Editor's Note: Tom Murphy is one of 61 voters in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Each week, he reveals his ballot and offers insight into his votes.
Alabama deserves to be considered one of the top teams based on the Crimson Tide’s track record over the last decade, but their personnel losses remind me of 2010 a little, so I gave Clemson my No. 1 vote to open the season. The Tide’s injuries at linebacker don’t help either.
I’ve got one team from each of the Power 5 conferences in my top five before rolling back to an SEC team with Georgia at No. 6. Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Washington follow Clemson and Alabama in spots 3 through 5.
The uncertainty with Urban Meyer’s position at Ohio State probably cost the Buckeyes a couple of spots in my poll. I have them at No. 8.
Can West Virginia live up to the hype and challenge in the Big 12 this year? I have the Mountaineers at No. 12 and can say I’ve received more preseason Heisman hype emails on quarterback Will Grier than any other player.
Arkansas State at No. 25 on my ballot looks like the only point the Red Wolves got in the preseason ballot. The Sun Belt favorite has a big test on Sept. 8 at Alabama.
Tom Murphy's Preseason Top 25 Ballot
1 Clemson
2 Alabama
3 Oklahoma
4 Wisconsin
5 Washington
6 Georgia
7 Miami
8 Ohio State
9 Auburn
10 Notre Dame
11 Penn State
12 West Virginia
13 Stanford
14 Virginia Tech
15 TCU
16 Michigan State
17 Mississippi State
18 Texas
19 UCF
20 Michigan
21 Florida State
22 Southern Cal
23 LSU
24 Florida
25 Arkansas State