USA Today Coach's Poll Out

[AUChizad]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm

Pos.  Team  1st   Pts. Last year
1. LSU (18)  13-1 1,403 2
2. Alabama (20) 12-1 1,399 1
3. Southern California (19) 10-2 1,388 NR
4. Oklahoma (1) 10-3 1,276 15
5. Oregon  12-2 1,258 4
6. Georgia  10-4 1,061 20
7. Florida State (1) 9-4 1,055 23
8. Michigan 11-2 1,023 9
9. South Carolina 11-2 981 8
10. Arkansas  11-2 948 5
11. West Virginia 10-3 833 18
12. Wisconsin  11-3 743 11
13. Michigan State  11-3 717 10
14. Clemson  10-4 598 22
15. Texas  8-5 549 NR
16. Nebraska 9-4 501 24
17. TCU 11-2 499 13
18. Stanford  11-2 497 7
19. Oklahoma State  12-1 476 3
20. Virginia Tech  11-3 461 17
21. Kansas State  10-3 398 16
22. Boise State  12-1 271 6
23. Florida 7-6 250 NR
24. Notre Dame  8-5 166 NR
25. Auburn 8-5 66 NR

Bruce Feldman thinks this is proof that Notre Dame has the toughest schedule in CFB.

https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/231060379294367744

@BFeldmanCBS
‏A big reason ND has toughest sked in the nation: 5 Irish opponents in top 18: USC-3, OU-4, MICH-8, MSU-13 & STAN-18.

When an Auburn fan pointed out that Auburn has 5 in the top 14 including 1, 2, 6, & 10, he poo-pooed it with:

@BFeldmanCBS
That is rough, but ND also doesn't play ANY FCS programs or anyone from Sun Belt. @friedmanhall Auburn plays #1,2,6,10 & 14

Judging how non-idiots do, by rating from the top down, and not from the bottom, up, we've got to have the toughest schedule in CFB. Ole Miss is the next closest I can think of with the same ranked opponents we have except minus Clemson, plus Auburn, and Clemson's ranked nine spots higher than us.

[Godfather]

Unfortunetly top to bottom I would say Feldman is right.  AS of right now.

We shall see once the season is over.

[AUChizad]

Unfortunetly top to bottom I would say Feldman is right.  AS of right now.

We shall see once the season is over.

Yeah. I missed that Ole Miss plays Texas too.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/bruce-feldman/19184201/top-10-list-toughest-schedules-of-2012

Top 10 list: Toughest schedules of 2012

By Bruce Feldman | Senior College Football Columnist
10:48 AM ET May 28, 2012

USC is one of five likely top-15 teams that Notre Dame will face. (Getty Images)

This week's Top 10 list: Toughest schedules in 2012. To help figure things out, I awarded a point system to every team's opponents: 1 for a “cupcake;” 2 for a decent team; 3 for a top 40 caliber opponent; 4 for a top 20ish opponent; 5 for a Top 5 heavyweight. I'd also bump up the point total, usually half a point, if it were a road opponent. (When it came to ties, such as Michigan vs. KU vs. Ole Miss, I factored in things like sequencing -- meaning the Alabama into Air Force game makes AFA a bit tougher than it would normally be. Same for Ole Miss having an easier opening month.)

1. Notre Dame: Wait, where are the cupcakes? Notre Dame is one of the few programs that doesn't play any FCS programs. The closest things to “cupcake games” are the opener against Navy in Ireland (the Midshipmen have won 24 games the past three seasons); Purdue (a Big Ten team which won seven games in 2011); at BC (who did beat both NC State and Miami last year) or against Wake Forest (which has beaten FSU four of the past six times they've met.) More impressively, the Irish face five teams that have a good shot to be in the top 15: at Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, at Oklahoma and then the Irish finish at arch-rival USC. Perhaps the best proof of how hefty this route is for the Irish, consider that Miami--after BYU (a team that may win 10 games this fall)--could prove to be the seventh toughest game on the schedule. Points: 42

2. Washington: The Huskies, who are completely overhauling a dreadful 2011 defense, don't have too much time to ease into things. They start with San Diego State (who's won 17 games the past two seasons), then venture off to Baton Rouge to face a loaded LSU squad. After the encounter with the Tigers, they get FCS Portland State before the Huskies get into the teeth of their schedule: a three-game stretch against Stanford, the most physical team in the Pac-12, at Oregon and then home against USC to wrap things up against the league's three most talented teams. That means Steve Sarkisian's team faces three teams that figure to be ranked in the preseason Top 5 (USC, LSU and Oregon) and two of those games are on the road. It'll also be interesting to see how healthy and focused the Huskies are after enduring so many heavyweights early because the latter half of the season is packed with road trips. Points: 41.5

