College Football Polls

Week 2 of the college football season lacked any major upsets at the top of the rankings, but the week wasn't without its intrigue. That left the college football coaches with some interesting decisions to make in their Week 3 Amway Coaches Poll.  

Below, we'll review those rankings and take a look back on the big storylines from the weekend. 

                         

Poll

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Georgia

4. Ohio State

5. Oklahoma

6. Wisconsin

7. Auburn

8. Notre Dame

9. Stanford

10. Penn State

11. Virginia Tech

12. Washington

13. LSU

14. TCU

15. West Virginia

16. Mississippi State

17. Boise State

18. UCF

19. Oklahoma State

20. Miami

21. USC

22. Michigan

23. Oregon

24. Michigan State

25. Arizona State 

                              

Analysis

There was never likely to be much movement atop the rankings this week. Alabama cruised. Georgia put South Carolina away in the third quarter. Ohio State was never bothered by Rutgers. After a shaky first half, Wisconsin smoked New Mexico. Oklahoma was too much for UCLA. Auburn, Washington and Penn State all won easily.

But there were some interesting results that threatened to shake up the rankings, none more so than Clemson's narrow 28-26 win over Texas A&M. The Aggies had their chances to pull even late in the fourth quarter. However, Quartney Davis fumbled into the end zone for a touchback after being tackled just before the goal line, and Texas A&M couldn't convert a potential game-tying two-point conversion in the dying moments. 

Nonetheless, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney came away impressed with Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond—and less impressed with his defense's ability to stop him.  

"I was really impressed by their quarterback ... we didn't do a great job of containing him," Swinney said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "Even when we had the perfect call, we would be on the wrong shoulder, he would spin out, and next thing you know, he's throwing some dang touchdown pass in the end zone. He's a heck of a player."

It was a test for Clemson, but one it survived. Notre Dame found itself holding on for dear life as well, narrowly beating Ball State, 24-16, despite holding a 24-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

"I obviously didn't do a good enough job getting them up to play at the level they need to play," head coach Brian Kelly said of his players, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "Ball State did a great job coming into this game and doing what it needed to do. Their preparation was great, their coaching was better."

"Hats off to Ball State," Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill added. "They came here and competed."

Out West, meanwhile, Stanford had to grind against rival USC, holding on for a 17-3 victory in a win that could set the tone for the Pac-12 season. Bryce Love kicked off his Heisman campaign in the victory, rushing 22 times for 136 yards and a score.

Stanford will still have to get through teams like Washington and Oregon in the Pac-12 North in its quest to win the conference. But beating USC was a strong indication that the Cardinal are a team to be reckoned with this season. 

A number of teams will be aiming to prove they're to be reckoned with as well next week, with LSU vs. Auburn, Boise State vs. Oklahoma State, Alabama vs. Ole Miss, Ohio State vs. TCU, USC vs. Texas and Washington vs. Utah highlighting an exciting slate of contests.

After rolling to a season-opening 51-14 victory over Louisville, Alabama has retained its position as the No. 1 team in the nation in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches poll.

Both polls agree on the top four picks, as Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State follow the Crimson Tide. Notice that the Buckeyes jumped in front of Wisconsin after the Badgers ranked fourth in last week's preseason rankings.

The two polls differentiate at that point, as Wisconsin is fifth in the AP poll, while Oklahoma moved into that spot in the coaches poll.

Auburn and Notre Dame rank seventh and eighth in both polls. Washington and Stanford are ninth and 10th in the AP poll, while Stanford and Penn State are in those positions in the coaches poll.

Here's a link to the two polls, which were released Tuesday following Virginia Tech's overpowering 24-3 victory Monday night over Florida State.

      

AP Poll

1. Alabama, 1-0
2. Clemson, 1-0
3. Georgia, 1-0
4. Ohio State, 1-0
5. Wisconsin, 1-0
6. Oklahoma, 1-0
7. Auburn, 1-0 1
8. Notre Dame, 1-0
9. Washington, 0-1
10. Stanford, 1-0
11. LSU, 1-0
12. Virginia Tech, 1-0
13. Penn State, 1-0
14. West Virginia, 1-0
15. Michigan State, 1-0
16. TCU, 1-0
17. USC, 1-0
18. Mississippi State, 1-0
19. UCF, 1-0
20. Boise State, 1-0
21. Michigan, 0-1
22. Miami, 0-1
23. Oregon, 1-0
24. South Carolina, 1-0
25. Florida, 1-0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phr8xSAblQ4

The biggest movers in the poll were LSU and Virginia Tech. The Tigers opened the season with a 33-17 victory over the Miami Hurricanes and moved up from the No. 25 spot. Virginia Tech moved up eight spots to No. 12 as a result of its road win over the Seminoles.

