Penn State #8 in Coaches’ Poll
Penn State chimes in at number eight, slighting higher than I personally expected. What I did expect was that Florida would be the top team. the defending national champions ran away with the first place votes, receiving 53. So are the Gators set up for a second straight title run like their basketball team did a few years ago, or are they really just set up for disaster?
The Gators will clearly have a target on their uniforms all season long and getting through the SEC unblemished will be difficult. Looking at the poll it seems that the Texas-Oklahoma game could possibly be a #1-vs-#2 match-up as both teams are ranked behind Florida.
USC is being given a shot at the national championship game as well, being ranked fourth in the opening poll with one first place vote that likely came from their own coach (just a guess). Then there is the Big Ten.
Critics can like it or not but the Ohio State-Penn State game on November 7 could have an outside shot at being another #1-vs-#2 match-up. If the Buckeyes beat USC at home and Penn State dodges some bullets against Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern then both teams may enter their meeting undefeated. If the right teams lose along the way to November it is not out of the question to think the two top teams in the Big Ten could be the top ranked squads in the nation, right?
Iowa (21) is the only other top 25 team. Notre Dame (23) somehow makes the top 25 as well. The BCS busters of Boise State (16), TCU (17) and Utah (18) are clumped together. BYU (24) is in striking distance.
The SEC has four teams in the top ten and five teams in the top 25. The Big XII has two top three teams and four top 25 teams. The PAC 10 has four top 25 teams. The Big East has zero teams in the top 25. Ouch.
USA Today Coaches’ Poll
1. Florida (53)
2. Texas (4)
3. Oklahoma (1)
4. USC (1)
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Penn State
9. LSU
10. Mississippi
11. Oklahoma State
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Oregon
15. Georgia Tech
16. Boise State
17. TCU
18. Utah
19. Florida State
20. North Carolina
21. Iowa
22. Nebraska
23. Notre Dame
24. Bringham Young
25. Oregon State
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Kevin 