Most underrated college football programs of last 10 years

These college football programs have been overlooked and underrated more often in the last 10 seasons than any in the nation.

When it comes to college football, there's always a lot of chatter about overrated teams. Every season when the preseason rankings are released, fans argue and bicker about who's ranked too highly and which teams don't even belong on the list.

But rarely do you hear about teams being underrated. That too, is a part of the game.

Want proof? In researching for this list, it was discovered that 62 different teams began the season unranked by the Associated Press, but finished the season in the top 25 in last 10 years. It's this dynamic which needs to be explored to determine some truly underrated programs.

ALSO READ: Most overrated SEC programs of last 10 years

For a team to fight their way from the unranked to a top 25 over the course of a season is difficult work, and it seems there are a handful of teams who make a habit of doing so.

Of those 62 mentioned teams, 18 different teams made the leap in two different seasons, five teams accomplished the feat three times, and two programs managed to make that jump four times in the last 10 seasons.

These aren't teams just eking their way into the number 25 spot either. Twenty times in the past ten seasons, teams finished in the top ten after being unranked, and nine of those had top five finishes.

While there is no perfect system for measuring how much a program may be underrated, looking at this metric gives a pretty good perspective of how much work programs need to do in order to gain respect through a season.

Note – for purposes of this list, teams must have been unranked in the preseason, finishing in the top 25 at least three different seasons in the last 10.

college football

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Richard Yeargin (49), offensive lineman Kelby Bevelle (60) and defensive end Chris Register (45) against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7: Clemson Tigers

Average Rank Movement, +3.66

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2007 (No. 21)
2009 (No. 24)
2011 (No. 22)

The reigning national champions from 2016 may be regulars in the AP poll now, but a decade ago, the Tigers were still struggling for respect.

Despite constantly finishing high in the ACC and playing one of the nation's tough schedules every season, Clemson had to claw their way from being unranked to a top 25 finish three different times since 2007.

Most of the success and high rankings have come since head coach Dabo Swinney took over the program in 2009, but even in his third year at the helm, the Tigers still didn't crack the top 25 to open the season.

To see a rankings list without Clemson now would seem ridiculous, but kudos to Swinney and the Tigers for developing the lasting impression on the voters.

Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Artavis Pierce (21) runs the ball as Oregon Ducks defensive back Khalil Oliver (26) attempts to make a tackle at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6: Oregon State Beavers

Average Rank Movement, +5

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2007 (No. 25)
2008 (No. 18)
2012 (No. 20)

Before Mike Riley was rebuilding things at Nebraska, he was busy trying to built little Oregon State into a formidable program against some of the biggest powerhouses in the nation.

Having recruiting battles with Oregon, Stanford and USC doesn't make things easy on a Pac-12 coach. Having to play those teams, along with the likes of UCLA, Arizona and Utah makes it even tougher.

Riley never won any conference titles with the Beavers, but he did manage to turn a few heads, leading unranked teams to top 25 honors three different times while in Corvallis.

Maybe in 10 more years we'll be listing Nebraska as an unrecognized team who finished strong year after year.

Nov 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Hayden Moore (8) throws a pass during a football game against the UCF Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Cincinnati Bearcats

Average Rank Movement, +9.25

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2007 (No. 17)
2008 (No. 17)
2009 (No. 8)
2011 (No. 25)

Cincinnati may have fallen on hard times in recent seasons, but before Tommy Tuberville had the Bearcats stumbling through football season, Brian Kelly and Butch Jones put together some pretty decent seasons in Cincy.

The Bearcats are one of two teams who have four seasons moving from unranked to top 25 in the past 10 seasons, including the No. 8 finish in 2009.

Playing in the AAC (and before that, the Big East) doesn't help teams gain notice in the preseason, so it's hard work and wins against big-time programs which will grab the attention of voters. Kelly and Jones both excelled at that during their separate tenures in Cincinnati.

Luke Fickell is taking over the Bearcats in 2017, and he'll have a lot of work to do if he wants to see more seasons like those mentioned above from his team.

Dec 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Jhajuan Seales (81) celebrates with tight end Blake Jarwin (47) after scoring on a 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes during the 2016 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Average Rank Movement, +9.66

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2008 (No. 16)
2010 (No. 13)
2015 (No. 20)

This is the first of a couple of surprises on this list. When you think of underrated programs, Mike Gundy's Cowboys are not one of the first teams which leaps to mind.

But despite a lot of success in Stillwater, Gundy still has a lot to prove oftentimes.

The Cowboys finished 11th in the final 2016 AP poll, so it's a likely we'll see them on the 2017 preseason rankings. With Texas in rebuilding mode, Baylor in scramble mode and other Big 12 teams on a downslope, Oklahoma State might have to wait a while before they begin a season without a ranking again.

Even with all that, three leaps from no ranking to as high as number 13 is a pretty impressive mark for a program playing against some of the more storied programs in the nation.

Dec 28, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) celebrates with offensive lineman Garett Bolles (72) after a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Utah Utes

Average Rank Movement, +10.25

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2008 (No. 2)
2014 (No. 21)
2015 (No. 17)
2016 (No. 23)

Even so, while few people talk about Utah before a season begins, they always seem to make waves, even if they don't quite finish in the rankings.

The Utes are the second team who found the grit to climb out of the ranks of zero into top 25 glory during four different seasons, despite most of the press and voters giving the Utes little chance of being a contender more often than not.

If the Utes are one of the country's most underrated programs, then you can bet that Kyle Whittingham is also one of the nation's most underrated coaches.

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O'Connor (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan State 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Michigan State Spartans

Average Rank Movement, +12.33

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2008 (No. 24)
2010 (No. 14)
2013 (No. 3)

Another surprise on the list, Michigan State would not be tabbed as an underrated program in the minds of most fans. But even as recently as three seasons ago, voters gave the Spartans little chance of a good season – surprisingly enough a season which ended their highest final ranking since 1966.

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Mark Dantonio has the respect of peers and the press, but oddly enough, his teams don't always seem to generate the same.

2016 was a particularly tough season for Dantonio and the Spartans, and it's very doubtful they'll make the preseason rankings in 2017. Once again, Sparty will have to fight their way into the national picture, and don't be surprised if they do just that.

Nov 25, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Barry Odom embraces Missouri Tigers running back Alex Ross (5) on Senior Day before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Faurot Field. Missouri won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Missouri Tigers

Average Rank Movement, +17

Moved from unranked to top 25:
2007 (No. 4)
2010 (No. 18)
2013 (No. 5)

When Missouri moved to the SEC in 2013, they weren't exactly known as a national power. But what they are known for is defying the odds and making huge leaps in the rankings when nobody gave them a second though to begin the season.

Of all the teams on this list, Missouri is the only program to break the top five two different times after starting the season unranked in the past 10 years. That in and of itself is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Like a few other teams on this list, 2017 will almost certainly begin without a ranking for the Tigers. Barry Odom's first season as head coach was not exactly a grand coming out party, finishing with a 4-8 record and quite possibly the worst offense in all of college football.

Can the Tigers add one more big rankings leap to their list? It won't be easy, but history has shown that it's not a good idea to overlook Missouri.