If you want proof of fake news in sports, just take a look at the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.

The illustrious sports writers who participate in this poll voted for nine college teams who have canceled their fall season and may not play in the spring.

What?

How can a team compete for a national title when they are not playing?

Ohio State is No. 2, Penn State is No. 7, Wisconsin is No. 12, Michigan is No. 16, Minnesota is No. 19 and Iowa is No. 24. All are part of the Big Ten Conference and will not play in 2020.

Oregon is No. 9, USC is No. 17 and Utah is No. 22. Those three are part of the Pac-12 Conference that has suspended college football for the rest of the year.

If you subtract the non-competing teams, the Top 16 are No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3. Georgia, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 5. LSU, No. 6, Florida, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8. Auburn, No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 10 Texas, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 13 Cincinnati, No. 14 Central Florida, No. 15 Iowa State and No. 16 Tennessee.

That would give the Southeastern Conference seven teams ranked in the Top 16, the Big 12 with four in the Top 16 and the Atlantic Coast Conference three in the Top 16. Also, the American Athletic Conference would have two of the Top 16 teams.

This is just the nation’s sportswriters setting the stage for more controversy and making sure that the eventual national championship is tarnished.

It’s fake news on the sports pages.