Until the College Football Playoffs selection committee releases its first rankings Oct. 28, there are numerous other polls to cuss and discuss.
Last season the National Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America started a new poll, the Super 16. It was released last Thursday with few surprises, especially at No. 1, where Ohio State received 38 of 40 votes. TCU and Alabama received the other two top votes.
If Alabama took a year off from football, someone would still rank the Crimson Tide No. 1 in the preseason.
The 40 voters' ballots are released each week, and in the first poll the Arkansas Razorbacks were mentioned on 11 ballots and the highest they were ranked was No. 8.
The SEC had five teams in the Super 16, including the LSU Tigers, who were ranked on 29 ballots despite returning only 11 starters from an 8-5 season.
Here is the initial poll: 1. Ohio State; 2. TCU; 3. Alabama; 4. Baylor; 5. Oregon; 6. Michigan State; 7. Auburn; 8. Florida State; 9. Georgia; 10. Southern Cal; 11. Notre Dame; 12. Clemson; 13. LSU; 14. UCLA; 15. Mississippi; and 16. Arizona State.
Here is the first vote by yours truly and why:
1. OHIO STATE Great players, great coaching and notice was given last year with its victory over Alabama in the playoffs.
2. GEORGIA This is predicated on running back Nick Chubb staying healthy, and if he does, the prediction is the Bulldogs will play the Buckeyes for the national championship.
3. TCU The Horned Frogs will go undefeated and make the playoffs, but the Big 12 still can't do the math. Having 10 teams with no conference championship game will hurt the league again in the future.
4. AUBURN Gus Malzahn is unconventional in a conventional football league, and quarterback Jeremy Johnson may be another Cam Newton before his career is finished.
5. ALABAMA As usual, the Tide are very good. But, as usual, they also need a quarterback who can do more than just manage the game.
6. BAYLOR Who doesn't like to watch Coach Art Briles' teams on offense?
7. OREGON Not quite as deep as last year's team, but still fast. Like a track team on artificial turf.
8. MICHIGAN STATE Much to the chagrin of Chuck "Pigskin Preacher" Monan, his alma mater is much better this season than his beloved Michigan Wolverines.
9. CLEMSON Seven starters return on offense and only three on defense, but the Tigers are fortunate to play in a league that will be down a little this season.
10. SOUTHERN CAL Coach Steve Sarkisian is getting done what was expected of Lane Kiffin.
11. NOTRE DAME Seventeen starters return, including 10 on defense, and the Fighting Irish will be a contender for the playoffs but will have their hands full Oct. 3 when they visit Clemson.
12. OLE MISS This season may not define Hugh Freeze's coaching career, but expectations are justifiably high with 16 starters returning. That includes nine on offense, and none of them are named Bo.
13. ARIZONA STATE Sixteen starters return from a 10-3 season, the Sun Devils are true contenders to make the Rose Bowl.
14. FLORIDA STATE Coach Jimbo Fisher is 58-11 in five seasons and faces a challenge replacing seven starters on offense, especially finding someone who can do all the things on the field that Jameis Winston did, but he's had great recruiting classes.
15. UCLA Replacing Heisman Trophy candidate Brett Hundley at quarterback will be difficult, but the Bruins defense is very talented and deep.
16. GEORGIA TECH The Ramblin' Wreck's option attack is hard to stop.
Sports on 08/16/2015