We’re months away from college football’s playoff, but this could be a matchup for the ages if both these teams can handle their business.
The Associated Press released its annual preseason Top 25, naming defending national champions Florida State No. 1 as expected. The Seminoles received 57 of a possible 60 first-place votes, ahead of second-place Alabama.
Oregon, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top five, with the Crimson Tide, Ducks and Sooners each picking one of the remaining three first-place votes. Auburn placed sixth, with UCLA, Michigan State, South Carolina and Baylor making up the rest of the top 10.
Notre Dame enters the season at No. 17, and that distinction was likely given before the university dismissed four starters.
The full AP top 25:
1. Florida State (57) — 1,496 points
2. Alabama (1) — 1,361
3. Oregon (1) — 1,334
4. Oklahoma (1) — 1,324
5. Ohio State — 1,207
6. Auburn — 1,198
7. UCLA — 1,106
8. Michigan State — 1,080
9. South Carolina — 1,015
10. Baylor — 996
11. Stanford — 885
12. Georgia — 843
13. LSU — 776
14. Wisconsin — 637
15. USC — 626
16. Clemson — 536
17. Notre Dame — 445
18. Ole Miss — 424
19. Arizona State — 357
20. Kansas State — 242
21. Texas A&M — 238
22. Nebraska — 226
23. North Carolina — 194
24. Missouri — 134
25. Washington — 130
Others receiving votes: UCF 94, Florida 87, Texas 86, Duke 71, Iowa 68, Louisville 48, Marshall 41, Oklahoma St. 37, Virginia Tech 26, TCU 23, Mississippi St. 22, Michigan 19, Texas Tech 19, Miami 16, Cincinnati 15, Boise St. 10, Oregon St. 10, BYU 8, Northwestern 8, Penn St. 5, Navy 2, Vanderbilt 2, Louisiana 1, Nevada 1, Utah St. 1.