[candlejack]

There teams in the PAC-10 are in the top 25. USC ranked third, Cal coming in 12th, and Oregon is 20th. Four others had received votes, Arizona State, Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon State. Can the PAC-10 make a bigger impact on the coaches poll, possibly getting five teams rankes in the top 25?

[rmjvol]

Can the PAC-10 make a bigger impact on the coaches poll, possibly getting five teams rankes in the top 25?

Not a chance. I think the SEC will make a big run and maybe end up with 7 in the top 25 by the end of the year.

Here's the full list Top 25 USAToday Coaches Poll. Shows team name, 1st place votes are in parantheses, current record, points.

1. Ohio State (28) 0-0 1,487
2. Texas (11) 0-0 1,378
3. USC (1) 0-0 1,348
3. Notre Dame (9) 0-0 1,348
5. Oklahoma (13) 0-0 1,320
6. Auburn (1) 0-0 1,206
7. West Virginia 0-0 1,202
8. Florida 0-0 1,054
9. LSU 0-0 1,037
10. Florida State 0-0 874
11. Miami (FL) 0-0 839
12. California 0-0 798
13. Louisville 0-0 785
14. Georgia 0-0 784
15. Michigan 0-0 778
16. Virginia Tech 0-0 591
17. Iowa 0-0 519
18. Clemson 0-0 493
19. Penn State 0-0 406
20. Oregon 0-0 373
21. TCU 0-0 270
22. Nebraska 0-0 261
23. Tennessee 0-0 216
24. Alabama 0-0 210
25. Texas Tech 0-0 198

With only 1 1st place vote, it looks like almost nobody expects USC to win it all but everybody expects them to come close.

Any other surprises in here for you guys?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I like to look at it as a "State" thing...and its all about Florida...

[Lefty Noob]

Louisville and Virginia Tech are a bit higher than I expected, and Iowa is a bit too low for my tastes. Do Clemson, TCU and Texas Tech deserve their places in the top 25?

[candlejack]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Louisville and Virginia Tech are a bit higher than I expected, and Iowa is a bit too low for my tastes. Do Clemson, TCU and Texas Tech deserve their places in the top 25?

I have to admit I am a bit narrow minded when it comes to college football. I like who I like and all others be darned. I might have to do some research to get a little more broad-minded when it comes to college sports.

[cjg11582]

In my unbiased assessment, 6-9 & 11 should all be in front of 3-5 (with a couple of exceptions for Notre Dame). I was surprised too see USC and Oklahoma that high.
Then again, if USC's incoming starters are as good as expected, someone better knock them off early, because they will certainly be very formidable oppostion towards the end of the season.

[desertrat]

Look for the Huskers to take down USC on September 16th. Huskers have been aiming at this game for a few years now and have several highly rated recruits from the LA area on the team. This should be a great game.

[candlejack]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Look for the Huskers to take down USC on September 16th. Huskers have been aiming at this game for a few years now and have several highly rated recruits from the LA area on the team. This should be a great game.

I will be paying attention to that game with interest. Anything to knock down the Trojans a peg or two.

[Doctor Know]

Why is Penn Stat so low in this poll? Do people believe 11-1 last year was a fluke? I thought they would get a top 10 raking at the beginning of the season. Joe Pa gets no respect.

[Lefty Noob]

Probably because of the loss of Michael Robinson and Tamba Hali, for starters. I love JoePa and hope that the Nittany Lions do well this season, but you've got to admit that they lost a lot of talent. If I'm not mistaken, I believe they also have four new starters on the offensive line. I can understand why the pollsters my be skeptical of a repeat of 2005.

[Burlington Bears]

I think that the Pac-10 will take somewhat of a step back this year simply because USC will not have the prestige and national attention that it did last year and UCLA will not be as good as it was last year at the beginning of the season. It will be a fun league to follow though because it will be very competitive between Cal, USC, Oregon and even ASU. I also look for Arizona to be one of the big surprises of the season at least at the beginning. Their sophmore QB Tuitama is phenomenal. I think that the SEC will probably be the best conference this year with schools like Alabama, Auburn LSU and Florida figuring to be very good.

[desertrat]

Keep an eye on the Arizona-LSU game the 2nd week of the season. This will give everyone an idea of just how far Mike Stoops has brought the Wildcats and how far they may still need to go. And don't forget, they play USC after that.

[Burlington Bears]

I think that USC is a little bit overrated this year. They have the talent to be a top team but we really just don't know what we are going to get out of them. Both their QB's and their RB's are inexperienced and they could very easily stumble right out of the gate. Stafon johnson, John David Booty and Mark Sanchez are all very talented but they have all played about as much as I have in college football. Admittedly though, I don't know who USC plays at the beginning of the season except for Nebraska which could be a tough game.

[candlejack]

I've been watching ESPN lately about their predictions for the season and they have Ohio St. and USC in the title game. What's up with that? 95% of their offense from last year is gone and noone that I have even heard of, much less seen is going to do anything down there. I'm talking about USC.

[Burlington Bears]

Originally Posted by Doctor Know

Why is Penn Stat so low in this poll? Do people believe 11-1 last year was a fluke? I thought they would get a top 10 raking at the beginning of the season. Joe Pa gets no respect.

They lost a lot of guys on to graduation and the draft, most notably is Michael Robinson. I don't think that anyone doubts Joe Paterno at all, they just don't have a heisman candidate like Robinson anymore.