As we await the release of the preseason AP and Coaches polls in the early parts of August, here’s an attempt to cast a pseudo-vote with minimal bias and some logic that I’m sure will be questioned.
I like the idea of getting my picks out there before they’re tainted by what everyone else thinks in these polls, so if I had a vote in the AP Poll this week, it would go something like this:
25. South Carolina
A new quarterback (Tommy Beecher?) will try to utilize RB Mike Davis and All-SEC WR Kenny McKinley to build a consistent offense in Year Four under The Ballcoach. The defense rests on adjustments and returns several top players, including Eric Norwood, Jasper Brinkley, Captain Munnerlyn, and Emanuel Cook under new coordinator Ellis Johnson. Carolina was 6-1 last year before losing five straight to close; is this the year they find consistent SEC success?
24. Boise State
No reason to start doubting them now with Ian Johnson back and all the pass catchers, though the Broncos must find a new quarterback to replace Taylor Tharp and rebuild the offensive line. Still, Boise returns seven on defense. An early tilt at Oregon will be enlightening for both teams, but the Broncos may not be challenged again until the unofficial WAC Championship Game, when Fresno State comes to the blue turf.
23. Oregon
Nate Costa and Justin Roper (who led the 56-21 Sun Bowl win over USF) duel to replace Dennis Dixon, while tailback-by-committee will attempt to replace Jonathan Stewart. But the Ducks return almost everyone else on offense and seven on defense in a program accustomed to success. The Ducks play Purdue, USC, Arizona State, Cal, and the Civil War all on the road.
22. Alabama
Year two under Nick Saban looks to produce better results than the same six losses that ran Mike Shula off. Still, last season all of Bama’s losses were one-possession games. John Parker Wilson returns for his senior season with an experienced backfield running behind a great offensive line. The defense is more questionable, and Bama may again be asking for too much from their younger kids. Still, if this team puts themselves in position to win as they did last year, look for them to come away with more than seven wins.
21. Florida State
I really didn’t want to put the Noles anywhere on this list because I feel they’re often overrated for simply being FSU, but even though they haven’t won 10 games since 2003, this team has talent. They’ll first have to get past Wake Forest on Sept. 20 while playing without multiple starters due to suspension. When at full strength, their defense is solid at every position. Drew Weatherford will probably still be under center, for better or for worse, but experience abounds throughout the offense. More than anything, they play in a weak ACC and simply don’t play a difficult road game unless you count Miami. The schedule is forgiving enough to allow this team to succeed.
20. Illinois
105 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Rob Sansing 11 months ago
I'm glad your vote doesn't count!!!
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I just won a bet that this statement would be among the first comments. Thanks for that.
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Chris Copeland 11 months ago
It seems everyone is talking about USC, tOSU, Florida and UGA, but somehow Oklahoma and for that matter Missouri aren't being heavily discussed as favorites for the National Title
Glad they are finally getting some respect...
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Chris Ballay 11 months ago
Good stuff about LSU. Good read. Got my vote.
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CB 11 months ago
I like your Alabama and BYU break downs especially. You lost what would have been my pick of the day at the Wake Forest analysis. I think people underrate WVU. Had the made it to the Chip last year, i think they would have defeated anyone. They can score with the best of them, so they dont need a defense, just maybe two stops a game are enough to separate them from their opponent. It was a crappy loss to Pitt, but their man was hurt. When healthy, they hand it to anyone, case and point in the OK game. They handed OK's nuts to them in a neatly wrapped package.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Thanks for the comments...last year, the only thing that beat West Virginia was turnovers - six against USF and three more against Pitt. They can't rely as much on their D this year but like you said, they may not need to. If they can beat Auburn I think they'll have as good of an argument as anyone in the country to play for it all.
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David Kuykendall 11 months ago
i agree with CB even though we have only had a good defense one year since adam pac man jones was here our scheme and players are mostly the same all of our starters this year got like 35% of the playing time last year. and let me point out that it asnt necesarily our fault we lost to pitt or usf our best guy was hurt and when he played we ran the same freaking play like 15 time and by the time we started passing it was to late play calling was a huge factor in both games but yeah i think wvu should be a 6 or 5 we all know mizzou ain better than white and his crew
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
will,
this is a great breakdown. i actually wish most of the voters were as informed as you are.
great stuff and i mostly agree with most of your spots.
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
LSU FOOTBALL
A TRADITION . . . SINCE AUGUST 2003
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Trent Lane 11 months ago
While I think Oklahoma will get to the championship game because of the soft Big 12, I don't think they deserve to be number 1. Talk about an overrated team.
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
wow. as an LSU fan, i would not call the big 12 soft.
if oklahoma gets thru their schedule undefeated and wins their conf championship, they deserve a shot at the NC game just like UGA would if they did the same.
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
Amen brotha!
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Trent Lane 11 months ago
Soft with a capital S. Looking that there schedule, a mid-level SEC team could go undefeated. The Big 12 is always overrated.
