Unpacking the AP Top 25: College Football's Starting Line

© Joshua L. Jones/USA TODAY NETWORK

The first Associated Press (AP) Poll's release marks the college football season's unofficial start, and this event is akin to the start of a NASCAR race where the drivers learn their starting positions. The top contenders determine how much ground they must cover to position themselves for a championship run.

At the same time, the mid-pack teams assess their competition to secure a playoff spot. The bottom-feeder teams, though talented, are looking for any opportunity to prove the doubters wrong and upset the top contenders.

The AP Poll Is Diverse

When looking at the rankings, it's evident the Southeastern Conference stands out with nine in the top 25. Although these rankings don't directly impact the College Football Playoff rankings in November, they might provide insight into the potential outcome for other major conferences.

The Big Ten Conference follows closely in the rankings with six teams. This conference has become even more top-heavy with the addition of several former Pac-12 Conference powerhouses, like Oregon and USC. The main question is whether these new additions will disrupt the balance of power currently held by traditional powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State.

Both the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 Conference are well-represented in the rankings, with Florida State and Utah leading their respective conferences. These two conferences are wide open, and predicting the winner is difficult as any team could come out on top. These conferences are expected to cannibalize themselves, with one team from each conference vying for a spot in the playoffs with no at-large bids.

While no Group of 5 teams made it to the initial poll, Notre Dame is ranked highly. As an independent team, Notre Dame serves as an intriguing wildcard in the race. If Notre Dame finishes in the top 12 at the end of the season, questions will arise regarding who they might displace and whether they would receive an automatic berth like conference champions. Several Group of 5 teams, such as Liberty, Boise State, Appalachian State and Tulane, received votes. Boise State, in particular, seems promising with the recent recruiting win of Malachi Nelson, a five-star talent who could potentially lead them to the playoffs. Considering Boise State's history as a BCS buster, it wouldn't be surprising if they made a significant impact this season.

Final AP Poll Thoughts

This college football season has the potential to be the best in quite some time. This is due to the increased parity among teams and conferences. While some teams and conferences still have a clear advantage, the presence of the Transfer Portal, conference realignment and the introduction of the 12-team playoff has given many teams renewed hope. All it takes is one Saturday to change everything.