AP poll: USC No. 1, five SEC teams in top 10, UGA No. 6
The SEC has five teams in the top 10 of the Associated Press preseason college football poll -– but not the No. 1 team.
USC, entering its third season under coach Lane Kiffin and its first back from an NCAA-imposed two-year postseason ban, got the top ranking in the media vote released Saturday.
Alabama and LSU, the SEC teams that met in last season’s BCS title game, were ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Other SEC teams in the top 10 were No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas. Georgia’s ranking is the highest for the Bulldogs since September 2008.
Georgia Tech received poll votes but was not ranked in the top 25.
LSU’s dismissal of star cornerback/punt returner Tyrann Mathieu from the team on Aug. 10 –- reportedly for failed drug tests -– enabled USC to move to the top of the poll. Because of Mathieu’s impact, the AP extended the voting deadline and allowed voters to amend their ballots.
Before Mathieu was kicked off the team, LSU had received 28 first-place votes, USC 22 and Alabama nine, AP reported. But in the poll released Saturday, USC had 25 first-place votes, Alabama 17 and LSU 16.
One AP voter who changed his ballot was Seth Emerson of The Macon Telegraph. Emerson said Saturday that he originally had LSU No. 1 but dropped the Tigers to No. 3, putting Alabama No. 1 and USC No. 2.
“I was in the Georgia Dome,” Emerson said, pointing to Mathieu’s two long punt returns in last season’s SEC Championship game victory over Georgia. “I saw the effect that had.
“Even without Mathieu,” Emerson added, “there is a clear separation between the top three teams and the rest.”
LSU was ranked No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ preseason poll, which was announced before Mathieu’s dismissal. Alabama was No. 2 and USC No. 3 in that poll.
In the AP poll, USC totaled 1,445 points, Alabama 1,411 and LSU 1,402. Oklahoma and Oregon completed the top five, in that order. Oklahoma and No. 8 Michigan received one first-place vote apiece.
The AP poll, unlike the coaches’, is not part of the BCS formula that determines who plays in the national title game.
Georgia’s No. 6 ranking was the same in both polls.
“I would’ve predicted us not to be quite as high in [the AP] poll, but it’s good that people feel that way about us,” coach Mark Richt said Saturday. “We all know it doesn’t mean a lot other than you’re starting in a spot where, if you take care of business, you have a chance to stay up there. . . . We know we’ve got a long way to go and a lot to prove.
“… We want to be well thought of,” Richt added. “Have we earned it this year? No. But I guess from everybody’s evaluation of who’s returning and all that type of thing they feel like we’ve got a chance.”
Said UGA tailback-fullback Richard Samuel: “We don’t feel any pressure from [the high ranking]. In the long run, [the coaches' poll] helps us at the end of the season when it comes time to decide who gets to go to the national championship. So we just look at it like that, but we also know that we’ve got to take it game by game to get there. … I really do believe in our guys. We have a really wonderful, amazing team. We had some victories last year and a couple of games we have to learn how to finish.”
Georgia Tech was sixth in the others-receiving-votes category.
Asked if he would use being unranked as motivation, Tech coach Paul Johnson said: “No. Probably won’t talk about it.”
Said Tech center Jay Finch: “I think that’s right where we should be, because, to be honest, I like starting outside where nobody’s suspecting anything. But if you keep winning, you keep going up.”
In all, the SEC placed six teams in the AP’s top 25 –- the five in the top 10 plus Florida, which was ranked No. 23 despite a 7-6 (3-5 SEC) record last season.
The Big 12 also put six teams in the top 25 but only one in the top 10. The Big Ten had five teams ranked, one in the top 10. The Pac-12 and ACC had three teams apiece in the poll — two and one, respectively, in the top 10.
The ranked ACC teams included No. 7 Florida State, No. 14 Clemson (which opens the season against Auburn in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 1) and No. 16 Virginia Tech.
– Tim Tucker of the AJC, with contributions from Chip Towers at Georgia and Ken Sugiura at Georgia Tech.
ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL
Team(first place votes) 2011 record Points Pv
1.Southern Cal(25) 10-2 1,445 6
2.Alabama(17) 12-1 1,411 1
3. LSU (16) 13-1 1,402 2
4.Oklahoma(1) 10-3 1,286 16
5.Oregon 12-2 1,274 4
6.Georgia 10-4 1,107 19
7. Florida St. 9-4 1,093 23
8.Michigan(1) 11-2 1,000 12
9.South Carolina 11-2 994 9
10.Arkansas 11-2 963 5
11.West Virginia 10-3 856 17
12.Wisconsin 11-3 838 10
13. Michigan St. 11-3 742 11
14. Clemson 10-4 615 22
15.Texas 8-5 569 NR
16. Virginia Tech 11-3 548 21
17.Nebraska 9-4 485 24
18. Ohio St. 6-7 474 NR
19. Oklahoma St. 12-1 430 3
20. TCU 11-2 397 14
21. Stanford 11-2 383 7
22. Kansas St. 10-3 300 15
23.Florida 7-6 214 NR
24. Boise St. 12-1 212 8
25.Louisville 7-6 105 NR
Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 83, Washington 55, Auburn 53, North Carolina 32, Utah 30, Georgia Tech 25, BYU 22, Tennessee 15, South Florida 11, Baylor 9, Texas A&M 5, UCF 4, Cincinnati 3, Missouri 3, N.C. State 3, Houston 1, Louisiana Tech 1, Mississippi St. 1, N. Illinois 1.
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476 comments Add your comment
JB
August 18th, 2012
9:42 pm
yea dawgmeat, all those voting coach’s don’t know anything
kingdaddy
August 18th, 2012
9:49 pm
JB
All the sports writers are just as stupid as the coaches. Mark Richt has them all fooled. I love these jealous losers. 2012—-Year of the Bulldawg…
Ghost
August 18th, 2012
9:50 pm
Kingdaddy, We must be doing something right to have so many low lifes hating us.
Smarticus
August 18th, 2012
9:51 pm
Same procedure as every year, Miss Sophie.
Richt and Bobo will choke and the Dawgs will be gasping for air as 4th quarter starts…
Ghost
August 18th, 2012
9:52 pm
Just read where auburn RB was ruled ineligible for falsifying transcripts.
the truth
August 18th, 2012
9:53 pm
UGA fans..your record against S. Carolina is very good but you do realize that you have lost the last 2 against them? You really need to drop the history stuff and start looking at reality. If I am a UGA fan I would be more worried that Spurrier is starting to beat UGA again instead that we beat S. Carolina 3 years ago. If you want history, UGA is 46-16 over S. Carolina but Spurrier is 14-5 against UGA and if he beats UGA he will even his record with UGA at S. Carolina
kingdaddy
August 18th, 2012
10:08 pm
Until we play, nobody knows for sure, but these are two different teams. No one knows if Lattimore’s knee will hold up or if he will be the same. I tore my ACL, I know. Different DC, no Melvin Ingram. It won’t be a cakewalk either way. Looking forward to it, not scared…
Alphare
August 18th, 2012
10:11 pm
Michigan St is #13 while UGA #6? what did they do to deserve that demotion?
Ghost
August 18th, 2012
10:17 pm
The reality is until 2011 Spurrier has lost 5-6 games annually while at S.Carolina.They could easily lose 4-6 games this season.Ga,@ Florida, @LSU, Tenn, Arky, I realize there’s a 1st time for everything but they’ve never beaten UF 3 times in a row either.They lost 5 defensive starters and the D coordinator. They may have their hands full in Nashville. They need a big improvement on offense to contend.
Birmingham Jacket
August 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
Embarrassing, when you think of where we were w Oleary and Ross.
And don’t tell me they “cheated”. We’re on probation now for what Coach dummy Paul Johnson did.
FIRE PAUL JOHNSON NOW!!!!
Hire Tubbs or Leach.
Cdpridg
August 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
Just being honest and telling the TRUTH…..Carolina does not concern me. They will likely be underdogs on their home field….as well as in the division.
Birmingham Jacket
August 18th, 2012
10:42 pm
Paul Johnson won’t be here in 2014.
Embrace it.
Uga Grad 94
August 18th, 2012
10:45 pm
Overrated and as usual they will underperform. Money.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
August 18th, 2012
10:55 pm
Spurrier will do his best impression of General Sherman and make JawGA howl.
harold
August 18th, 2012
10:57 pm
IF UGA CAN’T GO 13-0 WITH THIS CAKEWALK OF A SCHEDULE RICHT SHOULD BE FIRED!
cdpridg
August 18th, 2012
11:24 pm
Harold…do you think UGA beats TENN…over or under 30?
Ghost
August 18th, 2012
11:26 pm
Birmingham jacket. Tech can do better than Pj. Can tech afford to keep him past this year?It will take a new coach clean up his mess. On the other hand I hope they give PJ a lifetime rollover Paul Hewitt deal.
Ghost
August 18th, 2012
11:26 pm
It will take new coach years to clean up PJs mess.
Go Blue
August 18th, 2012
11:54 pm
Alphare, MSU lost alot, including their leader in Cousins. although their D should be very good. Don’t see this much on these blogs but I will say that I think my Wolverines are a bit overrated and think they are still a year or two away from being back. I will admit I would not mind being wrong.