Miami fell dramatically as a result of that loss, going from No. 8 to No. 22. The Seminoles fell out of the Top 25, as did Texas following its second consecutive season-opening loss to the Maryland Terrapins.

Alabama received 48 first-place votes in the AP poll, while Clemson was supported by 12 voters and Wisconsin had one first-place vote.

The Crimson Tide received 59 first-place votes in the coaches poll. Clemson had three votes for the top spot, while Ohio State had one.

South Carolina and Florida were voted into the No. 24 and 25 spots in the AP poll after being ignored initially. The Gamecocks started the season with a 49-15 victory over Coastal Carolina, while the Gators opened their year with a 53-6 romp over Charleston Southern.

There could be some movement in the poll next week. While the Crimson Tide have what should be an easy game coming up at home against Arkansas State, Clemson faces a solid test as it goes on the road against Texas A&M. The Aggies are unranked, but they are coming off a 59-7 win over Northwestern State.

Georgia also faces a tough test as the Bulldogs go on the road to take on the Gamecocks. Ohio State does not have that kind of challenge, as the Buckeyes host Rutgers. 

Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson knows his team is up against a powerful opponent in the Crimson Tide, but the coach spoke about the experience of playing Alabama on its home turf.

"There's nothing like going to Tuscaloosa against the No. 1-ranked team in the country," Anderson said on his weekly TV show, per Stats LLC (h/t ESPN). "They put a pretty good beating on Louisville. You live for these opportunities."

No matter what happens against Alabama, Anderson and the Red Wolves are likely to grow considerably from the experience.  

The first week of the 2018 college football season is in the books, and while most of the matchups on the schedule were one-sided affairs for the nation's top teams, there were a few notable matchups.

There was also plenty of shuffling in the polls relative to where things stood in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll and the preseason AP Poll.

Here's the updated Top 25 in each poll, with a look at how many spots each team climbed or fell:

    

AP Poll

1. Alabama (1-0)

2. Clemson (1-0)

3. Georgia (1-0)

4. Ohio State (1-0) +1

5. Wisconsin (1-0) -1

6. Oklahoma (1-0) +1

7. Auburn (1-0) +2

8. Notre Dame (1-0) +4

9. Washington (0-1) -3

10. Stanford (1-0) +3

11. LSU (1-0) +14

12. Virginia Tech (1-0) +8

13. Penn State (1-0) -3

14. West Virginia (1-0) +3

15. Michigan State (1-0) -4

16. TCU (1-0)

17. USC (1-0) -2

18. Mississippi State (1-0)

19. Central Florida (1-0) +2

20. Boise State (1-0) +2

21. Michigan (0-1) -7

22. Miami (0-1) -14

23. Oregon (1-0) +1

24. South Carolina (1-0) NR

25. Florida (1-0) NR

     

Amway Coaches Poll

1. Alabama (1-0)

2. Clemson (1-0)

3. Georgia (1-0) +1

4. Ohio State (1-0) -1

5. Oklahoma (1-0)

6. Wisconsin (1-0) +1

7. Auburn (1-0) +3

8. Notre Dame (1-0) +3

9. Stanford (1-0) +4

10. Penn State (1-0) -1

11. Washington (0-1) -5

12. USC (1-0) +3

13. Michigan State (1-0) -1

14. Virginia Tech (1-0) +3

15. LSU (1-0) +9

16. TCU (1-0)

17. West Virginia (1-0) +3

18. Mississippi State (1-0)

19. Boise State (1-0) +3

20. Central Florida (1-0) +3

21. Miami (0-1) -13

22. Michigan (0-1) -8

23. Oklahoma State (1-0) +2

24. South Carolina (1-0) NR

25. Florida (1-0) NR

     

Biggest Risers

LSU (+14 in AP, +9 in Amway): The Tigers were the big risers of Week 1, thanks to a decisive 33-17 victory over a higher-ranked Miami team. Nick Brossette (22 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD) led the way for LSU on offense, Cole Tracy kicked four field goals and Jacob Phillips returned an interception for a touchdown.

     

Virginia Tech (+8 in AP, +3 in Amway): Virginia Tech went on the road and throttled ACC foe Florida State in a 24-3 victory. The Hokies picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles to help keep the Seminoles out of the end zone. Redshirt sophomore Josh Jackson (16-for-26, 207 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) got off to a nice start in his second season as the team's starting quarterback.

      

Notre Dame (+4 in AP, +3 in Amway): In the most talked about matchup of Week 1, Notre Dame dispatched Michigan with a 24-17 victory at home. The Fighting Irish jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter and the defense did the rest. A strip sack from Jerry Tillery and fumble recovery from Te'von Coney with 46 seconds to go sealed the win.

           

Biggest Fallers

Miami (-14 in AP, -13 in Amway): After a 10-0 start last season, the Hurricanes stumbled out of the gates this year with a 33-17 loss to LSU and they took a precipitous slide down both rankings as a result. Malik Rosier (15-for-35, 259 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) struggled under center, the running game averaged just 2.4 yards per carry and the team committed 11 penalties totaling 85 yards. A rough start all around for Miami.

