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MrTheSpork Ballot for 2016 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 30, 2016, 12:05 a.m.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Very, very hard to pick against the Crimson Tide, they've essentially got a pole position for a third consecutive CFP slot and possibly back-to-back championships. The biggest concern is the QB, which has been parroted everywhere, and that could prove problematic against USC in the season opener. Until then, I don't see a reason to move them down at all.
2 Clemson Tigers Last year's runner-up rolled through the ACC and, outside of Florida State and possibly a surging Louisville, looks poised to do the same thing again. Deshaun Watson is an absolute monster of a QB and the offensive backfield loses just a few pieces from last year, meaning that side of the ball may actually improve, provided the OL stays healthy. The defense may regress slightly, especially against heavy passing attacks, but, like the team in the top slot, it's hard to bet against the Tigers.
3 Oklahoma Sooners There's a bit of a trend in these rankings, which'll get broken after the third CFP team from last year. Then again, these are the teams that get the biggest benefit of the doubt after being good every year.Like Clemson, OU's QB Baker Mayfield basically is the foundation for an exceptional offensive attack; with Perine and Mixon also returning, the Sooner's offense is as flexible as it is powerful. Defensively, the LB corp is depleted, but a solid line and secondary beyond that should make up, at least in part, for the holes created by five major departures. Once again the favorite for the Big 12, Oklahoma has to avoid falling into the Texas trap, but an early-season matchup with a totally inscrutable Ohio State might be the most important game this season. That is, of course, assuming Houston comes up short two weeks prior.
4 LSU Tigers The first team not a 2015 CFP competitor is -- you guessed it -- an SEC team.LSU has a few important games -- an early-season "neutral" matchup against Wisconsin, a trip to play always-confusing Arkansas, a potential top-ten matchup against Florida -- but not a single one would matter more than taking down #1 on this list for the first time since the rematch year. With Les Miles potentially coaching for his job, LSU might be in the best position they've had for five years to make a championship run, and that's going to be in large part on the back of Leonard Fournette. As with Watson and Mayfield, there's nothing I can say that's not been parroted frequently, he's an incredible back deserving heavy Heisman consideration. On offense, the chief concern is Brandon Harris's passing, but he should improve on what was just average play over last season. Defensively 
5 Ohio State Buckeyes
6 Michigan Wolverines
7 Tennessee Volunteers
8 Florida State Seminoles
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10 Michigan State Spartans
11 TCU Horned Frogs
12 USC Trojans
13 Ole Miss Rebels
14 Houston Cougars
15 Stanford Cardinal
16 Florida Gators
17 Washington Huskies
18 Iowa Hawkeyes
19 Louisville Cardinals
20 Utah Utes
21 Oregon Ducks
22 San Diego State Aztecs
23 Washington State Cougars
24 Boise State Broncos
25 Oklahoma State Cowboys

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