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Way too early top 10 poll of the Way Too Early Top 25 polls

Ranking the rankings

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Discover BCS National Championship - Notre Dame v Alabama Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The 2020 college football season’s body is still warm, we don’t yet know which which players will be coming back and recruiting classes have yet to be finalized, but that never stops the #industry from instantly starting to spout opinions about which teams will be contenders in 2021. As is tradition, virtually every sports outlet put out a “Way Too Early Top 25 poll,” because people love lists. And if people love lists, then they must really love lists of lists. With that in mind, please enjoy our Way Too Early Top 10 poll of the Way Too Early Top 25 polls.

10. CBS Sports

1. Clemson
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
10. Texas A&M

When you leave the team that ran roughshod over the college football world out of your top three, and rank the team Texas A&M just dispatched in the Orange Bowl ahead of them (UNC is No. 9), you get the bottom spot on our list.

9. The Dallas Morning News

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
T-14. Texas A&M?!?!

North Carolina and USC are both in the top 10 while A&M is tied with Indiana down at No. 14. I’d like to officially welcome Ben Baby back to his role at the DMN.

8. Bleacher Report

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
9. Texas A&M

A&M at No. 9 is a bit low for my taste, but the real sin is that they are sandwiched between No. 8 Southern Cal and No. 10 Indiana. Woof.

7. The Sporting News

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
7. Texas A&M

Nothing to complain about with the Aggies’ ranking, but Texas at 11 and LSU at 12 is bold, to say the least. So is Auburn at 22.

6. 247 Sports

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Clemson
T-8. Texas A&M

Aggie fans won’t like being tied with Notre Dame (regardless of whether it’s fair or not) at this point. But where this poll gets really interesting is putting North Carolina at No. 6. Giving the ACC, which just went winless in bowl season, three of the top eight teams seems ambitious.

5. USA Today

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
7. Texas A&M

LSU at 15 and Penn State at 16 seem high after both had very disappointing 2020 campaigns. Same with Michigan at 22.

4. Athlon Sports

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma
8. Texas A&M

The biggest sin here is seeing Northwestern and Liberty left unranked in favor of teams like LSU and TCU.

3. ESPN

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
6. Texas A&M

Shockingly, ESPN is one of the highest on A&M. They then have UNC just one spot behind at No. 7, and things get really interesting with USC and Indiana filling out the No. 9 and 10 spots. They’re also the highest on Ole Miss, putting them at No. 18.

2. Saturday Down South

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
7. Texas A&M

Miami up at 11 feels a bit high given how they finished this season, as does No. 15 LSU and No. 20 Penn State.

1. Orlando Sentinel

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
7. Texas A&M

From a predictable list at the top, to rewarding teams like Coastal, BYU and Liberty at the bottom, Orlando Sentinel takes the crown. Congratulations. You don’t win anything for this, FYI.

What are your thoughts on these rankings? Tell us in the comments.