2011 Preseason College Football Rankings
ALL NEW: Be sure to go see our 2012 preseason college football rankings!
***UPDATED: The USA Today Coaches Poll was released 8/3/11 and is included below. The AP Poll was released 8/20/11 and is included below.***
USA Today Poll
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Florida State
6. Stanford
7. Boise State
8. Oklahoma State
9. Texas A&M
10. Wisconsin
11. Nebraska
12. South Carolina
13. Virginia Tech
14. Arkansas
15. TCU
16. Ohio State
17. Michigan State
18. Notre Dame
19. Auburn
20. Mississippi State
21. Missouri
22. Georgia
23. Florida
24. Texas
25. Penn State
Others receiving votes: Arizona State; West Virginia; Utah; Miami (Fla.); Iowa; Northwestern; Arizona; Central Florida; Michigan; Air Force; North Carolina; Houston; South Florida; Hawaii; Clemson; Tennessee; Southern Miss; Brigham Young; North Carolina State; Northern Illinois; Oregon State; Pittsburgh; Washington; Georgia Tech; Nevada
AP Poll
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Florida State
7. Stanford
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma State
10. Nebraska
11. Wisconsin
12. South Carolina
13. Virginia Tech
14. TCU
15. Arkansas
16. Notre Dame
17. Michigan State
18. Ohio State
19. Georgia
20. Mississippi State
21. Missouri
22. Florida
23. Auburn
24. West Virginia
25. USC
Others receiving votes: Texas 114, Penn State 75, Arizona State 67, Miami (FL) 32, Utah 25, Southern Miss 20, Iowa 19, Brigham Young 15, North Carolina State 15, Air Force 14, Houston 13, Pittsburgh 9, Michigan 7, Tennessee 5, UCF 5, Northern Illinois 4, Hawaii 4, Tulsa 3, Arizona 2, Maryland 2, Nevada 1, Northwestern 1, Washington 1
The 2010 college football season is now behind us, so we can look forward to the 2011 preseason college football rankings which will be officially released in August. The actual preseason rankings from the AP and USA Today may not be released until August, but plenty of people have given their thoughts as to what those rankings should be. As we did with the 2010 preseason rankings and with the 2009 preseason rankings, we’re going to compile as many 2011 college football preseason rankings as we can find and give you a very accurate look at what the official rankings will look like this year.
I was able to locate 12 different reputable blogs and other websites who posted their projections of the 2011 preseason rankings. I have included my own version of what I think they should be as well. Some did not have a full top 25. In the case of those with just 10, then 1-10 points were awarded. For those with a top 20, only 1-20 points were awarded. This kept things balanced and all that. I’m not posting all 12 as that would take me too long, so I’m only showing the compilation of them.
Here is a great look at what the college football 2011 preseason rankings are going to look like:
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Stanford
6. Oklahoma State
7. Boise State
8. Ohio State
9. Texas A&M
10. Florida State
11. Wisconsin
12. Arkansas
13. Michigan State
14. Auburn
15. South Carolina
16. Nebraska
17. TCU
18. Notre Dame
19. Missouri
20. Mississippi State
21. Virginia Tech
22. Georgia
23. Arizona State
24. Florida
25. Penn State
Others receiving votes: West Virginia, Texas, Michigan, UCF, Uconn, Tulsa, Miami (FL), North Carolina State, BYU, Northwestern and Hawaii
Now I know recruiting isn’t over and all that and some of these came out before draft declarations were made. I get that. This may change a big. But based on a big consensus, there are a few things we can say with utmost certainty:
1. The preseason top 5 will definitely be Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon, LSU and Stanford, most likely in that order.
2. We know that rankings 6-16 will very likely be Oklahoma State, Boise State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Florida State in some order at the top, and Wisconsin, Arkansas, Michigan State, Auburn, South Carolina and Nebraska will make up the bottom portion of those rankings.
3. TCU, Notre Dame, Missouri, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech will be in the 17-21 range.
4. The 22-25 spots will be pretty much up for grabs, with the most likely teams being Georgia, Arizona State, Florida and Penn State.