Watch Mora beat USC
August 19th, 2012
12:09 am
wouldn’t that be funny.
DawgMeat OKelly
August 19th, 2012
12:33 am
Spurrier always gets in the Dawgs psyche and beats us at the very end because Richt doesn’t put the Gamecocks away and pounds into the turf early . He doesn’t want to hurt the Gamecocks self esteem early in the season,so he lets up and Spurrier comes back and takes the sissy dawgs to the clearners at the end. Does he think Missouri will be scared ot play the Dawgs? They will do the same as South Carolina. Richt is all about the other team’s feelings. Pres.Adams may be calling he shots from what I hear from Athens. If Adams could tie every game, he would be thrilled……..
dogone1
August 19th, 2012
12:41 am
this may be the best ga team in 20 years—ga will beat south carolina and win the east—take it to the bank.
Go Blue
August 19th, 2012
12:43 am
Mora and Kiffin both in hollywood is about right….two drama queens looking for a show. Can’t stand either of them but unfortunetely they will probably both fit right in and do well. DawgMeat who is your team?
Go Blue
August 19th, 2012
1:06 am
dogone1, or UGA will lose to south carolina and still win the east by default. Same as last year, Anyone who would not pick UGA to win the east is a complete idiot.
Smitty
August 19th, 2012
1:12 am
Go Blue….I agree Dawgs win east……yep pee
7576DAWG
August 19th, 2012
2:32 am
I think Bobo finally gets his balanced offense this year. I don’t know if it will be Malcome, Morgan or Gurley but it would not surprise me any if two of the three didn’t gain 1000 or more this year. Murray has a goal of 70% completions and if both happen Georgia will finally be able to control and manage the clock.
7576DAWG
August 19th, 2012
2:52 am
Tennessee has Tyler Bray but I don’t think they have enough depth not to lose a minimum of 5 game or more. Florida has a good defense but only a fair QB and little running back depth, South Carolina will have the best team other than Georgia in the East . Connor Shaw should be good but only has one proven receiver and I think Shaw can be rattled if we keep pressure on him. I don’t mine losing to South Carolina if they beat us but I don’t want to beat ourselves like we did last year. Even Spurrier admitted Georgia out played South Carolina last year.
Can’t wait until the Missouri game to really see just what we have. I am very optimistic and think we may have a great team this year because this is the first time that I feel the players are all business and can’t wait to play football. To truly get a team effort would be the first time in many years. I think our defense will be ranked in the top 3 in the nation. I also think our offense can have over 400 yard per game.
jc_dawgs
August 19th, 2012
4:00 am
Compared to other sec teams…I’ll admit the schedule for Ga is on the soft side. Style points will be needed prior to the Scar game or leap frogs may occur. If Richt can keep the boys focused(this can be shaky at times)Ga will likely roll through the first 5 games like a chainsaw through a stick of bamboo! Not worried about MO….there OL is a bit banged up and Ga’s D?….one word….SUFFOCATING!……..You doubt me?……Watch and learn my friends!
Dancing on high with the incomparable Ballina Sisters
August 19th, 2012
6:11 am
As usual, the dawgs are all pumped up for another run at the SEC and a national championship. The Kool-Aid is flowing in copious amounts as they make ready to mow down their cupcake opposition.
.
.
.
Wait, haven’t we heard this before… as in every year?
.
.
.
And before long the dreams will be just shattered illusions, victim to 3rd rate coaching, failed drug tests, DUIs, girlfriends beaten up, academic failures, and a dozen other reasons.
.
.
.
So let me be the first to say so long, farewell, ciao, adios, sayonara, and adieu to the whimpering puppies, whose only hope is… are you ready for this…
.
.
WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!!!
Buzzman
August 19th, 2012
7:10 am
Let me see, Georgia plays WHO! is this right? I must be wrong, they do play one ranked team, is this corrrect? I must be wrong, I guess they deserve it, who did they bribe to get their schedule? I guess we will see what happens this year. Will they win their division (NOT).
Buzzman
August 19th, 2012
7:19 am
I was wrong, they do play Florida. They need to get by Buffalo,Florida Atlantic, and Georgia Southern to win out. I didn’t think Buffalo had a team, I do know that Florida Atlantic did beat someone! Georgia Southern always has a good team in, excuse me, what division do they play in? Maybe next year Georgia can drop South Caroline and Florida and take on Furman and Slipply Rock. I know someone on the NCAA scheduling can use a good car or house.
poor_richard
August 19th, 2012
7:30 am
“Student Ath-o-letes. Ho, ho, that is brilliant, sir.”
