Tag: Amway Coaches Poll

Gators News: August 25, 2020

The news regarding college football’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic continues at full steam including some shake-ups in the polls.

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Today is Tuesday and as we take another step into the week, the news regarding college football’s battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic continues at full steam, including some shake-ups in the polls that rank participating institutions from around the nation.

First off the bat, Erick Smith of USA TODAY Sports wrote this morning that the Amway Coaches Poll panel will only include voters from schools playing this fall; the adjustment leaves a panel of 42 coaches voting this season.

Over at Clemson, head coach Dabo Swinney will take a $687,500 pay cut this year due to pandemic, while all athletic department employees who make more than $400,000 annually, including nine of Swinney’s assistant coaches, have voluntarily accepted at least a 10 percent reduction in compensation. Additionally, the school also announced furloughs for employees who earn more than $50,000 a year.

Another familiar name is in the news, as Urban Meyer talks about being “heartbroken” for players and coaches after the cancellation of Big Ten fall football. If he were still at the helm at Ohio State, he stated, “I wouldn’t handle it well.”

Here is the latest news from around the Gator Nation.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

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College Football News predicts preseason AP Poll minus Ohio State, Big Ten, Pac-12 teams

Pete Fiutak of College Football News published what the Amway Coaches Poll would look like without Ohio State, other B1G and Pac-12 teams.

Before the Big Ten and Pac-12 shelved the fall football season for 2020, we got our first peek at the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. Now, with two of the power five conferences out of the mix, there hasn’t been another release, and we don’t know if we’ll get another one or not. It’s the new normal of the coronavirus pandemic where everybody is scrambling to figure out how to handle things, even in the midst of so much uncertainty.

But Pete Fiutak of College Football News isn’t taking that bait. Earlier this week, he predicted what the Amway Coaches Poll would look like taking the teams that — you know — won’t be playing. Makes sense right?

And before we get started, though taking out teams like Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon makes a huge difference at the top meaning the season could be watered down significantly. What will the polls do at the end of the season then? If that is, we make it to the end of the season.

That’s all for another day, without further pandering, here’s the prediction of what the Amway Coaches Poll should look like now with CFN’s season preview included in each link.

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Next … The complete College Football News preseason AP Poll

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What USA TODAY had to say about Wisconsin’s No. 12 ranking in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll

The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released on Thursday and coming in at No. 12 were the Wisconsin Badgers. It seems like it’s an…

The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released on Thursday and coming in at No. 12 were the Wisconsin Badgers.

It seems like it’s an annual phenomenon for preseason polls to underrate the Badgers going into the season–minus 2018 obviously when the team started the season in the nation’s top 5.

This year though? The ranking finally feels right as Paul Chryst and company are rightfully given a shot at rising in the rankings and entering the elite class of teams, but aren’t necessarily there just yet.

Here’s what USA TODAY had to say about the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers:

Jonathan Taylor’s departure leaves a massive void in the Badgers’ rushing attack, which must also navigate three departures on the offensive line. Defensively, Wisconsin returns most of its production, notably linebacker Jack Sanborn. QB Jack Coan returns after accounting for every Wisconsin passing yard last season.  Only five Power Five teams (Georgia, Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama) have won more games than the Badgers the last five years. Outside of two New Year’s Six Bowl victories (2016 Cotton, 2017 Orange), Wisconsin has little to show for that success (zero conference titles) beyond a reputation of consistency. Will the conference-only schedule of 2020 give the Badgers the shove they need to go over the top?

Time will only tell if Chryst’s team is finally able to get over the hump and win their first conference title since 2012. It’s a welcome sight, though, to see coaches around the country acknowledge the team as one of the nation’s best and give them a shot at having a break through year.

Auburn listed as an overrated team in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll

The Tigers are listed as one of five overrated teams in the preseason poll.

There are some people that don’t believe Auburn deserves its ranking in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.

The Tigers came in at No. 11 in the poll released Thursday. Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY argued that Gus Malzahn’s team was overrated.

From the article:

“It doesn’t seem probable that Auburn could land just outside the top 10 in the preseason with a schedule that includes No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 LSU, unless the Tigers find a way to beat one or more of those opponents currently pegged as the best in the SEC and lose no more than once, if at all, against the rest of the SEC West and the Tigers’ crossover opponents from the East. QB Bo Nix is going to have to take a giant step forward to justify this ranking.”

MORE: Column: SEC again bends to Alabama’s pressure, proving nothing has changed

Auburn was joined by Texas, Texas A&M, Minnesota and Utah as the overrated teams in the preseason poll. On the Aggies, who Auburn will face sometime this season:

“The Aggies’ offseason hype was built around a projected schedule that was easy by SEC standards, with a series of easy non-conference tuneups followed by a conference slate that ended with Alabama and LSU. The schedule is no longer an asset in the Aggies’ corner: A&M will now play 10 SEC games, removing those four non-league wins and adding another pair of opponents from the East division.”

LISTEN: Urban Meyer joins USA TODAY Podcast to discuss upcoming 2020 season

The Preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released on Thursday. Urban Meyer joined a USA TODAY podcast to discuss it and the upcoming season.

The Preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released on Thursday and it was probably a bit o a ho-hum affair for Ohio State. Sure, it’s great to be recognized as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, but this squad probably feels a little slighted being put behind Clemson, a team it lost to last January in the Fiesta Bowl, but one it probably should have beaten.

