Kirk Herbstreit’s early top-5 for 2016 is sound

Kirk Herbstreit has released his early top-5 college football teams for 2016.

The Alabama Crimson Tide reigned supreme again in 2015-16. As is the tradition in college football every year, top-5 and top-10 lists are already being made for next season.

With plenty of talented teams slated to take the field in 2016, every expert is giving their early list of the top teams and how they things starting out.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit is one of those that is already giving out his top-5 list for next year. The usual suspects are on his list and it should come as no surprise as to which teams he has at the top to start the year.

With quarterback Deshaun Watson coming back for his junior season with Clemson, plus many young players returning for the program, it makes all the sense in the world that he like many others has the Tigers as the top team in the nation going into next year.

Having Alabama second makes sense, as they are the defending champions, but they will also be losing plenty of their talented players from their championship team to the NFL draft.

LSU will once again be bringing back a ton of talent and with some stability at coach now that Les Miles is staying. The Tigers should be a contender to dethrone the Crimson Tide in the SEC West.

Stanford at No. 4 on his list makes sense too. The talented Christian McCaffrey will be returning, and he’s only going to make the Cardinal an even more dangerous team than they already are. Ole Miss at No. 5 is likely due to being the lone team to beat Alabama in 2015, and the fact that the Rebels are coming off a big win in the Sugar Bowl.

Of all the early lists for 2016, this one by Herbstreit is sound in logic and not a bad preliminary top-5.