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August 6, 2005

2005 Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

The USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Top 25 college football coaches' poll, with number of first-place votes and record in parentheses, total points and final 2004 ranking:


1. Southern California (60) 13-0 1,547 1
2. Texas (2) 11-1 1,405 4
3. Tennessee 10-3 1,259 15
4. Michigan 9-3 1,242 12
5. Oklahoma 12-1 1,223 3
6. LSU 9-3 1,109 16
7. Virginia Tech 10-3 1,090 10
8. Miami (Fla.) 9-3 1,080 11
9. Ohio State 8-4 1,033 19
10. Iowa 10-2 1,014 8
11. Florida 7-5 910 25
12. Florida State 9-3 879 14
13. Georgia 10-2 838 6
14. Louisville 11-1 758 7
15. Auburn 13-0 723 2
16. Purdue 7-5 616 NR
17. Texas A&M 7-5 366 NR
18. Arizona State 9-3 304 20
19. Boise State 11-1 303 13
20. California 10-2 293 9
21. Texas Tech 8-4 247 17
22. Boston College 9-3 237 21
23. Virginia 8-4 210 23
24. Alabama 6-6 194 NR
25. Pittsburgh 8-4 193 NR

Others receiving votes
Fresno State (9-3) 188; Oregon (5-6) 145; Utah (12-0) 103; Georgia Tech (7-5) 88; Wisconsin (9-3) 79; North Carolina State (5-6) 69; Bowling Green (9-3) 63; Penn State (4-7) 44; Colorado (8-5) 40; Minnesota (7-5) 34; UCLA (6-6) 24; Texas-El Paso (8-4) 22; Nebraska (5-6) 21; Kansas State (4-7) 20; South Carolina (6-5) 16; Notre Dame (6-6) 13; West Virginia (8-4) 12; Wyoming (7-5) 12; Clemson (6-5) 9; New Mexico (7-5) 9; Arizona (3-8) 8; Northern Illinois (9-3) 8; Southern Mississippi (7-5) 7; Toledo (9-4) 7; Washington State (5-6) 7; Iowa State (7-5) 6; Michigan State (5-7) 6; Memphis (8-4) 5; Washington (1-10) 4; Miami (Ohio) (8-5) 3; Maryland (5-6) 2; UAB (7-5) 1; Duke (2-9) 1; Kansas (4-7) 1.


The USA TODAY Board of Coaches is made up of 62 head coaches at Division I-A institutions. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association.

The board for the 2005 season: Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin; Chuck Amato, N.C. State, Gary Barnett, Colorado; Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech; Mike Bellotti, Oregon; Phil Bennett, SMU; Jack Bicknell, Louisiana Tech; Larry Blakeney, Troy; Bobby Bowden, Florida State; Tommy Bowden, Clemson; Jeff Bower, Southern Miss; Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green; Art Briles, Houston; Rich Brooks, Kentucky; Mack Brown, Texas; Watson Brown, UAB; John Bunting, North Carolina; Lloyd Carr, Michigan; Larry Coker, Miami (Fla.); Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State; Darrell Dickey, North Texas; Bill Doba, Washington State; Randy Edsall, Connecticut; Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M; Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee; Joe Glenn, Wyoming; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Walt Harris, Stanford; Ken Hatfield, Rice; Dan Hawkins, Boise State; Pat Hill, Fresno State; Terry Hoeppner, Indiana; Brady Hoke, Ball State; Skip Holtz, East Carolina; Brian Kelly, Central Michigan; Rocky Long, New Mexico; Sonny Lubick, Colorado State; Dan McCarney, Iowa State; Andy McCollum, Middle Tennessee; Shane Montgomery, Miami (Ohio); Joe Novak, Northern Illinois; Houston Nutt, Arkansas; Tom O'Brien, Boston College; Gary Patterson, TCU; Bobby Petrino, Louisville; Mark Richt, Georgia; Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia; Greg Schiano, Rutgers; Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic; John L. Smith, Michigan State; Frank Solich, Ohio; Steve Spurrier, South Carolina; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Jeff Tedford, California; Joe Tiller, Purdue; Dick Tomey, San Jose State; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Tommy Tuberville, Auburn; Bobby Wallace, Temple; Randy Walker, Northwestern; Charlie Weis, Notre Dame; Tyrone Willingham, Washington.

