Every August, hope springs eternal across college football campuses. Optimism takes over, hype videos drop, and fanbases convince themselves this is finally the season everything clicks.
But let’s be honest—some schools have made this mindset a full-blown tradition. These are the 20 programs that always, without fail, believe this is the year they win the conference, make the playoffs, or return to national glory, even if recent history says otherwise.
20. North Carolina Tar Heels
Every new quarterback is the second coming, and every fall camp story fuels the fire. Yet, October arrives, and that “coastal chaos” bug bites again. Maybe Bill Belichick will be the answer? Probably not.
19. Tennessee Volunteers
Every preseason, it’s “Rocky Top is back.” And then a midseason SEC reality check usually brings them back to earth.
18. Iowa Hawkeyes
They’ll ride a stout defense and punting wizardry to a 10-2 season and call it a playoff run. But until the offense evolves beyond 1998, it’s just wishful thinking.
17. Texas Tech Red Raiders
There’s always talk about being the dark horse in the Big 12. Then they finish 7-5 and blame it on “bad luck in Lubbock.”
16. Miami Hurricanes
Every new head coach is the one who’s going to bring “The U” back. And every November, fans already say, “next year, for real this time.”
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers
A proud history and passionate fanbase keep the dream alive. But since the early 2000s, “This is the year” has become “Maybe next rebuild.”
14. Michigan State Spartans
When they pop, they pop, which only feeds the belief that they’re one bounce away. More often, though, it’s a rollercoaster that ends around 6-6.
13. Ole Miss Rebels
A flashy offense and some transfer portal buzz? Yep, it must be the year. But finishing third in the SEC West is still the default ending.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils
Every new hire is hyped as a game-changer. But the talent never quite clicks, and the promise turns into a familiar sun-soaked shrug.
11. South Carolina Gamecocks
Beating one big-name team fuels months of optimism. But sustaining success has remained elusive for decades.
10. Florida State Seminoles
They used to be elite, and fans expect that standard every fall. The gap between expectation and reality has been narrowing lately, but it’s been a journey.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions
They recruit like a contender and start like one, too. However, a few critical Big Ten losses always stand in the way.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
Every year, they swear the Hogs are poised to shock the SEC. And every year, deep and brutal schedules crush those dreams by midseason.
7. Auburn Tigers
They live for the chaos and seem to thrive when expectations are low. Ironically, it’s when they believe it’s “the year” that things go sideways.
6. Louisville Cardinals
They’ve had moments of brilliance and always recruit some speed. But stringing it together for a full season remains more theory than fact.
5. Florida Gators
There’s always a new coach, quarterback, or culture shift to buy into. Then comes the inevitable loss to Kentucky, and the cycle starts.
4. Texas Longhorns
“Back” has become more of a meme than a movement. But every year, the hype machine fires up, and someone hits the brakes.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
They’ve had success, but they haven’t been able to get a championship in decades. That doesn’t stop fans from thinking this is finally their championship breakthrough.
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2. USC Trojans
The talent is always there, and the media never stops discussing them. But the results haven’t quite lived up to the Hollywood script—yet.
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1. Texas A&M Aggies
No one rides the offseason wave harder than the Aggies. And no fanbase takes a 7-5 season more personally when the “This is our year” energy doesn’t pay off.
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