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- 10 months ago
- Update
- 2 comments
2012 College Football Rankings: Alabama, LSU Top Composite Top 25
If you hear both LSU and USC being referred to as "preseason No. 1" this year, just know that both are correct. According to the numbers below, Alabama can also claim a preseason national title. It's among the murkiest Top 25 pictures in recent memory, with teams as far down as Michigan and Oklahoma earning No. 1 votes in major polls.
Confusion and discord! Time for a look at the wisdom of a crowd of crowds. Included in the composite Top 25 below are the Coaches' and AP polls, Football Outsiders' projected F/+ rankings, the SI.com Top 25*, and our own SB Nation Studios Top 25 Countdown. Yet to be included: the final preseason BlogPoll, which will go up next week.
As you can see, USC, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Florida are among the most controversial teams, while everyone pretty much agrees on where to slot Oregon, Oklahoma, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boise State. Your thoughts?
* Some consensus top 25 teams weren't included in SI's, which only went to 25. I added a No. 26 ranking in that column for teams that would've otherwise finished with averages better than 25. This dinged their overall scores somewhat, in order to reflect their omission from SI.
While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation’s YouTube channel:
- 10 months ago
- Update
- 10 comments
College Football Rankings 2012: AP Top 25 Led By USC
Members of the Associated Press voted USC No. 1 in the 2012 preseason AP Top 25 poll.
The Trojans received 25 of the 60 first place votes in the poll to secure the top spot. Lane Kiffin's squad was ranked third in the USA Today Coaches' poll.
Alabama and LSU are ranked second and third, respectively. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide garnered 17 first place votes, while LSU picked up 16 -- despite Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal from the team.
Oklahoma and Michigan each received a first place vote.
| RANK | TEAM | 2011 RECORD | POINTS | PV |
| 1 | Southern Cal (25) | 10-2 | 1,445 | 6 |
| 2 | Alabama (17) | 12-1 | 1,411 | 1 |
| 3 | LSU (16) | 13-1 | 1,402 | 2 |
| 4 | Oklahoma (1) | 10-3 | 1,286 | 16 |
| 5 | Oregon | 12-2 | 1,274 | 4 |
| 6 | Georgia | 10-4 | 1,107 | 19 |
| 7 | Florida St. | 9-4 | 1,093 | 23 |
| 8 | Michigan (1) | 11-2 | 1,000 | 12 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 11-2 | 994 | 9 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 11-2 | 963 | 5 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 10-3 | 856 | 17 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 11-3 | 838 | 10 |
| 13 | Michigan St. | 11-3 | 742 | 11 |
| 14 | Clemson | 10-4 | 615 | 22 |
| 15 | Texas | 8-5 | 569 | NR |
| 16 | Virginia Tech | 11-3 | 548 | 21 |
| 17 | Nebraska | 9-4 | 485 | 24 |
| 18 | Ohio St. | 6-7 | 474 | NR |
| 19 | Oklahoma St. | 12-1 | 430 | 3 |
| 20 | TCU | 11-2 | 397 | 14 |
| 21 | Stanford | 11-2 | 383 | 7 |
| 22 | Kansas St. | 10-3 | 300 | 15 |
| 23 | Florida | 7-6 | 214 | NR |
| 24 | Boise St. | 12-1 | 212 | 8 |
| 25 | Louisville | 7-6 | 105 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Notre Dame 83, Washington 55, Auburn 53, North Carolina 32, Utah 30, Georgia Tech 25, BYU 22, Tennessee 15, South Florida 11, Baylor 9, Texas A&M 5, UCF 4, Cincinnati 3, Missouri 3, N.C. State 3, Houston 1, Louisiana Tech 1, Mississippi St. 1, N. Illinois 1.
College football season officially gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 30.
Update: Curious about those Michigan and Oklahoma first-place votes? Ralph Russo explains:
Since many are asking and the votes are public: Bob Asmussen of the Champaign (IL) News-Gazette voted Michigan No. 1.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) August 18, 2012
Kyle Meinke of AnnArbor.com gave Oklahoma its lone No. 1 vote.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) August 18, 2012
For the latest on all things college football, be sure to check out SB Nation's college football hub.