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Chris D'Aniello 11 months ago
Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Texas Tech (who would have been this year's surprise team until every starting calling them the "surprise team" in essence ruining the surprise). The Big 12 is anything but "soft".
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
trent mid level like Arkansas?? oh wait they got destroyed by Missouri.
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Jeff Ivester 11 months ago
Nice article, even though I'm skeptical with your number one pick. I think you have the SEC teams sized up pretty well.
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Carson Howell 11 months ago
I like the points you made about the orange and blue-
people are forgetting how young the gators were last year-8 out of 11 of the defensive players were freshman..come on.
Can't they have a rebuilding year?
Florida state has had a "rebuilding year" for the past 5 years and they are not alone.
I see that Rob was a little unhappy about where his championship Tigers were placed. Although i do think they are a better team than Missouri and those brutally beaten Buckeyes(thats the SEC in me), they WILL lose to the other Tigers in the SEC this year. Quarterbacks? You guys have 5 on your roster, so 1 of them has to be good right? We shall see, just watch out for the jump pass.
HE15MAN
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
That TN/FLA game last year really screwed up the perceptions of both teams. When Florida won by 39, it made everyone forget that it was supposed to be a rebuilding year - and I was certain after that the only team that had a prayer to beat Florida was LSU. The Auburn game was a total stunner but perhaps a more accurate reflection, and I think by the time Georgia/Michigan came around, they were the two best offenses that young defense had seen and did a better job exposing them. So the question remains, now that those eight freshmen are sophomores, how much better will they be?
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Carson Howell 11 months ago
Sorry rob i assumed that your tiger was from Louisiana? I apologize sir.-I'll just direct my LSU comments towards Justin, respectfully.
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
yeah, when a tiger actually looks like a real tiger and not a tiger from a japanese cereal box people automatically think it's an LSU tiger.
wow, i don't know where that came from, what a cheap shot!?
just kidding guys!!
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Drew Emerson 11 months ago
Good article. I think you could have hyphenated number 13 Auburn and number 6 LSU for being in such similiar situations, besides the fact that the LSU team has proven champions. Maybe neither will be that good, but I would not be surprised to see either team in the top 7 or 8 at the end of the season based on whether they can get all the spokes in the wheel.
I also agree with putting USC a little lower than most ap's will have them. Oklahoma is a bold pick, but I think I know why you picked them. It is not so much that they are your preseason pick to be the best team, it is because they have the largest amount of good players in every position, and a favorable schedule (the anti-Georgia if you will).
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Good points...the two reasons I've got LSU ahead of Auburn are schedule and the unknown. Both teams play tough schedules, but Auburn's got Tennessee the week after LSU. LSU doesn't have a back-to-back set like that, which I think is a real key to coming away clean because you can really focus on one big game at a time. Plus, Auburn's got West Virginia. LSU's most difficult non-conference game is Appalachian State.
The other is just the simple fact that even without the quarterback, we've seen LSU's offense perform well with most of these players for the last two years. We've seen Auburn's new offense once, in a game they did win against a good Clemson team, but I'm still not sure anyone knows exactly what to think of them. They got 423 yards...and 17 points in regulation. How will that offense work against SEC defenses? We just won't know until we see it...but it's certainly a huge help to play LSU down on the plains.
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Ryan Staab 11 months ago
Oklahoma, USC and UGA will be the big three to watch this year. Interesting analysis. Florida might make it into the top three (until they meet with UGA) if Oklahoma or USC underperform early in the season, though.
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Nick The Only 11 months ago
Florida will crush Georgia this year. 42-17.
Georgia cannot play from behind.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
Really?? 7 SEC teams 2 of which are coming off 6-6 and 7-6 records?? really??
By most rankings i have seen Alabama and South Carolina are float teams they may or may not start the season ranked. I dont know if I have seen a ranking with both. usually it is 1 or the other.
No Penn State??
No Virginia Tech??
No Fresno State??
No Utah??
Penn State and Virginia Tech I think have been in everyones ranking I have seen so far. Fresno and Utah are some others I have seen to win their conferences and possible BCS teams.
Top 10 looks good except Tenn I think they should be ranked i think top 10 is a bit high with both Florida and Georgia looking to have great seasons not to mention they have AU out of the west.
You have your first ACC team at 14?? you really think their champ will be that bad compared to the other conferences where you have 3 Big 12 and 5 SEC teams ahead of them??
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Good questions...
The 6-6 and 7-6 SEC teams are ranked 25th and 22nd. I do have 5 SEC teams in the Top 13, but I've also got 5 Big 12 teams in the Top 17. I would put the best ACC team higher by default...if it wasn't Clemson. They've hit a slide every year for so many years that until I see it happen, I'm not going to assume that this is the year they come out of it.