3. Oregon State: Nicholls State is a comfy opponent to open with, but then a punishing Wisconsin team comes to Corvallis. The Badgers, combined with a trip to BYU, translate into a pretty unpleasant non-conference schedule even with Nicholls as the third part of things. In the second half of the season, when coach Mike Riley very likely will be battling to keep his job, his team has to deal with Utah, Washington, Arizona State, Stanford, Cal and Oregon, which translates to probably five of the six best teams in the league. The good news: at least the Beavers miss out on USC. The bad news: Washington State or ASU is probably the second-easiest matchup the entire season. Points 40.5

4. Michigan: Year Two for Brady Hoke begins against the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in Arlington, Texas. Good luck with that one. The Wolverines then don't have much time to bounce back after dealing with such a punishing opponent since they get Air Force in Week Two. The Falcons are always a headache to prepare, coming off a game Alabama figures to make them that much more of a problem. The easiest match-up of the season comes in Week Three against UMASS, which is transitioning into becoming a MAC team. Then, the Wolverines visit Notre Dame to wrap up a brutal non-conference slate. In Big Ten play, they have two ominous road trips: to Nebraska (which comes the week after playing rival Michigan State) and then the finale at Ohio State. Points: 39.5

5. Kansas: Charlie Weis inherits a two-win team and a schedule that, after the first two weeks, features 10 consecutive solid opponents that include a trip to face an underrated NIU team, at K-State, at OU, at Texas Tech and a finish in Morgantown. It also makes things seem more ominous for a team when you're the only real hapless program in a league where everyone else is dangerous as the Big 12. Just ask OU and Oklahoma State, who each were knocked off by Texas Tech and Iowa State last year. And then by adding in TCU and WVU, things only got rougher in the Big 12. Points: 39.5

6. Ole Miss: If you only look at the first month of the season, things seem quite favorable for new coach Hugh Freeze. The Rebels have three straight home games, with a Week Three visit from Texas being the only one where they'll be an underdog. In Week Four, Ole Miss goes to a rebuilding Tulane program. That means before the end of the September, the Rebels should've surpassed their entire win total of the previous year, and that's really without having beaten anyone too imposing (assuming they are 3-1 with the lone loss against Texas.) But it's after that where things get nasty: the Rebels crack the top six on this list for this reason alone: they have four road games at Alabama; Arkansas, Georgia and LSU, probably the four most talented teams in the country's toughest league. Throw in games against Texas A&M, Auburn and Miss. State and it makes you think it's going to be another dismal fall for the Rebels. Points: 39.5

7. Auburn: The Tigers open with one of the most explosive teams in the country, facing Clemson in Atlanta. Then visit Miss. State. Their conference schedule isn't as ominous as Ole Miss because at least Auburn gets to host LSU, Arkansas, Georgia. Of course, the Tigers do have to go visit their archrival Alabama. Points: 39.25

8. Iowa State: Tulsa and at Iowa aren't easy matchups for the Cyclones to open the non-conference with. Aside from Kansas, which is sandwiched in between late games at Texas and against WVU, no other Big 12 team seems like it won't be a bowl contender in the league. Points: 39

9. Cal: The Bears get seven home games, which is nice but they also have back-to-back road trips to Ohio State and USC in the opening month of the season. There is also a four-game stretch of Stanford, at Utah, Washington and Oregon and that comes right after a trip to Wazzu, which is going to be a handful for teams to prepare for this fall. Points: 37.5

10. South Carolina: The SEC East teams typically have the easier road these days of the two sides of the country's top conference. The Gamecocks, though, get to go to LSU this fall, which is obviously no cupcake trip. The game with the Tigers also is sandwiched between games against Georgia and at Florida. South Carolina then finishes up at archrival Clemson this year. Points: 37.5

[GH2001]

Unfortunetly top to bottom I would say Feldman is right.  AS of right now.

We shall see once the season is over.

Have to agree with GF here. ND has a sick top to bottom schedule. We at least get some breathers. Feldman isn't off base here IMHO.

[Snaggletiger]

SEC with 5 of the top 10.  Not too shaggy there Scoob.  Unfortunately, we play 4 of them

[JR4AU]

So, when Auburn beats Klimpsum, will they say they were overrated, or we were underrated? 

[Snaggletiger]

So, when Auburn beats Klimpsum, will they say they were overrated, or we were underrated?

yes

[AUChizad]

So, when Auburn beats Klimpsum, will they say they were overrated, or we were underrated?

