Pre-Season College Football Ranking

Today I am releasing my first look at the college landscape a couple of months before the season begins. I will do my rankings different than what is commonly seen. Until late October I will not rank the teams I believe will make the playoff. So no matter how I have them posted until that time do not put too much stock into them they are unranked but teams I believe will make the playoff.

Not only will I show my rankings I will give my reasoning behind those rankings. I will also discuss any news that is going on.

Right now the major stories all come from the Big 12: Baylor and expansion.

Baylor is going to be a dumpster fire this year. They may win more games than they should solely because of team unity but with all the turmoil going on at the school do not be surprised to see the bottom fall out on them.

It is believed that the Big 12 will try to add 2-4 teams. Houston seems like the obvious add as the Texas schools are behind it. BYU seems like a logical choice as well depending on whether or not BYU wants to join a conference. One school that may get a surprise invite would be Memphis. One major reason, UPS is putting their stamp on Memphis and has already told the Big 12 that if they add Memphis they will sponsor the Championship game. That could be extremely enticing to the powers in the conference as they would not need to shop around for a sponsor.

Sources say that it should be completed by the beginning of the season but we have been down this road before. I would be more surprised if they add teams than if they decide to wait.

RANKINGS

PLAYOFF TEAMS

Oklahoma

This team could potentially be better than last years team which is saying a lot. If "Big game" Bob Stoops can show up again after more than a decade of being absent (outside of the thrashing of an Alabama team that didn't want to be there in the Sugar Bowl) there's not reason not to believe that they will win the whole thing. Being in a fairly non-competitive Big 12 will help. Outside of Oklahoma State and TCU there is not much else.

Alabama

There is no reason not to believe that Alabama will miss the playoffs again this year. There is always a chance to slip up with games at Ole Miss, Arkansas, and LSU. However, they are reigning national champs so they will stay high until someone beats them

Clemson

This team is just as talented as last years team. There is a decent chance that we could see a repeat of the National Championship game.

Oregon

This is my dark horse team this year. Their toughest non-conference game will be on the road against Nebraska. Their conference schedule sets up nicely with only USC and Utah being potential slip ups on the road.

5. LSU

I am not sold on LSU at all. They definitely have the talent but the coaching has been very suspect the last few years. If the coaching can match the talent expect them to be in the playoff. If not expect a coaching search at the end of the season.

6. Ohio State

Ohio State can play their way into the playoff if they can avoid late season losses like last year.

7. Florida State

The winner of the Atlantic Division of the ACC (Florida St or Clemson) will have an inside track on the playoffs.

8. Florida

Everyone believes that Florida will have a down season, which is possible. However, the SEC East may be the weakest division of the Power 5 and even in a down year they could still win the division and give the West champs a run for their money.

9. Louisville

Let us face facts, their head coach (Bobby Petrino) may be one of the morally bankrupt people in the country but as a coach he is top notch. He took an Arkansas school that routinely finished near the bottom of the conference to a top 5 school competing for a BCS bowl (this before his motorcycle wreck that brought his mistress that he had illegally hired into the forefront). The team is talented, the coach is talented. They could be a surprise dark horse team this year.

10. Michigan State

A surprise playoff team last year, the breaks will not fall their way this year but they also will not be a horrible team this year.

11. Michigan

This team is probably a year away from being a playoff team, but it would not surprise anyone if they manage it this year.

12. Tennessee

Probably the most overrated team this year. Most pre-season polls have them either a playoff team or just outside of it. Yes they are in a weak division but they do have some tough teams on their schedule. I do not doubt that they will be good this year but not playoff good.

13. Arkansas

Arkansas is almost routinely has a top 5 hardest schedule in the country. That is part of playing in the West Conference of the SEC. They have the murder's row of Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida, and LSU back to back. Fortunately for them only Auburn is on the road. In a year that they have one of the best home schedules in their history, expect them to surprise a lot of people. I do not expect them to win all of those games but they have a good chance to win the majority of them.

14. Miami

They are an improving team and benefit from being in the weaker division of the ACC.

15. Wisconsin

Always good I do not expect them to give away games this year.

16. Oklahoma State

Along with Oklahoma they are the cream of the crop in the Big 12. Oklahoma is just better.

17. Notre Dame

Notre Dame will get off to a fast start with what should be an easy victory against Texas and then hold on for the rest of the season.

18. Ole Miss

Ole Miss could quickly go from an elite SEC school to a dumpster fire depending on what happens with the coach. There is talk that he could be suspended. How his team responds if he is decides the season.

19. Houston

In what could be an audition year for the Cougars they will keep winning with a good system.

20. Boise State

They have rebuilt and will make noise again. Some have predicted an undefeated season. We shall see.

21. USC

The game against Alabama could be a predictor of their season. A close loss or a win could propel them this season. A blow out loss and their season ends before it really even begins.

22. Iowa

They have had a few good seasons do not expect that to change anytime soon.

23. TCU

They will be tested early with a home game against Arkansas but outside of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State the rest of the schedule sets up nicely.

24. North Carolina

They should be fairly competitive this year in the Coastal Division.

25. Nebraska

Nebraska will benefit from probably the easiest home schedule in the country. Outside of Oregon none of their home games should really be close. However, back to back road games against Ohio State and Wisconsin and a road game against Iowa will keep them out of any Top Ten or Twenty talk. Their schedule is just not great and they should benefit from it.