As for the teams you mentioned...I live just outside Blacksburg, and I really don't see how this Virginia Tech team is going to have a good year. Quarterback play is a bad situation where they kinda like both guys but neither of them is good enough to win the job outright, which is trouble; Glennon's gotten them beat by himself in both of their last two bowl games. No experience at tailback, no experience at wide receiver...and they were the 100th best offense in the country last year. How are they going to score? And defensively, only four starters back and only one real playmaker in Macho Harris. I just don't see it.
The others are right outside the conversation...I went with Boise over Fresno because Boise is the proven commodity and that game is in Boise this year, so I think they'll end up the better team. Same with picking BYU over Utah - I don't think you're going to see two teams from the MWC or the WAC in the final poll. Penn State would probably be #26 on this thing...you've got quarterback issues there, and without Sean Lee, I think South Carolina's defense will be just a little bit better.
As for Tennessee...I tried to be careful because I'm a UT fan, but I just can't buy into any of those teams ranked behind them being better. Who would you put ahead of them? I emphasize result more (which is why they're ahead of Wisconsin) and potential less, and so while teams like Texas Tech may end up being better than the Vols, with so much coming back in Knoxville I can't justify any of those 11-25 teams being higher.
But yeah, questions that needed to be asked.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
by results you mean Tenn beating Wisc?? but you have Oregon 11 spots behind USF whom they killed without Dixon in the Sun Bowl??
Tenn is going in with questions too. sorta new QB, new OC. but otherwise a good looking offense
defensively though.....not so sure. DB are pretty good probably a top 10-15 unit. but line and lb not so much. I could see thm dropping a good 4 conference games the three i mention and another one with a more evne matchup team like alabama or sc. UCLA is a toss up for me because of the fact it is out west, UCLA is a huge questionmark team. On paper Tenn wins, but neuheisle and chow are good coaches an i could see UCLA either trying to build or i could see them sneak up on everyone. I am sorry but I am not sure tenn looks to be one of the premier teams this year in my eyes. Bowl team sure but not even contending for the SEC east
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I think USF has a chance at the end of the day to be a 10 or 11 win team in the BCS. Oregon has the most potential of any of those "last five in" to jump up into the upper half, but the relative unknown at QB and RB, plus that brutal road schedule, make it hard for me and most everyone to rank them outside the 20-25 range. If USF and Oregon were next to each other in this poll, I'd certainly put the Ducks ahead of them.
And I'm not saying that Tennessee is going to be one of the most talented teams in the country, but I struggle when people say that the team who won the SEC East last year and returns as much as Tennessee returns won't even contend for the same title. But like I said, the Vols thrive when they're not supposed to, so it's all good with me.
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Alex O 11 months ago
David, David, David,
Rest assured UGA will not be bothered too much by ASU.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
I think i remember hearing that from tenn fans last year about Cal. How did that work out??
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
Well written, but ugh come on, do you have to put OU #1? I mean do they really deserve it? There are about 5 other teams I think could be #1, and you had to go and pick that one. Boooo! Nice work overall though.
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Pierce Wilford 11 months ago
everything besies oklahoma behing number one is fine.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
This comment and the one before...alright, if not OU, who do you put up there? It's a muddled preseason where you can make an argument for six or seven different teams, and all of them are flawed in one way or another. Which I think makes for interesting football, that you can't point your finger and say "Yeah, those are definitely the guys."
Who catches and blocks for USC? Who plays quarterback for LSU? Missouri might be great, but I don't see how you can rank them ahead of Oklahoma when the Sooners beat them twice last year. And you've gotta turn a blind eye to put Ohio State at #1. Florida's defense, Georgia's line (and that schedule)...OU's got issues too at linebacker and corner. I just think the Sooners have a managable schedule, the fewest questions and the most answers. But you can make an argument for all of those teams.
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Brandon Ridgway 11 months ago
Good read! You make some valid points. However, it seems, as these preseason polls come out, that UGA is getting knocked down because of their schedule.
I could be wrong, and I don't think I'm alone when I say this, but overall, the bulldogs are the best team in the country this preseason. With that said, why are they not getting the number 1 pick on these polls?
The only thing that seems to be consistent, when it comes to reasoning, is their tough schedule. But does that make them any less of a team? I thought the point of picking preseason was to determine who was the best in the PREseason? As more of these polls come out, that the number one spot is reserved for the team that they (the pollsters) expect to win the NC and not the best team right now. Doesn’t that negate why these polls are used?
I don't know just a thought. With all that blubbering said, it's still a good read.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
If this is unfairly biased, then my apologies...but you won't find any Tennessee fans who were at Neyland Stadium last year ranking Georgia #1. The schedule is a huge issue, but if it were the main issue then I don't think you'd see them ranked at #2 or maybe even in the Top 5.
I try and vote based on who I think would win if the two teams played right now on a neutral field - who's the best team right now. But in preseason, you've got no on-field result with this year's players. So lots of times I think you see people hedging their bets on what they think will happen, but that's far too subjective. I try and emphasize results over potential - which is why I think it's absurd for anyone to rank Missouri ahead of Oklahoma, or Florida ahead of Georgia.
