AP voter explains why he put LSU No. 1
Of the 61 Associated Press voters, Alabama was the most popular pick for No. 1 in the preseason poll. The Crimson Tide wasn’t the only SEC team to get a vote, however, as one writer thinks LSU is the top team heading into the 2016 season.
Bama may be on top but 6 other teams also received 1st place votes https://t.co/eOPFSUvBNw pic.twitter.com/5D3uhURnS3
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 21, 2016
Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald is the man behind the LSU vote. He explained his reasoning in a blog post revealing his submitted ballot:
LSU gets my nod for No. 1 based on the overall strength of its team, having the best player in college football (Leonard Fournette), a returning starting quarterback, the hiring of Dave Aranda as defensive coordinator and necessity. LSU’s coach, Les Miles, has a fervent urgency to win. Should the Tigers win at Lambeau Field in week 1 over Wisconsin (a game I think is a real coin flip) the Tigers could be on their way.
McKewon’s full thoughts on the poll, including playoff picks, can be read here.