Now, granted, preseason college football rankings are generally the wild wild west, and you're better off shooting an arrow off a buddy's head's blindfolded than previewing this sucker correctly. But, the release of Thursday's USA-Today preseason Coaches Poll gives us a solid idea as to the types of expectations these schools and their coaches have heading into the 2017 season. So, without further ado, here is how the rankings look followed by a couple takeaways....
1. Alabama (49)
2. Ohio State (5)
3. Florida State (4)
4. USC
5. Clemson (7)
6. Penn State
7. Washington
8. Oklahoma
9. Michigan
10. Wisconsin
11. Oklahoma State
12. LSU
13. Auburn
14. Stanford
15. Georgia
16. Florida
17. Louisville
18. Miami (FL)
19. Kansas Strate
20. West Virginia
21. South Florida
22. Virginia Tech
23. Texas
24. Tennessee
25. Utah
Takeaways
Top-10 as diverse as we've seen it in quite some time
Those who do not care much for the overall cockiness of the SEC and its fans (suck it, Finebaum) have got to be happy with this poll release. For years, the SEC has dominated the preseason rankings, often placing four or five of their big dogs (Alabama, Florida, Auburn, LSU, Georgia) within the top-10 to begin the year. However, while Alabama may still be the purebred goliath of the conference, the release of the 2017 preseason poll shows that times are changing in college football, as Alabama is the lone SEC team ranked in the top-10. Two representatives apiece from the ACC (Florida State, Clemson) and PAC-12 (USC, Washington), four from the BIG-10 (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin) and one from the BIG-12 (Oklahoma) round out this year's preseason top-10. Obviously, somebody else from the SEC (LSU, Auburn, Georgia) is going to win their way into a top-10 ranking within the first several weeks of the season, as with either Florida State or Alabama having to fall in week-one in Atlanta, somebody outside the top-10 is mathematically going to have to move up a spot or two. But, nevertheless, seeing the BIG-10, ACC, and PAC-12 get more love in the preseason polls than the so-called "best conference in college football" was a nice way to start my day.
South Florida the lone-wolf from the Group-Of-Five
It's almost impossible to expect more than one or two of the Group-Of-Five teams to be in the preseason top-25 in a given year, as the coaches are always going to give the benefit of the doubt to the Power-Five schools. But, that is why it's always extra special whenever a Houston, a Boise State, or in 2017 possibly even a South Florida emerges and cracks the New Year's Six. Surely, another one, two, or even three Group-Of-Five teams will make their ways into the rankings at some point throughout the season, who it will be, however, is almost impossible to say. But, for prediction's sake, we'll go with Boise State, Memphis, and Western Kentucky.
Texas?
Just goes to show how high the expectations are in Austin. Even after an absolute abortion of a season saw the Longhorns go 5-7 including a loss to a dismal Kansas team, Texas is back in the preseason top-25 to begin 2017. Now, most Texas fans who are reasonable will tell you that they are not expecting Tom Herman to come in and win the BIG-12 in year-one. But, with all of the resources, facilities, and history the program has, winning the conference is, unfortunately, the expectation at Texas every single year. Should Texas be in the top-25 to begin the season? Probably not, based off of their recent lack of success and the hiring of a new coach. But, a preseason ranking for Texas makes that '06 Rose Bowl rematch between the Horns and Trojans in week-three out in LA look a little sexier, so while I disagree with why Texas got in, I understand how.
Lamar Jackson and Louisville not being shown much love
Even with defending Heisman-winner Lamar Jackson and a veteran secondary returning, the Cardinals of Louisville were left out of the top-15 to begin the 2017 season. Like last year where they were ranked No. 19 to begin the season, Jackson and company will have to win over the support of the voters in order to climb into the top-10. Strong showings against Purdue in Indy and at UNC to begin the season should be enough to move Louisville up the ranks six or seven spots by the time week-three rolls around and they host Clemson for their home-opener in a mammoth of a match-up.
Snubs
- Washington State
- Colorado
- Notre Dame
- Pittsburgh
- Texas A&M
A strong top-25 case can be made for Washington State, who returns quarterback Luke Falk and surplus of lethal receivers, as well as Pitt, who upset eventual national champ Clemson last season and returns one of the nation's best-kept secrets at running back in Qadree Ollison. Colorado also returns a solid quarterback with big-game experience in Steven Montez and eight defensive starters after winning the PAC-12 South last season. Texas A&M and Notre Dame, meanwhile, are wild cards, with both Brian Kelly and Kevin Sumlin fighting for their jobs. It's been a while since the Irish have been left out of the top-25 to begin the season, but we really have no idea what to expect from Notre Dame in 2017 given how much of a disaster last year was. Colorado, Pittsburgh, and Washington State could and should end up cracking the top-25 in the early weeks of the season, but it's probably best that Notre Dame and Texas A&M are left out for now due to the number of question marks surrounding both programs as well as the job securities of Kelly and Sumlin.
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