The 2008 USA Today/Coaches Poll has been released (HT: In the Bleachers).
1. Georgia (22) 1,438
2. Southern California (14) 1,430
3. Ohio State (14) 1,392
4. Oklahoma (3) 1,329
5. Florida (5) 1,293
6. LSU (3) 1,163
7. Missouri 1,143
8. West Virginia 1,008
9. Clemson 999
10. Texas 979
11. Auburn 888
12. Wisconsin 747
13. Kansas 714
14. Texas Tech 644
15. Virginia Tech 568
16. Arizona State 560
17. Brigham Young 547
18. Tennessee 506
19. Illinois 422
20. Oregon 399
21. South Florida 350
22. Penn State 313
23. Wake Forest 203
24. Michigan 112
25. Fresno State 91
Others receiving votes
Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.
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A few comments:
- We are 36th.
- We got more votes than Notre Dame.
- And Colorado. Yay.
- Missouri ranked seventh, behind Florida AND LSU, the LSU that doesn't have a quarterback?
- Alabama isn't in the Top 25. Hyuk!
- Gee, that's five ranked Big 12 teams in the top 14, but more important the lowest of which is higher than the SEC.
- Could it be that the Big 12 is challenging the SEC for conference domination this season? YES! But don't dare say that around SEC people because they're not rational about it. They'll start throwing all sorts of Southern Drawl spew at you and just wear you down, so you might do well to remember the midwestern phrase:
Never Teach A Pig to Sing
It Wastes Your Time And Annoys the Pig
Did I just call SEC fans pigs? Only metaphorically. Does that count?