2013 Preseason College Football Poll

The coaches poll comes out today at noon, appropriate because it's August today and college football is right around the corner.  Check back to some July posts on here for top returning players, sleeper Hesiman picks, and national title contenders.

As for today, I'll be listing who I think are the top 25 teams heading into the season.  This is based on how good I think the are, not what I think the poll will look like today or at the end of the season.

1). Alabama
2). Stanford
3). Georgia
4). Oklahoma St
5). Ohio State
6). Florida
7). Clemson
8). LSU
9). Texas
10) Oregon
11) Nebraska
12) South Carolina
13) Florida St
14). Louisville
15) Notre Dame
16) Texas A&M
17). Virginia Tech
18). Michigan
19). Oklahoma
20) TCU
21). Oregon State
22). Miami
23). Vanderbilt
24)  UCLA
25). Northwestern

This will not likely be the first or final poll as many teams will rank different from my prediction.  Certain teams like Ohio State and Florida State play cupcake schedules while teams like LSU have quite a gauntlet.

It's also quite intriguing that week 1 features UGA-Clemson, TCU-LSU, and Virginia Tech-Alabama.  These matchups will give us an instant snapshot at what some of these teams will look like in 2013.

I also think this is the year the SEC gets left out of the BCS title game.  The SEC finished with 6 of the top 14 teams in the final AP Poll last year, and all these teams will be strong again.  Throw in what should be much improved Auburn and Mississippi teams and it's unlikely any SEC team finished unbeaten.

One loss SEC teams (and 2) have made it before, but there's too many other talented teams in 2013 that only have a game or 2 to challenge them.  I could easily see unbeaten teams in the ACC, Big 10, and PAC-12 title games.  Also, Oklahoma State has a great shot at getting to at least mid-November without a loss.

If it happens, it will certainly be a good thing for college football that the new plus 1 system goes into place next season because there will be a lot of unhappy campers in this situation.

BCS Predictions

Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma St vs Florida
Rose Bowl - Oregon vs Michigan
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs Texas
Orange Bowl - Louisville vs Florida St

BCS title game - Ohio State vs Stanford