USA Today published their preseason coaches poll today (the entire poll can be seen after the jump), and revealed were the highest preseason rankings ever for a non-AQ team with Boise State at #5 and TCU at #7. Utah also made it, tied for #24 with West Virginia, and BYU is just trailing behind in the "others receiving votes" category at #28. Almost as important as starting ranked for a non-AQ is the ability to play (and beat) another highly ranked team in out of conference play, thus proving your wares. With teams like Pittsburgh (15), Oregon State (22), Florida State (20), and Virgina Tech (5), ranked where they are it puts Utah, TCU, BYU, and Boise State in a position to make big statements on a national scale.
Other Notes: Find it ridiculous that Florida and Texas are ranked as high as they are after both lost their long-time starters at quarterback. Same goes to Oregon with Masoli and Nebraska with Suh.
Aug. 6
2010 preseason poll |
|||||
Rank
|
Team (first-place votes) |
2009 record
|
Points
|
Final 2009 rank
|
|
1.
|
Alabama (55)
|
14-0
|
1,469
|
1
|
|
2.
|
Ohio State (4)
|
11-2
|
1,392
|
5
|
|
3.
|
Florida
|
13-1
|
1,245
|
3
|
|
4.
|
Texas
|
13-1
|
1,240
|
2
|
|
5.
|
Boise State
|
14-0
|
1,215
|
4
|
|
6.
|
Virginia Tech
|
10-3
|
1,052
|
10
|
|
7.
|
12-1
|
1,051
|
6
|
||
8.
|
Oklahoma
|
8-5
|
1,035
|
NR
|
|
9.
|
Nebraska |
10-4
|
1,001
|
14
|
|
10.
|
Iowa
|
11-2
|
952
|
7
|
|
11.
|
Oregon |
10-3
|
940
|
11
|
|
12.
|
Wisconsin
|
10-3
|
778
|
16
|
|
13.
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
9-4
|
728
|
19
|
|
14.
|
Penn State
|
11-2
|
508
|
8
|
|
15.
|
10-3
|
492
|
15
|
||
16.
|
LSU
|
9-4
|
476
|
17
|
|
17.
|
Georgia Tech |
11-3
|
455
|
13
|
|
18.
|
North Carolina |
8-5
|
445
|
NR
|
|
19.
|
Arkansas
|
8-5
|
438
|
NR
|
|
20.
|
Florida State
|
7-6
|
374
|
NR
|
|
21.
|
Georgia |
8-5
|
312
|
NR
|
|
22.
|
Oregon State |
8-5
|
263
|
NR
|
|
23.
|
Auburn
|
8-5
|
260
|
NR
|
|
24t.
|
Utah |
10-3
|
169
|
18
|
|
24t.
|
West Virginia |
9-4
|
169
|
22
|
Others receiving votes | |||||
Cincinnati (12-1) 135; Houston (10-4) 76; Brigham Young (11-2) 66; Arizona (8-5) 65; Mississippi (9-4) 48; Clemson (9-5) 44; Stanford (8-5) 41; Connecticut (8-5) 40; Notre Dame (6-6) 38; South Carolina (7-6) 38; Washington (5-7) 26; Missouri (8-5) 23; Navy (10-4) 12; Oklahoma State (9-4) 11; Boston College (8-5) 10; Michigan State (6-7) 10; Arizona State (4-8) 6; California (8-5) 6; Texas Tech (9-4) 5; South Florida (8-5) 4; Texas A&M (6-7) 3; Northwestern (8-5) 2; Temple (9-4) 2; Central Michigan (12-2) 1; Mississippi State (5-7) 1; Nevada (8-5) 1; Northern Illinois (7-6) 1; Southern Methodist (8-5) 1. |