    

Michigan (-7 in AP, -8 in Amway): Playing on the road at Notre Dame is a tough way to start the season, and the final score was close (24-17), but that didn't stop the Wolverines from tumbling down the rankings in both polls. It was a lackluster debut for quarterback Shea Patterson (20-of-30, 227 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT).

    

New to the Rankings

South Carolina: The Gamecocks were the No. 26 team in both preseason polls, so it's no surprise to see them quickly jump into the rankings. They skated to a 49-15 victory over Coastal Carolina in their opener, outgaining the Chanticleers by a staggering 557 to 243 margin in total yards. A tough test awaits South Carolina next week, as they'll take on national title hopeful Georgia.

     

Florida: Similarly, the Gators were the No. 27 team in both preseason polls. They also cruised to victory over a cupcake opponent, demolishing Charleston Southern by a score of 53-6. Sophomore Feleipe Franks tossed five touchdown passes and the Gators added another 203 yards on the ground.

     

No Longer Ranked

Florida State (No. 19 in AP, No. 19 in Amway): The Seminoles couldn't come away with the win in new head coach Willie Taggert's debut. They turned the ball over five times and managed a lone field goal on offense in an ugly 24-3 loss to Virginia Tech.

     

Texas (No. 23 in AP, No 21 in Amway): While Florida State is still among the "others receiving votes" in both polls, Texas is now nowhere to be found after a 34-29 loss to Maryland. The Terrapins went 4-8 last season and were picked to finish 12th in the Big Ten by ESPN.com. 

The college football season is about to begin in earnest this weekend. The new season starts in a similar manner to the way the old one finished, with teams like Alabama, Georgia and Clemson at the top.

It may seem fairly clear that these three are the best teams in the country and that all will be in the College Football Playoffs at the end of the season, but factors like injuries, upsets, internal problems and overachieving opponents will have an impact on the season.

All three are great teams, but none of them has assurances that the season will play out as expected. The initial Associated Press poll was released last week, and changes aren't likely to be observed until after the upcoming weekend of games. 

Some of the top games this week include Washington-Auburn (at Atlanta), Michigan at Notre Dame, Miami at LSU and Virginia Tech at Florida State.

Here's a look at the initial poll that was released last week. 

AP Preseason Top 25

1. Alabama 
2. Clemson 
3. Georgia 
4. Wisconsin 
5. Ohio State 
6. Washington 
7. Oklahoma 
8. Miami (FL) 
9. Auburn 
10. Penn State 
11. Michigan State 
12. Notre Dame 
13. Stanford 
14. Michigan 
15. USC 
16. TCU 
17. West Virginia 
18. Mississippi State 
19. Florida State 
20. Virginia Tech 
21. UCF 
22. Boise State 
23. Texas 
24. Oregon 
25. LSU

Wisconsin, Ohio State and Washington follow the top three teams and all have a chance for memorable seasons.

The Badgers have an excellent chance to represent the Western Conference of the Big Ten and then go on to play for postseason honor by winning the Big Ten Championship game and moving on to the College Football Playoffs.

The Badgers return a solid offense that includes all five members of the offensive line. David Edwards, Beau Benzschawel and Michael Deiter all earned individual honors last year, and that's good news for Wisconsin's skill-position players. 

Alex Hornibrook has shown steady improvement at the quarterback position, throwing for 2,644 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago. Head coach Paul Chryst would like to see him cut down on his interceptions, as he threw 15 picks last season.

Running back Jonathan Taylor is the team's star after breaking the 100-yard mark 10 times last year, including breaking the 200-yard mark on three occasions. Look for Taylor to pick up where he left off and also show skill as a receiver out of the backfield.

Quintez Cephus could become a star at wide receiver after catching 30 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns despite missing five games with a leg injury. Cephus is joined by fellow wideouts A.J. Taylor, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor.

Ohio State has had some off-the-field difficulties involving the coaching staff, and head coach Urban Meyer will not be on the sidelines for the first three games against Oregon State, Rutgers and TCU. 

While the team will feel his absence, there's no reason the Buckeyes can't get through those games with victories. Once Meyer is back on the sidelines, the Buckeyes should be operating at full speed with running back J.K. Dobbins (1,403 rushing yards), wide receiver Parris Campbell (40 receptions for 584 yards and four touchdowns) and defensive end Nick Bosa (8.5 sacks) setting the tone.

Dobbins and Mike Weber (626 yards, 10 TDs) should once again give the Buckeyes a formidable running game. Weber is tough and productive, but Dobbins is an explosive game changer. 

Washington will get a huge test right off the bat with its opener against Auburn, and much of Washington's success will depend on how well quarterback Jake Browning performs. 

