The College Football Playoff is set, the bowl schedule is out and the transfer portal and coaching carousel are in full swing. College football’s postseason frenzy moves so quickly that it can be all too easy to put the regular season in the history books without properly honoring the memorable games and standout performances that got us here. So how should the nation’s highest-profile programs be feeling about their on-field efforts this fall?
Below, The Athletic’s college football staff hands out December report cards for every team in the Power 5 (plus Notre Dame).
ACC
Boston College: F
Boston College had plans to crack the Top 25 this year and blend in with the rest of the ACC contention hopefuls, outside of Clemson. But the Eagles’ offensive line broke down before the season began, and starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec suffered multiple injuries (before transferring to Pitt in December). The fact that head coach Jeff Hafley needed a “vote of confidence” from his athletic director said a lot. Somehow the Eagles still notched one-point wins over Louisville and NC State amid their 3-9 finish. It’s not clear which loss was harder to process: the 44-0 blowout at Notre Dame or the 13-3 defeat at UConn. Boston College has many questions to answer this offseason. — Pete Sampson
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Clemson: B-
For the second consecutive year, Clemson was too inconsistent to seize an opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff. A blowout loss at Notre Dame hurt the Tigers’ resume, and a one-point loss at home to South Carolina proved to be the final dagger. Coach Dabo Swinney made a quarterback switch for good in the third series of the ACC Championship Game, when he benched DJ Uiagalelei for freshman Cade Klubnik. Whether Klubnik could have helped against South Carolina will be the question Swinney has to live with this offseason. Nevertheless, the Tigers won 10 games for the 12th consecutive season. — Grace Raynor
Duke: A
Mike Elko was named the ACC Coach of the Year after far exceeding expectations for his Year 1 in Durham. The Blue Devils went 8-4 with a 5-3 record in ACC play, one year after going winless in ACC play during what would be David Cutcliffe’s final season. The Blue Devils showed vast improvement on both sides of the ball and collected big wins over Miami and Wake Forest among other feathers in their cap. — Nicole Auerbach
Florida State: A-
We didn’t give the Seminoles a grade at the midseason mark, but if we had, it wouldn’t have been this high because they were in the middle of a three-game losing streak to Wake Forest, NC State and Clemson. Ultimately, what Mike Norvell accomplished in Year 3 is exactly what was needed in Tallahassee: a winning season with some oomph. Five wins came over bowl-eligible teams (9-3 LSU, 7-5 Syracuse, 7-5 Louisville, 6-6 Louisiana and 6-6 Florida), but a potential 10-win season for the first time since 2016 and a Top 25 ranking at the end of the season? Not many predicted that. — Manny Navarro
Georgia Tech: C+
It’s weird to give a team with a 5-7 record a passing grade (even if it’s just barely passing), but Georgia Tech’s grade gets lifted from the D/F range because of how it responded to a midseason coaching change. The Yellow Jackets were 1-3 when Geoff Collins was let go after three-plus disappointing seasons. Under interim coach Brent Key, who was promoted to head coach full-time on Nov. 29, the Yellow Jackets went 4-4. — Daniel Shirley
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Louisville: B-
Considering Scott Satterfield was coming off consecutive losing seasons and started this year 2-3 (including a hopeless-looking blowout loss at Syracuse), the Cardinals rallying to win four in a row and five of six to make a bowl game qualifies as a success. Satterfield won back a number of the fans who were ready to be rid of him — especially with a top-20 recruiting class, featuring five-star running back Rueben Owens and four-star quarterback Pierce Clarkson, on its way — only to throw two big, wet blankets on that. He lost to rival Kentucky again, then dipped for the Cincinnati job (right before the Cardinals and Bearcats meet in a bowl game). Frankly, even that might be a gift if it finally brings Jeff Brohm home to coach Louisville. — Kyle Tucker
Miami: D-
