Back to poll results >>

eclectic_tastes Ballot for 2017 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 18, 2017, 4:03 p.m.

Overall Rationale: This is a preseason power ranking, not a projection.  This is my overall assessment of where teams stand, and will have significant impact on my future ballots until there are enough on-field results to start altering things.My #1 factor in ranking teams to start the year will be coaching.  Great coaches and proven coaching staffs will get a significant bump early in the year, because most have earned the benefit of the doubt (while some mediocre coaches have earned necessary doubt).My #2 factor is recruiting, specifically teams' 5-year recruiting average.  Great players and real depth make way for great teams.After that, I focus on returning experience, general program momentum, stability at QB, and various circumstantial intangibles.Through-out the season, I will rely somewhat significantly on the "eye-test", and generally favor how good I feel a team is over resume.  This is a human ballot through-and-through, but I will assess how each team is performing in various statistical categories and take this into account.

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes Mostly here based on Ohio State having the best coaching staff in the country at the moment. 2nd in 5-year recruiting rankings. Returning senior QB. Expecting a significant jump in offensive production, otherwise Ohio State will fall a bit.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide Most proven coach in college football. #1 in 5-year recruiting rankings. Returning a QB and has talented back-up. Curious about how the new coaching hires will pan out. If there are struggles early in the season Alabama will slide a little, but I'd expect them to fix any problems by season's end.
3 Florida State Seminoles #5 in 5-year recruiting and has a national championship winning coach. Returns their QB and A LOT on defense. This team is loaded with talent and if their lines (specifically O) step up will be a big-time contender.
4 USC Trojans #4 in 5-year recruiting average. Has a proven playmaker at QB. I still need to see more out of Helton, but he finished last season strong and has a talented roster that returns a good amount. This team could get on a roll, and I expect them to make the playoff.
5 LSU Tigers Almost put them higher.#3 in 5-year recruiting rankings and I trust the coaching staff.With the returns I expect from a Matt Canada offense, this seems like the team that beat Bama. Still have a lot to prove, but have a returning QB to do it.
6 Washington Huskies Peterson's recruits are finally taking over the team. He returns most of his offense from last season, including his QB.Only #27 in 5-year recruiting average, but great coaching and returning production mean that this team that made the playoff last year (and played a gritty game against Bama) will be good.
7 Clemson Tigers 1st of two teams with coaches that demand a top-ten ranking, even without the returning production to put them in the top-5. #12 in 5-year recruiting average, and great coordinators.
8 Michigan Wolverines Solid recruiting for a long-time running and a top-class coaching staff with an established presence will demand top ten finishes for years to come.
9 Auburn Tigers
10 Texas Longhorns
11 Oklahoma Sooners
12 Penn State Nittany Lions
13 Georgia Bulldogs
14 Wisconsin Badgers
15 Louisville Cardinals
16 Miami Hurricanes
17 Florida Gators
18 Oklahoma State Cowboys
19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
20 Oregon Ducks
21 Texas A&M Aggies
22 Stanford Cardinal
23 TCU Horned Frogs
24 NC State Wolfpack
25 BYU Cougars

Back to poll results >>