Latest news with #APpoll
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could Arch Manning win the Natty as a first-year starter? + What punishments should Michigan expect?
Subscribe to the College Football Enquirer Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Six of the top eight teams in the first AP poll have a first-year starter at quarterback. However, the experienced quarterbacks are lurking on teams just outside of the top eight. What might this mean as the season begins to unfold? Will experience win out or can guys like Arch Manning and Dante Moore overcome their lack of on-field experience? College Football Enquirer's Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey debate if they have more faith in experience or the first-year guys. Plus, not all of these teams' quarterback races are decided. What have the guys heard coming out of Ohio State and Notre Dame about who their signal callers will be this year? Later in the show, the guys discuss the NCAA's announcement that Friday will be when they issue the punishments against Michigan football for their sign stealing scandal. A two-year process will finally come to a close. Ross gives a behind-the-scenes look at what the process to come to this decision has been like and what kind of penalties the NCAA can actually inflict on the school. Andy, Steven and Ross give their predictions on what they think the result may end up being. They end the show with a discussion about the Big 12 ADs' vote to solidify an existing policy related to throwing items onto the field. After the first two violations in a game, teams receive a 15-yard penalty. Ross shares his report about this decision and the guys discuss how this is directly connected to Texas Tech's tradition of tortilla throwing. How serious is this matter and what items should other Big 12 teams be throwing? Week 0 is next week. College football is almost back, and the news continues to fly. Come hear about all of it on today's College Football Enquirer! (6:06) - Can a first-year starter win it all? (27:22) - Michigan sign stealing penalty predictions (45:50) - Big 12 ruling jeopardizes Texas Tech's tortilla tradition (59:10) - Ross' Bites & Booze column 🖥️
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ohio State takeaways: Why Ryan Day hasn't named a QB yet, plus optimism grows on both lines
Fresh off its first scrimmage, Ohio State is entering a crucial part of preseason camp. The second full week is when most teams get to their final evaluations before setting a preliminary preseason depth chart, and that's no different for the Buckeyes, who will open the season ranked No. 3 in the AP poll against No. 1 Texas on Aug. 30. Advertisement On Monday, coach Ryan Day said he expects to set the first depth chart at the end of this week, but there are still some battles that need to be worked out. Though reporters haven't had a chance to watch practice since Aug. 2, there have been some developments worth updating. Here's what we've been hearing in the past week: There's not a lot of news on the quarterback front other than that the competition hasn't been decided, which shouldn't come as a surprise. It seems that some fans want Day to come out and name a quarterback already, much like Alabama did by naming Ty Simpson its starter, but what the Buckeyes are doing is understandable. Ohio State is working with two inexperienced quarterbacks, neither of whom has made a start yet. Lincoln Kienholz played in the 2023 Cotton Bowl loss, but that was a long enough time ago that it feels irrelevant. He didn't throw a pass last year, while Sayin had just 12 attempts as the third-stringer. Because of the inexperience, Ohio State would benefit from getting each player as many reps as possible in the first half of camp, and that's what it is doing right now. Kienholz and Sayin are splitting reps again this week. 'We are trying to get both guys ready to go win the game,' Day said. 'I think we have to have them both ready to play in that first game, and as we get closer we'll name a starter and go from there, but we need them both and that's the goal right now.' I think it's fair to say that Sayin holds a lead, but they're also two different quarterbacks. Sayin has shown better arm talent, and Day continues to praise him for his decision-making. The key for him is moving the offense down the field consistently. He did a nice job of that in the spring game, but can he duplicate it week after week once the season begins? That's the question. If you're a coach and you still have that question on Aug 11, then it doesn't matter what the arm talent looks like, the competition has to go on into the next scrimmage at least. Advertisement That's not to say Kienholz hasn't shown off his arm, either. He's the better athlete of the two and that's where his strength is. He's been in command of the offense this summer and physically looks much different. Being named an 'Iron Buckeye' is no small matter, either. But we're past the conservations about the offseason, improved mechanics and who is looking comfortable in the offense. Those are opening-week conversations. It's now going to come down to who can consistently move the offense down the field. I wouldn't be surprised if Day ends the quarterback battle when he speaks next week and names Sayin the starter. