CFB expert Phil Steele names preseason Top 25
College football analyst Phil Steele recently released his annual college football preview magazine. The 352-page issue features a two-page preview for all FBS teams, but also contains Steele’s preseason Top 25. While the ESPN contributor has previously predicted the Associated Press’ Top 10, and offered predictions for the College Football Playoff, we now know how one of the sport’s chief experts ranks the best teams entering the 2016 season.
Steele’s preseason poll:
- FSU
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- LSU
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- Washington
- Notre Dame
- Stanford
- TCU
- Michigan
- Michigan State
- Iowa
- UCLA
- Boise State
- Ole Miss
- Baylor
- Miami
- Houston
- Louisville
- Nebraska
- Georgia
- Texas
- Southern Cal
The top four falls in line with Steele’s newsworthy prediction earlier in the week that both Alabama and LSU will make the College Football Playoff this season. While he see the Crimson Tide winning the SEC West, he predicts that results in other conferences will leave a door open for the Tigers:
“I think the Pac-12 might beat itself up,” Steele said. “The Big Ten may beat itself up and create an opening there. LSU is the type of team that can step right in there.”
While Ole Miss was never going to take FSU lightly, it appears that the Rebels might have an even tougher opener in Orlando than previously assumed if Steele is correct that the Seminoles are this year’s top team. While Florida State is a regular preseason Top 5, many polls this offseason had the defending champion, Alabama, on top.
Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M have made various preseason polls, but miss the cut with Steele.