USC No. 3 in preseason AP Poll

August 16th, 2008, 10:43 am · 2 Comments · posted by Michael Lev, staff writer

USC is No. 3 in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, for whatever that’s worth — and unless the AP poll sways voters who contribute to the BCS rankings, it isn’t worth much.

The AP poll is not part of the BCS computations, which determine the participants in the “national championship game,” i.e., the BCS title game.

USC could finish the season atop the AP poll without even being part of that game, an outcome that wouldn’t be unprecedented.

USC’s No. 3 ranking from the writers is one off its spot in the USA Today coaches’ poll. The AP swapped USC with Ohio State, which, as we all know, pays a visit to the Coliseum on Sept. 13.

Georgia is No. 1 in both polls, despite several recent off-the-field incidents and on-the-field injuries.

Only two other Pac-10 teams made the AP Top 25: Arizona State at No. 15 and Oregon at No. 21.

Cal is 27th. UCLA, Oregon State and Washington also received a smattering of votes. The fact that the Bruins got more than the Beavers and the Huskies got any at all just goes to show what the writers know. (FYI: I didn’t vote in the AP Poll.)

USC has finished in the AP’s top four six years in a row.

Here’s the rundown of the 2008 preseason Top 25 (with first-place votes in parentheses):

Georgia (22)
Ohio State (21)
USC (12)
Oklahoma (4)
Florida (6)
Missouri
LSU
West Virginia
Clemson
Auburn
Texas
Texas Tech
Wisconsin
Kansas
Arizona State
Brigham Young
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
South Florida
Illinois
Oregon
Penn State
Wake Forest
Alabama
Pittsburgh

Reader comments: We want this to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We expect people to differ -- judgment and opinion are subjective -- and we encourage free speech and the exchange of ideas. But you are participating in a community that is intended for all of our users and we prohibit profanity, vulgarity, racial, sexual and homophobic remarks, threats, harassment and personal attacks. Here's the full User Agreement. Thank you for making this a safe place worth preserving and sharing. Share this: The icons below make it easy to share this post with others. First icon e-mails a link.

Posted in: Football • Football polls/rankings |

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

2 Comments

Doug says:

August 16, 2008 at 11:23 am

Here is a big FYI to many outside of USC - Pete Carroll declined to be a voter in the Coach’s Poll. When approached to vote he declined and stated that his team’s play on the field should speak for itself. He further stated that by playing a coast to coast schedule, not avoiding any strong team, any challenge, would satisfy the requirements to play in the BCS Championship game.

Ohio State has proven the above to be wrong the last two years by their weak conference games and by the scheduling of the smaller schools in Ohio. LSU attempts to play as many home games as possible - with a pathetic out of conference schedule.

Nick says:

August 17, 2008 at 8:13 pm

While it’s always nice to see USC atop the polls, I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference after week three. Whoever wins the USC/Ohio matchup is going to jump Georgia for the top slot. Having SC in third might give them a little chip on the shoulder. Also, I think it’s valid to claim they’ll have something to prove before being allowed at the top of the rankings. Should be great to watch!