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if it stretches into game week before Texas visits, either. To name a starter right now would've been too early, given the state of the competition throughout the offseason. This will all work itself out, and from what the staff and people around the program have said, this isn't a competition between two average quarterbacks playing it out. There's talent and upside to consider with both players. For those who have been reading all offseason, you've probably heard about how much Austin Siereveld has impressed the staff. He entered camp as a surefire starter, in my eyes, but I expected him to be at right tackle. Now, in the second week, he's working exclusively at left tackle. That's a major development because many assumed that Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, who was the No. 6 senior tackle in Dane Brugler's preseason NFL Draft rankings, would take over at left tackle. Onianwa looks the part and even dropped more than 20 pounds during offseason workouts. But Siereveld has become the name to watch. His offseason development is a major boost to an offensive line that was already deep coming into the preseason. Now, it's even better. Advertisement If camp ended today, Ohio State would likely run out against Texas with the lineup of Siereveld at left tackle, Luke Montgomery at left guard, Carson Hinzman at center, Tegra Tshabola at right guard and either Onianwa or Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels at right tackle. Daniels has gone from rotational player to potential starter after a good scrimmage on Saturday. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen raved about his 'mean streak,' and when he talks you can understand why. 'When you are beating on people, they don't like to get beat on,' Daniels said. 'That's when they react and we are going to scuffle. Me not reacting, I'm going to start winning more. I'm just here to get my job done and sometimes you have to get dirty.' This tackle group is so talented that Ohio State is even working Onianwa at guard a bit as it tries to give its players secondary and primary targets. This is a deep unit when you begin referring to a potential Day 2 NFL Draft pick as a 'swing player.' That's not to say Onianwa won't start; it's just reality for Bowen's group right now: He has to mix and match and find the best five in the next week or two. Bowen hasn't gone into how many players deep he feels like he can go, but realistically this feels like the deepest Ohio State offensive line in a few years and it should continue to rotate throughout the season. This is a major development and one that could make a huge impact with a first-time starting running back and quarterback lined up in the backfield. Coming into camp, one of the major position concerns was defensive tackle. Those concerns grew when Eddrick Houston went down on the first day with an injury, though it turned out to not be serious. Since then, reviews have been that the defensive tackles have been stellar, especially Kayden McDonald. Advertisement For much of the offseason, I thought McDonald would turn into a star, and it sounds like he's playing like it in camp. Running back James Peoples has raved about him, along with just about anybody else you ask. For as much criticism as Larry Johnson gets on the recruiting trail, he really does a great job of developing tackles. The last three, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton and Michael Hall Jr., were all draft picks. McDonald sounds like he's working his way into one as well. If that's the case, Ohio State is going to have a duo of Houston and McDonald that should give defenses headaches. Ohio State can live with 15 snaps a game from Jason Moore, Tywone Malone and/or Will Smith Jr. There's been optimism about that depth as well. Tshabola said that all of the defensive tackles bring a different skill set when they are in, and center Josh Padilla raved about Smith after practice on Tuesday. 'Will has taken great strides this year,' Padilla said. 'I feel like he's a whole different player.' Still, Day said on Monday he wants to see more. 'We say all the time, you're either a pro or a player,' Day said. 'If you're a player it means you can do some things but you're inconsistent. A pro does it the same way every single time and that's the challenge. We've seen guys flash, but we need more consistency.' At the midway point of the preseason, I tend to side with the belief that my biggest concern, the defensive line, isn't as big of a deal as I once thought and that Johnson will be able to put a strong rotation together despite losing all four starters to the NFL. We still need to see this group in a game setting together, so I still worry slightly about the tackle depth in a long season, but the talent is obvious in the starting group. (Photo of Julian Sayin: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network via Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Forbes
4 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
2025 Preseason College Football Polls Dominated By The SEC And Big Ten
The super conference model is not yet a part of the college football landscape. It might as well be, however, as the SEC and Big Ten continue to operate within a sphere far removed the others. Such proof can once again be found in the top 25 preseason polls where the two conferences combine to occupy 16 spots in the AP and 15 in the coaches'. The tally was 15/15 last year. Led by No. 1 Texas, the Big Ten and SEC together occupy seven of the top nine spots in both polls, and 11 of the top 15. Such dominance, of course, is in part a byproduct of the rich getting richer. Both conferences added inventory following the 2023-24 season when the SEC expanded to 16 teams by welcoming Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12, and the Big Ten swelled to 18 teams with the addition of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington from the Pac-12. It all makes for an even juicier heavyweight matchup August 30 when the top-ranked Longhorns travel to Columbus to meet the No. 3/2 Buckeyes in the season opener for both. The teams met in a CFP semifinal last season with eventual national champ Ohio State prevailing, 28-14. Led by the Super 2, here are a few (alphabetical) observations from the preseason polls ahead of the season kicking off August 23 in Dublin with a Big 12 clash between No. 17/20 Kansas State and No. 22/21 Iowa State. Alabama The No. 8/8 Crimson Tide do not open as a top-five team for the first time since Nick Saban's initial season in Tuscaloosa. That was 2008 when 'Bama was No. 24/NR before reeling off 16 straight appearances in the top five of both polls. By the way, the Tide went 12-2 in Saban's debut on the Bryant-Denny Stadium home sideline and finished No. 