The start of the college football season is no longer in the distant future; it is right around the corner.
The release of the Amway Coaches Poll is just one more indicator that the season is at hand. There were a few surprises in the poll, but the names at or near the top were expected. Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State are the top four teams in the poll.
While it's one thing to report the opinions in the poll, it's quite another to go to the other extreme and pick the four teams that will be participating in the College Football Playoff at the end of the season.
It may be something of a risky endeavor since teams will go through ups, downs, injuries and controversies between now and the end of the season, but here's a look at the four teams we think will be playing for the title.
Clemson
Start with quarterback Deshaun Watson (4,104 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 13 interceptions), who is perhaps the most dynamic triggerman in the country. He returns to run an offense that averaged 38.5 points per game in 2015, and there doesn't appear to be any reason to expect a downturn.
In addition to Watson's speed and escapability, he is a gifted passer who can deliver the ball on target to open receivers. His ability to buy time with his quick feet makes him especially dangerous when it comes to creating big plays.
Running back Wayne Gallman should help make Watson even better because he's so consistent. Gallman is coming off a 1,527-yard performance, and few people seem to realize how effective he can be running with the football.
The receiving crew is deep and talented. Artavis Scott is the best of the returning receivers after catching 93 passes for 901 yards and six touchdowns last season. However, he has plenty of company: Mike Williams is healthy, Deon Cain has rejoined the team after being reinstated and tight end Jordan Leggett can be a force.
The offensive line is a nice mix of veterans and newcomers that should give Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney a group of dependable blockers on a week-in, week-out basis.
It would appear that defensive coordinator Brent Venables has some work to do because Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd have moved on to the NFL. Those were two significant and game-changing players.
However, the Tigers' cupboard is not bare. Linebacker Ben Boulware and safety Jadar Johnson return, and those two are fully capable of leading a defense that is loaded with talent.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide will have a new personality and outlook in 2016 considering they don't have the power running of Derrick Henry to serve as their backbone this season.
But don't think for a second that head coach Nick Saban's team won't be in a position to roll once again. This team has the speed, explosiveness and talent on defense to put its signature on the season.
There should be plenty of talent at the running back slot. Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough will get the call at the start of the season, and it will be left for one of them to show he can dominate at the position. Even if neither man can separate from the other, look for the Crimson Tide to run the ball quite well behind star left tackle Cam Robinson.
The defense will have a much different look than it did a year ago, since so many of Alabama's key players have moved on to the NFL. In addition to the player changes, Jeremy Pruitt is replacing Kirby Smart at the defensive coordinator slot.
Reuben Foster may be the next big-name linebacker for the Crimson Tide, while Jonathan Allen should be the key to stopping the run up front. Foster had 73 tackles last year in a supporting role, and he will rise to superstar level this year.
Oklahoma
The biggest reason Oklahoma played such inspired and sensational football last year was the rise of quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The signal-caller returns this year after throwing for 3,700 yards with a 36-to-7 TD-to-interception ratio, and as long as he stays upright and in the lineup, the Sooners will continue to pile up points and victories.
While top receiver Sterling Shepard has moved on to the NFL, Dede Westbrook is back after catching 46 passes for 743 yards. Running back Samaje Perine ran for 1,349 yards last year, and the Sooners are counting on that kind of production again this year.
The Oklahoma defense is underrated, and much of that has to do with playing in the Big 12. That league is known for its prolific offenses, and any defense that can hold its own against that kind of game-breaking competition is capable of playing well in the biggest games of the year.
Safety Steven Parker is one of the best at his position in the nation, and the pass rush should be consistently aggressive and powerful. If the depth holds up, look for the Sooners to be playing at a championship level at the end of the season.
Michigan
The Wolverines took a huge chance when they hired Jim Harbaugh after the 2014 season, and it's a gamble that appears to be working out even better than the Wolverines could have hoped. The former San Francisco 49ers boss is thriving at his alma mater.
Harbaugh wasted no time in turning Michigan around last year, and the improvement should continue in year two as the Wolverines appear to be one of the best teams in the country. They rank eighth in the Amway Coaches Poll.
If Harbaugh's team can meet all its benchmarks and play consistent, winning football, it will most likely play for a spot in the College Football Playoff when the Wolverines meet Ohio State in the last regular-season game of the season.
Tight end Jake Butt is sure to be one of the team's leading receivers, while Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh are a pair of big-time wideouts who combined for 108 catches and 14 touchdowns last season.
Look for Chris Wormley to lead the front seven on defense. He is a versatile lineman who can play either tackle or end and cause havoc at either position.
Safety Jabril Peppers is a game-changing playmaker, and the Wolverines' coaching staff appears to be willing to move him around because he can cause disruption from anywhere on the field.