College Football Preseason Top 25: Who are the Experts Picking?

Guys love lists.

This one is a compilation, of sorts, containing lists within a list.

Sorry to go all Inception on you there.

While we all know preseason rankings are next to worthless, they are a great way to pass a boring summer.

(If you are sick of hearing about Dirk's fever, raise your hand)

The first slide is purely for entertainment.

It contains 2010's preseason rankings...

The rest contain the preseason ranking from assorted publications, websites and media outlets.

While the SEC is, of course, prominent in all of them, the Big East is virtually invisible, and nobody has any clue what to make of the ACC.

Oklahoma State and Boise State are consistently overrated, while Arizona State, Tulsa and Houston can't get any love.

Go ahead, check these out, then come back after the season is over and marvel at the accuracies of these incredible prognosticators.

It's a great way to pass the first miserable hours after the season ends...

2010 Preseason Rankings

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 and Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

1. Alabama

2. Boise State

3. Ohio State

4. Texas

5. Iowa

6. Oregon

7. TCU

8. Georgia Tech

9. Virginia Tech

10. Wisconsin

11. Florida

12. Penn State

13. Oklahoma

14. Miami

15. Nebraska

16. Pitt

17. Oregon State

18. UNC

19. Cincinnati

20. Cal

21. Houston

22. Georgia

23. LSU

24. BYU

25. Utah

Laughable, right?

Athlon

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs for a touchdown during the SEC game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

1. Alabama

2. Oklahoma

3. Oregon

4. Florida State

5. Boise State

6. Notre Dame

7. Virginia Tech

8. LSU

9. Ohio State

10. Nebraska

11. Texas A&M

12. Oklahoma State

13. Stanford

14. Georgia

15. TCU

16. Arkansas

17. West Virginia

18. Florida

19. Miami

20. USC

21. South Carolina

22. Michigan State

23. Wisconsin

24. Texas

25. Missouri

Link to Athlon's rankings here.

Having Georgia ranked higher than Arkansas is a mistake in this one.

Also of note, why the heck are both Georgia and Florida ahead of South Carolina, Wisconsin and Missouri?

Miami does not belong, and Notre Dame should be more in the 12-15 range, and where is Arizona State?

The troubles at Ohio State will definitely have them lower by the end of the season, and Boise State will lose at least once, dropping them from the top of the rankings.

Phil Steele

Darren Carroll/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Running back Cyrus Gray #32 of Texas A&M holds off University of Texas defensive end Sam Acho #81 during the second half at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/

1-7. Not released as yet.

8. Texas A&M

9. Georgia

10. Florida State

11. TCU

12. Nebraska

13. Arkansas

14. South Carolina

15. Ohio State

16. Stanford

17. USC

18. Texas

19. Oklahoma State

20. Southern Mississippi

21. Houston

22. Arizona State

23. Wisconsin

24. Penn State

25. USF

Steele's top 30.

Steele is still in the process of releasing his entire preseason top thirty, but let's work with what we have here.

Once again, interestingly enough, we see Georgia ranked above both Arkansas and South Carolina.

Steele's is the only ranking I could find with Southern Miss included, but it's really not a bad call.

Also Houston is sitting pretty at 21, which is right where they should be with Case Keenum returning.

But really, Texas at 19 and Wisconsin and Arizona State bringing up the rear?

Orlando Sentinel

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Peters

1. Oklahoma

2. Oregon

3. Alabama

4. LSU

5. Stanford

6. Texas A&M

7. Oklahoma State

8. Michigan State

9. Wisconsin

10. Boise State

11. Nebraska

12. TCU

13. Florida State

14. South Carolina

15. Ohio State

16. Arkansas

17. Notre Dame

18. Georgia

19. Mississippi State

20. Michigan

21. West Virginia

22. Missouri

23. Penn State

24. Auburn

25. UCF

Link here.

Penn State keeps sneaking into the bottom five of these rankings, regardless of their lack of ability to find anyone who can throw the ball.

Michigan also sneaks into this one, which is a total pipe dream. Northwestern has a better shot at cracking the top 25 than the Wolverines.

Other than that, this list looks pretty good, with the exception of Wisconsin and Michigan State in the top 10; both of those teams should be in the 12-15 range.

Nationalchamps.net

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Head coach Les Miles of the Louisiana State University Tigers talks wthi his team during a timeout against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Louisiana State

4. Oregon

5. Stanford

6. Boise State

7. Ohio State

8. Oklahoma State

9. Texas A&M

10. Florida State

11. Auburn

12. Michigan State

13. TCU

14. Wisconsin

15. Arkansas

16. Mississippi State

17. South Carolina

18. Virginia Tech

19. Nebraska

20. Notre Dame

21. Missouri

22. Florida

23. Arizona State

24. Texas

25. Tulsa

Link to Nationalchamps.net here.

Somehow Auburn has sneaked up to No. 11 in this one.

Tulsa is a solid top 25 team, their offense is scary good, and they have a very manageable schedule.