Certainly they will be overrated. You already know the answer to that. And it will be considered an anomaly.

Week 2 will have Clemson ranked 19th and Auburn 24th.

[Townhallsavoy]

I can see Alabama being top 5, but why #2?

They have to replace starters (and damn good ones) at:

RB
WR (2)
TE/HB
C
NT
OLB (Jack)
MLB
CB (2)
SS
KR
PR

And they're the #2 team in the country?  This team has more question marks than most in the top 25.  Sure, they have almighty God Saban and plenty of recruiting talent, but there is no reason - intelligent reason - to put them at #2. 

[Snaggletiger]

I can see Alabama being top 5, but why #2?

They have to replace starters (and damn good ones) at:

RB
WR (2)
TE/HB
C
NT
OLB (Jack)
MLB
CB (2)
SS
KR
PR

And they're the #2 team in the country?  This team has more question marks than most in the top 25.  Sure, they have almighty God Saban and plenty of recruiting talent, but there is no reason - intelligent reason - to put them at #2.

Blasphemer

[Vandy Vol]

I can see Alabama being top 5, but why #2?

They have to replace starters (and damn good ones) at:

RB
WR (2)
TE/HB
C
NT
OLB (Jack)
MLB
CB (2)
SS
KR
PR

And they're the #2 team in the country?  This team has more question marks than most in the top 25.  Sure, they have almighty God Saban and plenty of recruiting talent, but there is no reason - intelligent reason - to put them at #2.

Didn't I hear arguments last year that Auburn should be ranked #1 until they lost, regardless of what's changed in their roster lineup or even how close their first win was?

Not necessarily from you...I just recall that I heard them.

[dallaswareagle]

Yeah. I missed that Ole Miss plays Texas too.

A lot of Texas folks are talking out here about how UT is going into the SEC and teach them lesson. I try and point out that Ole piss is about the same as Rice only, Ole Miss Players are not as smart and most of them are not as good.   

[Townhallsavoy]

Didn't I hear arguments last year that Auburn should be ranked #1 until they lost, regardless of what's changed in their roster lineup or even how close their first win was?

Not necessarily from you...I just recall that I heard them.

Don't know don't care.

It's just more proof that these coaches polls are a total joke. 

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Don't know don't care.

It's just more proof that these coaches polls are a total joke.

Now the media poll!  That's where it's at!  A bunch of stone cold professionals with no axes to grind whatsoever.

[Snaggletiger]

Now the media poll!  That's where it's at!  A bunch of stone cold professionals with no axes to grind whatsoever.

Leave Steve Austin out of this

[Snaggletiger]

I agree that a corches poll doesn't even need to exist, especially once the season starts.  But honestly, hard to argue with much on this one.  Yeah, I might flip a few teams here and there.  I'd put FSU higher.  Don't know if they're actually better than most teams above them but they're supposed to have a big group returning and their schedule is incredibly weak.

[dallaswareagle]

Now the media poll!  That's where it's at!  A bunch of stone cold professionals with no axes to grind whatsoever.

Leave Steve Austin out of this

And Brian Bosworth

[AUChizad]

Didn't I hear arguments last year that Auburn should be ranked #1 until they lost, regardless of what's changed in their roster lineup or even how close their first win was?

Not necessarily from you...I just recall that I heard them.

What you probably heard moaning about was the inconsistency. That's how it's normally done, as evidenced this year, and every other year Auburn doesn't finish on top. Not necessarily #1, but at least Top 5.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/year/2011/week/1
The three major 2011 Preseason Polls had Auburn ranked 19th, 23rd, and unranked.

[War Eagle!!!]

What you probably heard moaning about was the inconsistency. That's how it's normally done, as evidenced this year, and every other year Auburn doesn't finish on top. Not necessarily #1, but at least Top 5.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/year/2011/week/1
The three major 2011 Preseason Polls had Auburn ranked 19th, 23rd, and unranked.

3 words dude...

Cam.
Fucking.
Newton.

[AUChizad]

3 words dude...

Cam.
Fucking.
Newton.

And Nick. Fucking. Fairley.
And Lee. Fucking. Ziemba.
And Ryan. Fucking. Pugh.
And Darvin. Fucking. Adams.
And Wes. Fucking. Byrum.

And others.

I'm not saying we should have been top 5 last year, by a long shot. I'm just saying, it seems the pollsters never show any imagination, sticking with the final rankings of the previous year for the next years' preseason poll. Unless that would be beneficial to Auburn. Then let the champions drop like an anchor.