RANKIN FILE

Sports Illustrated predicts Auburn will make CFB Playoff

Duane Rankin

Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, an assistant at

The preseason love continues for Auburn.

Sports Illustrated ranks the Tigers second behind defending national champion Ohio State in its preseason Top 25 poll. SI also predicts Auburn will make the College Football Playoff along with Ohio State, TCU and Notre Dame.

The website makes special mention of Montgomery native Jeremy Johnson, saying it's hard not to compare him to 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led the Tigers to a national championship.

Defending SEC champion Alabama is fifth in the preseason poll. SI.com talks about fifth-year senior Jacob Coker and redshirt freshman David Cornwell competing for the starting quarterback job.

TCU and Notre Dame are ranked third and fourth, respectively. Baylor, Michigan State, Southern Cal, Florida State and Oregon round out the Top 10.

A total of eight SEC teams are in poll: Auburn (2nd), Alabama (5th), Georgia (11th), Mississippi (13th), Missouri (20th), Arkansas (22nd), LSU (23rd) and Mississippi State (25th).