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Sports Illustrated's Preseason Top 25 was just released (link inside)
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:24 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:24 am
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1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma State
5. USC
6. Oklahoma
7. Clemson
8. Penn State
9. Washington
10. Auburn
11. Michigan
12. Wisconsin
13. LSU
14. Louisville
15. Stanford
16. Georgia
17. South Florida
18. Florida
19. Kansas State
20. Miami
21. West Virginia
22. Washington State
23. Texas
24. Virginia Tech
25. Texas A&M
There are detailed blurbs for every team at the link, including potential paths to the playoff for each.
quote:
Why wait until January to see the top two teams in the nation square off in Atlanta when you can see the top two teams in the nation square off in Atlanta on Saturday night of Week 1? Alabama and Florida State’s season-opening meeting isn’t just the first milestone in 2017’s chase for the College Football Playoff; it's also a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2, if the rankings of the writers and editors at Sports Illustrated are to be believed. The top dogs in this year’s preseason Top 25 should be no surprise: After shipping off another crop of elite talent to the NFL, Alabama is the clear favorite to win its second national championship in three years.
But college football loves chaos too much to ever resign itself to a one- or two-horse race. Will Ohio State’s offense be up to the task in veteran QB J.T. Barrett’s final season (and coordinator Kevin Wilson’s first) in Columbus? Could Penn State and USC’s thrilling Rose Bowl matchup be a precursor for a reunion in the CFP semifinals in Pasadena? Are we closing the book on Clemson’s national title defense too soon?
What follows is SI’s preseason Top 25, led by our picks to join the Crimson Tide and the Seminoles in the College Football Playoff field: Ohio State and Oklahoma State. Below each team’s spot in the rankings, you’ll find an extended breakdown of one player you need to get familiar with before he becomes an X-factor in 2017, along with a quick look at how tough each team’s road to the playoff looks to be. And don’t forget to grab a hard copy of SI’s 2017 college football preview issue for yourself—this year’s four regional covers feature a special augmented reality experience presented by Holiday Inn Express, which you can access by downloading the Life VR app on your phone and using the app’s AR mode to scan the cover.
For now, the pecking order is set. Let the debate begin—and then let the games begin.
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma State
5. USC
6. Oklahoma
7. Clemson
8. Penn State
9. Washington
10. Auburn
11. Michigan
12. Wisconsin
13. LSU
14. Louisville
15. Stanford
16. Georgia
17. South Florida
18. Florida
19. Kansas State
20. Miami
21. West Virginia
22. Washington State
23. Texas
24. Virginia Tech
25. Texas A&M
There are detailed blurbs for every team at the link, including potential paths to the playoff for each.
12
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:26 am to TideSaint
USC is going to be a player. Their QB is just too good.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:31 am to sicboy
Same with FSU. Francois is dangerous. We'll know if they've improved their o-line during the first game against Bammer.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:32 am to sicboy
USC and Okie State will be the teams everyone laughs at when they see this poll at the end of the year.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:34 am to VivaZapata27
Kind of like how their laughing at the black bears right now?
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:34 am to TideSaint
Texas 
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:35 am to TideSaint
It would really shake the season up if bama dropped the season opener to FSU.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:37 am to TideSaint
Might be the worst top 25 I've seen. SI is still in business?
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
10. Auburn
Last Year: 8–5 (5–3 SEC); Lost to Oklahoma in Sugar Bowl
SI Top 100 players: Three (DE Marlon Davidson, QB Jarrett Stidham, RB Kamryn Pettway)
Player you should know: If Auburn’s offense improves as expected, the key to competing for the SEC title will be avoiding a drop-off on defense after several losses on the front line. Enter defensive end Marlon Davidson. In 2016 the 6'?3", 282-pound Davidson became the first true freshman in 30 years to be a Day One starter on Auburn’s defensive front. He finished the season with 38 tackles and six tackles for loss, but he’ll need to spend more time in the backfield this year. Along with tackle Dontavius Russell and linebacker Jeff Holland, both juniors, Davidson will have to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks to take pressure off Auburn’s athletic-but-thin secondary.
Schedule: Auburn’s trip to Clemson (Sept. 9) will offer an early test, but October will decide the Tigers’ fate. They host Ole Miss (Oct. 7) and then travel to LSU (Oct. 14) and Arkansas (Oct. 21). If all goes to plan, Auburn will host Alabama (Nov. 25) with the SEC West title on the line.
Last Year: 8–5 (5–3 SEC); Lost to Oklahoma in Sugar Bowl
SI Top 100 players: Three (DE Marlon Davidson, QB Jarrett Stidham, RB Kamryn Pettway)
Player you should know: If Auburn’s offense improves as expected, the key to competing for the SEC title will be avoiding a drop-off on defense after several losses on the front line. Enter defensive end Marlon Davidson. In 2016 the 6'?3", 282-pound Davidson became the first true freshman in 30 years to be a Day One starter on Auburn’s defensive front. He finished the season with 38 tackles and six tackles for loss, but he’ll need to spend more time in the backfield this year. Along with tackle Dontavius Russell and linebacker Jeff Holland, both juniors, Davidson will have to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks to take pressure off Auburn’s athletic-but-thin secondary.
Schedule: Auburn’s trip to Clemson (Sept. 9) will offer an early test, but October will decide the Tigers’ fate. They host Ole Miss (Oct. 7) and then travel to LSU (Oct. 14) and Arkansas (Oct. 21). If all goes to plan, Auburn will host Alabama (Nov. 25) with the SEC West title on the line.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
Another preseason top 25 for UGA, another year they will finish unranked.
Most overrated program in NCAA history.
Most overrated program in NCAA history.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:49 am to jj06
quote:
Another preseason top 25 for UGA, another year they will finish unranked.
Most overrated program in NCAA history.
Here is to an old SEC foe and to a good game on the Labor Day night.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:57 am to TideSaint
quote:
25: Texas A&M
Too high
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:01 am to TigerFan4040
quote:
It would really shake the season up if bama dropped the season opener to FSU.
I disagree. Whichever team loses won't drop out of the Top 4 or 5, and the loss won't impact their ability to win their conference. It's an exciting game, but really has minimal implications, IMO.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:10 am to SamuelClemens
The reason A&M is so high is because they will start off 5-0 just like every other season
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:11 am to TideSaint
Name brands and quarterbacks. Not sure why everybody gets so worked up about these lists. They are going to leave a couple teams out the top 25 that work their way in by the end of the season, and they are going to have some teams in that fall flat on their faces.
The reason can almost always be traced back to name brands and quarterbacks.
The reason can almost always be traced back to name brands and quarterbacks.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:16 am to dawgman15
quote:
The reason A&M is so high is because they will start off 5-0 just like every other season
Not this year....
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:21 am to Serraneaux
Lol list is shite because Tenn is not ranked... Not saying that A&M should be.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:44 am to VivaZapata27
Oklahoma State will make the playoffs this year
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:59 am to jj06
And yet will still beat the butterflies of ga tech
Posted on 8/9/17 at 11:02 am to Bunyan
A&M listed as Big 12 school. Good research SI.
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