Preseason College Football Rankings 2016: Winners and Losers from AP Poll
College football is inching closer to a return, and the release of preseason polls highlights the final days leading up to kickoff.
The Associated Press unveiled its Top 25 on Sunday. While the rankings didn't contain many surprises, several teams emerged as clear winners and losers on paper.
Every team would agree it doesn't matter where you start—it's where you finish the regular season that matters most.
Nevertheless, receiving a high initial ranking still is preferable.
Winner: Washington
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Washington has received some attention as a Pac-12 North Division contender, and the offseason is only getting friendlier.
After opening the Amway Coaches Poll at No. 18, the Huskies check in at No. 14 in the AP poll. The only conference opponent ranked higher is defending champion Stanford, which is eighth.
Quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin headline a solid offense, and Washington's secondary is among the best in the nation. The well-rounded roster should have little trouble dispatching Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State to begin the 2016 campaign.
If the Huskies avoid a surprise at Arizona, they'll enter a Friday night showdown (Sept. 30) at home against Stanford undefeated and likely as a Top 10 team.
Loser: Houston
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No love for Houston, it appears.
Last season, head coach Tom Herman guided the upstart Cougars to an American Athletic Conference title and New Year's Six bowl berth. They upended Florida State in the Peach Bowl and finished 13-1 with a No. 8 ranking.
Despite returning dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and being a heavy favorite in the AAC, Houston starts the season 15th.
The Cougars can skyrocket up the rankings immediately, as they open the season with a home tilt against Oklahoma on Sept. 3. But if they lose to the Sooners, they'll need to hold off Boise State, San Diego State and Appalachian State for the highest final ranking among "Group of Five" programs.
Winner: UCLA
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There's a 148-point difference between UCLA and Houston, so the Bruins weren't particularly close to the Top 15. The only bigger gap among the Top 25 is between 10th-ranked Notre Dame and No. 11 Ole Miss (288 points).
Quarterback Josh Rosen and Co. will undoubtedly take it.
UCLA was only No. 24 in the Amway Coaches Poll. The eight-place jump is the highest of any program in either direction.
How long will the Bruins stay here? After traveling to Texas A&M for the season opener and hosting UNLV, they head to BYU before playing Stanford. Few teams have tougher September slates.
But with a preseason No. 16 ranking, UCLA might manage to stick around in the AP poll even if it suffers two early losses.
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Loser: Oregon
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Oregon doesn't have a major difference between the AP and Amway polls like UCLA, but the perennial Pac-12 contender remains an overlooked team heading into 2016.
Without question, the No. 24 ranking is understandable. The Ducks need to settle their quarterback situation, and not every voter is necessarily sold on Dakota Prukop being the perfect transfer.
Fortunately for Oregon, it could shoot up the poll quickly. During September, head coach Mark Helfrich's team takes on UC Davis, Virginia, Nebraska and Colorado. That stretch certainly isn't a gauntlet.
After that, though, the Ducks will face North Division foes Washington State and Washington in consecutive weeks.
Winner: Ohio State
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The voters had respect for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes—and ever so slightly more than Jim Harbaugh and Michigan.
Ohio State lost a handful of key players in addition to 12 draft picks. That amount of transition—especially considering the caliber of those talents—has created many unknowns in Columbus.
However, having both J.T. Barrett and Raekwon McMillan for 2016 helps ease some of those concerns.
In the third week of the season, the Buckeyes will engage in a prime-time battle against third-ranked Oklahoma on Sept. 17, but a loss wouldn't damage them badly. Barring a surprise loss, Ohio State will stick in the Top 10 while approaching Michigan State and Michigan to close the year.
Loser: USC
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USC receiving a No. 20 ranking is fair. For comparison's sake, the Trojans were ranked 17th in the Amway Coaches Poll, but that's not a difference worth any angry moments.
However—fair or not—a team's standing in the polls can help determine its perceived value, so it might not take long for USC to lose its small bit of national respect.
Opening the season against Alabama seems like an express ticket out of the rankings. If the Trojans lose, they likely won't stick in the Top 25 unless several back-end teams get upset in Week 1.
USC could rebound two weeks later at Stanford, but another loss could keep head coach Clay Helton's team out of the picture until November, where four ranked teams await the Trojans.
Winner: Alabama
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What's new, right?
Not only does Alabama always get the benefit of the doubt—which is an earned luxury—the program is starting up top in 2016.
The Crimson Tide have recovered from early Ole Miss losses to reach the College Football Playoff during each of the last two seasons. They only dropped to No. 7 in 2014 but plunged to No. 13 last season, so keeping Bama out of the Top 10 will be difficult.
The 2004 USC Trojans were the last squad to begin and end the campaign at No. 1, but the Tide will attempt to snap the streak, starting Sept. 3 against USC.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