The AFCA prohibits coaches from voting for schools on major NCAA probation.



For What Its Worth:
USC got what it deserves and then some. Sixty first place votes? Really? Texas got two well deserved first place votes, but BoiFromTroy has a conspiracy theory. I think Boi's off on two fronts: first, Texas is legit & well-rounded enough to merit consideration, and second, don't you think someone like Stoops or Tressel would boost Texas up just to get a bigger bump if they knock off the 'Horns? And who's to say that Tedford isn't just goading the poll & the Trojans and putting Texas up?

Besides, I have a lot more questions about Oklahoma rolling into the top five. Their QB is...whom exactly? And Florida? Urban Meyer is answer that takes this team from barely in the top 25 at all last year to knocking on the top ten...without ever hitting the field? And my beloved Seminoles? Do they really merit a spot in the top 15?

All I know is, I'm glad the poll will release the final coaches' ballots this year.

Posted by Kevin Donahue

 

Comments:

  1. kevin said:

    posted on August 6, 2005 4:14 PM — 69.242.195.24 — link — abuse?



    Once again, Auburn gets the shaft...

  2. boifromtroy said:

    posted on August 6, 2005 5:18 PM — 68.233.235.234 — link — abuse?



    After the Orange Bowl if Stoops votes anyone other than USC #1, he does not deserve a vote!

    Also, who voted USC #3?!?

  3. Fanblogs Author Kevin Donahue said:

    posted on August 7, 2005 12:33 PM — link — abuse?



    Auburn got the shaft? Auburn got the shaft? When a team replaces that many skill players on offense, the immediate forecast isn't that Joe Untested is going to walk on water in game one. Auburn is fairly ranked for a team that could easily lose four games plus a bowl loss.

  4. Blue Deviled said:

    posted on August 7, 2005 3:48 PM — 65.124.76.75 — link — abuse?



    what joker gave Duke a vote? That coach should be kicked out of the poll before it goes any further.

  5. Dogman said:

    posted on August 7, 2005 5:05 PM — 63.164.145.198 — link — abuse?



    Answer to who picked USC # 3.

    Of course that answer would be MACK BROWN.

    2nd question. I wonder which SEC coach picked USC 2nd. I know for sure it would not be tubberville.

    The coaches poll needs to go. TEXAS and TENNESSEE both over-rated. Texas loses at Ohio State on 9/10, and Tennessee loses at Florida 9/17

    Louisville way under-rated. They should be about #7, they are better than Miami

  6. Fanblogs Author Kevin Donahue said:

    posted on August 7, 2005 5:23 PM — link — abuse?



    Spurrier always give Duke a vote in the preseason poll.

  7. jessi said:

    posted on August 8, 2005 4:28 PM — 84.254.188.9 — link — abuse?



    Even with all the trouble Tennessee has had in the off season they are still they most established right now in the SEC. Do your homework dogman. I agree Florida, Georgia, and LSU are good but 2 of them are under first year coaches and Georgia lost alot. Thats why Tennessee is ranked so high and besides if they lose to anyone it will be LSU becuase they have to play at LSU and its hard to win down there. And Texas overrated come on. I am not a big fan of the Big 12 myself but if any team deserves to be ranked that high from there its them. That quarterback has enough in him to make it happen. Think before you speak buddy.

  8. Fanblogs Author Ben Prather said:

    posted on August 9, 2005 12:26 PM — 69.73.42.221 — link — abuse?



    Utah is just outside the top 25, at 28. not a bad start for what they lost last year. I expect they could jump up if they start hot like they did last year.

    They are not the team they where last year.

    With Wyoming and New Mexico on the list, the MWC gets an unusual showing of three teams to start the year.

