The first Coaches Poll for the 2016 season was released on Thursday, and naturally the release begged the question: which teams are too high on the poll, and which teams are too low? We take a crack at picking three teams for each category, and explaining exactly why they are over or underrated.
OVERRATED:
Ohio State (No. 5)
They are only returning six starters from last year! It's not like I expect Ohio State to be bad or anything, but I just can't imagine them being able to replace 12 NFL Draft picks that easily. Maybe they can do it, as Urban Meyer is one of the best recruiters in the country, but it is going to be an extremely difficult task.
One thing I do expect to improve for the Buckeyes is quarterback play. J.T. Barrett should do better as the team's undisputed starter, and that should provide some help on offense. Losing Ezekiel Elliott, though, is going to be a big loss that could have the largest impact of all of the Buckeyes' losses.
Tennessee (No. 10)
I actually don't have that big of a problem with Tennessee being No. 10. They are expected to improve on an impressive nine-win season from last year, and they bring back most of their important players.
However, someone gave them a first-place vote. I'm not sure who is giving them a first-place vote, but it wasn't head coach Butch Jones, so someone has some explaining to do. Like, just why?
Michigan State (No. 11)
The Spartans should be able to have a good season in response to last year's dreadful performance in the College Football Playoff. Michigan State may not be the kind of team that wows the critics every year, but Mark Dantonio usually puts a solid product out on the field.
The problem for Michigan State is similar to Ohio State: they just lost a ton of talent at key positions, and until we can see that they are capable of reloading in just one year, I feel like this ranking is a bit too high.
RELATED: Paul Finebaum believes the Big 12 is still in danger of losing another team to the SEC
UNDERRATED:
Texas A&M (NR)
I get it; people felt that A&M was wildly overrated last year. The Aggies jumped up to No. 10 in the rankings last year after a 5-0 start, only to plummet out of the rankings completely by finishing the year by losing five of their last eight games.
However, Texas A&M does have one of the best — if not the best — defender in the nation in Myles Garrett. Garrett should anchor the defense, while new quarterback Trevor Knight steadies the position that has been a revolving door ever since Johnny Manziel left for the NFL. I think that at least earned a spot in the Top 25 instead of the sixth team in the dreaded "others receiving votes section". I wouldn't mind them swapping spots with Florida.
Louisville (No. 23)
Louisville may have to deal with Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic Division, but the Cardinals should be extremely good in 2016. I am particularly high on true-sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was fantastic as a freshman last year. Elsewhere, they return 18 starters from a team that went 8-5 in 2015. They have a great chance at getting to 10 wins this year, and I think somewhere around 15 would probably be a better ranking for them.
Oregon (No. 22)
22nd is Oregon's lowest preseason ranking in over a decade, and they do have some concerns heading into this year. Their main concern is the same as last year: they have a quarterback battle heading into the season, this year between transfer Dakota Prukop and redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen.
However, with superstar running back Royce Freeman in the backfield, they should have time to sort out the quarterback issues. Defense has never really been a thing at Oregon — or the entire Pac-12, for that matter — so they will be fine on that side of the ball. The Ducks aren't a Playoff contender or anything, but 22 seems very low for them.
