College Football 2017: Preseason Ranking Predictions For Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Texas And Others

IBT ^ | 7-16-2017 | Bobby Ilich

[blam]

The 2017 College Football Season kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 26, with six games. But the season may not truly feel like it's underway until the following week when the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida State Seminoles meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

While the Associated Press preseason rankings have yet to be released, there is a strong possibility that Alabama and Florida State will both be ranked somewhere within the top three. Most experts have listed the Crimson Tide as the top team in the nation, but the Seminoles could be as high as No. 2.

Alabama, coming off a devastating last-second defeat to the Clemson Tigers in the National Championship, have a strong shot at being a preseason No. 1 for the fourth time under head coach Nick Saban. Last year Alabama was the preseason No. 1 and Clemson was the preseason No. 2.

After Alabama, it gets a bit more unclear. Ohio State, Florida State and USC could all be in the running for No. 2.

In 2016, Ohio State began and ended the season at No. 6 after being dominated by Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Buckeyes' offense will be led by quarterback J.T. Barrett, along with running back Demario McCall and receiver Johnnie Dixon.

Head coach Urban Meyer called Barrett "the toughest guy out there."

(snip)

Predicted College Football Rankings

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Florida State

4. USC

5. Oklahoma

6. Penn State

7. Clemson

8. Washington

9. Georgia

10. Wisconsin

11. Oklahoma State

12. LSU

13. Auburn

14. Stanford

15. Michigan

16. Florida

17. Miami

18. Louisville

19. Kansas State

20. Texas

21. West Virginia

22. South Florida

23. Tennessee

24. Washington State

25. Pittsburgh

(snip)

[Salvavida]

Go CRIMINOLES!

[StAnDeliver]

Lamar may actually have a better season, which is not to remotely suggest he deserves a 2nd H ... but the D prep this summer has been phenomenal. They could go 2-0 into the Clemson rematch, which should be a gem.

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Next year may be the great year but I am fired up can’t wait...we will out perform expectations.. I only see the usual games Tenn. Fl. Auburn then Alb..Go Dawgs Sic em woof woof

[hinckley buzzard]

Cheer up. Meyer's 2016 team was mostly freshmen, after having lost half or more of his 2015 team to the pro's. Barrett has a pro arm and will showcase it this year. Buckeyes wil contend for the title, no sweat.

[Hootowl]

Go Air Force, beat Army AND Navy!

[chesley]

Roll Tide

[blam]

ESPN’s ESPY Awards Ratings Tumble for Second Straight Year

[Night Hides Not]

At least you have a new basketball coach...Mark Few and the Zags have owned the Huskies. Romar's a great recruiter, he just can't coach.

Gonzaga has had ONE top 25 recruiting class ever, in 2016, yet we've gone 10-3 in the last 3 NCAA tournaments.

[Night Hides Not]

The absence of Texas A&M in the rankings does not bode well for Kevin Sumlin.

[al_c]

Texas as #20 is a mystery to me. They’ve done little in recent years beyond get the coach replaced after lackluster performance from a bunch of blue-blood, 4-star recruits.

Strong may not have been the right coach for them, but he sure did pull in some top recruits. Herman has proven that he can coach a team packed with talent. Strong's recruits plus Herman's leadership could be quite a combination. But yeah ... to rank them at this point is jumping the gun a bit.

[tomkat]

Big 10 Network

Numerous other alternatives to Empty Suit Propaganda Nitwits . . .

[political1]

Go UAB Blazers