Oklahoma No. 1 in first USA Today poll
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Oklahoma, which returns star quarterback Landry Jones and receiver Ryan Broyles, has been voted preseason No. 1 in the first USA Today college football coaches’ poll.
The Sooners received 42 first-place votes from the coaches. Alabama is second, followed by Oregon, Louisiana State, Florida State, Stanford, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
The Southeastern Conference, which has won the last five Bowl Championship Series titles, leads all leagues with eight teams in the top 25. Auburn, the defending national champion, debuts at No. 19.
Oklahoma, which won the BCS title in 2000, has flirted with several other championships, losing the title games of 2003 and 2004. The Sooners’ win over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl last season snapped a five-game losing streak in BCS bowls.
The new Pac-12 has only two teams in the poll, both in the top 10. USC, because it is on NCAA probation, is prohibited from appearing in the coaches’ poll. The Associated Press poll, which will be released later this month, can include USC.
The USA Today poll is a component of the BCS standings formula that determines which teams will participate in the BCS title game, which will be played this year in New Orleans.
ALSO:
Fill out the calendar and dust off the couch for college football
Dillon Baxter sees opportunity to supplant Marc Tyler as USC’s main running back
-- Chris Dufresne
