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Guess what! College football starts soon! Like, today. But it's never too late for some more season preview material.
1. Florida State
My top seed for the inaugural College Football Playoff is last year's defending national champions, Florida State. Of course, the Seminoles return Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston at quarterback along with four starters on the offensive line. Their opener is against Oklahoma State, a solid test but one they should win. The schedule continues to set up nicely after that, getting both Notre Dame and Florida at home. It's hard to see them not running the table.
2. Alabama
The second seed goes to Alabama, which also has the talent and depth to go undefeated. Guys like running back T.J. Cooper and wide receiver Amari Cooper will help along the Crimson Tide's inexperienced quarterback early in the season, while one of the top secondaries in the country will keep opponents at bay. Pundits that discount this team because of a young starter under center should keep in mind that three of the last four national champions have won it all with first-year quarterbacks. Their two bye weeks come at crucial points, the first between a game against Florida and then at Mississippi, and the second between road games at Tennessee and LSU. They will provide the stiffest test to Florida State this season.
3. UCLA
This was going to be my Cinderella pick until every other national prognosticator started to jump on the bandwagon. I can't remember a team ever being picked this high after so many years of just "meh" football. They showed potential at times last season but inconsistency ended up killing the Bruins at crucial points. Jim L. Mora has been stockpiling four and five star recruits everywhere and this is the year they get to shine. Nine starters return on offense, including Heisman candidate Brett Hundley, and their defense will be the best in the Pac-12.
4. Oklahoma
Last time we saw Oklahoma, they hung 45 points on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. If that same team consistently shows up this season, the Sooners have an easy enough schedule to win all 12 games. They should be favored in all of them and get both Baylor and Oklahoma State in Norman.
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5. Michigan State
6. Marshall
7. Boise State
8. Ohio State
9. UCF
10. Wisconsin
11. Oregon
12. Georgia
13. Clemson
14. Auburn
15. Texas
16. Virginia Tech
17. Northwestern
18. North Carolina
19. Washington
20. Baylor
21. South Carolina
22. USC
23. Mississippi
24. Notre Dame
25. Cincinnati
26. Florida
27. Houston
28. Iowa
29. Pittsburgh
30. Toledo
31. Louisiana
32. Northern Illinois
33. Arizona
34. Bowling Green
35. Fresno State
36. UTSA
37. TCU
38. LSU
39. Stanford
40. Louisville
41. Michigan
42. Oregon State
43. BYU
44. Syracuse
45. Utah State
46. Nebraska
47. Miami (Florida)
48. Missouri
49. Kansas State
50. Memphis
51. San Diego State
52. East Carolina
53. Mississippi State
54. Oklahoma State
55. Arizona State
56. Tennessee
57. NC State
58. Illinois
59. Navy
60. Maryland