College Football Preseason Top 25

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

McLean, Va. -- Despite having to replace nine starters on defense, Ohio State on Friday was named the No. 1 team in the USA Today preseason college football poll.

 

 

 

 

Coming off a 10-2 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes received 28 of 63 first-place votes and 1,487 points from Division I-A coaches.

 

 

 

 

Ohio State has to overhaul its defense with the graduation of several stars, including the entire starting linebacking trio of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. But the Buckeyes have talented players waiting in the wings, and they return nearly all of their key players on offense, including quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr., both Heisman Trophy candidates.

 

 

 

 

Defending national champion Texas (13-0) is second after receiving 11 first-place votes and 1,378 points. But the Longhorns, who won a championship for the ages with a 41-38 triumph over Southern California in the Rose Bowl, have to replace all-everything quarterback Vince Young, who left after his junior season and was drafted third by the Tennessee Titans.

 

 

 

 

Notre Dame (9-3) and USC (12-1) are tied for third with 1,348 points apiece. The Fighting Irish are entering their second season under coach Charlie Weis, while the Trojans begin life without quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush, the last two Heisman winners. Notre Dame received nine first-place votes and USC one.

 

 

 

 

Oklahoma (8-4) is fifth with 1,320 points. The Sooners had the second-most first-place votes -- 13 -- but those doubtlessly came in before the news Wednesday that coach Bob Stoops permanently dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn from the team for being paid far in excess of hours worked at a local car dealership.

 

 

 

 

Auburn (9-3), which received the remaining first-place vote, is sixth, while West Virginia (11-1), Florida (9-3), Louisiana State (11-2) and Florida State (8-5) complete the top 10.

 

 

 

 

Miami (9-3) is 11th, followed by California (8-4), Louisville (9-3), Georgia (10-3), Michigan (7-5), Virginia Tech (11-2), Iowa (7-5), Clemson (8-4), Penn State (11-1) and Oregon (10-2).

 

 

 

 

TCU (11-1), Nebraska (8-4), Tennessee (5-6), Alabama (10-2) and Texas Tech (9-3) complete the poll.

 

ESPN.com

 

Couldn't find an actual list.

[CanadianChris 0]

I hate that there's a preseason poll. It's meaningless, and it slants the polls for the start of the season.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Here are the rankings:

 

1. Ohio State (28) 0-0

2. Texas (11) 0-0

3. USC (1) 0-0

3. Notre Dame (9) 0-0

5. Oklahoma (13) 0-0

6. Auburn (1) 0-0

7. West Virginia 0-0

8. Florida 0-0

9. LSU 0-0

10. Florida State 0-0

11. Miami (FL) 0-0

12. California 0-0

13. Louisville 0-0

14. Georgia 0-0

15. Michigan 0-0

16. Virginia Tech 0-0

17. Iowa 0-0

18. Clemson 0-0

19. Penn State 0-0

20. Oregon 0-0

21. TCU 0-0

22. Nebraska 0-0

23. Tennessee 0-0

24. Alabama 0-0

25. Texas Tech 0-0

 

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

Arizona State 182, Boston College 87, Utah 84, Arkansas 64, South Carolina 55, Boise State 46, Wisconsin 37, UCLA 29, Georgia Tech 28, Fresno State 14, Tulsa 11, Iowa State 9, Minnesota 9, Maryland 8, Purdue 7, TEXAS AM 6, Memphis 5, Nevada 3, UTEP 3, Rutgers 2, NORTHN ILLINOIS 2, Northwestern 2, Oregon State 2, Arizona 2, Brigham Young 2, Colorado 1, Duke 1.

 

From ESPN

[Guest Princess Leena]

Ooh, which coach made the funny by putting Duke at #25.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Steve Spurrier. He does it every year. At least I think so.

[Damaramu 0]

And I think we went over it last year too.

 

It's cool that OU is 5 because well.....they always underperform when ranked 1 or 2 under Stoops. I would've ranked them 10-15 though.

They're going to be the same as last year. Inexperience O-Line and inexperienced QB.

The only difference is that AD is healthy and the defense is way better.

[Damaramu 0]

I might've given a 1st place vote to WV. Who's going to beat them in the Big East?

[Art Sandusky 0]

They'll lose one head-slapper of a game that takes them out of national title considerations, but will otherwise destroy everything in their path.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Doesn't WVU play at Papa John's this year. They'll lose there.

[Gert T 0]

Well its good to know Ohio State starts the year against the #46 team in the nation, the Northern Illinois Huskies!

[Slayer 0]

I hate that there's a preseason poll. It's meaningless, and it slants the polls for the start of the season.

Second

[Guest Princess Leena]

The polls would be slanted whenever they start, though. Certain teams with the bigger names are always going to get the benefit of being known.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Nice to see RU getting some (2) votes.

[cabbageboy 0]

I don't know what U of L is going to do this year overall, but I do know we're going to FUCK UP WVU. You can write it down, and then if WVU comes here and wins that game everyone on this board can make fun of me for months. I'm serious, those assholes screwed us out of the BCS last year and it's payback time. And yes, screwed is the correct term...even the Big East office admitted it.

 

U of L also owes Miami from the 2004 game that essentially kept us out of the BCS. That said, Miami has too much credibility to flippantly predict a win.

