As the college football season approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is: which teams have what it takes to win the national title? While the AP poll can provide some insight, it doesn’t always give a clear picture of which teams are truly capable of competing for the championship. That’s why we’re taking a different approach this year.

Instead of looking at the preseason AP Top 25 poll as a straightforward ranking, we’re going to break it down into a tier list. This way, we can group teams together based on their chances of winning the national title, rather than just looking at their ranking.

The criteria for this tier list are as follows:

• S: Legitimate national title favorite
• A: Can win if things break right
• B: Have big roster questions but are talented enough
• C: Can win a playoff game or two
• D: Could make the playoff
• F: Would be a surprise if they made the playoff

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll.

The Top Seven Contenders

There’s a clear top seven contending tier in college football this year. These teams are all legitimate national title contenders, with championship-worthy rosters and the talent to back it up.

No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Indiana, and No. 7 Miami all have the potential to win the national title. Each of these teams has a talented roster, with multiple potential Day 1 draft picks and the depth to compete with the best teams in the country.

Ohio State, in particular, has a strong case to be made as the top team in the country. With a talented roster and a schedule that sets them up well for a potential national title run, the Buckeyes are a team to watch this season.

But the Buckeyes aren’t the only team in the top tier. Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, and Indiana all have the talent and depth to compete with the best teams in the country. And with a strong schedule and a little bit of luck, any of these teams could make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Next Tier Down

Just below the top seven contenders are a group of teams that could potentially make a deep run in the playoffs. These teams have talented rosters and the potential to compete with the best teams in the country, but they may not have the same level of depth or talent as the top seven.

No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 10 Oklahoma, and No. 11 LSU all have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs. Each of these teams has a talented roster and the depth to compete with the best teams in the country.

Ole Miss, in particular, has a strong case to be made as a potential playoff contender. With a talented roster and a schedule that sets them up well for a potential national title run, the Rebels are a team to watch this season.

But the Rebels aren’t the only team in this tier. Oklahoma and LSU both have the talent and depth to compete with the best teams in the country, and with a strong schedule and a little bit of luck, either of these teams could make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Teams on the Bubble

Finally, there are a group of teams that are on the bubble when it comes to making the playoffs. These teams have talented rosters, but they may not have the same level of depth or talent as the teams above them.

No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 13 Alabama, No. 14 USC, No. 16 Michigan, and No. 20 Tennessee all have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs, but they may not have the same level of talent or depth as the teams above them.

Texas A&M, in particular, has a strong case to be made as a potential playoff contender. With a talented roster and a schedule that sets them up well for a potential national title run, the Aggies are a team to watch this season.

But the Aggies aren’t the only team in this tier. Alabama, USC, Michigan, and Tennessee all have the talent and depth to compete with the best teams in the country, and with a strong schedule and a little bit of luck, any of these teams could make a deep run in the playoffs.