The Hurricanes suffered their first losing season since 2007 — not exactly what most expected in Coral Gables for all the money spent on Mario Cristobal and the most expensive coaching staff in the ACC. But Manny Diaz didn’t exactly leave a treasure trove of talent, either (no matter what the 247Sports Team Talent Composite tells you). Cristobal is an elite recruiter, and he’ll have to prove he’s also good at plucking talent out of the transfer portal — like the coach up in Tallahassee — if the Hurricanes are in for a Year 2 turnaround. If not, it might be a while longer before The U is back. — Manny Navarro
NC State: B-
Any season that features a 2-0 record against in-state ACC teams, including an upset over North Carolina in the finale, is something to smile about. The Wolfpack were dealt a tough hand on the injury front when they lost quarterback Devin Leary for the season, but all in all, this was typical NC State: impressive wins (Texas Tech, Florida State), perplexing losses (Boston College, Syracuse by 15) and an inconsistent streak that kept you guessing which team would show up from week to week. — Matt Fortuna
North Carolina: B+
The Tar Heels have pulled off two seasons with at least nine wins since 1997: this one and 2015, when Larry Fedora went 11-3. Reaching the ACC Championship Game for only the second time in school history with a true freshman at quarterback, and with some pretty good recruiting classes in tow, bodes well for Mack Brown heading into 2023. But something needs to change with the defense, which gave up 30.3 points and 442.7 yards per game during the regular season, if the Tar Heels are ever going to win the conference. Drake Maye can’t do everything. — Manny Navarro
Pitt: B-
The Panthers couldn’t follow up their ACC championship with another, finishing second in an eminently winnable Coastal Division. But they still won eight games for the fifth time in Pat Narduzzi’s tenure and got a star turn from running back Israel Abanikanda (1,431 yards, 20 touchdowns). — Andy Bitter
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Syracuse: B-
The top-15 Orange were college football’s darlings at the midway point of the season, starting 6-0 for the first time since 1987 and just the third time since 1935. But the back half of the schedule was always going to be an issue, and Syracuse certainly slid into the finish line, losing five consecutive games from Oct. 22 to Nov. 19 against Clemson, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Florida State and Wake Forest. A win at Boston College ended the regular season on a high note. — Grace Raynor
Virginia Tech: D-
When the program hits futility marks that haven’t been hit in 71 years — like the Hokies’ seven-game losing streak — you’re having a rough season. Brent Pry’s debut was a stinker, with Virginia Tech’s offense bottoming out (even by Hokies standards) and the team having its worst record since 1992. — Andy Bitter
Wake Forest: B-
The Demon Deacons started their season 6-1, with the lone loss coming to Clemson in a double overtime thriller. But Wake Forest lost four of its last five games to close out the season, including a head-scratching 27-point loss at Louisville in October. Sam Hartman will go down as the school’s all-time leading passer and one of the greatest players in program history, but ultimately the Demon Deacons were too inconsistent. — Grace Raynor
Virginia
The Cavaliers were struggling in Tony Elliott’s debut season, but on-field events became trivial after receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler and defensive lineman/linebacker D’Sean Perry were shot and killed after a class field trip in November, allegedly by a former Virginia walk-on football player. Charlottesville and the Cavaliers are only beginning to heal. — Andy Bitter
Big Ten
Illinois: B+
Bret Bielema’s second season in Champaign, if it ends with a Reliaquest Bowl victory, would bring nine wins to the Illini for the first time since 2007. Illinois ranked atop the Power 5 in total defense and led all of the FBS in scoring defense. Running back Chase Brown ranked third nationally in rushing as the Illini started 7-1. All that kept Illinois from an A — and a Big Ten West title — was a three-game skid in the second half. — Mitch Sherman
Indiana: D
A 3-0 start collapsed in a hurry as Indiana finished 4-8, lost its starting quarterback and then lost its backup quarterback, too. The fact Tom Allen was briefly connected with the job opening at Liberty said plenty, as the Hoosiers have bottomed out after that resurgent 2020. Indiana seems to have to returned to its place at the bottom of the Big Ten, although the Hoosiers did beat Michigan State and Illinois this season. Freshman linebacker Dasan McCullough led Indiana with four sacks and represented a bright spot for the future … until he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. — Pete Sampson
