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TCB Poll Returns: 2016 Preseason

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With the advent of the College Football Playoff in 2014, we — the Elvii of college football — have joined together to present our weekly playoff nominations to keep the selection committee honest. We call it the TCB Poll.

TCB Elvis Presley College Football Poll logo

Image courtesy @AuburnElvis

Football is back.

HEY EVERYBODY, FOOTBALL IS BACK!

In case you’ve just joined us, my esteemed colleagues and I do our best to forecast your 4 playoff teams. The Internet is a democratic place, so we had to narrow the parameters a bit. First, college football fandom is a must. But that still casts a wide net. So I thought to myself, “Are there other Elvis fans who cheer for other universities?” And it so happens there are. So we invented the TCB Poll.

In our inaugural attempt, the 2014 Preseason Poll, the collective Elvii presented you, the Loyal Readers, with Florida State, Alabama, and Oregon. We had a Big 12 team (Oklahoma) in the 4th spot and Ohio State 7th. The Actual Playoff Committee went with the Buckeyes after seeing the full season of games, but our very first attempt hit at a 75% clip.

Last year, our affinity for Hawkeye Elvis slanted our playoff hopes away from Michigan State and toward Iowa.

We are back with our third installment of these preseason rankings. My jumpsuited compatriots will bring you their commentary for college football’s top four teams each week, and I’ll aggregate our scores for you so you can be the smartest fan in your social circle — the one who listens to grown men with long sideburns wearing sunglasses indoors and out.

Playoff Rankings: 2016 Preseason

Each week, the TCB Poll is an aggregate of all our inputs. Scroll down to see individual selections and opinions — this is how we’d like to see the College Football Playoff if we had to narrow the field *right now* to determine a national champion. Images courtesy The Helmet Project.

Rank

Team

Record

Weekly Change
1 Oklahoma football helmet Oklahoma 0-0 —
2 Alabama Alabama 0-0 —
3 Clemson-Helmet Clemson 0-0 —
4 LSU Helmet LSU 0-0 —

Also receiving votes: Michigan, Florida State.

TCB Committee Member Comments

@AuburnElvis

My prediction philosophy is to base early week rankings completely on what teams WILL BECOME, and as the season goes on, inject the reality of on-the-field outcomes. So, with no games played (other than that weird game in Australia that no one watched), the top 4 teams in college football will be:

  1. Oklahoma
  2. LSU
  3. Michigan
  4. Florida State

@HawkeyeElvis

Well I went to the Rose Bowl and while the game didn’t turn out great the rest of the trip did. And Iowa has a fair amount to look forward to this season.

As for my Top 4?

  1. Clemson – The Tigers have talent. And haven’t had the distractions they have had in Tuscaloosa.
  2. Alabama – Best in the SEC….for now.
  3. Oklahoma – Bob Stoops is now the longest tenured head coach in college football along with Kirk Ferentz. Fun Fact! Stoops played at Iowa.
  4. LSU – I will see the Bayou Bengals live in their opener against Wisconsin.

 

@IrishElvis

  1. Alabama. The defending champs continue reloading and grayshirting. Their opening game will be the main data point that pollsters use to justify a lofty ranking until October.
  2. Clemson. Lost some defensive talent, but they return their quarterback. They open at Auburn, so we’ll see how the Tiger/Tiger matchup is early, but they should be sitting pretty for a Halloween showdown in Doak Campbell with FSU.
  3. Oklahoma. This ranking will be too low my the end of September if the Sooners can dispose of a quality Houston squad and Ohio State. If this team is clicking early, they are playoff material.
  4. Michigan. Egads this is disgusting, but the Wolverines have a comfortable path to 7-0. Their schedule has two tough road games: Michigan State and Ohio State, but they come late in the year. I think Harbaugh is still a year away, but the khaki noise from the Mitten State is going to be annoying come late October.

Considered, then rejected (for preseason): Washington, FSU, Notre Dame.

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Powered by SC schadenfreude, husband to Mrs. IrishElvis (not pictured), rabble rouser. TCB.

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