The pre-season Coaches poll is out, and now it’s time to analyze if the coaches got it right.
| 1 | Florida State Seminoles |
Hard to argue with the defending National Champions, who return Heisman Trophy QB Jameis Winston, not being Number 1. No problem here. | |
| 2 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
I’m not even sure Alabama is the best team in their own state. What I remember from The Crimson Tide is that defense giving up 79 points in its last two games. I’d have ranked them around 4. | |
| 3 | Oklahoma Sooners |
Oklahoma beat the daylights out of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and please don’t tell me Alabama wasn’t interested. It’s a tired excuse. I really like QB Trevor Knight. I’d have the Sooners at 2. | |
| 4 | Oregon Ducks |
Marcus Mariota makes Oregon legit, but I’d have them at 5. | |
| 5 | Auburn Tigers |
That loss of Carl Lawson is going to hurt the D, but the Offense might be close to unstoppable. They belong at 3. | |
| 6 | Ohio State Buckeyes |
A team returning Braxton Miller at QB is going to be good, but they aren’t better than UCLA. Buckeyes at 7 | |
| 7 | UCLA Bruins |
Brett Hundley is back at QB, flip Ohio State and UCLA. | |
| 8 | Michigan State Spartans |
I like Michigan St. at 8. Not quite as good as last year, but still a strong team. | |
| 9 | South Carolina Gamecocks |
Steve Spurrier has got things rollings in Columbia. I’d rank them at 9 too. | |
| 10 | Baylor Bears |
Bryce Petty? That offense? Yep top 10 team. | |
| 11 | Stanford Cardinal |
Ok, the coaches are on roll. I’d also have the Cards at 11. | |
| 12 | Georgia Bulldogs |
No problem with Georgia at 12 either. I love Todd Gurley at RB. | |
| 13 | LSU Tigers |
LSU just reloads, but they are the 3rd best team in the own division. I’m good with 13. | |
| 14 | Wisconsin Badgers |
The Big 10 might actually have a decent football conference this year. The Badgers are in the right spot here. | |
| 15 | USC Trojans |
I think USC is a darkhorse team to keep an eye on. 15 is a good place to be. | |
| 16 | Clemson Tigers |
Clemson’s ranking at 16, is a sign of respect for the Tiger’s recent success, but I don’t trust the offense. I’d have them at 20. | |
| 17 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
Brian Kelly has recruited well, and Everett Golson is back. I’d have the Irish in Clemson’s spot. | |
| 18 | Arizona State Sun Devils |
There are too many defensive losses to be a top 20 team. They should have been 23 or 24. | |
| 19 | Mississippi Rebels |
I think Mississippi may be the country’s 19th best team, so this pre-season ranking is fine. I bet they don’t end up at 19 though. That SEC West is tough. | |
| 20 | Texas A&M Aggies |
The Aggies lost 4 games with Johnny Manziel, and the defense was horrendous. This isn’t a top 25 team. They will at least 4 games this year. | |
| 21 | Kansas State Wildcats |
Bill Snyder just churns out good teams year after year. I think I’d have them a little higher than 21, maybe 17 or 18. | – |
| 22 | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
Nebraska at 22? Good call…. | – |
| 23 | North Carolina Tar Heels |
This is a lot of respect shown to Heels to be ranked in my opinion, even with the strong finish. I may have ranked them 25. | |
| 24 | Texas Longhorns |
Charlie Strong will make Texas very good, but not just yet. I don’t see this. | |
| 25 | Washington Huskies |
I think the Huskies deserve to be a bit higher, maybe 21 or 22. There’s decent talent there. |
If Texas and Texas A&M aren’t top 25 teams, who should be? I’m going with Iowa in the Aggies spot, and Lousiville at 24.
