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NCAA Football: 5 Dark Horse 2016 Championship Contenders

By Evan Massey
Published on: 02:22 PST, Sep 23, 2016

The 2016 college football season is entering Week 4, and there are quite a few games on the schedule to watch. It will certainly be interesting to see what ends up happening throughout the next couple of weeks and as the college football playoffs continue to draw closer.

At this point in the season, there are already clear-cut favorites when it comes to championship odds. Alabama, Ohio State, and a few other teams are the current favorites to win the National Championship. That being said, there are a few underdog teams that could come out and shock the front-runners.

Picking out the dark horse championship contenders will cause some disagreements. There are a handful of teams that could end up making a run as the season comes down the stretch.

We have already listed the five dark horse Heisman Trophy contenders this season here at the Inquisitr. Now, it’s time to take a look at which teams could be dark horse championship contenders.

Which five teams are potential 2016 National Championship darkhorse contenders and what must they do in order to live up to their billing as a championship contender?

Florida Gators

The Florida Gators have been ranked throughout the majority of the season but have not been talked about as a serious championship contender this season. Jim McElwain has done a great job of getting the Gators back on track. Florida will have a tough schedule in SEC play, but they are certainly a dark horse contender right now.

Miami Hurricanes

Mark Richt took over as the Miami Hurricanes’ head football coach this past offseason, and he has put them back on the map. Miami has gotten off to a hot start this season and their dynamic offensive duo of Brad Kaaya and Mark Walton have been impressive. While they have a tough schedule ahead of themselves in ACC play, the Hurricanes are a team to keep an eye on.

Georgia Bulldogs

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are a team to keep an eye on as well as the season progresses. Nick Chubb is a serious Heisman contender and will be asked to carry the Bulldogs’ offense. Georgia may not be a dark horse necessarily, but they certainly aren’t a team that is talked about as a championship contender.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Bret Bielema is without question one of the most underrated head coaches in college football. His Arkansas Razorbacks have started the season strong and have knocked off the TCU Horned Frogs as one of their big wins on the schedule. They will have to beat teams like the Texas A&M Aggies, Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Gators, and LSU Tigers this season, and they are a team to watch down the stretch this season.

San Diego State Aztecs

Donnel Pumphrey may not be a household name for college football fans, but he will become one as the season progresses. He is one of the top Heisman candidates this season and the San Diego State Aztecs’ offense has been lethal because of his presence. San Diego State may not end up being ranked at the end of the season, but they are without question a major darkhorse this season.

Expect to see these five teams compete with the elite teams across the nation. They may not end up making the college football playoffs when everything is said and done, but there is a chance that they will shock the college football nation and contend for a title. It will be entertaining to see how the season turns out and whether or not these teams keep up their hot starts.

Do you think one of these five teams will end up competing for a National Championship? Are there any teams that you would add to the list? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[Featured Image by Wilfredo Lee/AP Images]

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