College Football Preseason Rankings 2011: Alabama, FSU Overrated in AP Poll?
By on August 20, 2011
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The AP Preseason Poll released on Saturday nearly mirrored the Coaches Poll with it's first six picks in the season's opening rankings.
Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon and LSU were ranked 1st through 4th, respectively, in both polls, with the Coaches listing FSU at 5th and Boise at 6th and the AP flipping the last two with Boise at 5th and FSU at sixth.
One of the first questions that comes to mind after looking at this is why both polls are so high on Alabama and Florida State.
Both schools will be putting a first-year starting quarterback on the field. For the Crimson Tide it'll be A.J. McCarron or Philip Sims replacing Greg McElroy and down in Seminole country Christian Ponder's replacement is the highly-touted E.J. Manuel.
Quarterback is the game's most important position so seeing two of the top five teams having unproven talent at the position is troubling regardless of how hyped or talented the players are.
Then at Alabama add in the fact that the team's top two offensive playmakers, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram, are both off to the NFL. If it wasn't for a defense that is absolutely stacked, we have to wonder if people would be pointing out the offensive question marks more.
FSU has the skill players and defensive scheme in place to be a success, but whether or not Manuel can step in and take the team to the next level is a major question mark; one a team ranked 6th in the nation simply shouldn't have.
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma (Big 12) |
| 2 | Alabama (SEC) |
| 3 | Oregon (PAC-12) |
| 4 | LSU (SEC) |
| 5 | Boise State (Mountain West) |
| 6 | Florida State (ACC) |
| 7 | Stanford (PAC-12) |
| 8 | Texas A&M (Big 12) |
| 9 | Oklahoma State (Big 12) |
| 10 | Nebraska (Big Ten) |
| 11 | Wisconsin (Big Ten) |
| 12 | South Carolina (SEC) |
| 13 | Virginia Tech (ACC) |
| 14 | TCU (Mountain West) |
| 15 | Arkansas (SEC) |
| 16 | Notre Dame (Independent) |
| 17 | Michigan State (Big Ten) |
| 18 | Ohio State (Big Ten) |
| 19 | Georgia (SEC) |
| 20 | Mississippi State (SEC) |
| 21 | Missouri (Big 12) |
| 22 | Florida (SEC) |
| 23 | Auburn (SEC) |
| 24 | West Virginia (Big East) |
| 25 | USC (Pac-12) |
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