All that said...I agree, Georgia's very good on paper right now and I'd take them in a neutral site matchup over just about anybody...but Oklahoma is just as good at almost every position on offense (without debating the finer points of Bradford vs. Stafford or Murray vs. Moreno) and is considerably better on the offensive line. UGA's defense may be a little stronger...but when it's that close, the schedule does come back into play for making a final decision, and again, I just can't put Georgia at number one based on what I saw last year.
But if I was a UGA fan, I'd have the exact same questions and points. Thanks for the comments and the good words.
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J. Michael Morris 11 months ago
Every team is undefeated in the preseason. Until they play a game it is all speculation. Pre-season rankings are the so called experts best guess abour how the season will end, given the info available. As teams win and lose by actually playing games, there is more information and therefore a more accurate opinion of the best team. What's the point of a #1 ranking now?
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Alan Bass 11 months ago
i think i agree with most of this list. great job
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
The Jimson Poll - Official Preseason Top 25:
1. Florida Gators
2. Georgia Bulldogs
3. Kansas Jayhawks
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. USC Trojans
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
7. Oklahoma Sooners
8. Missouri Tigers
9. Texas Longhorns
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Arizona State Sun Devils
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
13. Texas Tech Red Raiders
14. Utah Utes
15. Illinois Fighting Illini
16. Wisconsin Badgers
17. BYU Cougars
18. Auburn Tigers
19. LSU Tigers
20. Virginia Tech Hokies
21. Michigan State Spartans
22. Penn State Nittany Lions
23. Tennessee Volunteers
24. South Carolina Gamecocks
25. South Florida Bulls
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Jimson, glad to see we have the same healthy disrespect for each other's teams.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
I have to wquestion this one too?? Alabama off 7-6 at 12???? and while i think Utah will or could or should be ranked 14??? Illinois higher than Wisconsin?? LSU at 19 seems low. Michigan State but no Oregon?? on top of that USF but no Oregon after Oregon killed them in the Sun Bowl???
I know a lot of people are ready to write Oregon off after the last three games of the regular season but I promise you with the Defense they have and the Kelly coordinating the Offense you will see oregon contending for the Pac 10.
I still dont see how you can feel the 7th place team in the SEC will be better than 3rd in the Pac 10, Big East and ACC.
also just an observation about the preseason polls: I dont think it happens too often where 2 teams from the same conference are next to eahother let alone 1 and 2 or three in a row at 7,8,9
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
jimson cuenta-
a hatred of LSU tradition since december 2007!! lol.
is this how they start the season or end it?
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
"jimson cuenta-
a hatred of LSU tradition since december 2007!! lol.
is this how they start the season or end it?"
This is how they start the season :)
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Yates Boykin 11 months ago
Are you kidding me Jimson?
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
"Are you kidding me Jimson?"
What are you talking about???
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J. Michael Morris 11 months ago
Jimson, I had to flag that list offensive.
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
"Jimson, I had to flag that list offensive."
Why??? Is it because I had Utah at #14, lolz :)
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Mitch Rowe 11 months ago
"No Fresno State??"
Agreed, I would swap Fresno state with Boise State in my Pre-season Poll. Also, South Florida at 12 is a little bit to high in my opinion. USF will probably drop spots even if they keep winning because they have such a poor SOS. I have no problem with OU getting the top spot out of the gate, but Missouri in front of the defending national champs LSU??
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
If I'm remembering right, Boise is 6-1 against Fresno this decade. Again, in preseason I think it's most fair to emphasize result over potential when two teams are this close, which is why I went with Boise. It's also partially why South Florida is at 12 - I do think they'll have a good year and sustain last year's success better than any other cinderellas, but they beat Auburn, who beat Clemson, which is why those three teams are ranked in that order at 12-14. But I agree, in the BCS their SOS will get them if they're not undefeated.
I had LSU and Missouri flip-flopped when I first wrote this out...but Mizzou gets everybody back from a team that destroyed Arkansas, while LSU has a giant question mark at quarterback. My only question about Missouri is their inability to beat Oklahoma...the QB issue for LSU is too big, so I had to switch them.
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Greg Atkins 11 months ago
There's no way Virginia Tech should be unranked.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I mentioned this earlier somewhere up there...I want to rank VT. I live right outside Blacksburg and pull for those guys more than anyone except the Vols. But really, I just don't see it, and it's not even close.
Copied from above:
Quarterback play is a bad situation where they kinda like both guys but neither of them is good enough to win the job outright, which is trouble; Glennon's gotten them beat by himself in both of their last two bowl games. No experience at tailback, no experience at wide receiver...and they were the 100th best offense in the country last year. How are they going to score? And defensively, only four starters back and only one real playmaker in Macho Harris. I just don't see it.