“How do you get around not paying your slaves?” SP
Envy is Ugly
August 19th, 2012
7:34 am
Enter your comments here
Ole Big Dawg
August 19th, 2012
7:37 am
Let me reassure all Dawg fans and the few of these mindless lil twit tech trolls and a few others tha are too embarassed to even say who they cheer for….this Dawg is going to hunt! This a pretty big Dawg! He will eat!!
Envy is Ugly
August 19th, 2012
7:43 am
UGA doesn’t rank themselves so talk to the sports writers. I think the coaches ranked us #6 as well. So I guess they don’t know anything either. Net net, Tech fans just hate and there is no newspaper in South Carolina because not enough people can read so they spew their inferiority complex here. This is therapeutic for Tech and SC fans. It will all play out on the field and we shall see if the rankings are accurate. In the meantime keep on hating if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t change our domination of both programs…
Envy is Ugly
August 19th, 2012
7:48 am
Buzzman, you left tek off our cupcake list. Why? 10 of the last 11 says cupcake to me. You have to come to Athens this year and you know what is going to happen.. Don’t you? Say it Buzzman say it
PerroGrande
August 19th, 2012
7:49 am
The problem with strength of schedule discussions at this point is that nobody knows how good the teams are–it is pointless. For those who don’t seem to know, colleges lose large percentages of their roster each year. They also add large percentages. This is why prognosticators are always wrong. Florida will be a top ten team imho. Pease took two/three stars at Boise and made them competitive. The Gator O will improve all year. They brought back almost the whole D and it is packed with 5 star recruits. Look for UF and UGA to be top ten. I think SC is top twenty this year, but if Lattimore and the O do very well, they could be top ten.
Envy is Ugly
August 19th, 2012
7:52 am
The irony on this blog is that haters love to talk about UGA. They love it. Only those with an inferiority complex hate. Let it fly bugs and chickens. Do you feel better now?
Game Changer
August 19th, 2012
8:08 am
Coming into 2012 after three terrible seasons, not to mention 2008 with a 9 – 3 record after being ranked number one preseason is all one needs to know.
Two terrible bowl game results.
Until UGA can make it through the first half of schedule 6 and 0, they should not be ranked — easiest and worst schedule in history. Looking for another 9 and 3 season or worse
Envy is Ugly
August 19th, 2012
8:15 am
Game changer / tek fan…… Talk to the sports writers and coaches…..
Ole Big Dawg
August 19th, 2012
8:21 am
Ha..his a tech fellar….hey changer fellar…have our gold and black cake ready..lol..you are dessert!
@lmao
August 19th, 2012
8:21 am
Get your bug azz off the board dude.
Pulpwud Smiff
August 19th, 2012
8:44 am
The 15 worst scandals in college sports:
http://www.wftv.com/gallery/sports/college/worst-scandals-college-sports-history/gq3b/#2097400
Just guess which school is on the list TWICE.
Remember, there’s a reason why UGA is known far and wide as The Cesspool of the South.
melanie
August 19th, 2012
8:59 am
What a joke!! UGA should be ranked #1 due to their schedule this year. Good grief they are playing nothing teams this year except the ones they have to play. I would be beyond embarrassed being ranked 6th with a schedule like there’s. And let’s not forget that half the team has been arrested, suspended & released due to “infractions”.
Mobile Dawg
August 19th, 2012
9:06 am
I’m feeling the same as at the beginning of every year, optimistic, but not really knowing what to expect. I know we have the ingredients for a really good year, however, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. Let’s hope our coaches are up to the task this year. Saban had a Navy Seal address his team about facing adversity. I hope Coach Richt utilizes similar philosophies. Exercise the body, mind, and soul. Challenge these players to become the best and accept nothing less. That’s how champions are made. Good Luck Dawgs.
We Run the East
August 19th, 2012
9:09 am
Lot of hating of SC on here. Love to see it. SC is the dominate team in East and UGA or FL will have to knock them off to be best in East. Right now, SC is class of East.
Ole Big Dawg
August 19th, 2012
9:17 am
East…you are not a silly chicken are u fellar….everybody knows the Ole Big Dawgs run the East….your defending SEC East Champ…the squaking for you little fellars will all but be over by week 6
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
9:19 am
Melanie…hun? What do you know about the game of football? Pike it down!
Joey
August 19th, 2012
9:22 am
Pulpwud=melanie=nerd,
Tech has been on NCAA Probation the last whole decade. Tech is an ecbarrassment to the state of Georgia.
Lobosolo
August 19th, 2012
9:38 am
LOL! Now I know where the idiots on the Braves’ threads come from… Thank God when this all starts back up…. this is where the armchairs belong…