Iowa: C
The Hawkeyes featured one of the nation’s top defenses and perhaps its worst offense. Had Iowa squeezed even a tad more production from its offense, it would have earned its second straight West Division title. Instead, Iowa finished the season thinking of the hypotheticals. — Scott Dochterman
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Maryland: B
Mike Locksley’s program earned its second consecutive seven-win season, and perhaps an eighth win in a bowl, while playing Ohio State and Michigan close. The trend is good, the Terps just need to take another step in 2023. — Seth Emerson
Michigan: A+
Perfect record, perfect grade. The Wolverines have checked off each one of their goals so far: beating Ohio State and Michigan State in the same season, repeating as Big Ten champions and returning to the College Football Playoff, all while navigating an early season quarterback change. The grade is incomplete, though, until Michigan gets a shot at its ultimate goal of a national championship. — Austin Meek
Michigan State: C-
After going 11-2 in his second season and signing a massive contract, Mel Tucker went into Year 3 with expectations that may not have reflected the actual state of the roster. Michigan State wasn’t able to strike gold again in the transfer portal and finished 5-7 after starting the season ranked No. 15. Wins against Wisconsin and Illinois provide something to build on, but Tucker has a busy offseason ahead. — Austin Meek
Minnesota: B
The Gophers strung together consecutive seasons of eight or more wins for just the fourth time since 1960. They beat Wisconsin in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1993-94. And they may have found their quarterback of the future, Athan Kaliakmanis. But in a Big Ten West that was right there for the taking, the Gophers will regret home losses to beatable teams in Purdue and Iowa. — Matt Fortuna
Nebraska: D
Not much good came from a 4-8 finish that extended a streak of losing seasons to six for a program that once went 42 consecutive seasons without one. The Huskers did finish with their first win against Iowa since 2014 and fought weekly after the Sept. 11 firing of Scott Frost as coach. Wide receiver Trey Palmer, quarterback Casey Thompson and an improving defense provided bright spots. The hire of Matt Rhule as coach, one day after the season ended, offered hope. — Mitch Sherman
Northwestern: F
The Wildcats won a wild one in Ireland against lowly Nebraska and then did not win a single game on American soil. It was the program’s worst season in 33 years. The high point of the year stateside came in an ugly, weather-altered close game with Ohio State, and the low point was pretty much every other outing. Northwestern was pitiful in areas its best teams always excelled in; the Wildcats’ run defense was one of the worst in the country. Pat Fitzgerald fired defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil, defensive line coach Marty Long and wide receivers coach Dennis Springer after the 1-11 campaign was over. — Nicole Auerbach
Ohio State: B+
Ohio State looked every bit like a national championship contender this season. Then came the Michigan game. Despite being led by Heisman candidate C.J. Stroud and the emergence of Marvin Harrison Jr. as the best receiver in the country, the Buckeyes could not avenge their 2021 loss to the Wolverines. A defense that was much improved all year gave up 45 points, and the offense stalled out. That puts a dent in Ohio State’s grade, but the Buckeyes found their way into the College Football Playoff anyway and will play for a chance at a national championship. Expect next year’s version of The Game to be even more important for Ryan Day’s future, though. — Cameron Teague
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Penn State: B+
The freshman class starred while Sean Clifford bridged the gap from one era to the next. The Nittany Lions got back to a double-digit win total, built depth along the way and should be on solid footing in 2023. — Audrey Snyder
Purdue: B+
Purdue was more explosive offensively and better on defense in 2021, but the Boilermakers took a step forward in ’22 and won the Big Ten West Division title. It wasn’t always pretty and at times they lacked consistency, but with a Citrus Bowl invitation, the Boilermakers will compete in their highest-profile bowl since 2004. That is a significant step. — Scott Dochterman
Rutgers: C-
