2008 Preseason AP Football Poll released...

We were driving back from Kids Day at the University of Iowa yesterday, when the news was reporting the release of the Preseason AP Football Poll for 2008.

Less than 14 days for Hawkeyes fans, Panther fans and less than 12 days for Cyclone fans for kickoff of the 2008 College Football Season. Plenty of work out of the State of Iowa, since no preseason love in the FBS for either Iowa or Iowa State by AP pollsters, unlike Michigan State, Arizona, Nebraska and Notre Dame, who were among the others receiving 2 or more votes.

1. Georgia (22) 11-2 1528 2
2. Ohio State (21) 11-2 1506 5
3. Southern Cal (12) 11-2 1490 3
4. Oklahoma (4) 11-3 1444 8
5. Florida (6) 9-4 1415 13
6. Missouri 12-2 1266 4
7. LSU 12-2 1135 1

8. West Virginia 11-2 1116 6
9. Clemson 9-4 1105 21
10. Auburn 9-4 968 15
11. Texas 10-3 966 10
12. Texas Tech 9-4 786 22
13. Wisconsin 9-4 771 24
14. Kansas 12-1 707 7
15. Arizona State 10-3 631 16
16. BYU 11-2 590 14
17. Virginia Tech 11-3 578 9
18. Tennessee 10-4 509 12
19. South Florida 9-4 496 NR
20. Illinois 9-4 483 20
21. Oregon 9-4 366 23
22. Penn State 9-4 293 NR
23. Wake Forest 9-4 227 NR
24. Alabama 7-6 89 NR

25. Pittsburgh 5-7 85 NR

Iowa will travel to face #25 Pittsburgh and #20 Illinois this season, while hosting #13 Wisconsin and #22 Penn State. Northern Iowa will open the season at #16 Brigham Young, while Iowa State hosts #14 Kansas and #6 Missouri in Big 12 play. Of course, the above rankings are only preseason and the 2008 college football season will clearly shake out some things before all is said and done.

Is Georgia #1? The Bulldogs in the SEC, will face #24 Alabama, #18 Tennessee, at #7 LSU, #5 Florida in Jacksonville, at #10 Auburn, with a trip at #15 Arizona State before the Top 25 tour in the SEC. It could be a rocky road for the Bulldogs in '08 in making it from preseason #1 to BCS Title Game participant.

The match up of #2 Ohio State at #3 USC on September 13th is certainly the game of the early 2008 season. A win for the Buckeyes would be huge for their title hopes in '08. If it is #1 Georgia vs. #2 Ohio State in the BCS Title Game this year, look for the Bulldogs to get the monkey off their backs vs. the SEC. Georgia is one SEC team that the Buckeyes appear capable of matching up with.

In addition to Georgia-ASU and OSU-USC this season, there are some other great interconference games this year between preseason Top 25 teams: #6 Missouri vs. #20 Illinois (Opener), #10 Auburn at #8 West Virginia, #9 Clemson vs. #24 Alabama (Opener), #14 Kansas at #19 South Florida, though the 12 game season format doesn't encourage enough of them. But, there will always be some good intraconference match ups to look forward to and plenty of opportunities to see the final Top 25 shake out.

peace