Top-25 disasters: 5 preseason ranked teams that have crashed in 2016

Every year, certain college football teams in the preseason Top 25 crash and burn, but this year's crop has been particularly bad.

Here's five squads who began on that list, and now find themselves nowhere near the latest edition of the AP poll.

Stanford

Preseason: No. 8
Now: Lost past two games by combined 86-22

What happened: Everything went according to plan in September, before the calendar flipped to October and all hell broke loose. Stanford has been outscored 86-22 in the month, across losses to No. 5 Washington and unranked Washington State. Quarterback Ryan Burns has struggled mightily in his first season as starter, while Christian McCaffrey has looked shockingly human over the last two games. Luckily, Notre Dame is up next, which has made Stanford's season look fantastic by comparison.

Play to sum up season: Anyone looking to demonstrate the changing of the guard in the Pac-12 North should zero in on this play.

Notre Dame

Preseason: No. 10
Now: Need to finish at least 4-2 just to become bowl eligible

What Happened: Every single person involved with Notre Dame football has failed at their job, except Brian Kelly - at least that's what the head coach would have you believe. The Fighting Irish have given up 485-plus yards in every game against a Power 5 team this year, except while playing in a hurricane. Kelly's decision to start the season with a two-quarterback system failed miserably, and Notre Dame must win at least four of its last six games to be bowl eligible. That doesn't seem likely, meaning this could be the first year since 2007 the Irish don't hit the 6-win plateau.

Play to sum up season: Despite Hurricane Matthew battering Raleigh, Saturday's game between the Irish and NC State still went on. It was a perfect symbol of Notre Dame's awful campaign.

Oregon

Preseason: No. 24
Now: Lost by 49 at home to Washington

What Happened: There are 128 teams in the FBS, and only Bowling Green has given up more points in 2016 than Oregon's 251. The Ducks have now lost four straight games, being outscored 197-124 in the process. The latest setback was one of epic proportions, as Washington ended Oregon's 12-game head-to-head winning streak with a 70-21 beatdown in Eugene. The Ducks haven't fired a coach since 1976, but the way things are going for Mark Helfrich, he may want to rent - and not buy - in the Pacific Northwest.

Play to sum up season: This is the kind of pass defense one would expect from the nation's second-worst unit.

Iowa

Preseason: No. 17
Now: Losing to FCS teams

What happened: Most people thought last year's improbable run to the Rose Bowl was a fluke, and 2016 is proving the Hawkeyes should not be mentioned with the Big Ten's elite. They may sit 4-2 on the season, but their wins have come against four teams with a combined record of 6-17. And both losses have come at home - one against 2-3 Northwestern, and the other to an FCS opponent. Ranking Iowa 17th to start the season was a goodwill gesture for the previous campaign, but the Hawkeyes have shown they don't belong.

Play to sum up season: That is Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard punting from the opposition's 35-yard line, for the second week in a row! A perfect play to show the 'daring' nature of Hawkeyes football.

Michigan State

Preseason: No. 12
Now: Winless in the Big Ten East

What happened: Michigan State has been a great underdog team, posting an incredible 12-6 mark over its last 18 games in which it wasn't favored. Unfortunately, the Spartans are a disaster when favored, losing their last three outright by a combined 85-41 score. Perhaps more shocking is that two of those losses were at home in East Lansing, a place where Mark Dantonio's program was 20-1 the past three seasons. The offense is an absolute disaster, ranking 112th in the country while scoring just 21 points per game. With No. 4 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State left on the schedule, things could get even uglier for the Spartans.

Play to sum up season: Dantonio's perfectly timed disappearance at the end of MSU's loss to Wisconsin is basically identical to how quickly Michigan State has vanished from the national landscape this season.

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