are a number of other teams that seem to be hitting their stride and making marked improvements.

I was talking this over the other day with someone and his theory is that the whole NIL/transfer portal situation has created an environment where a lot of teams are starting over almost from scratch every season and so it's taking time to get their teams up to speed. Teaching everyone a new system, and having it implemented properly isn't happening until several weeks into the season, which explains the teams that are getting significantly better late in the season.

I agree with him, and also think that depth issues from NIL/transfer portal are more common now, and there are bigger drop offs from first stringers than in the past. Who wants to sit at second string when they're able to just hit the portal and collect $$$ at a smaller school with more playing time? Which maybe explains all the upsets happening this year.

Any other theories out there. I'm really curious what other people think.