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kamiller2020 Ballot for 2022 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 21, 2022, 5:45 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Preseason polls are always difficult, and this is no different. You can have Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio St. in any order and I wouldn't be bad. Clemson is in the weird middle ground as being the only team outside the top 3 who could likely compete with those schools for the crown, but having massive obvious flaws. 5-14 has no difference in my eyes and could be ordered any way you pleased. 15-40 is a lot of schools with the potential to have big years but teams I have no confidence in saying are better than the other. One or two of these teams in the late teens-UR is going to win 10-11 games and make me look like an idiot. One of the teams between 5-14 will make the playoffs and 2 will finish UR and make me look like an idiot. But this is what makes CFB fun. Here's to a great year!!

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide The fact this team got so close to a national championship is a testament to the culture and talent level that Alabama has is significantly better than anybody else's. With how many young players got significant time; this could be the scariest team on paper Saban's ever had. Bryce Young is legit, and with him are some of the best options on the transfer portal. Jermaine Burton and Tyler Harrell are going to have a big role on the offense, and Jahmyr Gibbs is in the conversation for best running back in college football. On defense, Will Anderson is the best defensive player in the country and with him are a ton of talented players. When Eli Ricks might not even start at CB this year, it shows you how good their secondary is and that same statement can be made along the defense. There are some concerns about the OLine, but overall you're not going to find a more balanced team in college football than the Tide with their talent level.
2 Georgia Bulldogs The defending national champions are being underrated? That's how I feel listening to the conversation surrounding the Bulldogs this year. With how strong the '21 defense was for Georgia and how much they dominated the draft, people seem to be forgetting what else is still in Athens. The Georgia offense is looking to be the best it's ever been under Kirby after a terrific year last season. Sure Stetson is a sexy NFL draft prospect, but the man is a solid college QB. And surrounding him is a war chest of options at WR and RB, plus the best TE room in the 21st century. The defense will take a step back, it's not possible to be as good as they were last year. However Nolan Smith returns, Tykee Smith returns, and Christopher Smith returns. And outside the 3 smiths, you also got Jalen Carter whose a potential top 5 NFL draft pick. The DBs should be better than last year's unit, and this will still be a top 3 defense if not the best. UGA absolutely has the guns to repeat as champions, and at the very least will be in the picture til the bitter end.
3 Ohio State Buckeyes This will be the best offense in the country by a landslide. #2 QB, #2 RB, #2 WR IMO all reside in Columbus you can make a powerful argument that all these guys are the best at their position. Baby Harrison is a 1st round pick, Egbuka and Fleming are potential 1st rounders. They have one of the best offensive lines in the country. Ohio State's offense can go blow for blow with anybody in the nation. The defense....different story. There's talent on this defense, but there's a reason they brought in Jim Knowles. Minnesota, Utah, Michigan, and Oregon were able to get huge plays in the running game against them last year and it's unknown whether they'll fix that issue. There's no standout defensive stud like in years past, and while Sawyer and Harrison could be that player we don't know that today. And last year the secondary was a tossup week to week. If the defense can play up to their recruiting then the Buckeyes will cakewalk into the national title game. Hell even if the defense struggles, this team can still win the whole thing. But until then I have them as the #3 team in the land.
4 Clemson Tigers I half want to pick Clemson to win the title because I think this team is going to play angry all year. Last year was a disappointment, and they have the talent to do better than 10-3. This is at worst, the 2nd best defense in college football in 2022. IMO, this is the 2nd best defensive unit Clemson has had under Swinney. The DLine is loaded, with Bryan Breese being the main headliner. There are 4-5 guys who will be playing on Sundays in the rotation, and that will give the other units on this defense time to grow. There's massive recruiting talent at DB and LB that Clemson just hasn't had til recently, and by the end of the season will be household names in the ACC. It's the offense that prevents this team from being obvious title contenders. DJ was horrendous after some good moments his freshman year. The WRs for the Tigers were pitiful, and the running game was completely unreliable. You just have to hope last year was due to some real inexperience at the skill positions and that these guys will all improve next year. The OL is solid, and even a serviceable offense will be good enough to compete for a title. If DJ or Klubnik is a real star, they vault back in the category of title frontrunners.
5 Utah Utes
6 Baylor Bears
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
8 Texas A&M Aggies
9 Michigan Wolverines
10 Oklahoma Sooners
11 Arkansas Razorbacks
12 Pittsburgh Panthers
13 Oklahoma State Cowboys
14 NC State Wolfpack
15 Kentucky Wildcats
16 Houston Cougars
17 Miami Hurricanes
18 Michigan State Spartans
19 Oregon Ducks
20 Cincinnati Bearcats
21 USC Trojans
22 Minnesota Golden Gophers
23 Ole Miss Rebels
24 Purdue Boilermakers
25 Tennessee Volunteers

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