6/6. Kalen DeBoer went 9-4 and No. 17 in both polls in his 2024 debut with Alabama. Arizona State The Sun Devils went from consecutive 3-9 seasons to the playoff last year and there is belief among the pollsters that third-year coach Kenny Dillingham has his squad poised for more good things in 2025 even with running back Cam Skattebo in the NFL. In fact, the No. 11/11 preseason showing is the Sun Devils' highest since opening at No. 8/9 in 1998, a season that resulted in a 5-6 mark under Bruce Snyder. Boise State The Broncos' pulling up the bottom of both polls is notable for the fact no non-power conference team was ranked in either poll heading into the 2024 season. Spencer Danielson's team started 3-1 last season with the only loss by a field goal at Oregon. BSU worked its way into the top 10 and, as the leader of the pack among the Group Five, advanced to the playoff where they lost to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty is in the NFL, though plenty of production on both sides returns, including junior quarterback Maddux Madsen. Florida The No. 15/17 Gators return to the preseason polls following a three-year hiatus. In fact, it has been since the 1960s that they went four straight years without being included. A strong finish to 2024 – four straight wins, including over ranked LSU and Ole Miss – resulted in an 8-5 season and plenty of optimism that rolled into the offseason in Gainesville. That optimism carries over big time thanks largely to quarterback D.J. Lagway, who could very well be part of the Heisman conversation in his first season as the starter out of the chute. Georgia Make it eight straight years the No. 5/4 Bulldogs have appeared in the top five of both preseason polls. In a larger picture that begins in 2012 under Mark Richt, UGA has now opened in the top 10 in 11 of 14 years. Believe it or not, the 2025 season is Kirby Smart's 10th at the helm in Athens. His first season (2016, preseason No. 18) was the last time Georgia opened outside the top 15. Illinois The last time No. 12/12 Illinois and No. 20/19 Indiana (below) were in the preseason polls together? You can stop searching because this is a first. Bret Bielema's Fighting Illini were one of five Big Ten teams with at least 10 wins last year (10-3), which was the first such season for Illinois since Ron Turner led his squad to a 10-2 mark and Sugar Bowl appearance in 2001. The good feeling heading into this season swirls around a bevy of returning starters on both sides of scrimmage, including QB Luke Altmyer and DB Xavier Scott. Indiana This marks the second time this decade the No. 20/19 Hoosiers open a season in the top 25 after concluding the previous one in the polls. See also 2020-21 under Tom Allen. Curt Cignetti's first season in Bloomington was a magic carpet ride of sorts as an 11-2 campaign (that began 10-0 ) represented the first time in school history the Hoosiers won more than nine games. While Oregon and Penn State played for the Big Ten conference title, Indiana went straight to the playoff, a first-round defeat at Notre Dame. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke was one-and-done at IU, and filling his shoes is a major task. Notre Dame The No. 6/5 Fighting Irish are the highest ranked non-B10/SEC team in the coaches' poll, though Clemson, at No. 4, has that distinction in the AP. Coach Marcus Freeman will turn to a new starting quarterback – either redshirt freshman C.J. Carr or sophomore Kenny Minchey – during a demanding start to the season that features a trip to Miami and visit from Texas A&M. Ohio State The last time the No. 3/2 Buckeyes were not in the preseason rankings? That was 1988 in John Cooper's first season and with the Buckeyes were coming off a 6-4-1 campaign in Earle Bruce's final year at the helm in Columbus. Things got worse before they got better under Cooper as Ohio State went 4-6-1 in '88. The Buckeyes extended their record of being ranked in the preseason to 72 years. This is also the 13th straight year they will open among the top six teams. Oklahoma There is no greater disparity in the polls than the Sooners checking in at No. 18 in the AP and being the best of the rest among the coaches who voted. With 221 voting points in the latter, OU is 25 points in arrears of No. 25 Boise State. This marks the third consecutive preseason the Sooners are outside the top 10, something that last happened 1996-2000, a stretch that included four years being unranked. SMU It was 40 years ago that the No. 16/16 Mustangs were last ranked in the preseason. A death penalty, continued residency in Southwest Conference and membership in the WAC, Conference USA, American and, currently, the ACC, have followed since Bobby Collins' squad opened the 1985 season at No. 3. Alas, this was no Pony Express of Eric Dickerson/Craig James fame. Rather, the season was a ho-hum 6-5. Such a record looked like something special given the Mustangs, thanks to their NCAA-imposed two-year ban (1987-88) from the gridiron, would not win more than a half dozen games until 2009. The 2025 season will be their second enjoying the riches of the ACC. South Carolina Steve Spurrier was in charge when the Gamecocks last appeared in the preseason polls in 2014. That was the last full season in Columbia for the 'Head Ball Coach' following a trio of 11-2 showings, seasons that were capped by bowl wins and top-10 finishes. Shane Beamer has a pair of postseason rankings on his resume in four years as South Carolina's coach, incluidng No. 19/19 last season. This year marks the first time the No. 13/13 Gamecocks open a season ranked on his watch. Texas Tech The preseason polls represent the first time the No. 23/24 Red Raiders are ranked at any point since they appeared at No. 25 for one week in 2018 under Kliff Kingsbury. A decade earlier, Mike Leach's squad soared as high as No. 2 before winding up the 2008 season where they started: at No. 12. That was Tech's last appearance in the preseason top 25.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Texas getting too much benefit in preseason rankings?
Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton discuss the Longhorns' placement atop the initial preseason AP poll and whether it's right. View more Video Transcript The college football poll is out, the AP poll. Now, we can have a total debate on whether or not there should even be an AP poll this early, but the AP poll is out. The voters have spoken. To no surprise, Texas is the number one team in all the land. There's a lot to get to from this, uh, from this poll. You see Texas #1, Penn State #2, which differs from the coaches poll. Ohio State 3, Clemson 4, Georgia 5. Caroline, I keep looking at Texas and I keep saying, man, we are giving a lot of benefit of the doubt to Arch Manning, who has played about 3 seconds of meaningful college football so far. It is surprising to me that we are just allowing it to be a given that Arch, because of his last name and because of his recruiting ranking numbers, is suddenly gonna step in and be the single greatest college quarterback we've ever seen in Texas. We'll be back. And look, you might be. Like I'm, I'm not gonna say it's completely out of the realm of possibility that Texas is very much so back and Arch Manning is one of the best college quarterbacks that we have ever seen. Am I going to put money on it? No, I'm not. If I was a betting woman, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. I think Texas is back. They've been back to back Final Fours. How much more back could you be other than winning a national championship? That's a big that's a. other than, I'm not sure Texas fans agree. Are we allowed to call you back when you simply make the Final Four, like Texas, Penn State, Jordan. I, I don't know, Caroline. Yeah, I, I think that you very much so can because Texas has been swimming in the sea of suck for decades. That fits. I don't even know if I really remember a time when Texas football was actually legitimately good in, in the championship conversation. I mean, Texas was a miserable football program. Now we're talking about Texas being one of the best teams in the country, one of the best recruiting teams in the country, with one of the smartest offensive minds at the head coach, and they're pretty much consistently a contender for a national championship and consistently in the college football playoff discussion. So I say, yes, definitively, Texas is back. Now, you got to win a national championship in In order to cap off this, you know, this span of spending in this. Fan of winning that we have seen from Texas, and I understand. Look, your thought about, are we just gonna give Texas the benefit of the doubt just because of who their quarterback is and just because they were a solid team last year and just because their coach is really easy to trust. I, I, I understand those sentiments that there's a lot of just trust in this ranking, this preseason ranking for Texas. But my question for you and anybody else who feels this way is, and who deserves to be number one, really. I think this is a year in college football where it feels more open than any other year because to me, there is not one clear cut this team is significantly better than any other team in the field, because if you look at the AP top 10, #1, Texas, they're replacing their starting quarterback. Number 3, Ohio State replacing a starting quarterback. Number 5, 6, 7, 8, and number 10, that is Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, and Miami, all replacing starting quarterbacks, and several of those teams are replacing coordinators. Ohio State is replacing both their offensive and defensive coordinators. We have so little consistency and continuity among the big brands and the best teams in football. That's, I don't know who I trust to be the number one team in all the land. So if not Texas, then who? Close
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
AP Top 25: Texas edges Penn State in close vote for No. 1 in preseason college football poll
Texas is No. 1 in the AP preseason college football poll for the first time in school history as Arch Manning and the Longhorns try to follow-up consecutive Playoff semifinal appearances with a national title. The Longhorns received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points in the rankings released Monday to edge past No. 2 Penn State in the closest preseason vote since 1998. The Nittany Lions have their best preseason ranking since they started No. 1 in 1997. Penn State received 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points. Advertisement Defending national champion Ohio State is No. 3 with 11 first-place votes. The Buckeyes host Texas to open the season on Aug. 30. Clemson is No. 4 with four first-place votes, followed by No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Miami. Georgia and Oregon each got one first-place vote. The Crimson Tide are ranked outside the preseason top five for the first time since 2008, when Nick Saban's second Alabama team began the season ranked No. 24 and went on to finish sixth. Texas is the 24th school to be preseason No. 1. Oklahoma, the Longhorns' Red River rivals, has the record with 10 appearances at No. 1 since the preseason poll started in 1950. Alabama has been preseason No. 1 nine times and Ohio State eight. Texas is the eighth school to be preseason No. 1 while in the SEC. Last season, the Longhorns' first in the conference after leaving the Big 12, Texas finished first in the regular season and lost in the SEC title game. The Longhorns' season ended in the CFP semifinals with a loss to Ohio State. This story will be updated. (Photo of Arch Manning: Tim Warner / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