So what is my initial take on this set of projected 2011 preseason rankings? I see a few key takeaways. First, let’s compare last seasons AP preseason rankings with the final AP rankings:
Preseason 2010 Rankings
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. TCU
7. Oklahoma
8. Nebraska
9. Iowa
10. Virginia Tech
11. Oregon
12. Wisconsin
13. Miami (FL)
14. USC
15. Pitt
16. Georgia Tech
17. Arkansas
18. North Carolina
19. Penn State
20. Florida State
21. LSU
22. Auburn
23. Georgia
24. Oregon State
25. West Virginia
Final 2010 Rankings
1. Auburn
2. TCU
3. Oregon
4. Stanford
5. Ohio State
6. Oklahoma
7. Wisconsin
8. LSU
9. Boise State
10. Alabama
11. Nevada
12. Arkansas
13. Oklahoma State
14. Michigan State
15. Mississippi State
16. Virginia Tech
17. Florida State
18. Missouri
19. Texas A&M
20. Nebraska
21. UCF
22. South Carolina
23. Maryland
24. Tulsa
25. North Carolina State
Why post these you ask? Well, the AP ranked Texas, Florida and Iowa in the preseason top 10 and none of them ended up in the final top 25. When you look at the rest of the preseason top 25, you have several who didn’t end the season ranked: Miami, USC, Pitt, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Penn State, Georgia, Oregon State and West Virginia. That makes 12, or half, of the preseason top 25 who didn’t even end the season ranked at all. Pretty pathetic track record.
So looking at the projected 2011 preseason rankings now, who doesn’t belong? First, Stanford will be ranked way too high. They lost their coach, a darn good coach, to the NFL. Andrew Luck will stick around, but this isn’t the same team without Jim Harbaugh. I think they will finish the season outside the top 10 but will start the season inside the top 10.
The big bust this year will be Texas A&M. Preseason top 10? Good grief. What have they done to earn that? They went 9-4 last year and looked bad against LSU in the Cotton Bowl. You’re probably looking at another 3-4 loss season, not anything worthy of a top 10 ranking.
Auburn is ranked highly only because Newton and Fairley hadn’t declared for the draft yet. I imagine they will be lower on this list and rightfully so.
South Carolina? Really? When will voters learn- this team sucks! They always have and they always will! South Carolina under Steve Spurrier has been the epitome of mediocrity. They can consistently finish about .500 in conference play. They will do the same this year.
Missouri ranked? Maybe news hadn’t broke yet that Blaine Gabbert won’t be around. These guys now have to play the whole Big XII, or what is left of it. That’s guaranteed losses to OU, Oklahoma State, Texas and maybe even Texas A&M. Not going to be a good year in Missouri.
Seriously, Georgia? They just had a losing season! Then to top it off they lost their best player! This is a big time fail on the part of the preseason voters, or will be if Georgia is in the top 25.
Probably the most intriguing team here is going to be Notre Dame. Are they back? And how will Michigan do with their new coach? These two will get preseason votes for sure, the question is, will either live up to any of the hype? It’s going to be interesting.
What do you think about the preseason college football rankings for 2011? Do you agree or disagree with these projections?
Comments
Do you have any clue what you are talking about? University of South Carolina sucks? Did you watch them play last year. Granted they lost a couple of games they should have won, but they program has been rebuilding since the Brad Scott era and Lou Holtz didnt do the program any favors. Carolina got the #1 prospect in the nation and won the SEC east. I am sure they were deff. a top 25 team last year and will possibly be a top 10 this year. Spurrier has had little tallent to build a team with and in a power house packed SEC unless you have an established team coming in it will take a coach even of Spurrier’s reputaion and caliber years to build a contender. You will eat those words at the end of the season. Simply a prediction, but I will bookmark this link so I can see you suck it up and be a man and tell everyone that reads this crap that you spew out of your mouth that you have no clue what you are talking about and you are sorry for attempting to mislead them.
I feel that Ohio State will be the Texas of last year and the Auburn will be in the same boat with them. Both of them are going to be in the rebuilding year. I believe that the Alabama vs LSU game will be the deciding factor of who wins the SEC west. The likely winner will represent the West in the SEC Championship if they win that game then I feel there might be a 3 way tie with Ok and Oregon and the SEC west winner. So who plays for the title if all three are undefeated?
As a matter of fact I just updated my preseason poll for the last time before the start of the season. I can smell football in the air and I have the grill ready and can’t wait to put the beer on ice.
Chris Pemberton
mycollegefootballpoll.blogspot.com
I think for the most part your poll/composite or whatever everyone is calling it. Is pretty much in touch with most of America. I agree with you on Notre Dame as well. They have the schedule in their favor to run the table, only real tests I see for the Irish are Stanford and Michigan State which I think is a team not getting any love because of the Capitol One bowl loss to Alabama. Remember about 15 years ago Nebraska blew Florida off the field, how did the Gators respond the next season? By winning the National Title. My poll is very similar to yours, I dig the site!
