CBS Sports’ Jon Soloman combed through previous AP preseason polls and statistically confirmed what we’ve believed for some time: 2016’s opening week is one of the best curtain-lifting slates of games we’ve seen in quite some time.
In less than 14 days, we’ll get to treat ourselves to four AP preseason top 25 matchups: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 20 USC, No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Houston, No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss and No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina. That’s the first time there will be four top 25 games in Week 1 since 2009 (Boise State/Oregon, BYU/Oklahoma, Alabama/Virginia Tech, Georgia/Oklahoma State).
This impressive schedule is coming on the heels of 2015, which only had one top 25 matchup to begin the season (Alabama-Wisconsin, which the Tide handily won). And it doesn’t include other high-profile games like LSU’s trip to Lambeau Field to face Wisconsin, or Clemson’s date with Auburn, or Notre Dame and UCLA taking trips to the Lone Star State to face Texas and Texas A&M, respectively.
Soloman has a good analysis of why there are so many top 25 games in Week 1 this year, which is definitely worth noting as we move forward in the College Football Playoff era.
And a gentle reminder: You have 12 days to get your living room set up for the first full Saturday of college football, or to figure out how to get a TV into your tailgate, for what should be a great way to begin the 2016 season.
