Who are college football's most boring and entertaining teams entering the 2022 college football season? According to a new survey, viewers like to see production and offenses that move at a rapid pace, unafraid to take deep shots to the second level. And programs winning with an old-school mentality, per the numbers, are frowned upon from an entertaining aspect.
According to TickPick, "68% of fans said the Big Ten produces the most exciting contests, followed closely by the SEC at 63%. In the "boring" category, the Pac-12 topped the list at 26%, followed by the ACC with 20%." TickPick did not reveal how many respondents participated in the survey, nor from which geographic location.
You would think pace of play would be impactful in terms of watchability, but Iowa nor Wisconsin — top 25 teams that ranked No. 104 and 91, respectively, last season in plays per game — were not mentioned by pollsters.
MOST BORING TEAMS: BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES (NO. 5)
No love for what Jeff Hafley is building at Boston College, eh? With quarterback Phil Jurkovec returning this season, there's a chance the Eagles could be a thorn in the side of several nationally-ranked teams within the ACC's Atlantic, but the offense will need to produce. Boston College ranked 109th nationally in pace of play in 2021 at just 66.6 plays per game. That was the lowest total in the ACC in fact. Boston College opens this fall against Rutgers, another team not exactly known for playing at an exciting rate of speed offensively.
BAYLOR BEARS (NO. 4)
Did these respondents watch the Bears play last season? The reigning Big 12 champions were balanced on both sides of the football and managed the third-best takeaway total in all of the Power Five ranks. Abram Smith bulldozed his way to 1,601 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as the Bears achieved a breakthrough and made the Sugar Bowl, ending the season with a victory over Ole Miss from the SEC. Perhaps Dave Aranda uses this as motivation, but what's more likely is the coach doesn't take stock in these polls results whatsoever and begins to prepare for Baylor's encore.
APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS (NO. 3)
Maybe it was too many mid-week games for the Mountaineers? Appalachian State won six straight games last fall to reach the conference championship before bowing out vs. then-Louisiana coach Billy Napier and the Ragin' Cajuns. They were a veteran-led team that ranked No. 27 nationally in total offense and 28th in total defense. With those kind of numbers, what's not to like? Coach Shawn Clark has 19 wins over his first two seasons with the Mountaineers and Appalachian State is always a tough out in the Sun Belt.