The first major poll of the 2023 college football season is out. While we typically don’t spend a lot of time discussing the Coaches Poll, AKA “The Buddy System”, it is something that will lead us full on into the first debates of the season. The Coaches Poll is often criticized for a lack of transparency and integrity as coaches can have just about anyone submit their ballots and grudges, as well as personal bias, are often included (See Alabama and Ohio State receiving first place votes as an example). The poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of 63 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
Among Big 12 schools, Texas gets the highest ranking at #12, followed by TCU (#16) and Kansas State (#17) before we get to the Sooners at #19. Texas Tech also makes the poll at #24.
Coming off its first losing season since 1998, it’s hard to make an argument that the ranking isn’t undeserved, but it sure seems like it’s an undeserved ranking. So, let’s hear it Sooner Nation. Why will Oklahoma be better that #19 nationally this season?
AFCA Coaches Poll
Others receiving votes: Iowa 169, South Carolina 89, Florida 63, UTSA 59, Pittsburgh 52, UCLA 42, Kentucky 34, Baylor 28, Troy 25, Arkansas 20, Fresno State 19, NC State 19, Boise State 18, Auburn 18, Miami 16, Minnesota 16, Mississippi State 13, Oklahoma State 12, Missouri 11, Maryland 10, SMU 8, South Alabama 8, Illinois 7, Air Force 6, Wake Forest 6, Toledo 5, Washington State 4, Houston 3, BYU 2, Duke 2, Arizona 2, Kansas 1, James Madison 1, Memphis 1
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I guess it is the guessing season again. Last year, 2022, from the beginning of the season to the final NCAA football game, how many teams made it into the top 25, top 10 and top 5? Those who predict are best at doing so after the games are over.
Preseason polls are definitely a crapshoot but the Coaches Poll consistently has the worst credibility throughout the season.