Arizona State is still a mite low, and Mississippi State too high at 16.

While the Bulldogs have some great talent at the skill positions, they are going to struggle in a loaded SEC.

Fftoolbox.com

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Running back Montee Ball #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes with the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

1. Alabama

2. Oklahoma

3. LSU

4. Wisconsin

5. Oregon

6. Ohio State

7. Florida State

8. Boise State

9. Oklahoma State

10. South Carolina

11. Stanford

12. Texas A&M

13. Nebraska

14. Arkansas

15. Missouri

16. Florida

17. Arizona State

18. Mississippi State

19. Notre Dame

20. Virginia Tech

21. Texas

22. West Virginia

23. USC

24. TCU

25. Michigan State

Link to fftoolbox.com here.

This one is a bit odd.

Wisconsin is a bit overrated at four, unless Russell Wilson shows up.

Ohio State was too high at six, even before Tressel and Pryor left, and then Michigan State is all the way down at 25.

Someone was confused.

Florida is too high, South Carolina and Missouri, just right.

Finally, Arizona State managed to crack someone's top 20.

It's like pulling teeth for these guys to get some love.

The have a ridiculous amount of returning starters and the best defensive player in the country.

Oklahoma State's lack of defense is going to haunt them throughout the season.

ESPN's College Football Live

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 28: Nigel Bradham #13 of the Florida State Seminoles against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Oregon

4. LSU

5. Boise State

6. Florida State

7. Stanford

8. South Carolina

9. Oklahoma State

10. Ohio State

11. Texas A&M

12. Arkansas

13. Nebraska

14. Wisconsin

15. TCU

16. Michigan State

17. Notre Dame

18. Florida

19. Virginia Tech

20. Texas

21. Mississippi State

22. Auburn

23. Missouri

24. West Virginia

25. Arizona State

Link to CFB Live's top 25 here.

With the exception of 24 and 25, this one is pretty much as it should be.

Maybe the folks at ESPN have some kind of inside info or something?

Anyway, Auburn and Florida should drop down to take ASU and WVU's spots, and then all would be right in the college football world.

Collegefootballcafeteria.com

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a play against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/G

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Oregon

4. LSU

5. Stanford

6. Oklahoma State

7. Boise State

8. Ohio State

9. Texas A&M

10. Florida State

11. Wisconsin

12. Arkansas

13. Michigan State

14. Auburn

15. South Carolina

16. Nebraska

17. TCU

18. Notre Dame

19. Missouri

20. Mississippi State

21. Virginia Tech

22. Georgia

23. Arizona State

24. Florida

25. Penn State

Link to collegefootballcafeteria.com rankings here.

Stanford is going to have a very good offense this season.

Hence, the No. 5 ranking here.

Boise State and Ohio State (ironically together in the same sentence...take that, Gordon Gee) should both be lower.

How does Penn State keep showing up here?

Someone please explain the logic...

SI.com

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: Dayne Crist #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks for a receiver against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Tulsa defeated Notre Dame 28-27. (Photo by Jonathan Dan

1. Oklahoma

2. Oregon

3. Alabama

4. LSU

5. Stanford

6. Texas A&M

7. Oklahoma State

8. South Carolina

9. Florida State

10. Boise State

11. Ohio State

12. Nebraska

13. Arkansas

14. Michigan State

15. TCU

16. Wisconsin

17. Missouri

18. Auburn

19. Virginia Tech

20. West Virginia

21. Notre Dame

22. Mississippi State

23. Arizona State

24. Maryland Terrapins

25. Utah Utes

Link to SI.com Rankings here.

This one is unique.

While Oklahoma State and what passes for a defense is ranked in the top ten, Arizona State finds themselves in the bottom five once again, along with Notre Dame.

Neither of those teams will finish that low in the rankings.

Having Utah in the rankings is a bit of a stretch, especially for their first season in a real-I mean BCS conference, but I really like the call on the Terps.

Maryland has some great talent returning all over the field, and a new head coach (Randy Edsall) who knows how to put it to good use.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos warms up before playing against the Utah Utes in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State Won 26-3. (Photo by Et

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Florida State

4. Oregon

5. LSU

6. Oklahoma State

7. Boise State

8. Stanford

9. Texas A&M

10. Michigan State

11. Arkansas

12. Wisconsin

13. Nebraska

14. West Virginia

15. Ohio State

16. Notre Dame

17. Georgia

18. Missouri

19. South Carolina

20. Texas

21. Arizona State

22. TCU

23. Virginia Tech

24. Florida

25. Mississippi State

Link to Way Too Early top 25 here.

I don't think that anyone quite realizes that while the OSU Cowboys have an explosive offense, the loss of Dana Holgorsen is going to hurt.

Couple that with a, shall we say, less than stellar defense, and how they are as high as sixth in some of these is a mystery.

Other than the Sun Devils again getting no love, this one is pretty straight up.

Can't wait to see how off all of these were after the season is over.