College football preseason poll ranking errors include Tennessee, Oklahoma, Clemson

USA Today

4 days ago

Media members voting in college football's AP Top 25 followed the lead of the US LBM Coaches Poll by anointing Texas as the preseason No. 1. You'll get no objection from me.
The Longhorns possess the coach, the roster and the quarterback to pursue a national championship.
After the No. 1 spot, though, the two polls featured several discrepancies. Oklahoma became subject to the biggest disagreement. The Sooners went unranked by the coaches, but landed No. 18 in the AP poll.
Here's a look at the eight biggest discrepancies between the polls, with my ruling on which poll got it right:
Clemson
Coaches: No. 6
AP: No. 4
Who got it right?: AP
Clemson finished with four losses last season, but never mind that fading object in the rearview mirror, because Dabo Swinney retained a talented roster that's now more experienced. He even added some polish with a few transfers. Clemson touts the nation's best defensive line, along with arguably the nation's top quarterback, Cade Klubnik. The Tigers aren't just contenders inside the ACC. They're national championship contenders.
Florida
Coaches: No. 17
AP: No. 15
Who got it right?: Coaches
Both poll services overrated the Gators, but the coaches came closer to the mark. Florida ended last season playing well. DJ Lagway is one of the nation's most promising quarterbacks, but he rehabbed injuries throughout the offseason, and after an underwhelming transfer haul, I question whether Lagway enjoys enough support on either side of the ball to justify these rankings in the face of a daunting schedule.
Texas A&M
Coaches: No. 21
AP: No. 19
Who got it right?: Coaches
Texas A&M being overrated is an August tradition. The Aggies were ranked in the preseason polls in each of the past six years. They finished the season ranked only twice during that span, and only once did they finish higher than their preseason ranking. That doesn't mean these Aggies will stink. They're equipped with a solid offensive line and a strong backfield. But, combine how they buckled at the end of last season with their history of failing to meet projections, and the AP awarded too much respect.
Kansas State
Coaches: No. 20
AP: No. 17
Who got it right?: AP
Kansas State unraveled last November but still finished 9-4, and the Wildcats returned a bulk of their production, including quarterback Avery Johnson. That helps explain why the Wildcats are an oddsmaker front-runner to win the Big 12. Kansas State's run game and rushing defense each should rank near the top of its conference. The coaches underrated the Wildcats, and the media corrected that.
Brigham Young
Coaches: No. 23
AP: Unranked
Who got it right?: AP
The coaches' ranking is out of touch with the reality that the Cougars' planned starting quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, transferred to Tulane this summer, rather than face an honor code suspension at BYU. Given that late roster twist, a different Big 12 team, Baylor, would be a better choice in the rankings than BYU. The Bears went unranked in both polls. BYU's coaches poll ranking honors its 2024 performance rather than its 2025 reality.
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Mississippi
Coaches: No. 15
AP: No. 21
Who got it right?: Coaches
Lane Kiffin plays transfer roulette as well as anyone, and he assembled another impressive haul to replace the significant loss of talent from last season's 10-win team. Whether you think the AP or coaches ranking is more appropriate depends on whether you're a believer in quarterback Austin Simmons, a first-year starter. I'm a believer, after watching Simmons thrive in a relief appearance against Georgia. He'll enjoy a sufficient supporting cast.
Tennessee
Coaches: No. 18
AP: No. 24
Who got it right?: AP
Ideally, split the difference between these two rankings, but, forced to choose one, I'd say the AP rankings are closer to the mark after Tennessee endured significant losses from its playoff team, including the April departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Coach Josh Heupel's track record indicates a high floor, but combine the Vols' meek transfer haul with the quarterback uncertainty, and the coaches' ranking seems too bullish. At least the schedule is accommodating, by SEC standards.
Oklahoma
Coaches: Unranked
AP: No. 18
Who got it right?: AP
Embattled coach Brent Venables used the offseason to seed a revival, after the 2024 season went bust. Sweeping roster changes include the additions of star quarterback John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, and Jadyn Ott, a former All-America running back for California. The AP ranking might be a smidge lofty for a team facing Oklahoma's brutal schedule, but it's closer to the mark than the Sooners being omitted from the coaches poll, where they received the most points among unranked teams.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at [e-mail] and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.