The 4-8 Scarlet Knights get graded on a bit of a curve because the expectation is that they’ll take four losses to the Big Ten East’s top teams on an annual basis. But they could not beat — or even compete — with some of the more manageable matchups on their 2022 schedule. A win over Boston College to start the season showed promise, but the season quickly hit a tailspin once Big Ten play began; Rutgers only had one win (over Indiana) in league play. Greg Schiano fired offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson midseason, aware that one of the nation’s worst offenses would not cut it in 2023. — Nicole Auerbach
Wisconsin: D-
Wisconsin began the season ranked in the top 20 with legitimate aspirations of winning a Big Ten championship. Five games into the season, head coach Paul Chryst was fired. The Badgers finished league play with a losing record for the first time since 2008, though they did battle admirably through adversity under interim coach Jim Leonhard. The only saving grace is that Wisconsin qualified for a bowl game for a 21st consecutive season and wound up with Luke Fickell as its head coach of the future. — Jesse Temple
Big 12
Baylor: D
The Bears were the preseason pick to win the Big 12 but never reached that level and finished 6-6. Their up-and-down play was indicative of their personnel losses from the 2021 team and youth at numerous key spots, including quarterback. They entered November in Big 12 contention, but a three-game losing streak flushed those hopes. — Sam Khan Jr.
Iowa State: F
The Cyclones faced a transition year, so Big 12 title contention was unlikely, but losing eight of their last nine games was a surprising conclusion. The defense kept Iowa State in nearly every game, but it lost six games by one score or less. Not making a bowl with that defense makes this season a failure. — Scott Dochterman
Kansas: A-
C’mon, how hard can we be on a program that just did something it hadn’t done in 14 years? Sure, Kansas’ 1-6 finish after a 5-0 start was disappointing. And sure, that defense comically bad down the stretch. But the Jayhawks are going bowling! And they got “College GameDay”. And they were without starting quarterback Jalon Daniels for an extended stretch. Lance Leipold is locked up, there is a commitment to facilities ahead, and there are some bright days in the Jayhawks’ future, for the first time in a long time. — Matt Fortuna
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Kansas State: A+
The Wildcats were a dark horse Big 12 pick before the season and ultimately won the conference with an overtime victory against previously undefeated TCU, earning a Sugar Bowl berth. It was their first conference title since 2012 and will be their first major bowl game under a coach other than Bill Snyder. The early-season loss to Tulane doesn’t look so bad with the Green Wave going to the Cotton Bowl. K-State also beat then-No. 9 Oklahoma State 48-0 and beat a resurgent rival in Kansas. — Chris Vannini
Oklahoma: D
Only qualifying for a bowl at 6-6 keeps Oklahoma from an F. The Sooners’ 3-6 Big 12 record was the program’s worst since 1997. They suffered their worst-ever loss to Texas and also lost to West Virginia and Texas Tech in the final three weeks of the season. Brent Venables has a lot of work to do for Year 2. — Chris Vannini
Oklahoma State: B
The Cowboys spent the first two months of the season as a fixture in the top 15 and pushed TCU to the brink, but quarterback Spencer Sanders’ injury derailed their season. A 48-0 loss to Kansas State served as an astounding low point among four losses in their final five games. The Cowboys may be asking what might have happened if Sanders stayed healthy, but rebuilding off last year’s team that beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl proved too tall of a task. — David Ubben
TCU: A+
In spite of the heartbreaking overtime loss in the Big 12 Championship Game, there is no question the Horned Frogs had an amazing season. In Sonny Dykes’ first year in charge, TCU beat every team on its schedule and secured a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time. It really doesn’t get better than that. — Ari Wasserman
Texas: C
This is a tough season to grade. Texas lost four games, but two of those losses were to opponents that finished in the top 10. The Longhorns almost beat Alabama, and quarterback Quinn Ewers proved he could have a bright future. It’s a passing, but an average one when compared to expectations in Austin. — Ari Wasserman
Texas Tech: B+
The Red Raiders navigated a tough nonconference schedule and a deep Big 12 really well in Joey McGuire’s first year. They finished with a winning conference record for the first time since 2009 and beat Texas and Oklahoma in the same season for the first time in school history. — Sam Khan Jr.
