NCAA Football Preseason Rankings 2012: USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll Released
The 2012 USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll has been released—let the debate begin.
As many expected, LSU tops the list as the No. 1-ranked team heading into the new season, while the defending BCS national champion, Alabama, comes in at No. 2. It was close at the top, though, as the Tigers only edged their rivals by four points.
The Top Five is rounded out by USC, Oklahoma and Oregon, respectively. The Trojans received 19 first-place votes, one more than LSU, but the SEC wins out over the Pac-12 in the end.
Boise State is the lowest one-loss team from a season ago at No. 22, while Georgia begins the new year ranked No. 6 despite dropping four games in 2011.
Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes are a notable program missing from the preseason Top 25, but there aren't too many snubs or surprises to discuss this summer.
2012 USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll Top 25
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Record | Points |
| 1 | LSU (18) | 13-1 | 1,403 |
| 2 | Alabama (20) | 12-1 | 1,399 |
| 3 | Southern California (19) | 10-2 | 1,388 |
| 4 | Oklahoma (1) | 10-3 | 1,276 |
| 5 | Oregon | 12-2 | 1,258 |
| 6 | Georgia | 10-4 | 1,061 |
| 7 | Florida State (1) | 9-4 | 1,055 |
| 8 | Michigan | 11-2 | 1,023 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 11-2 | 981 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 11-2 | 948 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 10-3 | 833 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 11-3 | 743 |
| 13 | Michigan State | 11-3 | 717 |
| 14 | Clemson | 10-4 | 598 |
| 15 | Texas | 8-5 | 549 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 9-4 | 501 |
| 17 | TCU | 11-2 | 499 |
| 18 | Stanford | 11-2 | 497 |
| 19 | Oklahoma State | 12-1 | 476 |
| 20 | Virginia Tech | 11-3 | 461 |
| 21 | Kansas State | 10-3 | 398 |
| 22 | Boise State | 12-1 | 271 |
| 23 | Florida | 7-6 | 250 |
| 24 | Notre Dame | 8-5 | 166 |
| 25 | Auburn | 8-5 | 66 |
Click here to see the recently released USA Today Preseason Poll.
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