Where are they now? 2021 Playoff Teams face collective hangover year

[tsweezy]

2021 as the first year brought with it a lot of excitement for just about everybody. Those teams with perhaps the best performances were the 12 who were selected for the inaugural college football playoff! Fantastic work for those schools.

Unfortunately, the majority of them are in a "sophomore slump" of sorts. Whether they relied on a senior-heavy squad last year and are rebuilding now, or just facing bad luck, let's examine their 2022 season to date, and perhaps see what it will take for them to get back to the pinnacle.

 

:tulsa: Tulsa :tulsa:

 

As the reigning national champions, it's hard to imagine a better season for the golden hurricanes. They went undefeated at 16-0 and watched superstars Bruce Dawson and Bud Coleman run buck wild culminating in a go-ahead TD with 20 seconds left to defeat Florida State and claim the first national championship.

 

Alas, they lost both of those stars and a chunk of their defense. In addition, they had one of the most brutal OOC schedules and have not re-captured last years magic.

 

2021 season: 16-0, #1

2022 season: 4-6

2021 Recruiting Rank: 25th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 12th

 

:floridastate: Florida State :seminole:

 

On the flip side of the coin, Florida State had the heart-breaking natty loss like USC in 06. Superstar and STD-ridden QB with a million records Matt Howard rode off into the NFL and FSU started the season looking a little discombobulated before slowly regrouping.

 

2021 season: 15-1, #2

2022 season: 4-6

2021 Recruiting Rank: 45th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 35th

 

:kentucky: Kentucky :scratch:

 

Kentucky was the 3rd undefeated team heading into the playoffs, but lost out in the semi-finals. Rashaan Lyons is having a bit of a rough go of it in the NFL right now, and assumed heir-apparent RS FR A-overall Michael Oliveros hasn't pieced it together yet. Kelvin Dupree is still leading them to an up-and down season, but they are still a fringe ranked team (and a young one to boot)

 

2021 season: 14-1, #3

2022 season: 5-5

2021 Recruiting Rank: 9th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 47th

 

:wisconsin: Wisconsin :wisconsin1:

 

Wisconsin was not the flashiest program, but they did go undefeated in last year's meatgrinder B1G West. Unfortunately they came up a little short in the semifinals, and so far this season have been a little bit average with a new coaching staff.

 

2021 season: 13-2, #4

2022 season: 4-5

2021 Recruiting Rank: 43rd

2022 Recruiting Rank: 41st

 

:purdue: Purdue :pete:

 

Another of the B1G West division stars last year, Purdue had all-world TE Devontae McKinney on offense, and with his departure have been searching a little for an identity. They had a solid recruiting class and are following up with a bang this year so you can't imagine them staying mediocre for long once coach MasonAsher gets his guys in.

 

2021 season: 11-3, #5

2022 season: 4-5

2021 Recruiting Rank: 30th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 4th

 

:northtexas: North Texas :north_texas:

 

North Texas had a really good run last year, both on the field and on the trail under coach anonemuss, but after his surprise retirement are floundering a little bit. The bottom hasn't fallen out, but they'll need to not hemorrhage more than 1 crooting class if they want to return anytime soon

 

2021 season: 12-3, #6

2022 season: 5-5

2021 Recruiting Rank: 19th

2022 Recruiting Rank: N/A

 

:ohio: Ohio :ohio:

 

This one is perhaps the most obvious. Yusei Asencio, passing legend left to go pro after shattering NCAA records and the Bobcats just haven't looked the same since. The coaching staff is asleep at the wheel for recruiting and you have to think this was the definition of a star QB willing an otherwise mediocre team to success.

 

2021 season: 12-3, #7

2022 season: 4-6

2021 Recruiting Rank: 109th

2022 Recruiting Rank: N/A

 

:illinois: Illinois :illinois:

 

Somehow one division placed 3 teams in the playoff, and the lowest of them has had the most success so far the next year. Despite being helmed by interim coaches, Illinois has been one of the better teams this year and just knocked off undefeated Michigan State. They are in the driver seat for the B1G West and could be the first repeat playoff team.

 

2021 season: 11-3, #8

2022 season: 7-2

2021 Recruiting Rank: 78th

2022 Recruiting Rank: N/A

 

Boston College

 

Yikes. What a fall. Boston College played really well last year, but they appeared to not save anyone good for this year. The bottom totally fell out at as they started the season 0-9 and fired their coach. However new coach slyme has led them to their first win of the season, so we'll see if they can get things turned back around.

 

2021 season: 11-2, #9

2022 season: 1-9

2021 Recruiting Rank: 60th

2022 Recruiting Rank: N/A

 

:texasstate: Texas State :texasstate:

 

The premier program in simCFB. Led by the tank Ryan Johnson last season, probably the best player in college football they stomped to a 12-1 record before a surprise early playoff loss. Despite losing the best player they've played almost even better this season behind potential heisman contender justin DeShields and 8(!) A overall players. With their toughest challenges behind them, they are almost surely going to make the playoffs again.

 

2021 season: 12-2, #10

2022 season: 9-1

2021 Recruiting Rank: 16th

2022 Recruiting Rank: N/A

 

Baylor

 

Baylor had a fantastic year last season, and have looked just as good this year in a much harder conference environment. Coach Vivid is a wizard in gameplanning and has them challenging for both a playoff spot and the #1 recruiting ranking as well. This is one of the teams I think most set for continuous success for years to come.

 

2021 season: 10-4, #11

2022 season: 8-2

2021 Recruiting Rank: 14th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 2nd

 

:sdsu: San Diego State :sdsu:

 

SDSU played quite well to round out last years field, and actually signed the 2nd best class out of the 12. This year they've battled a tough schedule but still boast a winning record and the (so far) 6th best recruiting class. I'm confident they'll finish the year strong, but next year could be a challenge as 8 of their top-10 players are current seniors. Once these classes start contributing thought they'll be right back in the thick of things.

 

2021 season: 10-4, #12

2022 season: 6-4

2021 Recruiting Rank: 12th

2022 Recruiting Rank: 6th

 

Overall, it's been a mixed bag with these teams. 6 of them have a losing record this year, 2 a .500 record, and 4 winning records for a 52% cumulative win percentage with 3 teams vying for a repeat trip to the playoffs. Most of the user-coached teams look to have long streaks of success in the years to come, but we will see what the next crop of playoff contenders brings to the table.

[Vivid]

Love this!

[Bundy]

Wisconsin was not the flashiest program, but they did go undefeated in last year's meatgrinder B1G West. Unfortunately they came up a little short in the semifinals, and so far this season have been a little bit average with a new coaching staff.

 

2021 season: 13-2, #4

2022 season: 4-5

2021 Recruiting Rank: 43rd

2022 Recruiting Rank: 41st

 

 

The Badgers also graduated A LOT.

 

QB Austin Bishop (5th in yards, T-6th in TDs)

RB Leveon Caminero (1,066 rushing yards; 12 TDs; 738 receiving yards [9th of RBs], 6 TDs [T-11th])

WR Alex Williams III (1st in yards, T-5th in TDs)

Heisman finalist OLB Jayson Brown (10 sacks led nation)

 

and cranked out 6 draft picks, 5 of which weren't mentioned above. They were simply built to be a prolific passing offense last year, and I think their new regime will need a couple seasons to build their own identity