Not that it is to anyone's surprise, but Florida State is ranked first in the the AP preseason top 25 poll. The defending champion Seminoles received 57 of the 60 first place votes, with Alabama, Oregon and Oklahoma getting one first place vote a piece.
Florida State went a perfect 14-0 last year, capping off their spectacular season with a 34-31 victory of Auburn in the National Championship Game. The Seminoles lost seven players from last year's championship squad, but return Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston became only the second freshman to win the Heisman last year, and should have a good chance to join Archie Griffin as the only player to win the award twice. The 6'6 Winston will look to improve upon his 44 total touchdowns from last season and lead the Seminoles back to the title game.
Florida State was simply too talented for most of the teams on their schedule last year, winning every game other than the National Championship by at least 14 points.
The boys from Tallahassee could have a similar type of season this year, as Grantland believes it will be difficult for any team in the ACC to hang with the Seminoles for four quarters.
It is early to predict another undefeated season for Jimbo Fisher's team, but their schedule does not look all that tough. Florida State only faces two teams who are ranked in the preseason top 25, Notre Dame and Clemson, and both of those games are at home.
However, as CNN notes, this will be the first time in college football that there will be a playoff to win the national title. With the four best teams making the playoffs, Florida State will have to beat two high quality teams in a row if they are to repeat as champions.
A team from the SEC had won the National Championship seven years straight before the Seminoles beat Auburn last year. With seven SEC teams ranked in the top 25, they should have a good chance to prove last year was an anomaly, and continue to dominate college football.