The veteran quarterback has seen it all in his career with the Huskies, but the Auburn defense looks formidable, something that head coach Chris Petersen acknowledged.

"I look at Auburn on defense and it seems very Alabama-ish to me," Petersen said Sunday, per Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. "It's that physical style, that really athletic—they don't give you anything. You have to earn everything."

Even if Washington loses that game, the Huskies will have 11 more games to right their ship and prove they belong among the nation's most elite teams.  

Alabama's position as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press college football preseason poll is nearly as predictable as clockwork.

The Crimson Tide has Nick Saban on the sidelines, and his presence means that Alabama will almost always be among the top recruiting teams in the nation. However, once Saban gets his hands on those players, he finds a way to make the great players even better.

That's why Alabama is in the top spot, followed by Clemson, Georgia and Wisconsin.

The presence of a Big Ten school not named Ohio State in the top four may be the biggest surprise.

Here's a look at the preseason AP poll, along with Twitter reaction to some of the selections.

         

AP Preseason Top 25

1. Alabama 

2. Clemson 

3. Georgia 

4. Wisconsin 

5. Ohio State 

6. Washington 

7. Oklahoma 

8. Miami (FL) 

9. Auburn 

10. Penn State 

11. Michigan State 

12. Notre Dame 

13. Stanford 

14. Michigan 

15. USC 

16. TCU 

17. West Virginia 

18. Mississippi State 

19. Florida State 

20. Virginia Tech 

21. UCF 

22. Boise State 

23. Texas 

24. Oregon 

25. LSU

This is the third straight season Alabama has started the year as the No. 1 team in the nation, and that puts the Crimson Tide in with elite company.

Alabama is the first team since Oklahoma (from 1985-1987) to start at the top of the AP Top 25 in three straight seasons. Full story by @ralphDrussoAP: https://t.co/2gLTFFzdlQ

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 20, 2018

Clemson has become nearly as big a name in college football as Alabama, and the No. 2 ranking is impressive for the Tigers. They have never been higher than that in any previous preseason ranking. Quarterback Kelly Bryant is sure to play a key role in the team's pursuit of a spot in the College Football Playoffs at the end of the season.

https://twitter.com/ClemsonFB/status/1031577409605312513

CLEMSON FOOTBALL: Bryant out front as QBs showing big improvement https://t.co/E0w02yWuSv

— Zach Lentz (@Zach_AllClemson) August 18, 2018

Clemson looks to continue a remarkable NCAA record streak under Dabo Swinney. For the last 7 years, the Tigers have never finished the season ranked lower in the final AP poll compared to their preseason ranking. That could be tough this year: the Tigers start out at No. 2

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 20, 2018

Georgia is not the least bit satisfied with being recognized as a team that had a brilliant 2017 season and made it to the college football title game a year ago. The Bulldogs came close to winning the championship, building a 13-point lead before succumbing to Alabama in overtime.

The AP voters recognize the Bulldogs as a powerhouse, voting them as the No. 3 team in the nation.

BREAKING: The Georgia Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the nation in the AP Preseason Top 25! What do you think of their ranking? Too high, low, just right?? 🏈

FULL TOP 25: https://t.co/3Q6JMorMEn pic.twitter.com/y2FU0RwOhZ

— Game Day on 2 (@GameDayOn2) August 20, 2018

While the coaches' poll had Ohio State as the No. 3 team, the AP preseason poll went with the Wisconsin Badgers as the nation's No. 4 team. The Buckeyes are a consistent college football powerhouse, but the Urban Meyer investigation will almost certainly be an issue this season.

It was an auspicious day for the Big Ten, which saw five of its teams highly ranked.

.@OhioState starts the season with a No. 5 ranking as they start their quest to repeat as Big Ten champions.

What do you think of @OhioStateFB's rank? https://t.co/MKLIHEj8F8 pic.twitter.com/UBQr2dHXSk

— Dayton 24/7 Now (@dayton247now) August 20, 2018

https://twitter.com/SchutteCFB/status/1031574339987165185

Washington received the most respect out of the Pac-12, falling in as the No. 6 team. It would not be a shock if the Huskies made it to the College Football Playoff, especially if they can open the season with a win over Auburn in the season opener. Stanford, USC and Oregon also represent the conference in the Top 25.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2018: Huskies lead Pac-12 favorites in search of league redemption. @gregbeacham https://t.co/UrlnXNddvk

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 19, 2018

Notre Dame has made it all the way to No. 12, but it will be awfully tough for the Fighting Irish to maintain such a ranking this year with its brutal schedule. Notre Dame faces Michigan, Stanford, Northwestern, Florida State and USC this year, and going 3-2 in that span would be a tremendous achievement for Brian Kelly's team.