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Steven Resnick 11 months ago
Cal not in the top 25 why is that? No respect again for the Bears. Oregon at 23 that's a stretch. They always come off strong to start the year and then flounder. I don't think Oregon is going to do that well this year. They lost their best offensive player in Dixon, the QB situation is not that great. Nate Costa didn't prove anything last year except that he maybe injury proned. Actually most of the Ducks qb's showed that they were injury proned. Gators number 1 I don't know about that USC is a better choice. Again all East Coast Biased the best football being played is in the Pac-10.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
This is funny. Are you seriously going to rag on the Ducks and question their ranking after what happened to Cal??
The QB situation at Oregon is fine or did you miss the Sun Bowl with Roper who was the 5th string QB. Costa was at 2/3 before he got hurt. Oregon will be fine.
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Steven Resnick 11 months ago
Oh wait you had Oklahoma as number 1 I looked at the other comments. Hahahahahahahahahaha what a joke! Oklahoma will be lucky to finish in the top 25.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
who on Oklahoma's schedule will beat them??
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
Well, I have Oklahoma LOSING THREE games this year... to Texas, Kansas, AND Texas Tech, lolz :)
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Brandon Ridgway 11 months ago
Well, lets agree to disagree.... Although I agree with A LOT of your points.
Good job nontheless!
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Joe D. 11 months ago
Rutgers receiving votes? ;)
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I think the Big East is WV, USF, and then gridlock. And Rutgers could come out of that and make some real noise. This is the year where they can really earn some national respect - they've put together consecutive seasons of good football, and if they do it again this year, there'll be no one left to talk about how that was all Ray Rice or anything like that. I think the Rutgers/Fresno opener will be one of the best games of the weekend.
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Paul Augustin, Jr. 11 months ago
Solid list, Will. Our top 10 teams are fairly similar. Are you going to do a ranking every week once the season starts?
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Thanks...yeah, that's the idea. We'll try and make "If I had a vote..." a weekly feature once the season gets started.
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
why doesn't someone here do a top 25 poll and have writers vote on it???
kinda like derek stephens did with ranking the SEC teams??
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Jonathan Slotter 11 months ago
really? texas tech below arizona state and usf? two teams that just plummeted last year.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Here's the thing with Texas Tech - I made this point on an older article somewhere when comparing the relative strength of the Big 12 and the SEC.
To the nation at large, Texas Tech is a gimmick team. They're fun to watch, they throw for 500 yards and score 40 points, and they win 8-9 games a year with a big upset thrown in there somewhere. Last year when no one was ranking them in the preseason, I remember thinking how foolish that was because they're just always there between 15-25 with those numbers.
But until they unseat Texas and OU and win the Big 12 South, they're never going to get the respect that they want. ASU and USF are the second best teams in their conferences, which probably helps bump them up. Texas Tech is in a crowded Big 12 field, and until they put it all together once - just once - it's hard to put them above that 15-25 spot for me. Maybe this is the year.
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Mitch Rowe 11 months ago
Arizona state plummeted last year?? They lost late in the year @#2Oregon and to USC and went 10-2. Texas Tech lost early in the year to oklahoma state, and are still a bit behind Texas and OU this season.. Though it doesnt really matter the UGA @ ASU game and USF SOS could shift things either way early in the season.
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Jonathan Slotter 11 months ago
Yeah, and Arizona State got rolled by Texas in a nuetral site which probably favored ASU more. Also they didnt play anybody but USC, UT, and Oregon. Just because they played 10 bad teams doesnt make them good.
Tech has beaten OU 2 of the last 3 years. And have come up barely short in the last two times against UT. Tech doesnt play well against Mizzou or Colorado but they dont have them on the schedule. Also they havent had as much talent and still have ended up in the top 25 usually at the end of the season.
The Big XII isnt that crowded... OU is the only legit team Tech will play and Mizzou will run the table, but they have the easiest schedule ever.
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Adam Amick 11 months ago
Once again, the SEC shows to be the toughest conference in College Football.
Roll Tide!
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
according to the opinion poll made by an self proclaimed Vol fan
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Kevin Paul 11 months ago
Interesting picks.
No Penn State at all? I think they belong near the bottom of the top 25.
I would also put South Florida and Wisconsin lower...
but hey, to each his own.
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Bob Cunningham 11 months ago
not bad. but as a Penn state fan, i am saddened :-(
and as a casual Rutgers fan... i am saddened once again.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
For both of you guys...if this was a Top 26, Penn State would be in it.
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Nick Martin 11 months ago
Oregon State should at least be ahead of Boise State.
Deffinate starter with Lyle Moevao and All-American Sammie Stroughter leading a team
who achieved 9 wins the last two seasons.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Is Moevao the clear-cut guy? What about Sean Canfield?
Without Yvenson, they'd better find some way to run the football, or between that and the QB issues Stroughter is going to have a harder time this year. The defense is an even bigger question - it was great last yeaer, but aren't they replacing every single starter in the front seven?
Even the schedule doesn't break in their favor - at Penn State, USC and at Utah in the first five games. Ouch.
