10 funniest, saddest and most unhinged Reddit college football fan expectations

USA Today

02-08-2025

College football is back, and that means it's time for all of us to be hurt again.
Every year, fans enter the season with high expectations, and most of the time, they find themselves disappointed. But those expectations aren't always sky-high. Some of us out here are simply asking for the bare minimum.
While the Georgias and Ohio States of the world have a national championship-or-bust mentality every year, most fanbases just want a product that doesn't entirely embarrass them. Unfortunately, that's often too much to ask.
In a recent thread posted on Reddit, college football fans were asked for their season-long expectations for their teams, and answers ranged from delusional to pathetically low. Here are some of the funniest season-long expectations, according to r/CFB.
1. This Florida State fan is too embarrassed to say
FSU is coming off a stunningly bad 2-10 season that featured just one FBS win, a five-point victory over Cal. Florida State hopes to bounce back this fall, but the fanbase is obviously pretty wary.
2. Washington State fan preaches to the choir
The Cougs lost coach Jake Dickert, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer after an 11-win season last fall. But frankly, the vast majority of college football fanbases probably share this sentiment.
3. A Virginia Tech fan down bad
Hey, Hokies, if it makes you feel better: Your 2025 season expectations are (roughly) the same as Alabama's!
4. Mississippi State fan just wants to get back to .500
You know, a late-December trip to Memphis doesn't sound all that bad, does it?
5. This Florida fan would take either extreme
Billy Napier shored up his position with a late run last season, but this Gators fan would be happy to see either a CFP-caliber team or Napier's head on the chopping block.
Real.
6. LSU fan thinks it's put up or shut up time for Brian Kelly
Given the fact that his three predecessors each won national titles, the clock is ticking in Year 4 for Brian Kelly, and even a "birth" in the playoff may not be enough to satisfy this Tigers fan.
7. Wisconsin fan shooting for the moon
What has Luke Fickell done to this once-proud fanbase?
8. Penn State fan thinks it's time for a title game appearance
The Nittany Lions are a clear national championship contender entering the season, and it seems anything short of at least reaching the CFP title game would be a disappointment for a program that has struggled to get over the hump.
9. Iowa fan flying too close to the Sun
Look, to be fair, South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski gives Iowa potentially its best quarterback in years, so this one isn't entirely irrational. But ask yourself, dear reader, are you willing to bank on a successful offense on a team coached by Kirk Ferentz?
10. Michigan still lives rent-free in this Ohio State fan's head after a national title
Ohio State won its first national title under Ryan Day, but the Michigan loss still clearly bothers this fan quite a bit.
Bonus Round: UMass!
It's tough to be a Minuteman.