NCAA college football 2017-18: Official thread

The first official preseason poll (USA Today Coaches) is out, and the #1 team will surprise no one: Bama.

Here's the poll:
1 Alabama
2 Ohio State
3 Florida State
4 Southern California
5 Clemson
6 Penn State
7 Washington
8 Oklahoma
9 Michigan
10 Wisconsin
11 Oklahoma State
12 Louisiana State
13 Auburn
14 Stanford
15 Georgia
16 Florida
17 Louisville
18 Miami
19 Kansas State
20 West Virginia
21 South Florida
22 Virginia Tech
23 Texas
24 Tennessee
25 Utah

Leading all conferences is the SEC with 6 teams, although Bama is the only Top 10 squad. The ACC and Big 12 (!?!) are next with 5 each, while the B1G has 4 teams, though all 4 are in the Top 10 (0hi0 St., Penn St., Michigan and Wisky).

Notre Dame is probably the biggest name to be left off the initial Top 25.

Looks good to me.

That's a nice preseason ranking you got there.

It would be a shame if something happened to it...

Spoiler:

Yes, I realize that this works both ways

Quote IS NOT Edit

GAAAAHHHH

Abu5217 wrote:

GAAAAHHHH

Looks like you accidentally clicked on video of UVa's spring practice ...

AP Poll out yesterday.

AP All-Americans out today.

Thread deathly quiet.

Stele wrote:

AP Poll out yesterday.

AP All-Americans out today.

Thread deathly quiet.

The preseason polls are even dumber than usual, if that's possible.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Stele wrote:

AP Poll out yesterday.

AP All-Americans out today.

Thread deathly quiet.

The preseason polls are even dumber than usual, if that's possible.

The preseason poll is 21 of the 25 teams from the final 2016 poll, but in a slightly different order.

Also, Texas is ranked and no other Texas team is ranked. Florida, meanwhile, has a couple of junior colleges in the top 25.

Enix wrote:

Texas is ranked and no other Texas team is ranked.

Seems legit to me.

FYI, I plan on changing the header weekly once the season starts, so if you have a cool pic (college football related) get it to me.

Here's one...

(sorry clan manta)

IMAGE(https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52675025/usa_today_9801019.0.jpg)

Not cool!

bighoppa wrote:
Enix wrote:

Texas is ranked and no other Texas team is ranked.

Seems legit to me.

Three losing seasons in a row (what a blessed time to be alive!) = top 25, no doubt.

Texas.. the only FBS team Cal's Sonny Dykes has a 100% win record against, and Charlie Strong the only one of two coaches Dykes' beat twice. Both teams have brand new coaches... one is in the top 25.

Love it.

The wife and I will get a good pic of the win against FSU for the banner here in a little bit.

manta173 wrote:

The wife and I will get a good pic of the win against FSU for the banner here in a little bit.

That would be cool! Then we could use the one from when FSU wins the rematch in January to put a nice little bow on the season.

Abu5217 wrote:
manta173 wrote:

The wife and I will get a good pic of the win against FSU for the banner here in a little bit.

That would be cool! Then we could use the one from when FSU wins the rematch in January to put a nice little bow on the season.

;)

Wow Touche! (but unlikely... ;-))

Anyone know why Ohio State is opening against Indiana on the 31st? Traditionally B1G schools play their non-conference schedule before starting the conference games.

manta173 wrote:

Wow Touche! (but unlikely... ;-))

To be honest, I don't understand the hype for FSU this year. Don't get me wrong, I love my team and think that they will have a good year, but I don't know that they are really playoff-ready. You have a 2nd year QB who lost literally all of his receivers from last year, a very questionable O-line, and oh by the way you have to replace the best running back the school ever had. Yeah, the defense should be stout and having Derwin James back and healthy is huge, but the questions on offense remain. Add in the brutal schedule (Bama, a resurgent Miami and always pesky NC State, who has an incredible D-line, are three of the first four games. Throw in Clemson, Louisville and Florida, and half of the games are far from "easy wins".) and this could be a season that FSU fans feel disappointed with.

That said, the team is quite young and the only key losses will be on defense going into 2018, so it will be interesting to see what the coaching staff can pull off.

Regarding the Bama game, I feel that it will either be a really good, close (but sloppy) game that either team could win or Bama will blow FSU out. I hate even typing that, but it is what it is.

That's why I think they should not start having polls until week 4 or 5.

We all know why pre-season polls are a thing (In case you don't know it is all about gambling)

karmajay wrote:

That's why I think they should not start having polls until week 4 or 5.

We all know why pre-season polls are a thing (In case you don't know it is all about gambling)

Well, gambling and early-season ratings. Next Saturday's game wouldn't be nearly the GAME OF THE CENTURY if ESPN/ABC couldn't put a little 1 by one team and a 3 by the other.

What to watch guide for next 10 days of college football.

Stele wrote:

What to watch guide for next 10 days of college football.

Thanks for the link! I enjoyed their tiers of game quality:

1. WATCH THIS
2. Maybe watch
3. It's football

At this time of year, even tier 3 is a "watch if I can" for me!

Yup. I don't care who is playing today, I will watch because Football.

WolverineJon wrote:

Anyone know why Ohio State is opening against Indiana on the 31st? Traditionally B1G schools play their non-conference schedule before starting the conference games.

Didn't IU get relegated to the Sun Belt?

Unrelated: Carl, it's almost time for your Chapel Hill trip, right? Looking like mid-80s and probably humid, so, yeah, late summer in North Carolina. (It's about 80 here today, which is blissful for late August.)

And if you want to see the confederate statue that has caused so much fuss on and off campus, it's about a 5 min walk from the stadium.

Abu5217 wrote:

Yup. I don't care who is playing today, I will watch because Football.

I'm pulling for Oregon State because DSG and my daughter's best friend's dad. They got screwed on that no-TD call just before the half, though.

Game week! Time for the annual seasonal profile icon update.

I've heard there are a number of players out for Florida, any Gators here that can speak about that?

Weather now says high 70s and thundershowers in Chapel Hill which sounds wonderful compared to the hot, sunny and humid I saw in the long term forecast a week or so ago. We arrive Friday afternoon, leaving on Monday, so a quick turnaround trip for us.

Starting QB is set for Cal, redshirt sophomore Ross Bowers has earned the starting nod. No one has any clue what to expect from this team, including myself. New coach, new QB, new coordinators, new schemes on both sides. Opening line is UNC -11 so at least Vegas thinks we're not very good. We have a potential all american WR in Demetris Robertson, and a solid RB group. Unfortunately we are lacking up front on both lines.

My prediction of 3 wins.. now maybe 4 with Oregon State looking bad still holds, but Hype Carlbear is starting to awaken from hibernation.

GO BEARS!

Louisville line is 25 over Purdue, neutral site. Should be interesting, coach vs his old offensive coordinator.