The pre-season USA Today Coaches poll is out, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #1:
For Ohio State University, the Maurice Clarett hangover is finally gone.
Four years and a series of public embarrassments after their last national football title, the Buckeyes are projected to return to the top of the college football world this fall.
Ohio State, behind the electrifying offensive talents of quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., is No. 1 in the USA TODAY Coaches’ preseason poll released Friday, their first time in the top spot since the end of the 2002 season.
The poll results can be found here. The No. 2 slot went to Texas, who will be facing the Buckeyes in Austin the second Saturday in September.
August 4th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Sweet!!!!!!!!!
Go Buckeyes!!!
August 4th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
I don’t pretend to follow current happenings in the Happy Valley, but it strike me as an absolute crime that Penn State is listed as No. 19, with their incredible season last year and after prevailing in perhaps one of the five best football games ever.
Joe Pa is God!
August 4th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
At the same time, Mrs. Young — a Buckeye born and bred — is ecstatic.
August 4th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
James,
I think the reason Penn State fell so far in the pre-season rankings is because the players they lost to graduation this year. From what I’ve read, the perception among analysts is that they are weaker this year than they were last year.
By the way, if all works out as planned, Kellie and I will be in Columbus Sept. 22nd to see the Buckeyes take on Penn State.
August 4th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
1. That’s what I suspected; and
2. I’m jealous.
I haven’t been to a Penn State game for 25 years. My grandparents had season tickets on the 40-yard line, halfway up on the home side.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:01 am
I can’t wait for football season to start. I hope the Bucks live up to the hype. I’ll be a nervous wreck the Saturday of the Texas game.
August 19th, 2006 at 7:18 am
[...] Following up on their No. 1 position in the USA Today pre-season Coaches Poll released earlier this month, the Ohio State Buckeyes are also No. 1 in the pre-season Associated Press Poll: NEW YORK — When Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and the rest of Ohio State’s blazing Buckeyes were last seen on a big stage, they were whizzing around Sun Devil Stadium at warp speed. [...]