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What does the Oregon Ducks' preseason ranking mean? Absolutely nothing: Issues & Answers

Having once been an AP poll voter, I find little as meaningless as a preseason top 25.

In case you missed it, the Oregon Ducks will begin the season ranked No. 24 by the Associated Press. I say, so what?

Poll voters are making guesses based on past performance, which teams return which players, and the way the schedules break.

Major college football measures a team in many ways. Among them are leadership, cohesion, teamwork, adaptability and guts, none of which can be judged until the games actually begin.

The sad thing about the current system is the way voters' built-in prejudices influence the college game at the FBS level, which doesn't use a true and inclusive playoff to determine a national champion.