West Virginia: D-
The Mountaineers snapped a nine-game slide against Oklahoma, stopped a seven-year skid against Oklahoma State, dominated Virginia Tech in Blacksburg to regain the Black Diamond Trophy and led at Pitt in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Feed that data into your preseason brain, and you’d be convinced that West Virginia, not TCU, was going to be the Big 12’s team of destiny. What transpired instead was a 5-7 season that saw athletic director Shane Lyons scapegoated and coach Neal Brown retained because he was too pricey to fire. The defense ranked 108th in yards allowed per play, 114th in points surrendered and 127th in takeaways — numbers that illustrate why WVU didn’t go bowling. — Allan Taylor
Pac-12
Arizona: B
Despite missing out on a bowl game, the Wildcats made great strides in Year 2 under Jedd Fisch. After a 1-11 mark in Fisch’s first season, Arizona beat No. 9 UCLA on the road and took back the Territorial Cup with a win over rival Arizona State. Finishing 5-7 was a significant step for a program that recently had bottomed out. — Doug Haller
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Arizona State: F
A coach dismissal after Week 3. A quarterback change. Losing to rival Arizona for the first time since 2016. Not to mention the ongoing NCAA investigation. The Sun Devils faced a lot of adversity, and to their credit, they fought under interim coach Shaun Aguano, but 3-9 is 3-9. Let the rebuilding begin. — Doug Haller
Cal: D
The Bears won the Big Game, so the season was not a total failure, but they lost six consecutive games at one point, including handing a wretched Colorado team its only win of the year. The offense’s inability to run the ball got offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave fired with two games left to play. — Stewart Mandel
Colorado: F
Colorado lost a lot of talent to the transfer portal last offseason, and that was a sign of bad things to come. The Buffaloes were one of the worst teams in recent Pac-12 history. All but one of their losses came by 23 points or more. Karl Dorrell was fired after an 0-5 start, and Colorado won the week after against Cal, but things got progressively worse. Now Deion Sanders is tasked with executing the rebuild. — Antonio Morales
Oregon: B
The Ducks recovered from their season-opening blowout against Georgia to climb back into the CFP discussion by the season’s final month. But a November defeat to Washington and a Week 13 collapse against Oregon State — with a trip to the Pac-12 title game on the line — left the Ducks shy of preseason expectations for Year 1 of the Dan Lanning era, despite leading the Pac-12 in scoring against conference opponents (40.1 points per game). — Christian Caple
Oregon State: A-
It’s not as if the Beavers massively overachieved this year. They won seven games last season, returned many key players and spoke publicly of aspiring to win the conference title. Still, this is their best 12-game record since 2012, and that’s something to celebrate. Considering two of the Beavers’ three losses came by three points to USC and three points to Washington, though — and that they finished eighth in the Pac-12 in scoring against conference opponents — Oregon State’s lack of production at quarterback presents a major what-if. — Christian Caple
Stanford: D-
The only thing keeping the Cardinal from a flat-out F is that they somehow won at Notre Dame. Otherwise, it was a second consecutive 3-9 season under now-former coach David Shaw in which quarterback Tanner McKee’s talent was wasted by a complete inability to protect him. — Stewart Mandel
UCLA: B
The Bruins had their best season under Chip Kelly, but close November home losses to Arizona and USC kept them from achieving a real breakthrough. That’s a hard pill to swallow when it’s the last year UCLA will have the experienced backfield tandem of Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet, but the season was still a positive step forward for Kelly. — Antonio Morales
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USC: A
The Trojans went from four wins in 2021 to within a win of the College Football Playoff in 2022. And USC might have the Heisman Trophy winner in Caleb Williams. After stumbling through the past decade-plus, Lincoln Riley made the Trojans nationally relevant again in just one season. — Antonio Morales
Utah: B+
