Roundtable: Which team has been the biggest disappointment so far?

We’re through six weeks and teams are already celebrating clinching bowl berths. However, several teams that might have been penciled in as postseason participants are not living up to expectations.

In this week’s roundtable we pick our most disappointing teams through the first half of the season. And while there were a lot to choose from, our selections won’t be surprises.

NORTHWESTERN HEADING SOUTH

Michigan State, Notre Dame and Texas are the obvious answers here. So I’m going to avoid those.

My criteria for this question took schedule strength into significant account. Northern Illinois was a consideration; the Huskies are 1-5. But they’ve lost to Western Michigan, South Florida and San Diego State. Western Kentucky is 3-3, but two of those losses are to SEC teams. So Northwestern is the choice here.

The Wildcats have no excuse to be 2-3 because a win over FCS Illinois State puts Northwestern at 3-2.

The Illinois State loss made a bit of sense as it happened in Week 2 as Northwestern was reeling from a loss to Western Michigan. But the Broncos are 6-0 and no fluke. And Northwestern has played every opponent close so far this season. Every game has been decided by nine or fewer points. If you can hang with Nebraska and Iowa, shouldn’t you be able to beat Illinois State?

The answer is yes. The Wildcats play the Spartans on Saturday and the loser will drop to 2-4. That game looked fairly enticing at the beginning of the season. (Nick Bromberg)

THE FLOUNDERING IRISH

Notre Dame is the biggest surprise and biggest bust of the season. Many of us looked at the schedule and penciled in the Fighting Irish for 6-0, not 2-4. And really, it’s an even worse 2-4 than even the biggest pessimist could have envisioned.

Losing at Texas by three points in overtime didn’t seem like a terrible defeat — but now the Longhorns are 2-3. Losing at home to Michigan State? The Spartans were expected to be a Top 25 team once again — but now they’re 2-3 and haven’t won since that game. Losing at home to Duke is beneath Notre Dame, except the Blue Devils have been good in recent years — but not this year; they’re 3-3. Scoring three points against North Carolina State is intolerable in any weather.

I was warned in early August that this Notre Dame team had leadership issues in the locker room. That seems like a prescient warning now. But the leadership has been lacking from the coaching offices as well. Brian Kelly is doing his worst work in 14 very successful seasons as a head coach. (Pat Forde)

THUMBS DOWN FOR THE SPARTANS

I know I wasn’t alone when I thought Michigan State could be a Big Ten sleeper. While all of the talk was focused on Ohio State and Michigan, Michigan State returned a nice amount of talent and its new quarterback had beaten Ohio State the year before.

The struggles against Furman in the season opener should have been a warning sign, but it was ignored when the Spartans demolished Notre Dame. What we didn’t know at the time was that both teams were frauds.

Michigan State has lost three straight games, including defeats to Indiana and BYU. The Spartans weren’t competitive against Wisconsin or the Cougars. The offense is out of sorts, the defense appears overmatched and it’s an absolute 180 from what anyone thought the Spartans would be this season.

Looking at the schedule ahead and the way the Spartans have played, it’s possible there are just three wins remaining. Yes, it is possible that a year after a 12-win season, a Big Ten title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff, the Spartans might not make a bowl game. Don’t scoff, have you seen Michigan State play? There are seven games remaining. Michigan State won’t beat Michigan or Ohio State. I’d rule out Maryland and maybe Penn State. That leaves Northwestern, Illinois and Rutgers as possible wins and that only gets the Spartans to five total wins.

Of course, it might beat Maryland and/or Penn State to become bowl eligible, but after watching the Spartans against BYU last week, it’s hard to see that happening. And if it doesn’t, Michigan State might be one of the most year-to-year disappointments in college football history. (Graham Watson)

DOING LESS WITH MORA

With Josh Rosen at quarterback and an abundance of talent on defense, UCLA looked like the class of the Pac-12 South entering this season. Instead, the Bruins are off to a disappointing 3-3 start following Saturday night’s loss at Arizona State.

Rosen threw for 400 yards in the loss, but took a bevy of hits and had to leave the game in the fourth quarter. The Bruins can’t run the ball (they had minus-1 rushing yards on 23 carries vs. ASU and are last in the Pac-12 at 99.2 ypg) so defenses are teeing off on Rosen.

The Bruins’ three wins are over two bad teams (UNLV and Arizona) and one average one, a 17-14 decision over BYU. UCLA was able to hang with unbeaten Texas A&M in the opener, but put up only 13 points in a loss to a vastly overrated Stanford team.

Does any coach in the country do less with more than Jim Mora? His team hasn’t won the South since his first season and if he doesn’t get things turned around quickly, the Bruins may struggle just to reach a bowl game. (Sam Cooper)

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday