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
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
2:11 pm
Laughing at…obviously you and whoever your team may be does. I would say they fear UGA greatly…i would say YOU fear UGA greatly…..take the mask off…i dare you
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
2:12 pm
@Cdpridg
Not a Tech fan. Am a fan of the team that beat the snot out of UGA in the dome last season. The second team to do that. Forgot Boise assaulted you there too.
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
2:12 pm
Cdpridg…………you don’t debate the facts presented. You just talk crap. SCHOOL me on the Facts Moe Ron. You can’t. Please Do SOMETHING in the SEC this year. You haven’t done much outside the SEC lately or really anything in the SEC against good SEC teams. Beating up Historical SEC losers like Vandy, Kentucky, USC, Ole Miss, Miss St, & Arkansas is what makes UGa great and that is funny. UGa is Great against all the SEC teams that haven’t seen a National Championship. LMAO.
juvenal
August 19th, 2012
2:15 pm
anybody care what the media thinks?
Rick in Macon
August 19th, 2012
2:18 pm
By the end of the season, a top 20 ranking for UGA will be a long lost memory. Tech will be rated higher in the end. UGA plays a middle school schedule and still won’t win.
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
2:22 pm
Twinkie…you are a tech fan I dont have to school you…you are schooled before you even type dummy…day after da…week after week. What a weak existenc. Facts? What facts do you as a TECH man bring to the table to where you would win a debate….all facts hbe a heavy heavy UGA lean…lol I swear being a tech fan does not make u smart…lol
DawgNole
August 19th, 2012
2:23 pm
Bad Dawg
August 18th, 2012
1:31 pm
Also if you guys knew anything about USC. You would know that are a legit title contender this year. Their offense will be outstanding and the only team that should challenge them in the Pac 12 is Oregon. Not to mention Lane Kiffin is a very good head coach.
_______________________
Kiffin’s record as a head coach is 30-28. You call that “very good”? Your standards are very low.
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
2:28 pm
Kiffin is undefeated against those mighty Bulldogs from Athens. Pretty much ran the preacherman and his band of punks off the field if I remember correctly. And I do.
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
Hahah…Cdpridg……still talking out your butt.
I gave you Facts that you can’t dispute so you just call people names.
DawgNole
August 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
Speed Limit 70 Clemson 33
August 18th, 2012
2:35 pm
No ACC teams in top 10 – my how this conference has become a mid-major conference.
__________________
Where is Fla State ranked? What conference does Fla State represent?
Dope.
Jack
August 19th, 2012
2:40 pm
@Laughing at all things Dawg
Your a pathetic, lonely little man.. aren’t you?
Game Changer
August 19th, 2012
2:42 pm
cdpringle:
Since the start of the SEC EAST division in 1991 where you play only 5 football teams each year now for 21 years: HOW MANY TIMES HAS UGA GONE 5 AND 0???
ZERO, ZERO,ZERO,ZERO,ZERO,ZERO, 21 YEARS of failure in the EAST DIVISION
21 YEARS OF FAILURE IN THE SEC /
ABSOLUTELY NO NATIONAL PRESTIGE REGARDING UGA FOOTBALL — ZERO
dawg51
August 19th, 2012
2:43 pm
Ok guys (and gals) lets let this pre-season stay in the pre-season. Yes, we should be solid defensively, yes, we’ve got some experience at the skilled positons offense-wise. Thats about the best news we have at this point. Kickers, one returner, one newbie. Offensive line???? We’ve heard this tale how many years in a row?? I’m a dawg thru and thru, but until we CONSISTENTLY run the ball, we cant expect anything past mediocrity…..Lets get some TEAM DISIPLINE, a running game, and a QUALITY WIN before we book our post-season plans. We play no one until USC in October, and after that NO ONE unless we are in Atl for the SEC Championship. Making any rash predictions before such time is senseless. You have to be tested in order to pass a test….go dawgs!!
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
2:46 pm
Now i’m laughing at you Jack.
Game Changer
August 19th, 2012
2:47 pm
thUGA u –
When was UGA’s last major win against a top 5 team?????????????????? What year? Who was it against? NO ONE CAN REMEMBER IT HAS BEEN SO LONG?
Jack
August 19th, 2012
2:51 pm
@Laughing at all things Dawg
I’m sure you are laughing. As the saying goes – It’s funny because it’s true.
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
2:57 pm
UGa’s future non-conference schedule features back to back losses to Clemson, and practice games against GaSouthern, ULM and Southern U.
LSU’s future non conference schedules include home and home vs. TCU, Arizona State, NC State, and Oklahoma. LSU plays in the toughest division in college football, the SEC West, yet it still schedules tough non-conference games. Building a national brand. Bama does it. USC does it. Georgia could learn a thing or two about scheduling. Evans had you on the right track. Problem was Richt couldn’t deliver the wins. Give NM State a call. Like Tech, you own them too. What a joke.
DawgNole
August 19th, 2012
3:07 pm
Coastal Dog SSI
August 19th, 2012
9:42 am
Oops; I spoke too soon; my apologies, Emerson. I didn’t get the context. You did use two entities, the top three and the rest. My bad. But I’m still watching you guys. I stand corrected. Blame it on having too much of that great tartar sauce at McKinney’s Pond last night before heading back to the coast.
____________________
You beat me to it. At least you had the ‘nads to admit it.
Gamechanger is clueless
August 19th, 2012
3:15 pm
Gamechanger how many teams beat teams that ranked in final top 5 last year.? As usual another idiotic analogy from the gamechanger. Do we need to continue to make a list of the idiotic statements.
Its one conference , 2 divisions, thats how it is and how it will always be.Still waiting on John Jenkins to be declared ineligible and the major sanctions Georgia is facing. you posted that weeks ago , you kept asking chip to ask the question remember?. Whens that going to happen ? JHC is still on the georgia squad, but gamechanger said he was leaving the program.
JJ is a 1st all american linebacker , but he can’t tackle SEC backs, the list goes on forever clueless wonder. I give you credit at least you’ve stopped posing as a Georgia fan.
Would you like to have a discussion on how 6′9″ 350 lb linemen can’t compete in the SEC? What a fool.
DawgNole
August 19th, 2012
3:18 pm
BrandonLee49
August 19th, 2012
12:27 pm
UGA Won the EAST.. Whoopty S____ The East gets Trounced by the West Every Year…. East is Lame… Weak Sister to the Real Deal WEST…
___________________
“Trounced by the West Every Year”???
The East leads the West 11-9 in SEC CG victories.
Why do you post lies?
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
3:20 pm
Twinkie…you give no facts….actually name calling is what you and, your tech brethren do on these blogs daily…how many pathetic sign ons do ou have…5150….dumb enough….fun picking at u though…lol
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
3:22 pm
Laughing at…you need to spell it out otherwise I consider you a cowradly tech fan. You have to pass my test….dont you tell me any fibs now
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
3:22 pm
lol must be a chick thing…
DawgNole
August 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
2:57 pm
LSU’s future non conference schedules include home and home vs. TCU, Arizona State, NC State, and Oklahoma. LSU plays in the toughest division in college football, the SEC West, yet it still schedules tough non-conference games. Building a national brand. Bama does it. USC does it. Georgia could learn a thing or two about scheduling. Evans had you on the right track.
_______________________
Much as it pains me to admit it to a moron, you’re dead right on this one. UGA’s OOC schedule is a disgrace. And yes, I know, “everybody else does it.” That doesn’t excuse it! We should be above buying Ws. For that matter the hypocritical NCAA should outlaw it instead of gnashing its teeth over what recruit got a T-shirt or a ride to the airport.
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
You should consider me your intellectual superior. Just how many time did UGA get blown out at the GA Dump last year?
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
3:25 pm
Changer…..you are placing yourself up there with the likes of twinkle toes….so I have a question for you and then you will tell us all the story about when was the last time you thought you were going to beat the Dawgs and then, poof…it all went up, in smoke and your dreams came to a crashing halt. I want to know the year and what the game meant to you. How you felt afterwards and just how many times the Dawgs have whupped that butt and made you feel this way. Therapy session starts Right Now for you Game Changer!
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
Laughing at…i think it is nerd thing…stand by your team and dont be like the loser big brethren
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
Laughing at…lol no being a tech fan does not make you smarter..you sir are proof of that!
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
Cdpridg here are the FACTS you can’t argue Moe Ron.
—————————————————————————
Pitbull
August 19th, 2012
12:42 pm
Georgia could increase its strength of schedule by dropping Tech and picking up Clemson or North Carolina or even Duke.
St Richt
August 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
Yes, pitbull, all those teams you listed that GT beat would improve strength of schedule for Georgia. You can’t hide stupid.
Cdpridg
August 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
St. techie….those schools in particular Clemson and NC tend to hold more clout…if you knew this you would not have posted this downright foolish remark!
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
Pitbull……….explain your statement.
GT v Clem&sons 50-23-2 and 7-3 last 10 gms
UGa v Clem&sons 38-15-4 and 5-1 since 1990
GT v UNC 26-18-3 and 8-2 last 10 gms
UGa v UNC 15-6-2 and have not played since 71
GT v Duke 48-30-1 and 9-1 last 10 gms
UGa v Duke 1-0 1986
Another brilliant dWag fan that is better at sniffing butts than actually making an intelligent fact based post.
Clout don’t mean crap when you can’t back it up. You as a dWag fans should know that. Your CLOUT didn’t help against Okie St, UCF, BSU or MSU now did it.
I just PROVED with facts Tech is better for UGa’s schedule than the teams PitMutt suggested.
TECH and UF were UGa’s only good wins last year.
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
3:57 pm
maybe Auburn too since the Fairley & Cam abuse from 2 years ago.
I dropped my fried twinkie
August 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
Jimmy Johnson goes up just like UGa. Poof up in smoke like a UGa running back in his apartment.
Pitbull
August 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
Tech is never ranked.
Tech is always rank.
You Tech people be sure and take care of that Paul Johnson now. We don’t want him going anywhere. He is perfect for Tech. just perfect. Hahahahaha!!!
joe taxpayer
August 19th, 2012
4:20 pm
With our schedule and that talent anything less than playing in the SEC championship game will be a failure.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
6:41 pm
@ Coastal Dawg SSI:
When were you chowing down at McKenny;s Pond???
I live 25 miles away(Jefferson County) and love their food!!!! Has Mutt left for good???? Is he now “Single”???
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
6:56 pm
@ Laughing at all things dawg:
Where is yo Honey BadgeR???????????????????????????????
CMR has a better won/loss record(6th in the Nation among current coaches) than Miles and Saban.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
7:00 pm
@ Laughing at:
Let me guess what your response to the above post will be. The schedule; The schedule; The Schedule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did HB leave any of his “stash” at LSU???????????????
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
August 19th, 2012
7:17 pm
@ Reality:
When you been eatin at McKenney’s Pond??? That is part of my “Ole Stompin Ground”!!!!!!!!!!
Is Mutt still around and married or is he neither??????????????
Laughing at all things Dawg
August 19th, 2012
7:53 pm
Brainiac…honestly…are there no limits to your stupidity??…It’s like you have drilled your own “stupid well”, where copious amounts of “stupid” cascade over you 24/7…everybody’s gotta’ be good at somthin’ …guess “stupid” is your game. Congrats to you. And save your “love” for someone who gives a rats azz. Stupid.
I stay in Georgia only to keep a native Georgian unemployed
August 19th, 2012
7:57 pm
amen!
TBA
August 19th, 2012
7:58 pm
A 2009 study by the ASPCA ranked the English Bulldog in the fourth (lowest) quartile of intelligence for 118 different breeds of dogs that were studied. The actual ranking was, in fact, #118.
Subsequent studies by others have confirmed that UGA fans are in the fourth quartile of human intelligence, with an average IQ of 78.
UGA scholarship athletes had an average IQ of 49, which is slightly lower than a turnip, but they did edge out cabbages.
Granny Dawg
August 19th, 2012
8:04 pm
Brainiac, you really need to calm down before you make yourself sick.
Be sure to take all of your meds on time, bless your heart.
I've been to Jefferson County. Not impressed.
August 19th, 2012
8:14 pm
Really not impressed.
CamorDog
August 19th, 2012
8:31 pm
the dogs will win 10 games again and go to a good bowl—book it. These dogs are for real.
UGA is an ACC program. Send them there.
August 19th, 2012
8:52 pm
Name says it all.
kingdaddy
August 19th, 2012
9:02 pm
We lost 4 games last year. All to teams ranked in the top 10-11. How many teams in the top 10 did your team beat? This year is not last year as you know, so why do you think it will be excatly like last year? If you’re embarrassed about UGA winning the SECe last year, then you aren’t a fan anyway and your opinion doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. If you disagree, then don’t expect a lot of respect from Doggie fans in a Dawg blog. Oreety simple really. Trolls need to go on to their own blogs and discuss seriour football. Your Dog-bashing means zip…
a country boy can survive
August 19th, 2012
9:09 pm
good to see you back in the kingdaddy persona…brainiac persona is just plain ignorant…
t2go
August 19th, 2012
9:11 pm
These blog posts are getting very annoying. I would like to come on here and read some others thoughts and insights on the team and game that I love…. instead its just a bunch of juvenile bickering.
YES it is beyond desperate for another teams fan to come on here and talk smack…its also easy to do because we are all at home and do not have to face the other person we are berating…but come on its so tired. Ignore them and act like you have been there before..Tech fans, Bama Fans and even many of the Dawg fans on these blogs make me sick. Yall are just acting like brats and children on here…..grow up.
kingdaddy
August 19th, 2012
9:16 pm
@UGA is an ACC…
No team in the ACC could have won the SECe. G.T. is one of the best teams in the ACC, LOL and we kick their butts on a regular basis. I guess by your logic Auburn, Ol Miss & Miss St. are ACC too, lmaoff. I guess if your aren’t in the top 10 in the country, you belong in the ACC?
YOU ARE AN IDIOT…
#6#6#6#6#6#6#6———What you gonna do about it, cry some more???
a country boy can survive
August 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
there you go!
kingdaddy
August 19th, 2012
9:20 pm
T2go
Then talk about football…