Preseason rankings: Man vs. Math. 
The 2023 college football season isn’t so far off that we can’t start the process of trying to surmise who the best teams will be. Right after the national championship game ends, the way-too-early Top 25s land. Now  Bill Connelly’s preseason SP+ rankings have dropped. Connelly of ESPN joins AP’s Ralph Russo to examine some of the differences between the human rankings and the numbers. SP+ is more bullish on Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.; The humans are expecting a little more from TCU in a follow-up to 2022’s championship run. And both are gearing up for a wild Pac-12 race and a possible Penn State playoff push.


Email the show: APTop25mailbag@gmail.com

Preseason rankings: Man vs. Math.

With the help of players, coaches, TV analysts, school administrators and NCAA officials, AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo tackles on-and off-field issues affecting the sport throughout the year. The show gives everyone from the casual fan to the obsessed alum, an insider look into the AP Poll and all that is trending on campuses around the country. Be ready for the big game, signing day or spring practice with this weekly chat about college football.

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Washington coach Jedd Fisch interview 
 Jedd Fisch is taking over a Washington program that played for a national championship last season, but only returns a total of 28 players, almost none of them starters. In an interview with AP's Ralph Russo, Fisch talks about the difference in the two rebuilds, preparing for the Big Ten and why coaching at Washington is a lot like coaching in the NFL.

Washington coach Jedd Fisch interview

Spring portal review 
 The spring portal window has closed and while there are still transfers happening, most of the big moves have been made. Max Olson from The Athletic joins AP's Ralph Russo to talk about what teams cleaned up in the portal, including Miami and Oklahoma. Defensive linemen were a particularly hot commodity in April. And, of course, you can't talk portal without checking in on Colorado and coach Prime. 


Spring portal review

Marcus Freeman on Year 3 leading Notre Dame 
 Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman enters his third season leading the Fighting Irish with maybe his best team. Plus, a new offensive coordinator in Mike Denbrock and another new quarterback via the transfer portal in former Duke star Riley Leonard. How are they meshing as Leonard recovers from an injury?  


Marcus Freeman on Year 3 leading Notre Dame

Playoff dark horses 
 An expanded College Football Playoff means a bigger reward for surprising teams that go from unranked in the preseason to vying for a spot in the top 10. Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports joins AP's Ralph Russo to run through so teams that could exceed expectations in 2024 and earn a place in the first 12-team playoff. The Atlantic Coast Conference seems especially loaded with wild cards from Miami to newcomer SMU.

Playoff dark horses

Mock NFL draft 
 What will happen after the Chicago Bears take USC quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in next week's NFL draft? AP's national NFL Writer Rob Maaddi joins Ralph Russo to go through his mock draft, which includes a bunch of wheeling and dealing, four more quarterbacks being selected after Williams and a total of 10 offensive line going in the first round. Maaddi explains why Heisman winner Jayden Daniels might be the right fit for the Commanders at No. 2 and how the Patriots can take a circuitous route to acquire additional picks and still get their quarterback of the future.


Rob Maaddi's mock draft: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-bears-2f9c3602d80084eb9c0c7fc0b7fc9530

Preseason rankings: Man vs. Math.

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