Nobody likes preseason rankings. Before a single snap is taken, we've already ranked the teams, one through 25, as if it's possible to definitively suggest a single spot differentiates, say, Michigan from Georgia.
But the problem isn't just our lack of information. Making outrageous claims based on minimal data is part of college football's DNA. Indeed, it's been the only fun part of being a Miami fan for the past 20 years.
No, the real problem is the notion of an integral ranking system that stops at 25.
We can't say with any sense of certainty that Alabama is a better College Football Playoff contender this season than LSU, but we can safely assume both should be playoff contenders.