 

The game on U of L's schedule that truly worries me is Kansas St. in Manhattan. I have no idea why that one is scheduled the week after the emotional Miami game. I know Kansas St. isn't ranked or anything, but that game screams out "U of L yearly road meltdown."

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

The polls would be slanted whenever they start, though. Certain teams with the bigger names are always going to get the benefit of being known.

Yeah, but if you at least wait a few weeks it'd be somewhat adjusted. I can see the argument that it doesn't matter, but you're going to get some of the flukes out of the way and at least have the benefit of seeing 3-4 games on the field.

[iggymcfly 0]

Good call. I have a really hard time seeing Miami or West Virginia winning at Papa John's. Really, Louisville couldn't have a better schedule to get to the national title game. I mean sure, the KSU game's a little inconvenient, but it's not like there even in the Top 50. When random jobber the week after a big game is your "big road test" of the year, you know you've got pretty smooth sailing.

 

Oh, and WTF's up with LSU getting no first-place votes? They're going to rock fools this year. I'm really not getting the Auburn love as the team to beat in the SEC West. LSU has more talent and experience on both sides of the ball. I actually see LSU going 12-0 in the regular season and then blowing their chance to win it all in the SEC title game.

[Guest Felonies!]

Go Northwestern!

[Guest]

Oh, and WTF's up with LSU getting no first-place votes? They're going to rock fools this year. I'm really not getting the Auburn love as the team to beat in the SEC West. LSU has more talent and experience on both sides of the ball. I actually see LSU going 12-0 in the regular season and then blowing their chance to win it all in the SEC title game.

Same here, but I think LSU is going to win it all.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Also, it should be noted because I doubt most people realize it yet... the National Championship Game is NOT the Fiesta Bowl. It's a separate game. Both will be played in the pretty new stadium in Glendale.

 

So, there will be 3 bowl games in Phoenix this year. Lol.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I hate that there's a preseason poll. It's meaningless, and it slants the polls for the start of the season.

Second

 

Third.

[teke184 0]

Good call. I have a really hard time seeing Miami or West Virginia winning at Papa John's. Really, Louisville couldn't have a better schedule to get to the national title game. I mean sure, the KSU game's a little inconvenient, but it's not like there even in the Top 50. When random jobber the week after a big game is your "big road test" of the year, you know you've got pretty smooth sailing.

 

Oh, and WTF's up with LSU getting no first-place votes? They're going to rock fools this year. I'm really not getting the Auburn love as the team to beat in the SEC West. LSU has more talent and experience on both sides of the ball. I actually see LSU going 12-0 in the regular season and then blowing their chance to win it all in the SEC title game.

 

LSU is getting less benefit of the doubt than the other schools because they're replacing most of the O-Line and D-Line.

 

 

They've still got Chase Pittman at DE and 1-2 returning starters on the O-Line, but their depth is all at skill positions like QB, RB, and WR rather than the lines.

[cabbageboy 0]

Well, when it comes to U of L this year I will take a possible loss to Miami but I seriously want to beat WVU. I'm amazed that all these analysts seem to be flat out giving WVU the Big East title and an undefeated season. On Around the Horn today Kevin Blackistone said something like "WVU won't have a serious challenge until Nov. 2 when they play at Louisville, and Louisville isn't anywhere near as good."

 

I mean what the fuck? What is he basing this on?

[Guest Princess Leena]

He's basing it on he watched the Sugar Bowl, and probably nothing Louisville did last year, except for maybe their 100 Tuesday/Thursday night games against bums.

[Vern Gagne 0]

How could anyone give Minnesota nine votes?

 

Their best two runningbacks are gone, along with their best two O-Linemen. Add to that a dreadful defense. They shouldn't be getting one vote, let alone nine.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I don't know what U of L is going to do this year overall, but I do know we're going to FUCK UP WVU. You can write it down, and then if WVU comes here and wins that game everyone on this board can make fun of me for months. I'm serious, those assholes screwed us out of the BCS last year and it's payback time. And yes, screwed is the correct term...even the Big East office admitted it.

 

U of L also owes Miami from the 2004 game that essentially kept us out of the BCS. That said, Miami has too much credibility to flippantly predict a win.

 

The game on U of L's schedule that truly worries me is Kansas St. in Manhattan. I have no idea why that one is scheduled the week after the emotional Miami game. I know Kansas St. isn't ranked or anything, but that game screams out "U of L yearly road meltdown."

 

I root for Louisville except when they play UK and I'd love to see UK score an upset and immediately dash the Cardinals title hopes like they did several years ago. Then again, we are like 3-4 touchdown underdogs in this game and I hate Rich Brooks so we're probably going to get blown out. Either way, its good to finally get all of our scholarships back after Mummegate.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Well, when it comes to U of L this year I will take a possible loss to Miami but I seriously want to beat WVU. I'm amazed that all these analysts seem to be flat out giving WVU the Big East title and an undefeated season. On Around the Horn today Kevin Blackistone said something like "WVU won't have a serious challenge until Nov. 2 when they play at Louisville, and Louisville isn't anywhere near as good."

 

I mean what the fuck? What is he basing this on?

Louisville is at least as good as West Virginia, but they'll lose that night. I'm tellin' ya. West Virginia's loss will be to someone you'd never expect. Probably Rutgers.

[Guest]

South Florida is my guess.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

My top five:

 

1. Notre Dame

2. USC

3. Ohio State

4. Texas

5. West Virginia