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boxman151515 Ballot for 2018 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 18, 2018, 12:16 p.m.

Overall Rationale: I will rely more on S&P+ and other metrics as the season goes on and will give more detail rationales for each of my rankings following a few weeks. But there's not a whole lot to go off of in the preseason, so this is just a gut feeling of mine based off what we know about the rosters, coaching staffs, etc. I suspect that by week 2, my rankings will look vastly different once we have some data to work with and can see if teams pass the eye test.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide I don't think this requires much of an explanation. 
2 Clemson Tigers Dabo Swinney has built a powerhouse at Clemson, and this year should look a lot like the last few. Expect the Tigers, led by a terrifying defense, to win the ACC and make a run at another national title.
3 Georgia Bulldogs I figured Smart would build Georgia up into a powerhouse at some point, but getting as close as they did to a national title in 2017 was a surprise. I suspect Georgia will give Alabama fits in the SEC for years to come. So much talent on both sides of the ball.
4 Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State might be the most talented team in the country. I know the Urban Meyer situation does nothing to help the team. I suspect he'll remain their head coach, but even if he's not, this is still a team to be reckoned with. Don't underestimate how much distractions can hurt a team, but this team will be a tough one to beat all year, regardless of who's coaching.
5 Wisconsin Badgers Jonathan Taylor is my preseason Heisman pick. Expect Wisconsin's offense to be potent this year between Taylor, a stacked offensive line and Alex Hornibrook taking another leap forward. The defense will undoubtedly be good, but they have to replace a lot of talent there, so it might not be quite as great as we're used to under Chryst. But watch out for the Badgers.
6 Washington Huskies Petersen is probably the best coach in the country not named Saban, Meyer or Swinney. The way he's built up Washington, the way he built up Boise State, is nothing short of impressive. They return so much talent that I expect them to tear their way through the Pac-12 with few issues.
7 Oklahoma Sooners Yeah, they don't have Baker Mayfield anymore. But I don't expect OU to take much of a step back. Riley proved he's a hell of a head coach last year, and I'm not concerned about their talent level or anything like that. They'll be impressive yet again.
8 Michigan State Spartans Yet again, I think Mark Dantonio's Spartans are being overlooked. Do people not realize this was a 10-win team last year that returns pretty much everybody? Lewerke will prove to be one of the best QBs in the country, and they're solid-to-great across most position groups. They're a dark-horse Big Ten/playoff contender.
9 Auburn Tigers Unfortunately for Auburn, they play in the same conference as Alabama and Georgia. Fortunately for them, their passing attack should be lights-out with Stridham and a strong receiving corps, and the defense should be one of the best in the country. Don't count them out.
10 Penn State Nittany Lions No Barkley will hurt Penn State, but now we'll get to see what Trace McSorley can do without him. I suspect he'll do just fine, and might thrive in the spotlight. This team is talented, and James Franklin has given them a swagger that can go a long way in tough games.
11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish People like to talk about Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and other schools having the best defense in the country, but it might end up being Notre Dame's. They return everyone from a killer defense last year. They'll be in every game because of that. If they can avoid injuries on offense, they'll be extremely dangerous.
12 Miami Hurricanes The QB situation is sort of iffy, and the defensive line might take a step back. But if they can sort those situations out, Miami could win the ACC. They're stacked pretty much everywhere else.
13 Michigan Wolverines The defense is downright terrifying. Each position group has a potential All-American. The schedule is brutal, but the defense should keep them in every game. Whether Michigan makes a run at the playoff or stumbles to another 8-win campaign will depend on if the offense can improve. I suspect it will under Shea Patterson, working with a strong WR group.
14 Stanford Cardinal Stanford is one of the most consistent programs in the country. Expect that to be the case again. Bryce Love will tear it up in the Pac-12. If there's a team that'll beat Washington out west, this is the team.
15 Mississippi State Bulldogs I'd rank Mississippi State higher were it not for a coaching change, which can be an adjustment even for the most talented teams. And make no mistake, this is a talented team that will run all over you and whose d-line will destroy your o-line.
16 TCU Horned Frogs QB is a gigantic question mark. But if they can sort that out, Gary Patterson will give Oklahoma a run for its money. OSU will provide a good test early on, and their Big 12 schedule is somewhat favorable.
17 Virginia Tech Hokies This time next year I'll be talking about VT as a playoff contender. Probably not the case this year, as it's a young team, but expect a solid 9-win season from the Hokies.
18 UCF Knights Scott Frost quickly built a powerhouse at UCF. He's gone, but so many others remain. They'll dominate the American yet again. 
19 Boise State Broncos Like Alabama, I don't think Boise State being ranked requires much of an explanation. It's just expected at this point.
20 LSU Tigers More of the same seems to be in store for LSU: They'll be tough, they'll give teams trouble, but a brutal schedule likely limits them. 
21 USC Trojans Questions abound at QB, and we'll see if the rush defense improves. But USC is talented, as always, and it'd be silly to dismiss USC. 
22 Florida State Seminoles Last year was a disaster for FSU, but Taggart inherits a situation that would make most new coaches envious. I think they're a year away from being great again, but a lot of talented young players make the Seminoles dangerous.
23 South Carolina Gamecocks They have to replace a lot of talent on defense, but don't be surprised if this team makes a run. The offense brings back pretty much everyone, and that could carry them while the defense finds its identity.
24 FAU Owls Lane Kiffin might pull a Scott Frost and get this team noticed on a national scale this season. Lots of talent, and you can never underestimate the power of a team having an identity, even if it's Lane Kiffin's identity. 
25 Oklahoma State Cowboys It's a transition year for the Cowboys this season, but Mike Gundy should be able to scramble together a decent, respectable season, especially since the Big 12 is somewhat weak beyond OU and TCU.

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