Tag: USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll

What happened the last 10 times LSU began the year ranked in the top 10

Here’s what happened the last 10 times LSU began a year ranked in the top 10.

The preseason AP Poll was released on Monday, and LSU was ranked No. 5.

It’s the Tigers’ highest preseason ranking since 2019, where LSU was also ranked fifth. It’s the Tigers first time back in the preseason top 10 since 2020.

For [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], it’s a familiar spot. His final three teams at Notre Dame all ranked in the top 10 to start the year. His final two of those squads both finished higher than where they started.

It’s Kelly’s first time with real expectations at LSU. Last year, the Tigers were unranked in the initial poll entering what was thought to be a rebuilding year.

Let’s see how LSU’s fared in its last 10 seasons where it began the year ranked in the top 10.

Oklahoma Sooners inside top 20 in first USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for the 2023 season

The Oklahoma Sooners sit inside the top 20 in the first release of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for 2023.

The initial release of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll means the college football season is right around the corner. After an offseason filled with realignment storylines and NIL legislation, we’re just weeks away from actual football games.

The top of the Coaches Poll is filled with familiar brands and programs. If the preseason rankings are any indication, this season is going to be a wild one.

The SEC led the way with four programs inside the top 10, followed by the Big Ten with three, the ACC with two, and the Pac-12 with one. While the Big 12 didn’t have a team in the top 10, there were five schools ranked inside the top 25. The SEC had six make the initial poll.

Here’s a look at the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

2023 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll has Ohio State among top five

Did you expect Ohio State to be higher upon this preseason release? #GoBucks

You know the college football season is just around the corner when some of the major polls release their preseason rankings. That’s what we have today with the initial release of the 2023 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Preseason Coaches poll.

As expected, Ohio State is fairly highly ranked, and among the top ten, but the Buckeyes checked in a little lower than what many probably anticipated. These preseason polls can be taken with a grain of salt because we really don’t know exactly how a team will put all of the pieces together and play upon breaking the seal for real on the season.

And with the Buckeyes replacing C.J. Stroud at quarterback, and having to reload on the offensive line while still figuring things out on defense, well — there is pause for concern.

Here’s how the top ten of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll looks with a complete view of the top 25 at the bottom.

LSU in the top 5 of the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll

LSU’s season opener against Florida State will officially be a matchup between top-10 teams.

What better way to know that the college football season is right around the corner than the release of preseason rankings?

On Monday, the very first USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll for the 2023 season was released. LSU enters the season with high expectations after a 10-4 finish last season, and the coaches around the country concur.

LSU ranked in the top-five in the coaches’ initial preseason poll, and with Florida State ranking No. 8, that season opener in Orlando will be a matchup between top 10 teams.

Here’s the full preseason coaches poll as LSU looks to repeat as SEC West champions and push for a College Football Playoff spot.

Vols ranked top 10 in 2023 preseason USA TODAY Sports coaches poll

The preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll has been released ahead of the 2023 college football season.

Tennessee opened fall training camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the 2023 season.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the matchup.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel guided Tennessee to a 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record and two bowl appearances from 2021-22.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

The 2023 preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll was released on Monday. The Vols are ranked in the top 10.

The preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll is listed below.

Predicting 2023 preseason college football top 25 poll

Predicting where Tennessee will rank in the 2023 preseason college football top 25 poll.

The 2023 college football season will kick off Aug. 26 with Week 0.

Tennessee will open play Sept. 2 versus Virginia.

Kickoff between the Vols and Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT (ABC) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The season will conclude with a final four-team College Football Playoff. The AllState Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl will serve as the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1, 2024.

The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl champions will advance to the national championship game on Jan. 8, 2024 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

A 12-team College Football Playoff format will debut in 2024.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Vols Wire projects where head coaches could vote and rank Tennessee in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. A preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll projection is listed below.

Tennessee football’s preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll rankings since 2000

A look at Tennessee football’s preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll rankings since 2000.

Tennessee football has been ranked in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll 12 times since 2000.

The Vols earned a preseason ranking for nine consecutive seasons from 2000-08.

The USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season with a voting panel consisting of 65 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches. The panel is chosen randomly from a pool of coaches, who indicated interest in participating.

A first-place vote is worth 25 points, second place is 24 points, down to No. 25 being worth one point.

Vols Wire looks at where Tennessee has been ranked in the preseason and at the end of each campaign since 2000 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll. Rankings are listed below.

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Tyson Helton votes Tennessee No. 5

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot: Western Kentucky head coach and former Vols’ offensive coordinator Tyson Helton votes Tennessee ahead of Alabama

Georgia defeated TCU, 65-7, in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Following the national championship game, the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released.

Tennessee finished No. 6, while Alabama is ranked fifth.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule featured home games against Ball State (W, 59-10), Akron (W, 63-6), Florida (W, 38-33), Alabama (W, 52-49), UT Martin (W, 65-24), Kentucky (W, 44-6) and Missouri (W, 66-24).

The Vols’ 2022 schedule featured road contests at Pittsburgh (W, 34-27 OT) in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU (W, 40-13), Georgia (L, 27-13), South Carolina (L, 63-38) and Vanderbilt (W, 56-0).

Tennessee defeated Clemson, 31-14, in the Capital One Orange Bowl to conclude its 2022 season on Dec. 30.

Tyson Helton, Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton voted in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll during the 2022 season. Helton served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018 before becoming Western Kentucky’s head coach.

Helton’s final ballot is listed below.

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot: Greg Schiano votes Vols seventh

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot: Greg Schiano votes Tennessee seventh

Georgia defeated TCU, 65-7, in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Following the national championship game, the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released.

Tennessee finished No. 6, while Alabama is ranked fifth.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule featured home games against Ball State (W, 59-10), Akron (W, 63-6), Florida (W, 38-33), Alabama (W, 52-49), UT Martin (W, 65-24), Kentucky (W, 44-6) and Missouri (W, 66-24).

The Vols’ 2022 schedule featured road contests at Pittsburgh (W, 34-27 OT) in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU (W, 40-13), Georgia (L, 27-13), South Carolina (L, 63-38) and Vanderbilt (W, 56-0).

Tennessee defeated Clemson, 31-14, in the Capital One Orange Bowl to conclude its 2022 season on Dec. 30.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano voted in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll during the 2022 season.

Schiano’s final ballot is listed below.

Final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot: Brady Hoke votes Vols ahead of Alabama

Former Tennessee interim head coach Brady Hoke votes the Vols ahead of Alabama on final 2022 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ballot.

Georgia defeated TCU, 65-7, in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Following the national championship game, the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released.

Tennessee finished No. 6, while Alabama is ranked fifth.

Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule featured home games against Ball State (W, 59-10), Akron (W, 63-6), Florida (W, 38-33), Alabama (W, 52-49), UT Martin (W, 65-24), Kentucky (W, 44-6) and Missouri (W, 66-24).

The Vols’ 2022 schedule featured road contests at Pittsburgh (W, 34-27 OT) in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU (W, 40-13), Georgia (L, 27-13), South Carolina (L, 63-38) and Vanderbilt (W, 56-0).

Tennessee defeated Clemson, 31-14, in the Capital One Orange Bowl to conclude its 2022 season on Dec. 30.

San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke voted in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll during the 2022 season. He served as Tennessee’s interim head coach in 2017.

Hoke’s final ballot is listed below.