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USC sets record in first coaches' poll
Trojans ahead of No. 2 Texas in largest first-place margin ever
SportsTicker
Updated: 1:15 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2005
McLEAN, Va. - When we last saw USC, it was steamrolling Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The Trojans did the same to Texas in the USA Today preseason college football poll.
The defending national champions received 60 of 62 first-place votes in the balloting of Division I coaches released Friday, just under a month before the start of the season. USC has the largest first-place margin in the poll's history.
Last season, USC completed a perfect 13-0 campaign with a 55-19 humiliation of previously unbeaten Oklahoma in the national championship game. Led by quarterback Matt Leinart and a potent offense, it has won or shared the championship in each of the last two seasons.
Leinart won the Heisman Trophy last year and decided to return for his senior season. Nearly all of the Trojans’ key offensive components are in place with the exception of innovative offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who left for the NFL.
The Trojans, who received 1,547 points, have won 33 of their last 34 games. They begin their season September 3 at Hawaii.
Texas (11-1) received the remaining first-place votes and 1,405 points. Last year, the Longhorns’ only loss was a 12-0 setback to nemesis Oklahoma. They capped their season with a thrilling 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Texas returns double-threat quarterback Vincent Young but will have to account for the departure of running back Cedric Benson to the NFL. It faces Oklahoma on October 8, looking to end a five-game losing streak in the “Red River Rivalry.”
Tennessee (10-3) is third with 1,259 points. The Volunteers return 14 starters and appear to be the class of the Southeastern Conference, college football’s toughest league.
BCS bowl game losers Michigan (9-3) and Oklahoma (12-1) round out the top five. The Wolverines should feel pressure from Big 10 foes Iowa and Ohio State, while the Sooners plan on force-feeding tailback and sophomore sensation Adrian Peterson.
The coaches’ poll has undergone some changes, with ESPN pulling its backing earlier this year. However, it will remain one of the components of the Bowl Championship Series Standings, which determine the teams playing in the four biggest bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, which will decide at least a portion of the national title on January 4, 2006.
The poll has just one school that is not a member of of one of the six BCS conferences - No. 19 Boise State, which plays in the Western Athletic Conference.
Completing the top 10 are LSU (9-3), the 2003 co-national champion which sees Les Miles replace Nick Saban as coach; Virginia Tech (10-3), which finally has Marcus Vick in place at quarterback; Miami (9-3), which is looking to stop a slight stumble backward since its last title in 2001; Ohio State (8-4); and Iowa (10-2).
Long-time rivals Florida (7-5) and Florida State (9-3) begin the second 10 and are followed by Georgia (10-2), new Big East Conference member Louisville (11-1), Auburn (13-0), Purdue (7-5), Texas A&M (7-5), Arizona State (9-3), Boise State (11-1) and California (10-2).
Texas Tech (8-4), new Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College (9-3), Virginia (8-4), Alabama (6-6) and Pittsburgh (8-4) complete the rankings. Purdue, Texas A&M, Alabama and Pittsburgh were not ranked at the end of last season.
The SEC has six ranked teams. The ACC has five while the Big 10 and Big 12 have four apiece. Led by USC the Pac-10 has three ranked teams and Big East has two.
TEXAS IS ONCE AGAIN OVERRATED!!!!
Trojans ahead of No. 2 Texas in largest first-place margin ever
SportsTicker
Updated: 1:15 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2005
McLEAN, Va. - When we last saw USC, it was steamrolling Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The Trojans did the same to Texas in the USA Today preseason college football poll.
The defending national champions received 60 of 62 first-place votes in the balloting of Division I coaches released Friday, just under a month before the start of the season. USC has the largest first-place margin in the poll's history.
Last season, USC completed a perfect 13-0 campaign with a 55-19 humiliation of previously unbeaten Oklahoma in the national championship game. Led by quarterback Matt Leinart and a potent offense, it has won or shared the championship in each of the last two seasons.
Leinart won the Heisman Trophy last year and decided to return for his senior season. Nearly all of the Trojans’ key offensive components are in place with the exception of innovative offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who left for the NFL.
The Trojans, who received 1,547 points, have won 33 of their last 34 games. They begin their season September 3 at Hawaii.
Texas (11-1) received the remaining first-place votes and 1,405 points. Last year, the Longhorns’ only loss was a 12-0 setback to nemesis Oklahoma. They capped their season with a thrilling 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Texas returns double-threat quarterback Vincent Young but will have to account for the departure of running back Cedric Benson to the NFL. It faces Oklahoma on October 8, looking to end a five-game losing streak in the “Red River Rivalry.”
Tennessee (10-3) is third with 1,259 points. The Volunteers return 14 starters and appear to be the class of the Southeastern Conference, college football’s toughest league.
BCS bowl game losers Michigan (9-3) and Oklahoma (12-1) round out the top five. The Wolverines should feel pressure from Big 10 foes Iowa and Ohio State, while the Sooners plan on force-feeding tailback and sophomore sensation Adrian Peterson.
The coaches’ poll has undergone some changes, with ESPN pulling its backing earlier this year. However, it will remain one of the components of the Bowl Championship Series Standings, which determine the teams playing in the four biggest bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, which will decide at least a portion of the national title on January 4, 2006.
The poll has just one school that is not a member of of one of the six BCS conferences - No. 19 Boise State, which plays in the Western Athletic Conference.
Completing the top 10 are LSU (9-3), the 2003 co-national champion which sees Les Miles replace Nick Saban as coach; Virginia Tech (10-3), which finally has Marcus Vick in place at quarterback; Miami (9-3), which is looking to stop a slight stumble backward since its last title in 2001; Ohio State (8-4); and Iowa (10-2).
Long-time rivals Florida (7-5) and Florida State (9-3) begin the second 10 and are followed by Georgia (10-2), new Big East Conference member Louisville (11-1), Auburn (13-0), Purdue (7-5), Texas A&M (7-5), Arizona State (9-3), Boise State (11-1) and California (10-2).
Texas Tech (8-4), new Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College (9-3), Virginia (8-4), Alabama (6-6) and Pittsburgh (8-4) complete the rankings. Purdue, Texas A&M, Alabama and Pittsburgh were not ranked at the end of last season.
The SEC has six ranked teams. The ACC has five while the Big 10 and Big 12 have four apiece. Led by USC the Pac-10 has three ranked teams and Big East has two.
TEXAS IS ONCE AGAIN OVERRATED!!!!