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SpeedxKills Ballot for 2016 Preseason

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Aug. 30, 2016, 9:59 a.m.

Overall Rationale: PRESEASON = Part previous season final rankings. Part amount returning experience. Part combined recruiting rankings for the past 4 years (emphasis on '13/'14 recruiting classes that are upperclassmen). Returning a QB helps, coaching staff/offseason player turnover doesn't. 

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Nothing needs to be said here except, see "y'all" Sept. 3rd!!!
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Uh... seriously?
2 Clemson Tigers
2 Clemson Tigers
3 Oklahoma Sooners
4 LSU Tigers Combine a team returning the most experience in the nation (#1 SB Nation returning experience rank) with arguably one of the top 5 most talented rosters in the nation (#3 in the 2016 247sports team talent composite) has LSU make a big jump in my top 25 poll from where they were at last year. 
5 Ohio State Buckeyes Despite a strong 2015 season, the Buckeyes take a big hit in returning experience (ranked 127th in returning experience for 2016 by SB Nation). That being said, as one of the top recruiting programs in recent years, despite it the talent should be there to reload in 2016 (#4 in the 2016 247sports talent composite).
6 Stanford Cardinal Who needs an experienced QB? Not Stanford. #WildCaff
7 Ole Miss Rebels
8 Michigan Wolverines
9 Michigan State Spartans
10 Tennessee Volunteers Will 2016 finally be their year? A combination of one of the most talented rosters in the nation (#9 in 2016 247 talent composite) and one of the most experience teams in the nation (#11 in most returning experience by SB Nation) suggests 2016 just might be there year they deliver on the preseason hype. 
11 Houston Cougars
12 TCU Horned Frogs
13 Florida State Seminoles FSU may be lower here than in some other polls. Finishing 15th in the 2015 preseason poll and returning one the lesser experienced rosters among P5 teams (#91 in returning experience by SB Nation) hurts them here. 
14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame drops slight in my polls because of offseason distractions and player suspensions/dismissals. Still one of the most talented teams in the nation (#13 in the 247sports team composite) more question marks linger than initially did finishing the 2015 season. 
15 Oklahoma State Cowboys
16 USC Trojans USC projects high in my poll because of raw talent. USC ranks #2 in the 2016 247sports talent composite, only behind Alabama. Many previously young, inexperienced players should just be coming into their own led by the '15 class (#1 by 247sports team composite) and '14 classes (#10 247sports team composite). Some may see this as an inflated homer pick with the program surrounded by questions of coaching instability and the nation's toughest schedule. But objectively USC has one of the most talented rosters in the nation and a preseason coaches poll rank of #17 suggests this isn't a drastic overvaluation. If my poll were a projection of the final rankings USC would be lower because of schedule, however it's not. 
17 Georgia Bulldogs I like Georgia this year a lot, a whole lot. I probably could've put them even higher. A strong finish in 2015 and one of the most talented returning rosters in the nation does it for me. Add on top of that Georgia has killed it in recruiting the last few years. Ranked #6 in the 2016 247sports talent composite, the Bulldogs have the NFL talent to play with anyone. Will this be the year they finally breakthrough? We will see. A lot will be riding on the shoulders of Jacob Eason the #1 QB incoming QB recruit in this class. It's a tall task, but if he lives up to the hype I wouldn't be surprised to see them win the division and finish top 10. 
18 Iowa Hawkeyes
19 Washington Huskies
20 Washington State Cougars
21 Louisville Cardinals
22 North Carolina Tar Heels
23 Florida Gators Florida is projected into my top 25 because of their #25 rank in the final CFB Poll as well as their raw talent. Florida ranked #16 in the 2016 247 team composite rankings. Perhaps, even more important their #9 ranked '13 recruiting class and #9 ranked '14 recruiting class should just be maturing into the leaders of their team. Timing and talent are why Florida makes this top 25 poll, where others may have left them out. 
24 Texas A&M Aggies I'm not seeing a lot of Texas A&M in top 25 polls. That being said, what should be one of the most talented rosters in the nation pulls them into my top 25. Ranked #11 in the 2016 247 talent composite, Texas A&M has NFL talent despite a shaky 2015 season that left them outside the top 25 polls. 
25 Auburn Tigers Auburn is projected into my top 25 because of their raw talent. Ranked #10 in the 2016 247sports talent composite, they should have one of the most talented teams in the country with talent that should just be coming into their own. Led by the #10 ranked '13 recruiting class and the #6 '14 ranked recruiting class, their talent should just be maturing in 2016-2017. Many won't have them in a top 25, but talent trumps all for me. Auburn sneaks in. 

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