The first Coaches Poll of the 2018 college football season is out and the Oklahoma Sooners find themselves in a good position with a Top 5 ranking. You’re probably not going to find anyone to argue with Alabama holding the top spot, or even Clemson at #2.
There may be some questions as to how Ohio State pulled off a first place vote, or even their validity to be in the Top 5, but other than that there isn’t a lot of beef with the poll.
There’s good representation from the Big 12 in the initial poll. The Sooners (once again favorites to win the conference) are the highest ranked by eleven spots. TCU checks in there at #16, followed by West Virginia at #20. The Texas Longhorns get their token preseason Top 25 spot (#21) and Oklahoma State rounds in out for the Big 12 at #25.
Coaches Poll
| RK | TEAM | REC | PTS | TREND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama(61) | 0-0 | 1621 | — |
| 2 | Clemson(3) | 0-0 | 1547 | — |
| 3 | Ohio State(1) | 0-0 | 1458 | — |
| 4 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1452 | — |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 1288 | — |
| 6 | Washington | 0-0 | 1245 | — |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 1243 | — |
| 8 | Miami | 0-0 | 1091 | — |
| 9 | Penn State | 0-0 | 1050 | — |
| 10 | Auburn | 0-0 | 1004 | — |
| 11 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 892 | — |
| 12 | Michigan State | 0-0 | 870 | — |
| 13 | Stanford | 0-0 | 768 | — |
| 14 | Michigan | 0-0 | 752 | — |
| 15 | USC | 0-0 | 691 | — |
| 16 | TCU | 0-0 | 530 | — |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | 0-0 | 524 | — |
| 18 | Mississippi State | 0-0 | 407 | — |
| 19 | Florida State | 0-0 | 328 | — |
| 20 | West Virginia | 0-0 | 310 | — |
| 21 | Texas | 0-0 | 265 | — |
| 22 | Boise State | 0-0 | 261 | — |
| 23 | UCF | 0-0 | 259 | — |
| 24 | LSU | 0-0 | 254 | — |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 168 | — |
| Others receiving votes: South Carolina 138, Florida 135, Oregon 105, Utah 81, Texas A&M 67, Northwestern 67, Kansas State 35, Florida Atlantic 27, Memphis 23, Boston College 23, NC State 22, Arkansas State 19, Troy 19, Appalachian State 16, San Diego State 15, Kentucky 8, Iowa State 8, Iowa 8, Washington State 7, South Florida 6, Duke 5, Fresno State 4, Louisville 3, Arizona 2, Houston 2, Army 1, Northern Illinois 1 | ||||
Because Opinions Matter
- Having half of the conference ranked to start the season is a good thing for the Big 12.
- The Coaches Poll is a “buddy system” which explains many things…like the reason why Texas is ranked preseason every year.
- Oklahoma’s position of “being on the outside looking in” when it comes to the Top 4 is where many fans prefer them to be at the start of the season.
- Iowa State and Kansas State are the two Big 12 schools not ranked to start the season that could jump in there soon.
- There’s some mad respect being thrown towards Mike Gundy to have Oklahoma State in the Top 25 to start the year. OSU lost a ton of offensive weapons and have some question marks on the line.