The Irish come in at No. 12 in the Pre-Season AP Poll. #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/U9W5Ftz6Pc

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 20, 2018

 

Alabama is the top team in the nation, according to the Associated Press preseason poll, and that positioning is not the least bit surprising.

When the regular season comes to an end and the top four teams are awarded spots in the College Football Playoff, it would be a shock if the Crimson Tide is not in the postseason tournament once again.

Nick Saban is the top coach in college football, and with each passing season, he makes an even stronger argument to be ranked among the greatest head coaches the sport has ever seen.

In addition to the braintrust on the Alabama sidelines, the Crimson Tide is loaded with talent. In addition to having a slew of starters who are likely to be considered for the next level at some point in their career, Alabama also has the depth that allows them to overcome injuries or a rare disappointing performance.

The big question is which teams are going to join the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff.

Clemson starts the season as the No. 2 team, and the Tigers should have an excellent chance of getting into the playoffs. Georgia, the team that had a 13-point lead over Alabama in the championship game, checks in at No. 3 in the AP poll, while Wisconsin is the No. 4 team.

Here's how the initial poll played out, and we take a look at the four teams we think will emerge as college football's Final Four.

           

AP Preseason Top 25

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Washington
7. Oklahoma
8. Miami (FL)
9. Auburn
10. Penn State
11. Michigan State
12. Notre Dame
13. Stanford
14. Michigan
15. USC
16. TCU
17. West Virginia
18. Mississippi State
19. Florida State
20. Virginia Tech
21. UCF
22. Boise State
23. Texas
24. Oregon
25. LSU

            

Predicted College Football Playoff teams

While the Crimson Tide is the No. 1 team and a sure bet to compete in the College Football Playoff, there are issues with this team.

The quarterback position is still undecided between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts has the experience edge and performed quite well in Saturday's scrimmage, but he may have a hard time beating out Tagovailoa.

That's because Saban remembers that Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide back from the deficit in last year's title game. He also has the stronger arm of the two, and when it comes to making big plays, Tagovailoa can use his rocket arm to jump-start the Alabama offense.

"We made a lot more explosive plays today, were a lot more consistent on offense, took care of the ball pretty well," Saban said after Saturday's scrimmage, per Charlie Potter of 247Sports. "Both quarterbacks played well. ... We had a couple two-minute situations at the end of the game that we were successful at."

Senior running back Damien Harris should provide a dependable threat in the running game, and there's no reason to think the Crimson Tide won't have their usual array of defensive studs who can dominate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYytRJ9eyTM

Clemson has become nearly as dependable a performer as Alabama in college football. 

Head coach Dabo Swinney always finds a way to get the most out of his team, and if they ever suffer an early-season loss, he finds a way to get the most out of his team the following week. There is no such thing as a slump as far as the Tigers are concerned.

Clemson has its own quarterback battle between senior Kelly Bryant and true freshman Trevor Lawrence, but it would be a surprise if Bryant didn't win the battle. Lawrence is quite talented and will see the field, but the team will depend on Bryant. 

The Tigers also need a big year from running back Travis Etienne, who has the speed and explosiveness to make a run at the Heisman Trophy. Etienne ran for 766 yards a year ago, and he averaged 7.2 yards per carry while scoring 13 touchdowns.

The defense is keyed by pass-rushers Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, who combined for 33.5 tackles for loss and 18.0 sacks a year ago.

Georgia is not going quietly into the night, either. The Bulldogs have one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the nation in Jake Fromm, who came within a few inches and seconds of winning the national title as a freshman.

Fromm threw for 2,615 yards with a 24-7 TD-interception ratio last year, and he showed great awareness and patience in the pocket. 

Fromm won't have Nick Chubb or Sony Michel behind him this year, but the aptly named D'Andre Swift ran for 618 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, and he looks like a star.

The defense will have a hard time adapting to life without star linebacker Roquan Smith, but the secondary looks strong. Safety Jake Reed could turn out to be a game-changer.

While Wisconsin slots in as the No. 4 team and appears to be the best team in the Big Ten West, head coach Paul Chryst has tough road games coming up at Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State. They could lose at least two of them, and that would clearly eliminate them from title contention.

Don't count out the Miami Hurricanes from nailing down one of the CFP spots.

The Hurricanes started out with a 10-0 record, and Mark Richt should have a mature team that can handle the pressure. Miami lost its next three games after that brilliant getaway, and the Hurricanes should be able to avoid a painful slump at the end of the year.

Wide receiver Ahmmon Richards has a chance to be one of the best at his position, while running back Travis Homer is also solid.

The team's powerful defense looks just as nasty as it was a year ago. Led by brilliant All-ACC cornerback Michael Jackson, the defense should be able to take the ball away from opponents with great frequency.

The Associated Press released its first poll of the 2018 college football season Monday, with a number of familiar teams atop the rankings.

Below, we'll go through the poll and take a look at the teams that compose the top of the rankings.

