1. Preseason Coaches Poll Winners, Losers, Final Overall Thoughts, Observations
– Winner: Liberty. Think of it this way. Hugh Freeze’s old Ole Miss team is ranked just five spots higher, and Liberty is the highest-ranked school in Virginia.
– Loser: Liberty. Where’s the credit for the amazing 2020 and returning just about everyone? No hate to Louisiana or Coastal Carolina, but Liberty returns stronger, better, and didn’t get the top 25 love the Sun Belters received.
– Winner: The Great State of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is third – it should really be 2, but that’s nitpicking – Oklahoma State got some attention at a respectable 22, and Tulsa received some residual affection from 2020 with six votes.
– Loser: The Great State of Michigan. Michigan received 30 votes. The University of Michigan – you know, the leaders and best – received 30 flipping votes and is technically ranked 33rd. It’s the only team in Michigan that received a vote, and to make matters worse, the Detroit Lions aren’t predicted to do much this year, either.
– Winner: San Jose State. The Spartans return just about everyone from its shocking 2020 Mountain West championship run. With 18 votes, they’re ahead of …
– Loser: Stanford and Cal. Stanford and Cal are better than San Jose State – and they’re a whole lot better than several teams ranked higher – as they each received a grand total of 1 vote.
– Winner: Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin’s team is ranked 25th in the preseason rankings.
– Loser: Mississippi State. Mike Leach’s team received two more votes than you did.
– I love the Sun Belt. It plays a fun brand of football, the teams deserved even more respect than they received last season, and … Louisiana at 23 and Coastal Carolina at 24 is cheeky. They’d both get steamrolled by Utah (26).
– 2021 Preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll
– Utah is a top 20 team, and it’s not ranked that way according to this. Arizona State is a top 20 team, and it’s ranked 28th. The Pac-12 got a little bit of attention with Oregon 12th, USC 14th and Washington 21st, but the Ducks and Huskies are too low. The respect just isn’t there for the Pac-12.
– As always, the pollsters like teams with quarterbacks they know. North Carolina at 9 is a tad high, but everyone knows and loves Sam Howell. However …
– Nine of the top 13 teams have a different starting quarterback than the ones that kicked off 2020. There might be more of a shakeup than normal in the top bunch.
– For those assuming the Big 12 is dead without Texas and Oklahoma. that might be true business-wise, but Iowa State (8), Oklahoma State (22), TCU (32), West Virginia (50) isn’t totally horrible. However …
– This entire poll shows that football-wise, there aren’t a whole lot of places for the Big Ten and Pac-12 to expand that might make a difference. The only hope is the ACC, and that’s not happening any time soon.
– Just remember, the College Football Playoff rankings are the ones that matter. This sure is fun, though.
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