    Boise is the only non-BCS team in the top 25, though Fresno State and Utah are not far out points wise.

  9. Andrew said:

    posted on August 10, 2005 11:07 AM — 132.79.13.16 — link — abuse?



    Hmmm...funny, there are 4 teams (5 Tenn twice) ranked higher than Auburn that Auburn beat last year. 5 altogether in the top 25.

  10. Fanblogs Author dave frey said:

    posted on August 10, 2005 7:01 PM — 206.124.221.226 — link — abuse?



    what's funny about that?

    the poll isn't about who beat who last year. it's about how good the teams will be this year. most people, other than auburn fans, are in agreement that auburn will not be as good this year as they were last year, and also that some of the teams they beat last year will be much better this year.

    but hey, even if they only go 8-3 or 7-5, they can still declare themselves champs and pay to have some fake rings made. the rest of us won't really mind.

  11. Matt said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 8:36 AM — 24.96.20.219 — link — abuse?



    Hey Dave Frey!! As far as your comments about Auburn and the fake rings, maybe if your parents instilled in you the value of family and pride in that family you'd understand the ring thing. But it's obvious that you have no idea about any of that. Auburn should have had a shot at the title last year, but since they didn't, there's no reason for Auburn, coach Tuberville or the Auburn fans to not recognize the championship season that their program did in fact have. Polls or no polls Auburn fans felt like champions and its players are treated as such, and always will be. So Dave, maybe you can get me your number and I'll set you up with Dr. Phil so you can hash out those underlying family issues.

  12. Fanblogs Author dave frey said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 8:54 AM — 206.124.221.226 — link — abuse?



    As far as your comments about Auburn and the fake rings, maybe if your parents instilled in you the value of family and pride in that family you'd understand the ring thing.
    Oh that's nice. Stooping to insulting someone's family and upbringing to make your petty points about college football. You're a class act, Matt. A real class act.

    I can only suppose that YOUR family taught you that it was acceptable to act that way?

  13. schmed said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 10:50 AM — 208.248.231.58 — link — abuse?



    Here's a bit of context for the AU self-coronation conversation.

    The Ole Miss Nagging Grannies™ (formerly Rebels) claim 3 national championships: 1959, 1960 and 1962, but at least they quote the organizations that crowned them:

    "Ole Miss won the 1959 Dunkel System national crown, the 1960 Football Writers Association of America, Dunkel System, and Williamson System national championships and the 1962 Litkenhous Ratings national title."

    At least SC had the AP to lend some legitimacy to their top team claim in aught-three. Who besides the vaunted Tuberville Sports Foundation named Auburn as their champ?

    Now, did AU get passed over in '04? - arguably so. They weren't the first and won't be the last. Did Tommy pick an classy way of handling it? - arguably not.

  14. Matt said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 9:57 PM — 65.35.133.170 — link — abuse?



    Dave Frey,

    The point is this. I see you making remarks like you did about how Auburn handled the whole national championship situation last year and all I can think to myself, is why in the world would someone really care what a coach had made for his players (the rings)? I mean, why is it such a big deal to you that Tuberville wanted to do something for his team, to show them how proud he felt of them? So what! Who cares if the polls and the BCS overlooked Auburn, if the Auburn community wants to treat their players like champions, why shouldn't they? Last year was their best season since '93, but even with the undefeated record then, they were on probation. And before that? The only "championship" came in the 50's! College football is STILL a game played by KIDS! Those kids played hard, and had a championship season, whether self proclaimed or not. All I can say is that at least the Auburn fans have enough passion for their team to recognize when something great was accomplished, which is alot more than I can say for most other schools.

  15. Fanblogs Author dave frey said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 10:34 PM — 206.124.221.226 — link — abuse?



    "why in the world would someone really care what a coach had made for his players (the rings)? I mean, why is it such a big deal to you that Tuberville wanted to do something for his team, to show them how proud he felt of them? So what!

    Earth to Matt: This is a website about COLLEGE FOOTBALL. The incident you're talking about is something that happened in the COLLEGE FOOTBALL world. It's not a site where we only say things Matt likes. Trust me, I checked.

