While some may think the preseason rankings mean very little, there’s no doubt that it can help in the long run, especially if you’re ranked higher and lose early.
Advertisement
The Associated Press became the final major media service to come out with its 2015 preseason college football top 25 when it released its annual preseason rankings on Sunday.
It means all 61 first-place votes went to Urban Meyer’s crew in the first edition of this season’s AP poll, the first team ever to be a unanimous preseason No. 1.
Oklahoma State received votes in the poll, but is just outside the Top 25. In 2013, Alabama, which had gained two straight championships, acquired 58 of 60 first-place votes and defending champion Florida did the identical in 2009.
After Miller injured his shoulder prior to last season, Barrett started 12 games at quarterback before he fractured his ankle against Michigan. The other previous years with three teams from the conference in the AP preseason poll were in 1998, 2010 and 2014.
Other teams that could crash the party include Baylor, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Oregon and USC.
Florida State was the lone program from Florida to appear in the AP’s preseason top 25, which was released Sunday.
Notre Dame (No. 11) and Boise State (No. 23) were the only ranked schools not from a Power Five conference.
Advertisement
2 – The last two times the Buckeyes opened the season at No. 1 (1998 and 2006), they finished No. 2. While Barrett led the Buckeyes to a one-loss season as a freshman, replace Braxton Miller, Jones delivered wins in the Big Ten Championship, Sugar Bowl semifinal, and the national title game. It marked the first time this has happened in back-to-back seasons since a five-season streak from 1985-89.
