College Football Preseason Rankings: 5 Initial Reactions to USA Today Poll

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The first college poll was released earlier today as the coaches voted Oklahoma as it's pre-season #1. Alabama, Oregon, LSU, and FSU rounded out the top 5.

The poll carries little merit to this point as no one has actually taken the field, but for the dark horses and teams not on the list it means it is already an uphill battle.

So how accurate is the coaches take?

Who missed out that should have gotten the nod?

Here are five initial takes on the who's who in the pre-season college football realm.

Oklahoma Will NOT Be No. 1 at Season's End

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Sorry Sooner fans, but Boomer Sooner will not be numero uno when the final rankings come out prior to bowl season. Simply put, they have too many tough games on the docket for them to be an unbeaten #1.

The game that really stands out now is the game in Tallahassee on the 17th of September. That pits a #1 vs a #5, and probable #4. (#3 Oregon plays #4 LSU in the opener) The chances the Sooners escape from the Seminole chop is up in the air, but if they do they still have Mizzou the next week and Texas A&M later in the year, although both games are at home.

Sooners could end up #2, but no way #1.

Ohio State Is in the Top 20?

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Okay thee Ohio State University has plenty of talent returning and a young coach with a bright future. But, how can you say that after all they have been through off the field that they are one of the nation's 20 best college programs?

When it is all said and done they will miss both Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor and WILL NOT win their division and WILL make a lower tier Big Ten bowl game.

OSU is not a top 25 team, period!

Where Is Utah?

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Last time I checked many pre-season magazines and experts had Utah winning the Pac 12 South. So why are they not at least in the pre-season top 25?

They have a proven winner in Kyle Whittingham as their head coach, and a veteran QB in Jordan Wynn. Plus the schedule saves them from both Oregon and Stanford, and they do get ASU at home.

Utah has done nothing but win the last decade and not much should change when they do kick off the Pac 12 slate this fall.

Utah deserves to be on the list, and will end up there at year's end.

Boise State May Not Need as Much Help to Get to New Orleans

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Okay, I am going to say it, I like Boise and Kellen Moore to finally get to the big game, and the coaches poll is a big reason why.

The coaches put the Broncos at #7 to start, meaning right now there are only 6 teams to jump. Many of which play head to head games against each other. (FSU vs OU, LSU VS Oregon, Stanford vs Oregon, LSU vs Bama)

Sure there are others below them that will have the chance to jump them, but look for the #7 slot to be lucky for Boise in 2011, or at least it gives them a chance, which is enough to get a lot of college football fans fired up.

Florida and Georgia Make the Poll?

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Okay two teams that finished below .500 last year in over Utah, Iowa, and even UCF who beat Georgia in their bowl game? Come on!

Texas may be better this year, and chances are there is little doubt that they will improve on their 5-7 mark, but no way are they a top 25 team yet until they do it on the field. The same for Georgia.

The Bulldogs lost their best player A.J. Green to the NFL, and Aaron Murray may be a sophomore looking at a slump. Georgia won't even win half of their games!

Neither team deserved any recognition until they win on the field.

Top 25 Recap

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As stated earlier there are many big games early in the season with No. 1 OU heading to No. 5 FSU, No. 3 Oregon taking on No. 4 LSU in the opener and No. 2 Alabama heading into No. 25 Penn State. It should be exciting early on.

So what do you think of OU as No. 1?

Who got the preseason snub?

Who finishes No. 1 and No. 2 heading into bowl season?

Feel free to constructively discuss your thoughts on the comment board and here is a list of the poll from USAtoday.com.

 

Aug. 4, 2011 - preseason poll
Rank	Team (first-place votes)	2010 record	Points	Final 2010 ranking
1.	Oklahoma (42)	12-2	1,454	6
2.	Alabama (13)	10-3	1,414	11
3.	Oregon (2)	12-1	1,309	3
4.	LSU (2)	11-2	1,296	8t
5.	Florida State	10-4	1,116	16
6.	Stanford	12-1	1,101	4
7.	Boise State	12-1	1,065	7
8.	Oklahoma State	11-2	933	10
9.	Texas A&M	9-4	885	21
10.	Wisconsin	11-2	829	8t
11.	Nebraska	10-4	814	19
12.	South Carolina	9-5	779	22
13.	Virginia Tech	11-3	767	15
14.	Arkansas	10-3	750	12
15.	TCU	13-0	687	2
16.	Ohio State	12-1	631	5
17.	Michigan State	11-2	536	14
18.	Notre Dame	8-5	440	NR
19.	Auburn	14-0	329	1
20.	Mississippi State	9-4	301	17
21.	Missouri	10-3	266	18
22.	Georgia	6-7	260	NR
23.	Florida	8-5	240	NR
24.	Texas	5-7	162	NR
25.	Penn State	7-6	161	NR
Others receiving votes
Arizona State (6-6) 158; West Virginia (9-4) 149; Utah (10-3) 50; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 49; Iowa (8-5) 41; Northwestern (7-6) 30; Arizona (7-6) 28; Central Florida (11-3) 22; Michigan (7-6) 19; Air Force (9-4) 15; North Carolina (8-5) 14; Houston (5-7) 13; South Florida (8-5) 9; Hawaii (10-4) 8; Clemson (6-7) 7; Tennessee (6-7) 7; Southern Miss (8-5) 6; Brigham Young (7-6) 5; North Carolina State (9-4) 4; Northern Illinois (11-3) 4; Oregon State (5-7) 4; Pittsburgh (8-5) 3; Washington (7-6) 3; Georgia Tech (6-7) 1; Nevada (13-1) 1.