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mjacksongt Ballot for 2018 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 19, 2018, 5:30 p.m.

Rank Team Reason
1 Clemson Tigers Clemson has more returning talent than the other team in the top 2 of CFB, Alabama (particularly on defense). That's enough for me to move them to #1.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide Lots of pieces to replace on D, though there is experience. Alabama's version of question marks exist at the LB spots; the secondary must be rebuilt.
3 Wisconsin Badgers A returning efficient passer at QB, along with one of the nation's best RBs and OLs; plus a very good DC. This is Wisconsin's year to break into the Playoff, or they won't do it for a while - though they'll have to manage a tough schedule.
4 Washington Huskies Washington was sneaky very good last year, and doesn't have a lot to replace.
5 Ohio State Buckeyes They will drop if Meyer gets fired. They would've been 3rd, but the longer the investigation delays the more they drop. If Meyer does get fired, Tim Beck now controls their entire offense.
6 Auburn Tigers Less to replace than Georgia or Alabama, but less talent than either to do it, and less of a track record than Alabama at least. They've got to retool a running game that looked pretty bad without Kerryon Johnson, but most of the rest of the team comes back.
7 Georgia Bulldogs I think the young RBs and LBs are going to be good, but not good enough to replace 3 standout seniors - not yet. I think Roquan Smith was a bigger loss than the preseason articles are talking about. And that monster freshman class is still freshmen. They'll be very good - just not playoff level in 2018.
8 Penn State Nittany Lions They lost the flashy guys who look good winning football games (Barkley and DBs) but returned the guys that just win football games (the OL and DL). They could be a top 15 team in the country and not be a top 3 team in their division.
9 Oklahoma Sooners Losing Mayfield hurts - he was one of the best in CFB history after all - but the running game should return in a big way, and Lincoln Riley gets a full offseason as the Head Honcho. 
10 Miami Hurricanes They've certainly got talent - and are more talented than every team they play. But they were so inconsistent last year and I can't see that changing much. The DL needs work, and they return talent from an OL that wasn't spectacular last year. The skill positions and back 7 on D should be great though.
11 TCU Horned Frogs
12 Michigan State Spartans
13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
14 Michigan Wolverines Don Brown is a fantastic DC with a top-10 level defense. The questions are at QB - and I don't think Shea Patterson is a top-10 level answer.
15 Mississippi State Bulldogs Joe Moorhead is going to do well, and he's got the biggest piece in place to ensure a smooth transition - Nick Fitzgerald at QB is a steadying presence that will pull them forward, but is Shoop the guy to bring the defense up to NY6 level?
16 USC Trojans
17 LSU Tigers The talent they have...we'll know very quickly who they are after they play Miami in Week 1.
18 Florida State Seminoles They've got the talent to be good (at least by recruiting rankings). Last year gave them depth. This year could either be another year outside the top 25 or they'll be solidly in the top 15.
19 Stanford Cardinal Bryce Love is good on his own, David Shaw is a solid coach....don't think they're top 15 worthy yet though.
20 Navy Midshipmen Year 2 of Malcom Perry at QB - that's when option QBs take the biggest leap.
21 West Virginia Mountaineers
22 Virginia Tech Hokies Bud Foster is going to have to work magic with the Defensive backfield.
23 South Carolina Gamecocks
24 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mason Rudolph is a big loss, but Gundy has shown he can reload in the past.
25 Boston College Eagles The best RB in the ACC is in Boston - and he's fantastic.

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