            

Rankings

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Georgia

4. Wisconsin

5. Ohio State

6. Washington

7. Oklahoma

8. Miami

9. Auburn

10. Penn State

11. Michigan State

12. Notre Dame

13. Stanford

14. Michigan

15. USC

16. TCU

17. West Virginia

18. Mississippi State

19. Florida State

20. Virginia Tech

21. UCF

22. Boise State

23. Texas

24. Oregon

25. LSU

                  

Analysis

There aren't many surprises atop the rankings, with all four of last year's playoff teams in the top seven.

Alabama, unsurprisingly, is No. 1 overall. Offensively, the Crimson Tide have two quarterbacks in Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts who are good enough to start for most teams and a deep group of running backs, led by Damien Harris and Najee Harris, who should pound the rock and wear down opposing defenses.

Defensively, the Crimson Tide lost a slew of starters, but as always, the team is loaded with young talent to replace the departing players. Bet against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide at your own peril.

Clemson is loaded too, led by a defensive line that could be one of the best college football has seen in quite some time. Defensive ends Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell and defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence are all studs who should dominate most offensive lines.

As if that wasn't enough, the Tigers also return quarterback Kelly Bryant and many of their top weapons from the 2017 season. Last year was supposed to be something of a rebuilding year for Clemson after it lost a number of key players, including quarterback Deshaun Watson. Instead, the Tigers made the College Football Playoff.

They should be scary good in 2018.

Georgia lost its two best running backs and some talented players throughout the roster, but no matter. The Bulldogs are loaded once more, led by quarterback Jake Fromm, running back D'Andre Swift and a talented defense highlighted by cornerback Deandre Baker and defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter.

Ohio State's season will ultimately be defined by the ongoing Urban Meyer investigation, but on the field the Buckeyes once again have talent up and down the roster. Even in a tough Big Ten—Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan will all be good—they should be the class of the conference.

Oklahoma's season, meanwhile, will largely hinge on the quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and Austin Kendall and how Baker Mayfield's replacement fares. Whoever wins the job will be surrounded by talent, from a fantastic offensive line to playmakers like Rodney Anderson, Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb.

The Sooners will score points in bunches this season. As usual.

As for the other contenders, Washington should be the class of the Pac-12 this season, while Miami likely will be Clemson's tightest competition in the ACC. But don't be surprised if this year's playoff ends up looking very similar to last year's edition.

It would be a shocker if any school other than Alabama is in the top spot when the Associated Press preseason college football rankings are announced Monday.

However, when the official list comes out at noon ET, there are questions about how the next three teams will land.

Georgia lost to Alabama in overtime in last year's national championship game, and the Bulldogs are coming off an excellent recruiting offseason. Clemson has raised its profile dramatically in recent years, and the Tigers were ranked in the No. 2 spot in the Coaches Poll earlier in August. 

The Ohio State Buckeyes also figure to be in the mix, and one of those three teams is likely to be in the second spot behind Alabama.

                     

Projected AP Top 25 Poll

1. Alabama 
2. Clemson 
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State 
5. Washington 
6. Miami 
7. Auburn 
8. Wisconsin 
9. Oklahoma
10. Notre Dame 
11. Penn State 
12. Michigan State 
13. Stanford
14. Michigan
15. Virginia Tech 
16. Mississippi State 
17. USC 
18. Boise State 
19. Florida State
20. Texas 
21. Oregon 
22. TCU
23. Florida 
24. West Virginia 
25. Texas A&M

             

Even though the Crimson Tide are likely to be in the top spot, there are still significant questions about Nick Saban's team. The biggest issue revolves around the quarterback position, where Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa continue to battle for the starting position before the season starts against Louisville on September 1.

Tagovailoa threw three TD passes in the CFP National Championship in January, including the game-winner in the extra session. Tagovailoa seems like the favorite to win the job because of that performance, and he also looked like the better quarterback in Alabama's first scrimmage.

However, Hurts came back with a strong showing in the Crimson Tide's second scrimmage, and while no official statistics were released for their performance Saturday, Saban liked what he saw from the offense throughout the day and both quarterbacks.

"We made a lot more explosive plays today, were a lot more consistent on offense, took care of the ball pretty well," Saban said, per Charlie Potter of 247Sports. "Both quarterbacks played well. ... We had a couple two-minute situations at the end of the game that we were successful at."

Tagovailoa started the scrimmage, and the two quarterbacks alternated possessions with the rest of the starters after that. Hurts was much better than he had been in the earlier scrimmage, according to Potter's report.

Saban and the coaching staff will have a tough decision to make at the QB1 position, but there appears to be an excellent chance that both quarterbacks will see action against Louisville and in other early-season games against Arkansas State and Ole Miss before the situation is resolved.

