Hlas' AP ballot: Ahead of the curve on 'Bama

I'm not going to brag, but -- of course, I am. Old Mike had Alabama No. 1 on his preseason Top 25 just like he did last year.

And looky, looky. Alabama mauled Michigan.

That said, heed the following advice:

Now, on with the ballot:

1. Alabama

2. LSU

3. USC

4. Oregon

5. Florida State -- Nice schedule, opening with a 69-3 win over Murray State and playing Savannah State this week.

6. Oklahoma

7. Georgia

8. Arkansas

9. Michigan State

10. Nebraska

11. Clemson

12. Oklahoma State -- Beat Savannah State, 84-0, and held the score down. Seriously.

13. South Carolina

14. West Virginia

15. Texas

16. Ohio State

17. Florida

18. Wisconsin

19. Notre Dame -- Went to Dublin, told everyone they were the Fighting Irish. Gutsy.

20. Tennessee

21. TCU

22. Virginia Tech

23. Central Florida

24. Ohio -- If the Bobcats win out and everything else breaks right, they'll still end up at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

25. Michigan -- I put the Wolverines on my ballot only because it scheduled Alabama. Next year, they play at Connecticut. Seems safer.

Now, for the poll itself with all 60 people chiming in:

RK

TEAM

RECORD

PTS

1

Alabama (45)

1-0

1481

2

USC (11)

1-0

1435

3

LSU (4)

1-0

1382

4

Oregon

1-0

1295

5

Oklahoma

1-0

1170

6

Florida State

1-0

1135

7

Georgia

1-0

1083

8

Arkansas

1-0

992

9

South Carolina

1-0

980

9

West Virginia

1-0

980

11

Michigan State

1-0

915

12

Clemson

1-0

788

13

Wisconsin

1-0

664

14

Ohio State

1-0

634

15

Virginia Tech

1-0

604

16

Nebraska

1-0

603

17

Texas

1-0

584

18

Oklahoma State

1-0

558

19

Michigan

0-1

446

20

TCU

0-0

355

21

Kansas State

1-0

339

22

Notre Dame

1-0

198

23

Louisville

1-0

190

24

Florida

1-0

145

25

Stanford

1-0

131

• Dropped from rankings: Boise State 24

• Others receiving votes: Boise State 79, Tennessee 73, Brigham Young 63, North Carolina 48, Baylor 38, Utah 34, Washington 15, Georgia Tech 14, Ohio 10, TEXSTATE 10, Missouri 7, Texas A&M 5, South Florida 5, UCF 4, Mississippi State 3, Auburn 3, Cincinnati 2