SEC Football: High or Low with Athlon Sports’ Preseason Top 25
Athlon Sports released their Spring Football Top 25 today, so of course we’ll play high or low for the SEC Football teams.
Like we did many times during the regular season, it’s time for us to play high or low for SEC football teams with their spring rankings. We’ll be using Athlon Sports’ Preseason Top 25. The team features several familiar faces from outside the conference, and of course has a huge SEC football flavor to it. Athlon is showing the ACC and Big 10 favorites a lot of love, as 4 of the top 5 teams come from those conferences. The SEC West is still leading the way for the SEC, though Athlon is clearly expecting big things from Tennessee.
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Athlon’s Top 25 follows below, with SEC football teams in bold. For those that are unaware of high or low works, it is an analysis on whether a team’s ranking is too high or low. A “high” ranking indicates the team’s ranking is too high, while a “low” ranking indicates the team’s ranking is too low.
Athlon Sport’s Top 25
- Alabama Crimson Tide
The only place for the Crimson Tide to go is down when it comes to high or low. I can’t justify dropping them, though, despite their question marks at center, quarterback and running back. Almost any other team with question marks at all three of those positions would certainly get a high ranking. With the way Alabama has dominated SEC football for the better part of a decade, they get the benefit of the doubt as the defending conference and national champions.
2. Florida State Seminoles (ACC)
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10)
4. Clemson Tigers (ACC)
5. Michigan Wolverines (Big 10)
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6. Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12)
7. Tennessee Volunteers
Athlon Sports clearly expects the backfield of Dobbs-Hurd-Kamara to do big things in 2016. My initial thought is this ranking is far too high, as Tennessee has not shown it can win the big games under Butch Jones. When I look at their schedule, though, I can easily see them going 10-2. I think they’re in the right range as a result, but I’ll still give them a high classification.
8. Notre Dame (Independent/Kind of ACC)
9. LSU Tigers
Big things are expected from LSU this season. LSU returned future NFL talents Ethan Pocic, Leonard Fournette, and Kendall Beckwith, along with a host of others, leading the charge, it is easy to see why. I struggle to think LSU can go 10-2 or better with Cam Cameron leading the offense, though. As a result, they get a high ranking here.
10. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels lost three of their biggest playmakers to the NFL Draft
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when Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil and Laquon Treadwell all declared early for the NFL Draft. They also lost veteran leaders CJ Johnson and Trae Elston. The Rebels do have the best quarterback in SEC Football, though, and should win a few games most expect them not to. I think 10 is the right spot for them, so I’ll go push here.
11. Washington Huskies (PAC-12)
12. Stanford Cardinal (PAC-12)
13. Michigan State Spartans (BIG 10)
14. Baylor Bears (Big 12)
15. UCLA Bruins (PAC-12)
16. Houston Cougars (AAC)
17. Georgia Bulldogs
This is quite a conundrum. If Mark Richt was still the coach, the Bulldogs would be in the top 15. Their coach is now an unknown, though, so there is a lot of doubt around the Bulldogs of Athens. They’ll have a dominant rushing attack an solid defense with Kirby Smart at the helm, though, and that should be enough to remain in contention for the SEC East all season. I’ll give them the nod here and say their ranking is too low.
18. TCU Horned Frogs (BIG 12)
19. Louisville Cardinals (ACC)
20. Iowa Hawkeyes (BIG 10)
21. Florida Gators
The Gators must prove they can play without Will Grier. They haven’t and don’t deserve to be ranked in the top 25 just yet.
More sec: Tennessee Football Situation Worse than Ole Miss
22. North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC)
23. USC Trojans (PAC-12)
24. Oregon Ducks (PAC-12)
25. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12)