    I have a hard time believing that you don't already realize that most college football fans think that while Auburn did get screwed last season, making championship rings when you didn't actually win the championship is one of the most comical and ridiculous things we've ever heard. Don't fault us for pointing it out and laughing about it; it was your own coach who brought this ridicule upon your program. And stop taking things so seriously. I mean Jeebis, dude, sports fans engage in good natured taunting all the time. It's fun until someone gets their panties all in a wad and starts flinging personal insults and attacking peoples' families. Lighten up.

  16. Fanblogs Author Kevin Donahue said:

    posted on August 11, 2005 10:42 PM — link — abuse?



    Auburn didn't get screwed last year. Everybody played under the same rules, so it was no more unfair for Auburn than it was for SMU. Auburn's downfall last year was it's puny schedule. If they hadn't cupcaked it, they may have garnered the few extra votes that kept them out of the Orange Bowl.

  17. dave frey said:

    posted on August 12, 2005 12:05 AM — 206.124.221.226 — link — abuse?



    Auburn didn't get screwed last year. Everybody played under the same rules, so it was no more unfair for Auburn than it was for SMU.

    i don't really follow your logic, kevin. the fact that everyone plays under an unfair system doesn't mean no one is getting screwed. by way of example, there are unfair tax laws on the books. we are all subject to the law, but only certain people actually end up getting screwed by them, because only certain peoples' circumstances trigger the law. just because everyone isn't getting screwed doesn't mean no one is. the fact is, we have a system under which you can have a perfect season in the toughest conference and not even have the chance to play for the title. In my book, that's called getting screwed.

    having said that, making championship rings when you didn't officially win the title is absurd, whether you got screwed or not.


  18. Fanblogs Author Kevin Donahue said:

    posted on August 12, 2005 8:03 AM — link — abuse?



    If Auburn got screwed, as some suggest, then it is of their own making. They created a weaker non-con schedule in full awareness of the effect it would have on their strength of schedule. They did so at a time when SOS was a measured BCS component. Hence my assertion that they willingly & knowingly screwed themselves.

    Even though it wasn't factored outright last year, it certainly impacted voters perceptions.

  19. VT OVER-RATED said:

    posted on August 15, 2005 11:53 PM — 24.125.35.43 — link — abuse?



    Of course VT gets ranked highly once again, and will probably have yet another EASY season (besides their Miami game). When will strength of season be given more weight?? Do they really believe Marcus is going to be anywhere near as good as Mike? C'mon, Marcus is now the spoiled QB (per his brother)...6-1 odds he crashes and burns before the season is over, he's already been in quite a few fiascos down in Blacksburg...

  20. Fanblogs Author Kevin Donahue said:

    posted on August 16, 2005 7:54 AM — link — abuse?



    I don't think VaTech is over-rated, per se. But you're right, Marcus Vick will never be Michael Vick.

    Marcus Vick is New Coke - all sizzle, no substance.

  21. Dal said:

    posted on September 2, 2005 11:28 PM — 64.12.116.139 — link — abuse?



    I think it's a little odd and illogical that Alabama is rated at #24. I'm an avid Alabama fan myself, and I don't really understand why we're rated that high. Brodie Croyle is back, but with his past record for injuries, I don't really expect him to last that long. Our defensive and offensive lines are supposed to be pretty good, but not stellar... I'm glad that the Coaches put such faith in Alabama, but I don't see how we merit a Top 25 ranking. Not without winning a few games first.

    Anyways. Thanks for boost in the ratings! (I know the AP Poll ranks us #26, don't understand that one either, I think we should be about #35.) See you at the game (MTSU) tomorrow~!

  22. gibbyman said:

    posted on September 4, 2005 11:31 PM — 152.163.100.139 — link — abuse?



    Tennessee Way over rated they are in the top ten but not #3 they should be 8 or 9 and georgia overlooked and underated yeah sure they lost a few stars but their backup are not for the most part unexperienced freshmen georgia should have been a top ten team