Jameis Winston, Josh Furman

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) passes under pressure from Oklahoma State linebacker Josh Furman (14) during FSU's win Saturday. The Seminoles are atop the "First Four" poll, created by a national poll of college football writers from Advance Internet and intended to provide insight into the committee that will choose the teams for the 2014 college football playoff.

(AP)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What would Condi do?

The actual College Football Playoff selection committee, including Condoleezza Rice, won't start putting out a top 25 until the middle of the season, but our friends at the various Advance properties around the nation are happy to advise them up until then, and beyond.

Even if no one listens to me. Unsurprisingly, my first ballot for our Advance Digital poll, on behalf of our coverage here at cleveland.com, didn't win the day.

The top four in our overall 13-person poll are Florida State, Oregon, Alabama and Oklahoma.

My top four were Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida State and Oregon. (LSU, Auburn, Michigan State, UCLA, Louisville and Stanford filled out my top 10.)

If I wasn't such a team player, this might be a place for me to say something like, "If you really think Alabama is a top four team right now, you either aren't paying attention or you're wrapped up in preseason perceptions." If I hadn't said I wasn't going to get wound up about polls in the new committee era, I could say that, "Excluding Texas A&M and Georgia after dominating performances against actual competition is nonsensical."

It's a good thing I'm not saying anything of that. (Suggestion for my performance evaluation: "Enthusiastically embraces divergent opinions and respects his fellow corporate employees.")

So the Big Ten didn't make the top four. The Big Ten shouldn't make the top four. Let Michigan State win at Oregon on Saturday and this whole thing will be flipped on its head. See if Ohio State can get on a roll with J.T. Barrett and this discussion would change.

For now, it appears we're hanging on to Alabama because Nick Saban is famous and a little scary ... I mean, happy voting everyone!

(Now to the stuff the other guys wrote.)

About the First Four Poll: Each week during the college football season, our committee of 13 national experts will rank the teams competing for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. These rankings will provide a look at how the contenders for the four playoff berths stack up in advance of the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings on Oct. 28 and provide an alternative perspective to those official rankings thereafter.

About the voters: We've assembled a baker's dozen of top college sports writers from coast to coast. They are: Nick Baumgardner, MLive.com; Ken Goe, The Oregonian; Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune; Gary Laney, Advance Digital National Desk; Tom Layberger, Advance Digital National Desk; Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group; Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com; Kevin Scarbinsky, Alabama Media Group; Keith Sergeant, NJ.com; Audrey Snyder, PennLive.com; Patrick Stevens, Syracuse.com; Jim Waggoner, Staten Island Advance; Brad Wilson, The Express-Times.

First Four

1. Florida State (119 points), 1-0

Last week: Def. Oklahoma State, 37-31. This week: Vs. The Citadel

Projected playoff match: Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl

Despite having to fight to the end against the Cowboys, the Seminoles still received eight of 13 first-place votes as most voters were willing to forgive the closer-than-expected result.

Voters' take:

"FSU is No. 1 because, despite their struggles, the Seminoles have too much quality back from last year to think that (Oklahoma State) game was either an anomaly or evidence that Oklahoma State is much better than anticipated." -- Gary Laney, Advance National Desk

"Florida State beat a decent team on a neutral field and will work out the defensive kinks -- and even if the Seminoles don't, who can stop (Jameis) Winston?" -- Brad Wilson, The Express-Times

2. Oregon (94), 1-0

Last week: Def. South Dakota, 62-13. This week: Vs. No. 8 Michigan State

Projected playoff match: Alabama in the Rose Bowl

We didn't learn much about the Ducks as they trounced an overmatched FCS opponent. This week will give us a much clearer picture of how serious a contender Oregon, which received two first-place votes, really is.

Voters' take:

"I like Oregon's chances with a tough schedule but the right home games (Michigan State, Stanford, Arizona) and perhaps the nation's best quarterback in Marcus Mariota, who might have gotten them to the championship game but for an injury." -- Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

"We could also see a big shakeup this week, as Oregon and Michigan State square off in perhaps the most important non-league game of the season." -- Nick Baumgardner, MLive.com

3. Alabama (84), 1-0

Last week: Def. West Virginia, 33-23. This week: Vs. Florida Atlantic

Projected playoff match: Oregon in the Rose Bowl

Alabama gave up 365 yards passing yards to WVU's Clint Trickett, and Blake Sims didn't exactly blow people away at quarterback, but the Tide stays near the top despite receiving no first-place votes.

Voters' take:

"The Seminoles and Crimson Tide may have won their openers by only a combined 17 points, but neither team trailed while playing Big 12 programs that while not great by any means, are solid." -- Tom Layberger, Advance National Desk

"Alabama is too deep and too talented for there to be any concern, especially with their backfield." -- Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com

4. Oklahoma (79), 1-0

Last week: Def. Louisiana Tech, 48-16. This week: At Tulsa

Projected playoff match: Florida State in the Sugar Bowl

Like Oregon, OU opened with a cupcake and it won't likely be until Sept. 13, when Tennessee visits, before we get a good feel for how strong the Sooners really are.

Voters' take:

"Oklahoma's defense will keep it among the nation's best ... " -- Audrey Snyder, PennLive.com

"Week 1 is always weird and gives off skewed impressions, especially with so many cupcakes on the schedule (Oregon, Oklahoma)." -- O'Malley.

Next Four

5. Georgia (76), 1-0

Last week: Def. Clemson, 45-21. This week: Bye

Georgia's second-half domination of Clemson impressed voters, including one who voted the Bulldogs No. 1 and four more who put them at No. 4.

6. Auburn (71), 1-0

Last week: Def. Arkansas, 45-21. This week: Vs. San Jose State

Auburn survived the Nick Marshall half-game suspension and a bit of a battle from the Razorbacks. The Tigers' next big test may be at Kansas State, Sept. 18.

7. Texas A&M (52), 1-0

Last week: Def. South Carolina, 52-28. This week: Vs. Lamar

The Aggies came from off the radar to looking like a contender after Kenny Hill sliced and diced South Carolina's defense on the road. It was impressive enough that the Aggies garnered two first-place votes.

8. Michigan State (44), 1-0

Last week: Def. Jacksonville State, 45-7. This week: At No. 2 Oregon

After an FCS gimme to open the season, we'll see how serious MSU, and the Big Ten, is this week in Eugene.

The Rest

LSU (33), Ohio State (23), UCLA (13), Stanford (11), Baylor (10), USC (3), Louisville (2), Mississippi (1)