USC is #1 in Preseason AP Poll

NEW YORK (WCBI/AP) — Southern California is No. 1 in the AP Top 25, tossing off the weight of NCAA sanctions and returning to a familiar place in the rankings — with a boost from LSU’s problems.

USC earned the top spot in The Associated Press’ preseason college football poll for the seventh time in school history and the first time in five seasons, edging out No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 LSU.

The Trojans, who were banned from postseason play the past two seasons, received 25 of a possible 60 first-place votes from a media panel in a close vote. USC received 1,445 points. Defending national champion Alabama had 17 first-place votes and 1,411 points while LSU, the Crimson Tide’s SEC rival, got 16 first-place votes and 1,402 points.

Oklahoma was fourth with a single first-place vote and Oregon was fifth. Michigan, at No. 8, received the only other first-place vote.

The Tigers were poised to start the season No. 1 before Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu got kicked off the team a week ago.

In light of that development, the AP extended the voting deadline. Before Mathieu was dismissed, reportedly for failed drug tests, LSU had received 28 of a possible 60 first-place votes. USC was a close second with 22 first-place votes and Alabama was third with nine.

The USA Today coaches’ poll, which was released Aug. 2, had LSU at No. 1, followed by Alabama and USC.

Rounding out the top 10 in the AP rankings, Georgia was No. 6, followed by Florida State and Michigan. No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas give the Southeastern Conference half of the first 10 teams.

RK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS

1 USC (25) 0-0 1445 6

2 Alabama (17) 0-0 1411 1

3 LSU (16) 0-0 1402 2

4 Oklahoma (1) 0-0 1286 16

5 Oregon 0-0 1274 4

6 Georgia 0-0 1107 19

7 Florida State 0-0 1093 23

8 Michigan (1) 0-0 1000 12

9 South Carolina 0-0 994 9

10 Arkansas 0-0 963 5

11 West Virginia 0-0 856 17

12 Wisconsin 0-0 838 10

13 Michigan State 0-0 742 11

14 Clemson 0-0 615 22

15 Texas 0-0 569 NR

16 Virginia Tech 0-0 548 21

17 Nebraska 0-0 485 24

18 Ohio State 0-0 474 NR

19 Oklahoma State 0-0 430 3

20 TCU 0-0 397 14

21 Stanford 0-0 383 7

22 Kansas State 0-0 300 15

23 Florida 0-0 214 NR

24 Boise State 0-0 212 8

25 Louisville 0-0 105 NR

Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 83, Washington 55, Auburn 53, North Carolina 32, Utah 30, Georgia Tech 25, Brigham Young 22, Tennessee 15, South Florida 11, Baylor 9, Texas A&M 5, UCF 4, Missouri 3, North Carolina State 3, Cincinnati 3, Houston 1, Louisiana Tech 1, Mississippi State 1, Northern Illinois 1