The 10-3 Utes are held back slightly because of their CFP expectations. They certainly looked the part in their Pac-12 title game win against USC. Two of their setbacks — on the road at Florida and Oregon — came by a field goal. The 12-team playoff can’t get here soon enough. — Doug Haller
Washington: A
The Huskies will long wonder what could have been, had they only beaten Arizona State. It’s almost all positive otherwise (aside from the defensive issues). Michael Penix Jr. leads the nation in passing. Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan are the first 1,000-yard receiving duo in school history. Washington won 10 games, beat Oregon and Washington State, finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak, and got first-year coach Kalen DeBoer a contract extension. Anybody who says they expected better is lying. — Christian Caple
Washington State: B
Nothing wrong with a 7-5 record in coach Jake Dickert’s first full season, but it felt like Washington State left meat on the bone, especially after its feel-good upset of Wisconsin and 3-0 start. The Cougars had one of the Pac-12’s top defenses but struggled to score points behind an inexperienced offensive line, and the defense still yielded 600-plus yards in losses to Oregon and Washington. The Cougars’ 44-41 loss to the Ducks on Sept. 24 — after WSU led by 12 inside the final five minutes — changed the complexion of the conference race. — Christian Caple
SEC
Alabama: B
Most teams would fork over the future of their program for a No. 5 finish in the College Football Playoff rankings. But those teams didn’t start the season at No. 1 with the Heisman Trophy winner returning at quarterback and a game-wrecking outside linebacker in Will Anderson. The Crimson Tide never found a consistent footing, which in the end prevented them from getting where they wanted to be: the CFP. — Aaron Suttles
Arkansas: C+
The Hogs sniffed elite airspace early in the season and ascended to the top 10 of the polls but never returned after a heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M kicked off a three-game losing streak. Arkansas’ dominant win over Ole Miss is its signature win, but the sting of a loss to Liberty, which followed that with losses to Virginia Tech, UConn and New Mexico State, lingers. Quarterback KJ Jefferson’s injury had an acute impact on the season, but 6-6 is still 6-6 and will lead to a lot of offseason grumbling. Arkansas’ honeymoon with Sam Pittman is over, and he’ll have a lot to prove in 2023, though he’s far from the hot seat. — David Ubben
Auburn: D
Only Cadillac Williams saved the Tigers from a fate much worse. Under his interim leadership, the Tigers ended the season with high morale, including a win against Texas A&M. Bryan Harsin sunk this team deep, and had he finished the season as head coach this grade would’ve been an F. Williams had the team moving the ball with a pretty good ground game and at least an offensive identity. — Aaron Suttles
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Florida: D
Given a C- midseason grade after a 4-3 start, the Gators were trending up as they outscored Texas A&M and South Carolina 59-6 over a stretch of six quarters. Alas, they spiraled to a loss at Vanderbilt, lost a Black Friday scoring frenzy at Florida State and limped home at 6-6. A team that posted a season-opening victory over eventual Pac-12 champion Utah couldn’t sustain its energy or execution. Even against a schedule that Sagarin rated the nation’s 11th-toughest, finishing .500 was a discouraging debut for Billy Napier. — Allan Taylor
Georgia: A+
By no means a perfect team — just ask anyone who saw the Missouri game — but in the big picture, the Bulldogs lost 15 players to the NFL Draft, a few more to transfer, and their defensive coordinator to Oregon. Then they still went 13-0, won the program’s first SEC championship in five years and claimed the No. 1 seed in the Playoff. Anything less than a perfect grade would be nitpicking. — Seth Emerson
Kentucky: C
You could never have convinced a Wildcats fan in 2012 that going 7-5 and reaching a seventh consecutive bowl game would be deemed disappointing a decade later. But here we are. This team was ranked in the preseason, spent three weeks in the AP top 10 and had longshot hopes of contending for the SEC East title. Instead, the offensive line was a mess, star quarterback Will Levis spent the season nursing injuries and Mark Stoops had to fire his offensive coordinator after just one season. Giving Georgia hell and cruising past rival Louisville to finish at least proved Stoops didn’t lose this team, but it’s clear changes are necessary for Kentucky to take the next step. — Kyle Tucker
