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The 2016 season is barely in the books, but that doesn’t mean that it’s too soon to weigh in on just how 2017 is shaping up. And as far as the USA Today’s super-early preseason top 25 goes, Florida State sits atop the mountain of the college football landscape, at least at present.
The Seminoles are No. 1 in front of Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, and USC, respectively. Of course, the ‘Noles and Crimson Tide will open the season against each other in Atlanta.
The explanation as to Florida State’s ranking reads as follows:
The Seminoles stumbled out of the gate this past season before hitting another gear following a loss to Clemson in October. With valuable experience and as much talent as any team in the country, Florida State is the team to beat in the Atlantic Coast Conference and very deserving of the title of preseason No. 1 in August.
FSU will also face a few other teams in this extremely early poll: No. 9 Clemson, No. 19 Louisville, and No. 22 Florida. Miami came in at No. 26.
Other Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the poll include No. 13 Virginia Tech, with North Carolina at No. 27 and Pitt 32nd.