SPE Elite Camp Alumni All-American
Travis Etienne RB from Clemson is next up for Heisman. Proud of this young man right here. He ran one fast 40 at SPE Elite Camp. He has that #HungerForMore attitude @swaggy_t1 @Lloydbanks @gotmix https://t.co/lK6LuOUKzZ pic.twitter.com/4vSADlwCVU

— 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫-𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 (@specamps) August 15, 2018

Clemson has its own quarterback battle between returning senior Kelly Bryant and true freshman Trevor Lawrence.

Bryant has the edge and is likely to start for the Tigers, but Lawrence is a talented player whom the coaching staff wants to get on the field. Both quarterbacks are likely to see action throughout the season, according to Shawn Spencer of FanSided.

The running game features Travis Etienne, who has a chance to be a Heisman Trophy candidate this season. Etienne ran for 766 yards last year with 13 touchdowns, and he averaged a robust 7.2 yards per carry.

The defense will provide the signature for this team, and much of its talent comes from defensive ends Clelin Ferrell (18.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks) and Austin Bryant (15.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks), both of whom can take over at key moments.

Georgia has unfinished business after coming so close to winning the national championship last season. The Bulldogs had a 13-point lead in the second half, but they could not prevent Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide from coming back to take the title.

Quarterback Jake Fromm has an excellent chance to become a star after throwing for 2,615 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2017.

Sophomore running back D'Andre Swift inherits takes over from Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, and he averaged 7.6 yards per carry a year ago while running for 618 yards.

The defense will be tested with the loss of linebacker Roquan Smith, but the Bulldogs have strength in the secondary with cornerback Deandre Bake and safety J.R. Reed.

Ohio State comes into the season with the Urban Meyer situation making headlines (Meyer is on administrative leave as a result of an investigation into how he handled domestic abuse allegations against assistant coach Zach Smith), but the explosiveness on the field is impressive.

The Buckeyes have plenty of talent in quarterback Dwayne Haskins, wide receiver Parris Campbell and running back J.K. Dobbins.

The Buckeyes may be even better on defense, with Nick Bosa dominating from the defensive end position. Bosa had 34 tackles, 16.9 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks a year ago and two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

He can take over a game at any time, and at 6'4" and 270 pounds, he has the tools to win All-America honors this season and make NFL scouts take notice.

Once again, Alabama is in the top spot in college football.

The Crimson Tide are loaded for another run at the national title in the minds of college football coaches who voted them to their lofty perch in Thursday's preseason Amway Top 25 poll.

Surprise, surprise! Look who's back on top of the @AmwayUS Coaches Poll. Check out the complete preseason top 25: https://t.co/jGlsuqpc2z pic.twitter.com/3vjWCT883w

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) August 2, 2018

This is the fifth straight year that Alabama has entered the season in the top spot, and while that may look like the coaches have rubber-stamped the Crimson Tide to that position, head coach Nick Saban has a team that is loaded with talent and he has proven his worth as one of the game's all-time best coaches.

     

Amway Coaches Poll

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. Washington
7. Wisconsin
8. Miami
9. Penn State
10. Auburn
11. Notre Dame
12. Michigan State
13. Stanford
14. Michigan
15. Southern California
16. TCU
17. Virginia Tech
18. Mississippi State
19. Florida State
20. West Virginia
21. Texas
22. Boise State
23. Central Florida
24. LSU
25. Oklahoma State

    

Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia follow at Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and if those teams maintain their spots at the end of the season, they would conceivably join Alabama in college football's version of the Final Four: the College Football Playoff.

However, it would be highly unlikely for the season to play out just the way the coaches predicted.

If Alabama wasn't such a dominant team, there might be a boatload of criticism from any one of the contending schools, saying their team should be ranked at the top. That's not the case this year, but Clemson's Orange and White pointed out that the Tigers have consistently exceeded expectations:

JUST IN: The @AmwayUS Coaches Poll has arrived, and @ClemsonFB is #2.

Find out who makes up this year’s preseason top 25.https://t.co/THTNNFQ1uI

— Orange and White (@orangeandwhite) August 2, 2018

Georgia made it all the way to overtime of the national championship game last year, and the Bulldogs have a powerful quarterback-running back combination in Jake Fromm and D'Andre Swift. Seth Emerson of The Athletic points out that the Bulldogs have not seen this kind of respect in a decade:

Georgia comes in at No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll. That’s the highest preseason rank since UGA was No. 1 in 2008. https://t.co/SYCgj5pmy2

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) August 2, 2018

USA Today college football writer Paul Myerberg pointed out that the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten and the Big 12 were all receiving quite a bit of respect from the coaches:

https://twitter.com/PaulMyerberg/status/1025056817385226241

Michigan is the fifth of five Big Ten schools in the poll, as they are behind Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State. The Wolverines face a brutal schedule, and it may be tough for Michigan to maintain its position, as Zach Shaw of CBS points out:

Michigan will open the season 14th in the Coaches Poll. With five opponents inside the top 12, staying there will be tough for the Wolverines.https://t.co/sqWidYjMr1 pic.twitter.com/dxmDir2Ipy

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 2, 2018

UCF had an undefeated team last year and the Knights and issued a well-publicized challenge to Alabama at the end of the season. 

