Unlike in years past, the Amway (nee USA Today) coaches’ poll will have no bearing, outside of possibly influencing the members of the College Football Playoff selection committee, on college football’s postseason. In fact, it’s turned into nothing more than what the Associated Press’ version has been for years: an exercise to give the fans something to argue and/or whine about in between/before the start of games.
With that in mind... the first coaches’ poll of the year is here!!!
In the first-ever Amway coaches’ poll, and as expected, defending champion Florida State will enter the 2014 season ranked No. 1. FSU was tapped first on 56 of the 62 coaches ballots.
Others receiving first-place votes were Oklahoma with three while Oregon, Ohio State and South Carolina took one each. Interestingly, the No. 2 team wasn’t among them as Alabama, 88 points behind the Seminoles, wasn’t deemed worthy of a first-place nod, at least as of yet.
The Sooners and Ducks were right behind the Tide at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, with the Buckeyes at No. 6 and Gamecocks at No. 9. The remainder of the Top 10 consists of BCS runner-up Auburn (No. 5), UCLA (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 8) and Baylor (No. 10).
Conference-wise, and just as expected, the SEC led all leagues with seven teams in the Top 25. The were followed by the Pac-12’s six, four each from the Big Ten and Big 12 and three each from the ACC. There were no non-Power Five conference teams in the initial mix, with Notre Dame and its ACC affiliation claiming the remaining spot.
Below are the full poll results. Below that you bitch, whine or moan about your team’s placement in the comments section.
1. Florida State (56 first place votes)
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma (3)
4. Oregon (1)
5. Auburn
6. Ohio State (1)
7. UCLA
8. Michigan State
9. South Carolina (1)
10. Baylor
11. Stanford
12. Georgia
13. LSU
14. Wisconsin
15. USC
16. Clemson
17. Notre Dame
18. Arizona State
19. Ole Miss
20. Texas A&M
21. Kansas State
22. Nebraska
23. North Carolina
24. Texas
25. Washington