech-hokies","61":"tag-wake-forest-demon-deacons","62":"tag-west-virginia-mountaineers","63":"tag-wisconsin-badgers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=324183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/324184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=324183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=324183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=324183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}