I think by the end of the season they'll be fine like they always are, but I think it's going to take a year before they're back in the Top 25.
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Thomas USC 11 months ago
Hey 'Will',, you're a TOTAL IDIOT !!!
You have Missouri and Oklahoma AHEAD of USC ????
And you put Oklahoma at #1 because their SCHEDULE looks easy ????
1- Their SCEDULE is easy EVERY YEAR. They aren't man enough to play a tough
non-conference schedule.
2- NOT ONE PLAYER on MISSOURI's team would be a STARTER at USC, NOT ONE !!
3- USC's record against Top 10- top 20 teams the last 5 years is over 90% ...
no one else even comes CLOSE !! So WHAT DO YOU THINK is going to happen when Ohio State plays AT USC ??? !!!!!
4- YOU'RE A TOTAL IDIOT !!!
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Scott Taylor 11 months ago
I am pretty sure that Sanchez couldn't hold Chase Daniel's jock strap and Jeremy Macklin is better than anyone USC has at WR... but u keep thinking that USC is God's gift to the college football world. Heck they might even beat Stanford this year.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
As it says in the very first line of the Oklahoma section, they're the best combination of good players, experience and a manageable schedule. The schedule obviously isn't the only or the best reason to pick Oklahoma. You can debate in-conference scheduling somewhere else; out of conference they scheduled a game with Washington several years ago, and UDub hasn't held up their end of the bargain. That's not OU's fault.
You'll never know what a quarterback like Chase Daniel could do in the USC system, but I'd say the Trojans would certainly also be happy to have Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman in their offense. And since William Moore led the nation in interceptions last year, I'd say he'd probably crack the two deep as well.
I don't know what's going to happen when Ohio State plays at USC, and neither do you. I do know that you can't reasonably look at both teams and rank USC ahead of Ohio State in a preseason poll; the Buckeyes simply bring way too much back and the Trojans not enough.
Instead of telling me why I'm a total idiot, why don't you tell me why USC deserves to be ranked higher? For all the perceived East Coast bias that goes on, USC is certainly enjoying their share of being ranked in the Top 5 simply for being USC this preseason. When I see a team with a relatively new quarterback, no clear starter at tailback, no great wide receivers and one starting offensive lineman back, I hesitate to rank them above the defending National Champions and any of those teams in the top five. Their defense alone gets them in the Top 10, and the fact that they're USC does more for some others. If they beat Ohio State, then they'll have earned it. Until then, I don't buy the argument for them over any of the six teams in front of them.
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Thomas USC 11 months ago
WILL,
YOU'RE FIRED !
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Scott Taylor 11 months ago
I like how you put the Vols in the top 10. They are getting no respect for having so much back. ow they don't have to worry about Ainge and his stupid throws at the wrong time.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
While I'll be the first to admit that Ainge cost them the SEC Championship Game, up until that point last year he was hard-wired by David Cutcliffe to not make bad decisions and throw it away (which is how you only give up 4 sacks all year). Now you've got a headstrong kid in Jonathan Crompton and a new offensive coordinator who can't possibly be as disciplined as Cutcliffe...so the risk/reward factor for the Vols this year is up significantly.
That said, take it for what you will, but Mark May listed Crompton as his quarterback to watch, Arian Foster as his dark horse Heisman candidate, and the Vols as his national title sleeper. Like four or five other teams, they're good enough to win the SEC...which also means some of those teams are going 9-3/8-4. We'll see...but as a Vol fan I'm excited about the potential and hope the nation at large continues to talk only about Florida and Georgia.
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Chris BeShears 11 months ago
Hey there. Interesting top 25. I think Alabama will be average again because of quarterback. I am an Auburn fan though so I am very biased. Also, one minor correction. Since the SEC expanded in 1992, Auburn has been undefeated twice, in 1993 and 2004.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
The probation team is worth noting...what's really sad is, clearly, how those guys get forgotten down the line by the nation at large even though what happened wasn't the fault of any of those players or Terry Bowden.
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
WILL! You can't base your rankings right now on what might happen with someone's schedule. As much as I hate UGA, if your reason for not putting them #1 is that they might not make it through their schedule, then you're doing this all wrong. Now I understand the OSU criticism a little bit more, but they probably have less questions than anyone, except whether or not they can beat the SEC. Here's my top 5... UGA, OSU, USC, OU, Florida.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Agreed on how you base rankings...my mistake if I didn't make this more clear, but I do think that Oklahoma is the best team in college football right now - the schedule is worth noting, of course, but not the main reason they're number one or why Georgia's number two.
I mentioned this earlier, and I'm aware of some bias here...but as a Tennessee fan who watched the Vols rip Georgia last year, it's just really hard for me to put them at number one. OU's just as good at the offensive skill positions and way better on the o-line.
With the five teams you've listed and I think with Mizzou and LSU as well, you can all make compelling arguments for them being the best.
