Preseason rankings, released Aug. 28
USC (26)
QUICK STATS: W-L: 11-2 (200) / Points: 278
OVERHEARD: “You know they’re good when a local columnist writes that they may have too much talent.” — Ryan Killian, Daily Texan
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs. Idaho
LSU (1)
QUICK STATS: W-L: 11-2 (2006) / Points: 240
OVERHEARD: “They get Florida, Auburn and Arkansas at home and avoid Tennessee and Georgia from the SEC East.” - Jonathan Smith, Kentucky Kernel
OPENING GAME: Aug. 30 at Mississippi State
WEST VIRGINIA
QUICK STATS: W-L: 11-2 (2006) / Points: 193
OVERHEARD: “Combine the easy schedule and two of the best players in the nation for instant success.” - Matt Gelb, Daily Orange
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs Western Michigan
MICHIGAN
QUICK STATS: W-L: 11-2 (2006) / Points: 166
OVERHEARD: “Top offensive trio in the Big Ten — QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart and WR Mario Manningham; the defense isn’t half bad either.” - Kevin Hagstrom, Badger Herald
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs. Appalachian State
FLORIDA (1)
QUICK STATS: W-L: 13-1 (2006) / Points: 158
OVERHEARD: “Champions are dethroned by losses, not sportswriters.” - Jonathan Crowl, Daily Nebraskan
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs. Western Kentucky
TEXAS
QUICK STATS: W-L: 10-3 (2006) / Points: 136
OVERHEARD: “Probably has the most pure talent after USC.” - Tim Bella, TCU Daily Skiff
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs. Arkansas State
WISCONSIN
QUICK STATS: W-L: 12-1 (2006) / Points: 121
OVERHEARD: “Word out of Madison is that P.J. Hill is quicker and the O-Line is bigger. Yikes.” - Charlie Kautz, Daily Iowan
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs. Washington State
OKLAHOMA
QUICK STATS: W-L: 11-3 (2006) / Points: 88
OVERHEARD: “Any chance the Sooners run Statue of Liberty and/or hook ‘n’ ladder plays? Didn’t think so either.” - Andrew Zuckerman, The Diamondback
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs North Texas
VIRGINIA TECH
QUICK STATS: W-L: 10-3 (2006) / Points: 63
OVERHEARD: “The Hokies are the class of the ACC, but does that matter nationally?” - Clark Leonard, The Technician
OPENING GAME: Sept. 1 vs East Carolina
LOUISVILLE
QUICK STATS: W-L: 12-1 (2006) / Points: 46
OVERHEARD: “Cardinals are good all-around and won’t be tested until West Virginia in week 10.” - Michael McGuffee, FSView & Florida Flambeau
OPENING GAME: Aug. 30 vs. Murray State
Also Receiving Votes:
Cal 15, Georgia 10, Ohio State 10, Tennessee 5, UCLA 4, Florida State 2, Auburn 2, Nebraska 1, Boston College 1, Idaho 1
Voters:
Jonathan Smith, The Kentucky Kernel; Mike Bushnell, The Maneater (Missouri); Will Parchman, The Baylor Lariat; Alex Riley, The Daily Gamecock; Tony Dobies, The Daily Athenaeum (WVU); Zach Osterman, Indiana Daily
Student; Andrew Zuckerman, The Diamondback (Maryland); Jonathan Crowl, The Daily Nebraskan; Charlie Kautz, The Daily Iowan; Ryan Killian, The Daily Texan; Carson Cunningham, The Daily O’Collegian (Okla. State); Clark Leonard, The Technician (NC State); Michael McGuffee, The FSView & Florida Flambeau; Kevin Hagstrom, The Badger Herald; Matt Vines, The Daily Reveille (LSU); Daily Cal Sports Staff, The Daily Californian; Paul Delos Santos, The Rebel Yell (UNLV); Tim Bella, The TCU Daily Skiff; Matt Gelb, The Daily Orange (Syracuse); Jon Nyatawa, The Purdue Exponent; Baxter Holmes, Oklahoma Daily; Pravin Patel, The Miami Hurricane; Hahnming Lee, The Technique (Ga. Tech); Robert Taylor, The Idaho Argonaut; Travis Robinett, The Daily Kansan; Jonathan Willard, The ASU Herald; Powell Latimer, The Daily Tar Heel; Brendan Galella, The USF Oracle
Contact Editorial Director Andrew Young with any questions or to participate.