Analytics website Pro Football Focus recently gave its early 2017 rankings a post-National Signing Day update.

Five SEC teams make the poll, with the defending conference champions leading the way:

  1. Alabama
  2. USC
  3. Ohio State
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Clemson
  6. Florida State
  7. Penn State
  8. Washington
  9. Michigan
  10. LSU
  11. Oklahoma State
  12. Louisville
  13. Auburn
  14. Texas
  15. South Florida
  16. Georgia
  17. Miami
  18. Wisconsin
  19. Stanford
  20. Washington State
  21. Florida
  22. Oregon
  23. Virginia Tech
  24. Kansas State
  25. Wyoming

Some of the things that standout from PFF’s early poll:

  • Noticeably absent is Tennessee, coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons. It appears PFF is unsure about the Volunteers without Josh Dobbs and Derek Barnett. Vols fans will likely be bothered by seeing Michigan at No. 9 despite the Wolverines’ roster taking a significant blow in loss of starters.
  • One of the more intriguing SEC storylines in 2017 polls and power rankings is which team will step up as No. 2 in the conference behind Alabama. PFF goes with LSU, ranked at No. 10, but Auburn is not far behind at No. 13. Both teams will have new play-callers, and potentially new quarterbacks.
  • In reference to college football in the Sunshine State, UF, FSU and Miami are often referred to as a Big 3. In PFF’s early poll, the Gators are the fourth-best team behind the Seminoles, Hurricanes and No. 15 South Florida, which is ranked than any team from the SEC East (No. 16 Georgia, No. 21 Florida). The Bulls landed Charlie Strong, a name familiar to SEC fans after his many years in the conference as a coordinator, who was fired from Texas.
  • PFF is high on the Big Ten, the only conference with three top-10 teams.

Fans looking for analysis on the 25 ranked teams, including the five from the SEC, can view the full PFF article here.