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Sam Kim 11 months ago
You seem to have a fairly low opinion of the Big East. Obviously, arguing conference strength over the internet is pointless, but I'd like to make the assertion that the BE may have the closest parity of the BCS conferences. WVU beat Cincy, who beat UConn, who beat Rutgers, who beat USF, who beat Syracuse, who beat Louisville, who beat Pittburgh, who beat WVU.
USF has the talent to win the BE and hang in the top 15, but they've lacked consistency. They beat some good teams with dynamic play from QB Matt Grothe, but ran into trouble against BE competitors who were familiar with their gameplan. They need more options to rely on than Grothe and DE George Selvie, especially with their starting CB tandem gone to the NFL.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I'd agree with the parity statement once you get past West Virginia. There are a ton of teams in there that you just don't know about - USF, UConn, and Cincy all really just got hot last year and so it's hard to measure teams like that. Rutgers, you don't know what they'll do without Ray Rice. Pitt is supposed to be better but had hasn't won more than six games since 2004. And you know there's good parity when the last two teams you mention are Louisville and Syracuse.
With so much unknown, I think the Big East could turn into a solid conference again this season, but right now I think most of the nation is still playing the waiting game with everyone except West Virginia and USF like me.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
Ok i commented out earlier today when I was at work but never put my 25 up becasue I didnt have it and coulndt remember all of it.
Home now here is what I put together a couple weeks ago
1. Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. USC
4. Ohio State
5. West Virginia
6. Georgia
7. Missouri
8. Clemson
9. Texas Tech
10. Auburn
11. Wisconsin
12. LSU
13. Texas
14. Virginia Tech
15. Penn State
16. Oregon
17. USF
18. BYU
19. Arizona State
20. Fresno State
21. South Carolina
22. Wake Forest
23. Cal
24. Tennessee
25. Boise State
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I continue to scratch my head over Virginia Tech being ranked as highly as they are in everyone's polls...but otherwise I can see the logic for everyone else. You've got more faith in Clemson than I do.
There's a Georgia/Arizona State comment from up there somewhere I thought was interesting...Tennessee was overconfident against Cal last year because they'd taken care of them easily the previous year. Georgia has no such ground to stand on but their fans seem to have the same general overconfidence, which means I think they're overlooking ASU even more. And that's an incredibly dangerous date because it falls between a road trip to South Carolina and a home game with Alabama. They've gotta get past Carolina first, but that game will be an eye-opener for both teams.
Good stuff.
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
I think its because Im just not sure who will challenge VT in the Coastal. North carolina?? Miami??
UGA should win I believe they are the better team... on paper...probably on the field too but on that night if they come in assuming the game is over before they play it could bite them in the butt
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Jimson Cuenta 11 months ago
"Ok i commented out earlier today when I was at work but never put my 25 up becasue I didnt have it and coulndt remember all of it.
Home now here is what I put together a couple weeks ago
1. Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. USC
4. Ohio State
5. West Virginia
6. Georgia
7. Missouri
8. Clemson
9. Texas Tech
10. Auburn
11. Wisconsin
12. LSU
13. Texas
14. Virginia Tech
15. Penn State
16. Oregon
17. USF
18. BYU
19. Arizona State
20. Fresno State
21. South Carolina
22. Wake Forest
23. Cal
24. Tennessee
25. Boise State"
What, NO Kansas in your Top 25... while you have Auburn in your Top 10???
That is just TRULY VILE... and PURE DISRESPECT, in MY opinion :)
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
I like Kansas I just dont know that they will be as good as last year. I think they benefited from a favorable schedule that they dont have this year. Yes they will be 2-0 going to USF where i think they lose. rebound to 3-1 with Sam Houston and 4-1 with Iowa State. Colorado should be improved, Kansas barely beat them and I could also see them looking ahead to Oklahoma but Ill call it a push for right now. after that they are looking at 4-2. Follow that up with TT i dont see them winning that either. 4-3. Kansas State should be a win 5-3. Nebraska i think will be improved also and it is at Neb. im leaving that one out for now too. 5-3 hosting Texas then missouri. 5-5 in my opinion with 2 game i could see going either way. either way not many 7 win teams get ranked. again thats my take on it.
as for AU i see them winning the SEC west. when was the last time a team did that and wasnt at least top 15??
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Patrick Lacey 11 months ago
OU #1, good call.
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
People People People, again, this is a PRESEASON poll, not a postseason one or a prediction. You cannot leave a very good team off of your top 25 (Kansas) or drop a team considerably (Texas), just because they have a tough schedule and might lose a few games.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
With a nod to the heavens on the good timing, the official Coaches Poll was released this morning. Here you go for comparison:
COACHES POLL - PRESEASON
1. Georgia (22)
2. USC (14)
3. Ohio State (14)
4. Oklahoma (3)
5. Florida (5)
6. LSU (3)
7. Missouri
8. West Virginia
9. Clemson
10. Texas
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Kansas
14. Texas Tech
15. Virginia Tech
16. Arizona State
17. BYU
18. Tennessee
19. Illinois
20. Oregon
21. South Florida
22. Penn State
23. Wake Forest
24. Michigan
25. Fresno State
I think you'll see those same teams in the top seven in a different order when the AP Poll is released later this month - those are the clear frontrunners.