LSU: A
Brian Kelly took a roster that played a bowl game with 39 available scholarship players a year ago and won the SEC West. It’s that simple. He took over a program with issues in discipline and culture and already has LSU running like a strong organization, and he beat Alabama and Ole Miss in the process. This year wasn’t perfect, but it’s a massive sign LSU is headed in the right direction. — Brody Miller
Mississippi State: A-
The under-the-radar Bulldogs had the definition of a “take care of business” year that solidified what Mike Leach is doing in Year 3. They won almost all their 50-50 SEC games and took down higher-ranked Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. Eight wins is an accomplishment in Starkville. — Brody Miller
Missouri: B-
The reality of college football is that how a team finishes often outweighs how it starts. That’s been true in Missouri’s case. The Tigers finished the season with four wins in six games, including victories over Arkansas and on the road at South Carolina, which went on to beat Tennessee and Clemson in its final two games. A 6-6 record won’t satisfy Tigers fans long-term, but Eli Drinkwitz’s recruiting success and strong closing argument to reach a bowl game will help calm the complaints of an average season. — David Ubben
Ole Miss: B-
In the big picture, an 8-4 season after losing several star players is a good year in Oxford. But after a 7-0 start with a top-10 ranking, the Rebels ending the year 1-4 with losses to LSU, Alabama, Arkansas and rival Mississippi State leaves a bitter taste. — Brody Miller
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South Carolina: B+
It was a strange, up-and-down season for the Gamecocks, who essentially no-showed in losses of 38-6 at Florida and 23-10 at home to Missouri — then closed with a stunning flourish, destroying Tennessee’s and Clemson’s Playoff hopes in consecutive weeks and scoring a combined 94 points in those two games. That’s like acing a very difficult final after a semester full of missed classes and blown pop quizzes. The Gamecocks improved through the season, got to eight wins and have recruiting momentum. That’s good work from Shane Beamer. — Joe Rexrode
Tennessee: A
It was an A+ before the 63-38 debacle at South Carolina, but this team is way ahead of schedule in Josh Heupel’s second year, giving new life to a program that has been mired in turmoil for most of the past two decades. The 56-0 response at Vanderbilt a week later, with Hendon Hooker out and questions swirling about the state of the Vols’ locker room, leaves UT with a strong 4.0 for the season. — Joe Rexrode
Texas A&M: F
The Aggies went from a preseason top-10 team to missing a bowl. They endured a six-game losing streak, their longest in 50 years, and had a woeful offense. Even with the litany of injuries and all the youth that played key roles, A&M had too much talent to finish 5-7. — Sam Khan Jr.
Vanderbilt: B+
This might be an “A” if the Commodores just would have showed up and made their finale against rival Tennessee competitive. That 56-0 thrashing was a disappointing effort on all fronts, a reminder of how far away this team is from a talent standpoint. But that’s also why a 5-7 second season under Clark Lea, including upsets of Kentucky (on the road) and Florida, is actually wildly successful. No one should have expected five wins with this group. — Joe Rexrode
Notre Dame: B-
Notre Dame rebounded from a brutal start to play its way into New Year’s Six contention before losing at USC. Marcus Freeman’s first season as head coach offered plenty of learning opportunities, and he seemed to take advantage. The rout of Clemson gave Notre Dame a signature moment, and recruiting appears on the upswing. The season wasn’t what Freeman or Notre Dame wanted, but the program seemed to learn during its 8-4 finish. A Gator Bowl win would send Notre Dame into the offseason with some optimism. — Pete Sampson
(Top illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; Photos: Tim Warner, Michael Reaves, Eakin Howard / Getty Images)