Midseason College Football Struggles: Wisconsin, UNC, Penn State, and More

It’s been a wild, messy college football season. Several programs that once looked unstoppable now feel stuck in a rut—or worse. Some have swapped coaches, others keep racking up losses. Teams like Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, Kansas State, Michigan State, Boston College, Oregon State, Florida State, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are all wrestling with problems that have fans and alumni feeling pretty low.

This post digs into what’s gone wrong for these teams and wonders, honestly, what could possibly come next.

Penn State: A Dream Season Turned Nightmare

Penn State’s collapse this year happened fast. The Nittany Lions kicked off the season with sky-high expectations, but their hopes unraveled in just over two weeks.

They had quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nic Singleton, so optimism felt justified. But then losses to Oregon, Northwestern, and UCLA sent the program spiraling and cost head coach James Franklin his job.

The Key Factors

Here’s what went wrong for Penn State:

• Inconsistent Performance: The roster had talent, but the team just couldn’t deliver when it mattered.
• Coaching Changes: Bringing in Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator from Ohio State raised hopes, but it didn’t settle things down.
• Unexpected Losses: Getting beaten by teams like Northwestern and UCLA hurt morale and the standings in a big way.

Florida: Hype Meets Harsh Reality

Florida’s season has been rough, too. Head coach Billy Napier barely held onto his job last year, and now he’s back on the hot seat.

Quarterback DJ Lagway leads the Gators, but they can’t seem to get it together, losing to South Florida, LSU, and Miami.

What’s Gone Wrong?

Florida’s main issues look like this:

• Offensive Woes: The Gators rank 101st for yards per play, which says it all about their offense.
• Turnovers: A five-interception game against LSU was an absolute disaster.
• Coaching Instability: Constant rumors about Napier’s future have made things tense all around.

Auburn: The Hugh Freeze Experiment

Hugh Freeze was supposed to turn things around at Auburn, but it hasn’t worked out. He’s known for sharp offense and for beating Nick Saban, but that magic hasn’t shown up with the Tigers.

The team hasn’t cracked the top 70 in scoring for over two seasons, and now they’ve slipped to 92nd.

Challenges Faced

Auburn’s got problems on several fronts:

• Offensive Struggles: Even with new talent at receiver and a five-star transfer QB in Jackson Arnold, the offense just hasn’t clicked.
• Financial Constraints: Firing another coach would be expensive, so the program feels stuck.
• Officiating Concerns: Longstanding gripes about officiating bias just add to the frustration.

Kentucky: A Once-Promising Program in Decline

Kentucky used to be the SEC’s surprise success under Mark Stoops, but things have soured. The Wildcats have dropped eight SEC games in a row and are 1-10 in the conference since Stoops nearly left for Texas A&M.

The Downward Spiral

Here’s why Kentucky’s struggling:

• Offensive Inefficiency: They’ve finished outside the top 100 in offensive yards per play for two straight years.
• Coaching Uncertainty: Stoops’ flirtation with leaving made everyone uneasy.
• Financial Burden: A huge buyout clause keeps both sides locked in, even though no one seems happy.

Kansas State: From Title Hopes to Mid-Season Struggles

Kansas State started out aiming for a Big 12 title, but things haven’t gone as planned. First-year starter Avery Johnson has led them to four losses in seven games, and they barely escaped a home loss to North Dakota.

Reasons for the Struggles

What’s holding the Wildcats back?

• Quarterback Woes: Avery Johnson hasn’t found his groove, and it’s dragging the team down.
• High Expectations: After winning 28 games over three years, fans wanted more. Maybe too much more?
• Inconsistent Offense: Even with new receivers from the portal, the offense hasn’t found its rhythm.

Michigan State: A Promising Hire Turns Sour

When Michigan State hired Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, it looked like a smart move. But the Spartans haven’t improved, and fans are losing patience with Smith’s calm, measured style.

The only Power 4 win this year came in double overtime against Boston College. Not exactly inspiring.

Contributing Factors

Michigan State’s main issues:

• Fan Expectations: People wanted fire and passion, but Smith’s steady approach hasn’t won them over.
• Quarterback Development: Aidan Chiles hasn’t developed as hoped, and it shows on offense.
• Financial Constraints: The buyout clause is hefty, so making a change isn’t easy.

Oregon State: The Impact of Conference Realignment

Oregon State got hit hard by conference realignment and lost head coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. They promoted Trent Bray, but the team’s gone 5-14 against a much softer schedule after the Pac-12 fell apart.