Reason No. 130 why there’s no complacency around here. pic.twitter.com/NfxM4Y9cQF

— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 2, 2018

The Knights are ranked 23rd in the Amway poll and are clearly unhappy. 

You don't have to be a college football insider to look at the Amway Preseason Poll and predict that Alabama will once again have a spot in the College Football Playoff as one of the Final Four teams in the nation.

One might think that Alabama has already reserved its spot in the title game because head coach Nick Saban knows how to prepare his team better than any leader in the game and the Crimson Tide know how to climb the mountain that is college football's regular-season.

According to the Amway poll, Alabama will be joined by Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia when the Final Four teams are determined. 

However, the chances of those four teams retaining those spots throughout a completed regular season seem remote. Factors like motivated underdog teams, injuries and the unpredictability of talent development throughout the season are all key factors.

As a result, our Final Four teams do not matchup with the Amway Preseason Poll.

Here's how the poll played out, and our Final Four teams follow.

      

Amway Coaches Poll

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma 
6. Washington 
7. Wisconsin
8. Miami
9. Penn State
10. Auburn
11. Notre Dame
12. Michigan State
13. Stanford 
14. Michigan
15. Southern California
16. TCU 
17. Virginia Tech
18. Mississippi State 
19. Florida State
20. West Virginia
21. Texas
22. Boise State 
23. Central Florida 
24. LSU 
25. Oklahoma State

    

Alabama

The Crimson Tide come into the season as the defending national champions, but there is an unmistakable hunger about this program.

What happened last year is in the past, and Nick Saban is only interested in the 2018 season—not talking about what made previous Alabama teams great.

If that sounds like New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, that's not a surprise. The two have compared notes many times and share similar philosophies.

Saban is entering his 12th season at Alabama. He has 127-20 record with the Crimson Tide and has won five SEC championships. 

Either Tua Tagovailoa or Jalen Hurts will emerge as Alabama's starting quarterback, and based on the national championship game performance and arm strength, it seems likely that Tagovailoa will win the job. 

Running back Damien Harris returns after a 1,000-yard season, and he should provide tremendous production for the offense. Defensive end Raekwon Davis returns after coming off a 69-tackle season that includes 10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

      

Clemson

Saban is clearly the dominant coach in college football, and Dabo Swinney may be the No. 2 man in the business as a result of his consistent excellence with Clemson.

Kelly Bryant was an overachiever at quarterback last season for the Tigers, but it will be difficult for him to beat out true freshman Trevor Lawrence under center.

Bryant completed 65.8 percent of his passes and threw for 2,802 yards, but Lawrence has the kind of powerful arm that coaches tend to fall in love with.

The Tigers will have a dynamic running game with Travis Etienne and Tavien Feaster. Etienne ran for 766 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry, while Feaster ran for 669 yards and had a 6.3 yards-per-carry mark.

Defensive end Clelin Ferrell is coming off a season with 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while Austin Bryant had 15.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks last year.

The Clemson defense appears to be ferocious and dangerous, and this team should find itself playing in a national semifinal game once again.

Wisconsin

We see the Big Ten getting a representative in college football's version of the Final Four, and the Badgers have an excellent chance of winning that position.

Ohio State overwhelmed Wisconsin in last year's title game, and many of the preseason publications have the Buckeyes in the league's top spot once again. However, the Badgers will learn from that experience and find a way to handle any opponent in the Big Ten title game.

The Badgers have a powerful quarterback-running back combination with Alex Hornibrook and Jonathan Taylor. Hornibrook threw for 2,644 yards and had 25 TD passes in 2017, while Taylor ran for 1,977 yards as a freshman with 13 touchdowns.

The Badgers are the class of the Big Ten's West Division, and their big test will come in the conference's title game against the East Division's representative. The Badgers have the class and experience to win that game this year.

        

Washington

The belief here is that the Pac-12 will get a representative in the Final Four this time around.

The Washington Huskies have the best team in the league, and head coach Chris Petersen has a fourth-year quarterback in Jake Browning. Petersen is hoping that Browning returns to the form he had as a sophomore when he threw 43 touchdowns passes.

Running back Myles Gaskin is a game-changing weapon, as he ran for 1,380 yards and 21 touchdowns. If he can match those numbers this year, he could emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

The defense could make the Huskies the best team in the Pac-12. That unit returns nine starters, including linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven and safety Taylor Rapp.

Washington meets Auburn in the season opener in Atlanta, and if the Huskies win the game, there may be no stopping them in the regular season.