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BoboIsDead Ballot for 2016 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 22, 2016, 8:41 p.m.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Though repeat champions are rare at best in the modern era, Alabama proved that they have the right tools to do just that a mere few years ago.  With multiple straight #1 recruiting classes, Saban's system crafted to perfection, and only a few teams in their way within the same stratosphere of talent, Alabama seems like the obvious choice for top spot.
2 Florida State Seminoles Florida State struggled at times in 2015 due to insufficiency at certain positions, but still proved themselves very competent with even a decent quarterback running the show.  With a talented youngblood holding the reins, anything is possible for this team.  He should be helped, however, but a vastly more experienced offensive line, a receiving corps loaded with talent, and one of the best runningbacks in the nation.    
3 Clemson Tigers Dabo Swinney was probably right when he said that it won't be another 34 years before we see Clemson battling for a national title.  Primed with one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, talent all over the offense for him to play with, and a defense which was lights-out in 2015, Clemson under Swinney looks to be a consistent contender.  
4 Oklahoma Sooners With one of the longest-tenured coaches in college football, one of the best brands in college football, a conference full of question marks, and a roster full of talent, what DOESN'T Oklahoma have going for them?  With a national title and nine conference titles under his belt, Bob Stoops is a proven winner, though at times criticized for stopping short of the finish line.  If Baker Mayfield can continue to improve, Oklahoma will be a force to be reckoned with.
5 LSU Tigers In nearly any other division of college football, this roster would be almost certainly playoff-bound.  But in the thick of fall, the gamut of SEC West teams from top to bottom has proven too much for Les Miles several times.  This is certainly one of the best teams in the nation on paper, but the question remains as to whether Les Miles will learn from past mistakes.  
6 Ohio State Buckeyes Though Ohio State hemorrhaged talent during the NFL draft, it's unwise to bet against Urban Meyer's ability to reload.  Questions of youth can be overcome when coached by arguably the second best coach in college football, but can't be ignored.  This year will be a true test of Urban's ability to keep up with Nick Saban.    
7 Ole Miss Rebels Ole Miss may have lost three huge pieces to the first round of the NFL draft, but they've been recruiting suspiciously well in years' past.  Add that to their ability to inexplicably beat Alabama when not many others can, and you have a team on the precipice of shattering an extremely long conference title drought.  
8 Stanford Cardinal Stanford has proven its ability to play ball with the big boys and the blue bloods.  Inexplicable losses like Northwestern and heartbreakers like Oregon need to be put to the back of Shaw's and his players' minds, and great wins like USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, and Iowa need to be incentive.    
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Loaded with injury, yet plagued by playmakers, Notre Dame is... well that's backwards, but as of late, the two seem interchangeable at Notre Dame.  The team has teased the college football world with glimpses of greatness all over their roster, only to be shunted away to the medical bay before anyone could see their true potential.  Notre Dame came up just about a yard short of bringing the national title runner-up last year, a pass interference call short of beating the national title runner-up the year before, and a litany of teases in years' past.  If this team can stay healthy, they could be on a fast track to restoring past glories of the Fightin' Irish.
10 Michigan Wolverines Jim Harbaugh seemed to inspire true shimmers of greatness in his 2015 team, which appeared dejected and lost in several past seasons.  He got the most out of the quarterback he had, and players all over the field stepped up in huge ways throughout the season.  Harbaugh also seems as at home on the recruiting trail as the Apache warriors were to the nature trail.  Two away games at rivals seem to be the testing grounds for 2016 Michigan.
11 Tennessee Volunteers
12 TCU Horned Frogs
13 Baylor Bears
14 Houston Cougars
15 North Carolina Tar Heels
16 Michigan State Spartans
17 Iowa Hawkeyes
18 USC Trojans
19 Utah Utes
20 Oklahoma State Cowboys
21 Florida Gators
22 Louisville Cardinals
23 Oregon Ducks
24 Georgia Bulldogs
25 Miami Hurricanes

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