You know we must be getting close to the start of the college football season when the preseason rankings start getting released. This has got to be my favorite time of the year, it's still summer and the weather is nice (although here in California it's almost always nice) and we are on the verge of my favorite sport, college football! These rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt, not a game has been played and in reality, these polls set the playing field to the advantage of certain teams. If you don't start the season highly ranked, it will take a minor miracle to get into the BCS title game hunt. Still, it is fun to debate and argue the merits of these polls, which is one of the things that make college football the greatest sport there is (in my humble opinion). I'll have additional thoughts on this poll, but at first glance, I can't argue with Oklahoma at #1, I saw them first hand in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl handle my UConn Huskies. But, I find it slightly ridiculous that West Virginia is not ranked in this poll. Mark my words, that team will be explosive this year (can't wait for LSU to visit Morgantown early in the season!). And what's with all the ACC love? I'll put more stock in the first AP Rankings anyway.....
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.
