The preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll is out, which means we all have something to argue about.

What did we learn from the first AP poll of the season? A few things.

1. Can this year be different for No. 1 Alabama?

It’s easy to assume that Alabama starts every season No. 1 in the Nick Saban era. That hasn’t been the case. This is only Alabama’s fourth preseason No. 1 ranking under Saban, and none of those seasons finished the way Alabama fans wanted.

  • 2010, finished 10-3, didn’t win SEC
  • 2013, finished 11-2, didn’t win SEC
  • 2016, finished 14-1, Won SEC, lost in national title
  • 2017 ?

This was also the first time under Saban in which Alabama earned preseason No. 1 after a year it didn’t win the national title. Will that make a difference in turning the, um, Tide?

2. SEC has historically weak showing atop poll, but not overall

A little birdie told me that the SEC had multiple top-10 teams in the preseason AP poll every year dating back to 2003. In that season, the SEC still actually had four teams ranked in the top 13.

This year broke that streak.

With Alabama being the only SEC team in the top 10, many will question the strength of the league. After all, the SEC was last among Power 5 conferences with total top-10 teams:

  • B1G: 3 (Ohio State No. 2, Penn State No. 6, Wisconsin No. 9)
  • ACC: 2 (Florida State No. 3, Clemson No. 5)
  • Big 12: 2 (Oklahoma No. 7, Oklahoma State No. 10)
  • Pac-12: 2 (USC No. 4, Washington No. 8)
  • SEC: 1 (Alabama No. 1)

Expand that out to the entire top 25, however, and the numbers tell a different story:

By the numbers, it’s clear that the SEC is still getting plenty of respect from AP voters. There was a possibility that Auburn could potentially crack the top 10, but perhaps voters are waiting to see if the Jarrett Stidham hype is for real. And with LSU and Georgia facing major question marks with relatively new coaching staffs, they haven’t earned consensus top-10 respect yet.

Still, six teams in the top 25 will make the conference supremacy debate an ongoing one at least until the actual games are played.

3. So who is underrated/overrated?

I actually had the same exact teams in my top 10, albeit in a few different spots. Inside the top 10, I don’t believe there were any big head-scratchers. Outside of the top 10, I had my questions.

I thought Michigan should’ve been ranked in the mid-teens instead of No. 11. Sure it’s Jim Harbaugh, but we’re talking about preseason rankings for a team that won 10 games and returns one defensive starter.

In terms of a team that might be a bit underrated, I’m still not sure why there hasn’t been more buzz about Lamar Jackson and Louisville. It’s amazing what can happen to a team when it loses a bowl game many feel it should’ve won. I had the Cardinals at No. 11 as opposed to No. 16. That’s not “a disrespect card,” but for my money, Louisville has the best player in college football back on a team with plenty of weapons.

Overall, though, my Top 25 was awfully similar to the AP’s. The only team I ranked that didn’t make the cut was Boise State. Instead, the pollsters slotted Tennessee at No. 25. If the Vols can answer some big-time offensive questions, they’ll keep that Top-25 spot.

We’re still a couple months from the real poll coming out, but the good news is, college football will be played this weekend.

It’s. About. Time.