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Breaking down college football's biggest underachievers

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The point of underachiever tiers isn't to shovel shame upon unsuspecting college football teams or their fans, but instead to focus on the why.

Why do certain programs, despite baked-in advantages, consistently fall short of their potential? For some, the shortcomings occur at the very top of the sport. Georgia, after all, was the inspiration for the first edition of underachiever tiers, as the Bulldogs went 41 years between national championships before breaking through in 2021. We're taking a different approach to the tiers this season. Teams are grouped in seven different categories, with the understanding that not all are capable of competing nationally, or even consistently for conference championships.