WHY DOES NOTRE DAME GET SO MUCH CREDIT! i mean an 8-5 season last year isnt good enough to be in the top 25.. they have been ranked the past 3 years and have not finished in the top 25. they suck………iowa should be ranked at least 20th
Oklahoma is just a phony. they will play a soft schedule and struggle with that and get blown out if they play a real team in a bowl game. The victory over Uconn doesn’t count as anything positive. I’ve got nothing against the sooners but what did they do last year to deserve a no.1? I watched Cincinnati give them all they could handle and if not for a late turnover they would have lost that game. They are totally over rated.
oh, I just saw the date you posted this (Jan) so I see why you still had Ohio State in your top 10. Overall though, the rankings are still pretty accurate
I am feeling these rankings. The only beef I have with your top 10 is Ohio State. You think they should still be in the top 10? With loosing Pryor and Coach Tressel, among others for the first 5 games, I just think Ohio State will be in disarray for much of the season. I created my own “Top 25″ rankings on my blog and put Ohio State at #18. Maybe a little low but I don’t see much happening at Ohio State this year. Anyways, love the site, good job.
Dan Fulton
bumpandrunblog.com
GEAUX TIGERS!!! It’s gonna be LSU vs. S. Carolina for the SEC championship and LSU will go to the BCS. The SEC is the best conference, has the best coaches, the best recruiting classes. ‘BAMA also has a chance at representing the SEC in the BCS. Nick Saban is probably the best college coach out there, followed by Les Miles. However, I don’t see ‘BAMA being able to win the SEC West. And, it’s NOT gonna be the RAZORBACKS. However, whichever SEC team goes to the BCS, it’s gonna win. GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Nebraska and either LSU or Oklahoma in national championship. No doubt about it. Huskers will run through the big ten which will without a doubt get them a spot in title game. If not someone is gettin greased. After that its gonna be Oklahoma which will run thew big 12. LSU could lose a game just by having an off week in that conference, same with the conference play of the pac 10 that will cost oregon their shot. Look out for Taylor Martinez and the Huskers return to dominance
Ok! Look everybody knows the sec is the best conference in the country! We have won the last five national championships and could possibly win a 6 but don’t know who it will be? South Carolina should win the east and I believe if Arkansas can win either road game (Alabama) (lsu) then they would win the west and have a good chance at facing Oklahoma in the national championship! So excited to see what happens! Tyler Wilson will become a star bc of the great athletes he will have to work with!!! Woooo pig sooooiiieee!!!!! Go hogs let’s take another step towards that national championship!!!
WTF? I mean like, huh, are you serious? What sort of composite, preseason poll is this? LOL Is this sort of like when my Aunt Connie tried copying the KFC chicken recipe and swore she knew all of the Colonel’s secret spices – even though when she was done her chicken tasted like dog butt might taste? This poll is a joke, a laugher. No, wait, it’s worse, it’s an embarrassment; A pathetic excuse for even a lowly unknown blog post. If anything “sucks” it is this so-called “poll.”
Bama should be like number 9 in the rankings instead of number 2. they lost their quarterback, they lost Mark Ingram, and Julio Jones. They basically lost their whole team and last year they finished 10th. They should NOT be ranked number 2
SEC = steroids, edjimacation, and cheating. The only reason Auburn won the national championship is because the refs were bought off by your dumb asses. Cliff Harris should have had that extra interception that was reviewed and dismissed. Things are starting to equalize financially and the time will come when you bastards won’t be able to buy off championships.
The University of South Carolina will have the best year since Joe Morrison was coach. All doubters will see a revelation this year as the Gamecocks dominate all opposition, S.E.C. or not. Get ready to watch your teams crumble to the mightiest program in the country in 2011.
All you oklahoma and oregon fans are stupid L.S.U is and always wii be better then both of u over rated schools who choke in tha big game like women do on my jock the only thing u guys could win would be tha toilet bowl u suck. GEAUX TIGERS
Nice job Sloppy Joe on your preseason top 25, mine is a little different,but thats the great thing about college football fans. We all think we have the answers. Check out my thoughts at mycollegefootballpoll.blogspot.com
I love the way these Oregon fans keep thinking they are going to run all over everyone. Personally, I feel like LSU is going to show the Ducks a trick or two so to Mr. Oregon up there who thinks Oregon is going to shut the SEC up, better stop smoking that stuff you are on as it has you delusional as all get out. Nobody will be running over LSU this year. They may lose a game or two, but if they do, it will be by a much better team than Oregon!
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@USCyouKNOW,
Sloppy Joe is not clueless … he’s just being realistic.
I’m the staunchest defender of the Gamecocks on this here panel, but you have to admit that it’s almost like they’re cursed … going undefeated isn’t possible because of that ‘wild-card’ factor that always seems to accompany them, inevitably working in the favor of the opposition during some game(s) of the season.
This is also the same reason I love rooting for them … they have some of the most random mishaps and screw-ups, yet you want to see them pull off the miracle every time!
Of course, you can do your best to try to analyze and dissect everything, but college football is all about the drama and the unexpected … if instead it were so rigid and measured, then none of us would freakin’ care as much about it and would go piss away our lives watching baseball or some other worthlessness akin to rotting roadkill on the freeway …