The two Top 25 preseason polls are out: What should we take from them?

The preseason Top 25 preseason AP Poll and Coaches' Poll are out. What can we take from them entering the 2009 College Football season?

The Top 7 in each poll are the same!

1. Florida - the defending BCS champs
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech

Some questions on where to rank each between spots #8 through #11 ...

• Mississippi
• Oklahoma State
• Penn State
• LSU

The #12 and #13 teams are the same in each poll.

12. California and 13. Georgia

Both polls like the same #15 and #17 ...

15. Georgia Tech and 17. TCU

The #14 and #16 spots are flipped in each poll.

• Oregon or Boise State

The #18 and #19 spots are flipped in each poll.

• Florida State or Utah

Some questions on where to rank each between spots #20 through #24 ...

• Brigham Young
• North Carolina
• Iowa
• Notre Dame
• Nebraska

The final #25 team is different in each of the two preseason polls.

• Kansas in the AP
• Oregon State in the Coaches'

Others Receiving Votes in the 2009 preseason AP Poll:

Oregon State 122, Illinois 105, Pittsburgh 103, Michigan State 100, Rutgers 83, Texas Tech 76, West Virginia 57, Cincinnati 44, Clemson 42, Miami (FL) 40, East Carolina 30, Tennessee 15, Arizona 13, North Carolina State 10, Boston College 9, CENTRL MICHIGAN 7, Auburn 7, UCLA 7, Northwestern 5, South Florida 3, Southern Miss 3, Vanderbilt 3, Missouri 3, South Carolina 2, Nevada 1, Arkansas 1, Houston 1, TROY 1, Tulsa 1.

Others Receiving Votes in the 2009 preseason Coaches' Poll:

Kansas 138, Michigan State 136, Texas Tech 114, Cincinnati 90, Pittsburgh 64, West Virginia 55, Rutgers 51, Miami (FL) 46, Missouri 44, Illinois 38, Clemson 30, South Carolina 18, UCLA 14, Auburn 12, South Florida 11, Nevada 11, Kentucky 9, North Carolina State 7, Wisconsin 6, Arkansas 6, Northwestern 5, Southern Miss 4, Wake Forest 4, Arizona 3, Boston College 3, CENTRL MICHIGAN 3, East Carolina 3, Colorado 2, Maryland 2, Navy 2, Tennessee 2, TROY 1, Minnesota 1, Michigan 1, Houston 1.

The AP writers are a little more critical of teams that didn't perform as well in 2008 or with key performers that have departed, from my perspective with the Midwest teams. But, they seem to reward some of the East Coast teams for 2008. In the Big Ten, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin received no mention in the AP Poll. In the Big 12, Where's the love for Missouri in the AP Poll vs. the Coaches' Poll? Illinois is considered stronger in the AP Poll as well. Look at East Carolina and Boston College, for example in the AP Poll.

We are approaching Thursday, September 3Rd, which will kickoff the 2009 College Football schedule. Labor Day weekend will have games throughout the weekend.

peace