Throughout the season, as the Amway Coaches Poll is released, USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg will discuss it on “Inside the Amway Coaches Poll” with a special guest. In this case, former Buckeye head man Urban Meyer joined the show.

You too can listen. We’ve got it all for you below — and as always — Urban Meyer provides some interesting insight as only he can. As a bonus, you can hear Wolken and Myerberg break down the poll, Ohio State, and the potential upcoming 2020 season.

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What USA TODAY says about Texas’ No. 14 ranking in Amway Coaches Poll

What did USA TODAY Sports have to say about the Texas Longhorns being ranked in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll?

Fall camp is finally here and with that it feels like Texas Longhorns football is so close we can almost taste it. One of the annual events of the preseason are the rankings. Media and fans alike love to pick apart the rankings with how they feel each college football team should be ranked. Texas came in 14th in the initial Amway Coaches Poll.

The first reaction by many is of course, who is overrated? According to Paul Myerburg, one of those teams would in fact be the Longhorns. Sure one could point to what the Longhorns lost and claim that they are overrated but they return their senior quarterback and key pieces around him. Factor in the new coordinators in Mike Yurcich and Chris Ash and that gives promise. Not to mention they added five-star recruits on both sides of the ball.

What USA TODAY Sports says about the Longhorns outlook

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The USA TODAY Sports staff recently released their outlook on every one of the top 25 teams, they make valid points for the Longhorns.

It’s the question asked, mostly facetiously now, every August: Is Texas back? After a step back – the wrong way, in this sense — in 2019 compared to a Sugar Bowl win the season before, Tom Herman shook things up this offseason by firing his offensive and defensive coordinator, meaning Longhorns players are learning new schemes on both sides of the ball. QB Sam Ehlinger has thrown more yards than any other Power Five quarterback in the last two years, and there’s no shortage of receiving talent for him to target. LB Joseph Ossai returns after leading the team with 90 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. A trip to the Big 12 title game will be expected or pressure will mount on Herman.

The Longhorns head coach Tom Herman isn’t in the hot seat yet but if he fumbles the season (provided they play) then it will heat up.

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What USA TODAY says about Ohio State’s No. 2 ranking in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll

Ohio State football is ranked No. 2 in the country in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll that was released Thursday. USA TODAY tells you why.

In case you missed it, the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released for college football on Thursday, with Ohio State debuting at No. 2, just behind Clemson.

It’s about where most every other expert has the Buckeyes in the preseason and it’s hard to argue about splitting hairs between OSU and the Tigers. Both have a Heisman favorite at the quarterback position as well as a slew of talent from multiple monster recruiting classes surrounding them.

But there are also gaps to fill for the Buckeyes. The secondary lost three players to the 2020 NFL Draft, superstar running back J.K. Dobbins is now with the Baltimore Ravens, and Chase Young is ready to rip off opposing quarterbacks’ heads in Washington.

So, what exactly is behind the lofty ranking for Ohio State? USA TODAY’s Analis Bailey, Chris Bumbaca, Aria Gerson, and Scott Gleeson weighed in on all the teams in the top 25, and here’s what they said about the Buckeyes.

Next … What USA TODAY says about Ohio State entering 2020

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USA TODAY Sports gives its outlook on Florida’s 2020 season

With the release of the preseason Amway Coaches Poll on Wednesday, USA TODAY published season outlooks for each team ranked in the top 25.

With the release of the preseason Amway Coaches Poll on Wednesday, USA TODAY Sports published season outlooks for each team ranked in the top 25.

The Gators come in at No. 8, the same spot they entered the season at last year, after finishing the 2019 season ranked No. 7 after a victory in the Orange Bowl over Virginia. Here’s what they had to say about Florida in its quest for its first conference title since 2008.

8. Florida (11-2)

Points: 1,176. Previous ranking: 7.

Outlook: Dan Mullen will have starting quarterback Kyle Trask for another season after his unexpected emergence that saw the senior throw for 25 touchdowns. Could this be the year the Gators recover the division title from the Georgia Bulldogs? With key members on both sides of the ball gone, the capable underclassmen talent will have to step up. DBs Kaiir Elam and Marco Wilson lead the back of what should be a strong defense. A key to repeat last year’s 11-2 success, Mullen’s offensive line will need to create a better run game to take some pressure off Trask.

UF is currently scheduled to begin its season on Sep. 26, along with the rest of the SEC, and will play 10 conference games.

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Texas listed as an overrated team in college football coaches poll

Texas is considered one of five overrated teams on the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg recently dissected the preseason Amway Coaches Poll to determine the five most overrated college football teams. Continue reading “Texas listed as an overrated team in college football coaches poll”

Gators News: August 7, 2020

Another week is nearly in the books on this Friday, with the number of sports returning to action growing as we race towards fall. 

Another week is nearly in the books on this Friday, with the number of sports returning to action growing as we race towards fall.

The Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports was released yesterday, with the Gators starting the season in the exact same spot is began in 2019 and ended at the conclusion of last season.

In other news, the Southeastern Conference announced its initial COVID-19 medical protocols for the upcoming SEC-only schedule set to kick off on Sept. 12. Here is the rest from around the Gator Nation.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

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