Overall, I've got 21 of same teams listed...Virginia Tech continues to baffle, while Penn State, Michigan (?!) and Fresno slide into the bottom five in the coaches poll.
It's getting closer...
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David Hedlind 11 months ago
i got 22 of the 25
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Nate w 11 months ago
You said you wouldn't make Ohio State your favorite to win the national championship because the last two years yet you give Oklahoma the honor? Maybe you should take a look at Oklahomas bowl games lately.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
It's a fair criticism. Because of Ohio State's performance in the title game the last two years, I just can't put them at #1 no matter how good they look on paper because their on paper hasn't measured up when it counted most. It's a small rationalization that even though they've lost bowl games and looked bad at times, OU hasn't lost while playing for it all (not since 2004 anyway...) so I don't have the same automatic refusal with them, and the rest of what they have is enough to put them on top for me. Clearly, I see your point though.
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Nate w 11 months ago
They lost to Boise State...... Since loseing back to back title games in 03 and 04 the only bowl Oklahoma has won is a holiday bowl. 06-07 was a total meltdown by Ohio State in the championship game but I don't think you can fault Ohio State for 07-08 the only reason they got in was their weak schedule and meltdowns by the top teams leaveing them matched up with a very good and superior team in the championship game. I expect Ohio State to be great this year though because they have the experience the play a pretty tough schedule and they are not breaking in a new offense or defense this year.
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Emery Songer 11 months ago
Very high, but still reasonable shoutout for South Florida there. If they could've overcame that tough loss against Rutgers, they may have pulled off one of the most unprobable BCS bids ever. Glad to hear they are looking good again. I have some real questions about some of your list but I respect your opinion. Not bad, Will.
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Ronald Weathersby 11 months ago
USC behind Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida and OSU? Boy what are you smoking?
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
I'm still waiting for someone to give me the logical argument for USC being above any of those teams in a preseason poll.
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Nate w 11 months ago
I don't know but you can just look at USC's dominance each season and they merit a top 5 spot. I don't think 98% of college football fans could tell you the name of LSU's quaterback and they lost some great defensive players with a tough SEC schedule I see no way they finish ahead of USC. I personally would have USC at least ahead of Florida but I probably couldn't argue you on why except watching Florida go down to Michigan last year and USC dominate Illinois.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Their dominance is what's gotten them to #2 in the coaches poll, and I certainly think they're a title contender...but again, I think preseason polls are about who you think the best team is right now. One might think that Ohio State has no chance to come into LA and win, and maybe that's ultimately correct, but looking at both of those teams I don't see how anyone can rank USC ahead of OSU when you compare who's coming back for each. Looking at the roster and the talent available, the teams I have listed ahead of USC (with the possible exception of LSU, who gets a bump from me as defending national champs) either have more talent, more experience, or fewer questions than the Trojans do put together. I see how people think there's no way Missouri should be ranked in front of USC, but when you look at it on paper it just makes too much sense not to.
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Nate w 11 months ago
They are one of the best teams right now I think they have a more explosive offense ready than a few of the teams you have in the top five and probably a better defense than 3 of the top 5 the 2 they dont is probably Ohio State and Georgia. There is no way anyone should count Ohio State out going into LA with the best running back in the country and I give Chris Wells that title outright and a senior quaterback plus a great set of receivers and argueably the best defense in the nation. Stanford went in there last year and beat USC. The only team I argued that USC should be ahead of is LSU and even you admit that you put LSU at that spot by default. I also said you could argue that they are better than Florida but I wouldn't try because I know you could probably come up with reasons why they should.
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Nate w 11 months ago
"I see how people think there's no way Missouri should be ranked in front of USC, but when you look at it on paper it just makes too much sense not to."
If you are going by what looks best on paper in your rankings why don't you have Ohio State as the number 1 team then. Another quote by you
"The Buckeyes might be the best looking team on paper"
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
Yeah, I mentioned this up there somewhere...Ohio State is the best looking team on paper, but I don't think me or anyone else is comfortable putting them at #1 after the last two years in the title game. And it's probably unfair, I realize, to not also punish Oklahoma for their recent poor bowl success, but since it wasn't in the title game twice consecutively, it just doesn't leave such a bad aftertaste.
USC's offense is the story, you're right, because the defense is unquestionably good. But all of those teams I have ranked above them all have more proven threats on offense...even LSU, without any certainty at QB, has great playmakers back at RB and WR and a tremendous offensive line. USC certainly can be good offensively, I think there are just more questions about them than anyone else.
To each his own.
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Nate 11 months ago
I think USC has a better set of Receivers and definately running backs than almost every team and the country. Oklahoma did lose two consecutive though just a few years ago XD.
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