Buckeyes: #1

[dabvu2498]

USA Today coaches' poll released today: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...l/usatpoll.htm


Rank Team (first-place votes) Record Points Final 2005 rank
1. Ohio State (28) 10-2 1,487 4
2. Texas (11) 13-0 1,378 1
3. (tie) Notre Dame (9) 9-3 1,348 11
3. (tie) Southern California (1) 12-1 1,348 2
5. Oklahoma (13) 8-4 1,320 22
6. Auburn (1) 9-3 1,206 14
7. West Virginia 11-1 1,202 6
8. Florida 9-3 1,054 16
9. LSU 11-2 1,037 5
10. Florida State 8-5 874 23
11. Miami (Fla.) 9-3 839 18
12. California 8-4 798 25
13. Louisville 9-3 785 20
14. Georgia 10-3 784 10
15. Michigan 7-5 778 NR
16. Virginia Tech 11-2 591 7
17. Iowa 7-5 519 NR
18. Clemson 8-4 493 21
19. Penn State 11-1 406 3
20. Oregon 10-2 373 12
21. TCU 11-1 270 9
22. Nebraska 8-4 261 24
23. Tennessee 5-6 216 NR
24. Alabama 10-2 210 8
25. Texas Tech 9-3 198 19


Others receiving votes

Arizona State (7-5) 182; Boston College (9-3) 87; Utah (7-5) 84; Arkansas (4-7) 64; South Carolina (7-5) 55; Boise State (9-4) 46; Wisconsin (10-3) 37; UCLA (10-2) 29; Georgia Tech (7-5) 28; Fresno State (8-5) 14; Tulsa (9-4) 11; Iowa State (7-5) 9; Minnesota (7-5) 9; Maryland (5-6) 8; Purdue (5-6) 7; Texas A&M (5-6) 6; Memphis (7-5) 5; Nevada (9-3) 3; Texas-El Paso (8-4) 3; Arizona (3-8) 2; Brigham Young (6-6) 2; Northern Illinois (7-5) 2; Northwestern (7-5) 2; Oregon State (5-6) 2; Rutgers (7-5) 2; Colorado (7-6) 1; Duke (1-10) 1.

[GAC]

OSU took some pretty big hits on defense, while returning alot on the offensive side. It's all gonna depend on how Tressel can fill those defensive holes (which he relays heavily on IMO).

[Heath]

second week of the season brings one and two.

Preseason Polls are highly overrated. Highly is the key word.

[dabvu2498]

second week of the season brings one and two.

Preseason Polls are highly overrated. Highly is the key word.

The fact that Duke got a vote shows that.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that whoever wins the Auburn-LSU game will play in the national championship game.

[Unassisted]

How long has it been since a preseason #1 ended a season ranked #1? Tressel might as well just go ahead and replace the numbers on the backs of the jerseys with a target.

[ochre]

2 years ago?

[StillFunkyB]

OSU took some pretty big hits on defense, while returning alot on the offensive side. It's all gonna depend on how Tressel can fill those defensive holes (which he relays heavily on IMO).

HUGE HITS.

Hopefully someone will step up this year on the defensive side. I don't think anyone questions the ability of this offense. It's insane, and add in Chris Wells. If he is what they say he is than good grief, it's gonna be fun to watch.

[BuckWoody]

Oklahoma at #5...I wonder how many votes were in before they kicked their starting QB and a starting OL off the team?

#1 vs. #2 on September 9 in Austin...I bet that one won't get much hype.

[Unassisted]

2 years ago?

But not many times other than that.

[Caseyfan21]

I personally think OSU is a little overrated this year. I think voters see the entire offense coming back and think Ted Ginn and Troy Smith will score so many points the D won't matter. They seem to forget this is the Big 10 and no one really ever has that great of an offense. I think if we can beat Texas in Austin we should talk about a #1 ranking...until then OSU (especially the defense) is very overrated.

[Oxilon]

West Viriginia should be higher. Patrick White and Steve Slaton are going to be a very impressive combo. Hell, considering their only real concern on their schedule is Louisville, they might as well punch their tickets to the Fiesta Bowl this year.

[GAC]

HUGE HITS.

Hopefully someone will step up this year on the defensive side. I don't think anyone questions the ability of this offense. It's insane, and add in Chris Wells. If he is what they say he is than good grief, it's gonna be fun to watch.

What is the name of that young MLBer they have who is highly regarded?

They did scout/sign some solid defensive kids. We'll see.

[MWM]

I just don't see it. I think they'll be good, but that defense is going to be decent, but not good enough to be #1.

My other biggest concern is Tressel. Will he let the offense play?

[Johnny Footstool]

Duke.

[LoganBuck]

Ross Homan may bring comparisons to AJ Hawk very quickly.

I don't really worry about the front seven, I think they will be fine. I worry about the defensive secondary. They lost a heckuva lot of talent back there. The youngsters will have to grow up quick.

If they beat Texas, I think the next toughest game will be in Iowa. Iowa slaughtered OSU there two years ago. OSU dismantled Iowa last year. I don't see Michigan or Penn State coming into the Shoe and winning this year.