The first AP Top 25 of the season was released on Sunday. In this new College Football Playoff age the rankings will be decided by a selection committee, thankfully removing the influence of computer polls as well as decreasing the relevance of the human polls. However, the AP poll has not had a direct bearing upon the official rankings since 2004. Instead, it serves as an independent indicator of team quality and a useful conversation piece.

This is how the AP voters see things prior to the 2014 season.

1: Florida State (57)

2: Alabama (1)

3: Oregon (1)

4: Oklahoma (1)

5: Ohio State

6: Auburn

7: UCLA

8: Michigan State

9: South Carolina

10: Baylor

11: Stanford

12: Georgia

13: LSU

14: Wisconsin

15: USC

16: Clemson

17: Notre Dame

18: Ole Miss

19: Arizona State

20: Kansas State

21: Texas A&M

22: Nebraska

23: North Carolina

24: Missouri

25: Washington

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that three voters did not feel Florida State were the unanimous top team. Florida State return the majority of their key personnel from 2013 and have talented options to replace those who have departed. They will once again have Jameis Winston under center and the last time we saw them on the field they were winning the BCS Championship. In lieu of any evidence to the contrary, Florida State seem worthy leaders in this season of hype and conjecture, they also topped our own VAVEL Top 25. In truth, there are few huge differences between the pools, while the order varies slightly, the top 18 from each poll is comprised of the same teams.

The SEC leads the way with 8 nominations, then the Pac-12 with 6, the Big Ten with 4, the ACC and Big 12 with 3 apiece and finally Notre Dame for the independents. It generates plenty of questions. How many of this preseason Top 25 will finish the season in the Top 25? Ohio State must travel to East Lansing, so are they really the favorite to win the Big Ten? Which unranked teams will make the biggest impact? Florida, UCF, Boise State, Iowa, Duke, Marshall, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Utah State, or Louisville?

Thankfully, the answers to any such questions will become clear once the football actually starts. It is still preseason, so every opinion is based on a combination of projection and memories from 2013. Ultimately, opinions expressed during preseason should bear zero relevance once the season itself has begun because by then, opinions will be formed entirely from the play on the field; the college football season cannot come soon enough.

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About the author
Kevin Connaghan
Sports writer covering cycling, NFL and Michigan football, as well as a general sports fan