After 26-year hiatus, my vote counts again
More than two decades of covering college football should count for something. So here I am, my second tour of duty on the Associated Press college football poll, one of the media members willing to put a bull’s-eye on our back, sifting through our inbox and notififications each week only to learn our knowledge of college football is as shallow as Nick Saban’s sense of humor.
The last time I voted and subjected myself to such abuse was 1989, a year in which I did not endear myself to Florida State fans for voting Miami No. 1 even after losing to the Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium. Of course, Seminoles fans were hoping the pollsters ignored FSU stumbling out of the gate with season-opening losses to Southern Miss and Tom D’Angelo
Clemson. The Seminoles finished No. 3 in the AP poll.
Back then, the AP poll decided the national champion. Today, we have a playoff, so the real venom is aimed at the selection committee that determines the four teams competing for the title.
But the polls still matter, and anybody who says they are completely ignored by the committee or anybody else connected to the sport is not being honest, which is why I signed up for this ride.
Our first poll was due about two weeks ago (the Top 25 will be released today). I like the idea of a preseason poll, but only to generate conversation. With that said, I am aware the poll in August will not resemble the poll we submit Jan. 12, the morning after the championship game, which is OK. History says several of these teams won’t sniff the Top 25 in January and others will suddenly appear and rise week after week, some into the Top 10.
The preseason polls already released are nearly unanimous with Ohio State and TCU at the top, and I suspect the AP voters will fall in place.
But in the eight major polls I studied, five schools are listed at No. 3. My choice: USC. I think the Trojans are ready to return to the top of the Pac-12 and have a good chance of being one of the final four.
I have gone back and forth between Auburn and Alabama as the class of the SEC West, but I settled on Auburn, believing Alabama has more question marks and Auburn’s defense will be much-improved under Will Muschamp.
Baylor will have a difficult time gaining goodwill as long as it refuses to upgrade an embarrassingly soft nonconference schedule. Anything but a perfect season, especially without a Big 12 championship game, means no playoff for the Bears.
Now for the ACC. Many believe the conference will be left out of the playoff. I agree. Still, one of these years Clemson is going to beat Florida State. It should have happened last year, but the Tigers inexplicably gave away that game.
One thing is certain with this year’s game in Death Valley: This is the year Clemson
to win. FSU is reloading and appears ready for another run in 2016 and beyond.
In the bottom half of my poll, I like Penn State, Virginia Tech and Utah to return to Top 25 status. I am not sold that Tennessee and Arkansas are Top 25 quality ... yet.
As for the state of Florida, the Seminoles are carrying that flag for the third consecutive season.
Otherwise, UCF has been the most consistent program in the state the past three years (who saw that coming?) and Miami and Florida likely are at least a year away from becoming consistent Top 25 teams again.
Fire away.