To be honest, I haven't felt football in the air yet.
Yet I've certainly heard it.
"Thirty-seven power," I heard a high school coach yell early Monday morning. "Thirty-seven power. Colby, get that gap! On set, on set... SET!"
It warmed my heart. Then I sat down to work on my Associated Press Top 25 preseason ballot. And that warm heart started to beat a little faster. Because this, my friends, could be a killer college football season on the national front.
As followers know, I always unveil my Marshall and WVU predictions a couple weeks down the road. I get out to practices and pressers, allow the information to digest and see if there are any personnel surprises. Then I pop the cork.
I am again, however, West Virginia's lone AP Top 25 voter. I take the duty seriously and do my own research, rather than use preseason magazines as a crutch. Also, preseason magazines try to nail how teams will finish at season's end. It's a point of pride and comparisons are made within the industry.
My starting point, however, is a ranking of what I feel are the best teams. And for me that means the best collection of talented players - with a dash of consideration for those coaching them.
The independent research and model has served me well. I was roundly chastised last year at this time for slotting Oklahoma No. 5 in the preseason, but the Sooners made the College Football Playoff.
Yes, there were also misses and I understand that. You should too. Only 60 percent of teams starting in the 2015-16 poll ended there. As I say, this is a starting point.
But I look at the top of the class. Or, rather, I look at the top of the classes - from seniors down to sophomores. I try to see which teams have developed and have the most collective talent in that upper tier (read: heading for the NFL) on hand. I don't penalize a team like, say, USC because it plays at Stanford down the road. I let the teams hash all that out.
If Alabama and LSU have the two best teams in the SEC West, but also in the country, shouldn't we start them 1-2? Isn't that the best starting point?
I say yes, but I also say this season should be a terrific one if the talent indeed rises to the top. There are more showdowns lined up this season than in any old Western movie.
Understand that part of my deal is I can't publish my vote until the entire poll is released. However, I don't think the fine folks at the Associated Press would mind if I cut loose on some of my predicted surprises.
Like that Notre Dame should do incredibly well.
Look, I'm not saying the Fighting Irish has as much talent as Alabama, but it isn't as far off as one might think.
We'll be able to check the team out right away when it plays at Texas on Sunday, Sept. 4. My suspicion, however, is the big test will come Oct. 15 when Notre Dame hosts Stanford.
Did I mention Stanford? The Cardinal, I believe, is vastly underrated considering the talent on hand. (Christian McCaffrey, anyone?) You can have your Pac-12 North pick of Washington. I'm loving me some Cardinal.
Also, many are going with UCLA over USC in the Pac-12 South. My research says that won't even be close. Trojans, baby.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in my examination is that of Auburn of the SEC West. Tennessee? Georgia? Right now, I'd take the talent Auburn has in-house over either. (Clemson, by the way, plays at Auburn to start the season.) And if the Tigers don't surprise, I agree Gus Malzahn should be fired.
(By the way, while doing the research, I found most of your preseason favorites - Florida State, Clemson, Ohio State, LSU, etc., have upper-shelf talent at premium positions like cornerback and defensive end. Too, the 2018 running back class is unreal: LSU's Leonard Fournette, McCaffrey, Florida State's Dalvin Cook and Georgia's Nick Chubb. Will any be in college in 2018? Probably not.)
What won't surprise you is, yes, I'll probably pick Alabama No. 1. Most talent in the country by far. The problem is it plays USC in Arlington, Texas. It plays at Tennessee. It plays at LSU.
So what else? Well, the ACC Atlantic battle between Florida State and Clemson should be terrific. (The teams play at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee Oct. 29.)
Also, if you're a Big 12 fan, look straight to Norman, Oklahoma. I say the Sooners have as much talent as, say, Michigan. I say they should easily win the Big 12. Are they loaded like Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Stanford, Ohio State, Clemson and Florida State? No, but the conference isn't either. I look for Oklahoma State to be the only challenger and Kansas State to be a surprise.
So there you are. If you want to join the fun, follow me in the Gazette-Mail and on Twitter through the year. We'll publish and I'll tweet my ballot.
In the meantime, get fired up folks. Football is here.