AP Poll Far Higher On UCLA Bruins Than Coaches Poll
By Ty Duffy
The AP’s preseason college football poll has been released. Here are a few thoughts.
The Poll is mostly in keeping with the USA Today Coaches Poll. The biggest difference was UCLA. Media members had the Bruins significantly higher (No. 16) than the coaches (No. 24). Media were also four spots higher on Washington (No. 14) and Louisville (No. 19). Coaches were more bullish on USC, Oklahoma State, and Baylor.
Media members had a wider distribution of first place votes. Coaches gave 55 1st place votes to Alabama, seven to Clemson, and one outlier to Tennessee. Alabama led the way with 33 1st place votes in the AP Poll. Clemson was second with 16. Oklahoma (4) and Florida State (5) received multiple votes. LSU, Ohio State, and Michigan each received one 1st place vote.
Oregon may be the most underrated team in the coaches poll. Media members were even more down on them, picking them (No. 24) vs. (No. 22).