The USA Today Coaches' Poll came out late Thursday morning, with the Boston College Eagles debuting at no. ... just kidding. Boston College didn't receive any votes.
While Boston College didn't receive any preseason poll love, four of the Eagles 2012 opponents were ranked in the first USA Today Coaches poll. Florida State tops the list of 2012 opponents coming in at no. 7, followed by No. 14 Clemson, No. 20 Virginia Tech and No. 24 Notre Dame.
These seem like fair assessments of Clemson and Virginia Tech. We've seen this movie before for Florida State, and while the Seminoles return a more healthy and deeply talented roster, I'll believe the 'Noles are back when they prove it on the field. I don't doubt that Florida State can live up to its preseason billing this year; they've simply lost the benefit of the doubt for me and need to prove that they belong among the nation's Top 10 teams.
Notre Dame seemingly gets in based on their boyish charm and dashing good looks, but the Irish are only coming off an 8-5 season and has one of the more difficult schedules in the country this year. I would be surprised to see Notre Dame ranked in the final USA Today Coaches' Poll when it's all said and done.
Georgia Tech received 35 votes (equivalent of 28th place) and N.C. State 11 votes (35th), so the Eagles could conceivably face up to 5-6 ranked teams this season.
The good news is that of the four teams currently ranked in the preseason Top 25, three -- Clemson, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame -- are home games. More good news: the release of the preseason USA Today Coaches poll means we're that much closer to real, live college football.
Leave your thoughts on the preseason poll below. Full preseason poll after the jump.
Rank Team (first-place votes) Record Points Final 2011 rank
1. LSU Tigers (18) 13-1 1,403 2
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (20) 12-1 1,399 1
3. USC Trojans (19) 10-2 1,388 NR
4. Oklahoma Sooners 10-3 1,276 15
5. Oregon Ducks 12-2 1,258 4
6. Georgia Bulldogs 10-4 1,061 20
7. Florida St. Seminoles 9-4 1,055 23
8. Michigan Wolverines 11-2 1,023 9
9. South Carolina Gamecocks 11-2 981 8
10. Arkansas Razorbacks 11-2 948 5
11. West Virginia Mountaineers 10-3 833 18
12. Wisconsin Badgers 11-3 743 11
13. Michigan St. Spartans 11-3 717 10
14. Clemson Tigers 10-4 598 22
15. Texas Longhorns 8-5 549 NR
16. Nebraska Cornhuskers 9-4 501 24
17. TCU Horned Frogs 11-2 499 13
18. Stanford Cardinal 11-2 497 7
19. Oklahoma St. Cowboys 12-1 476 3
20. Virginia Tech Hokies 11-3 461 17
21. Kansas St. Wildcats 10-3 398 16
22. Boise St. Broncos 12-1 271 6
23. Florida Gators 7-6 250 NR
24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-5 166 NR
25. Auburn Tigers 8-5 66 NR
Others receiving votes (with 2011 records)
Washington Huskies (7-6) 64; Louisville Cardinals (7-6) 46; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-5) 35; Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3) 32; Texas A&M Aggies (7-6) 28; Baylor Bears (10-3) 23; Utah Utes (8-5) 22; Mississippi St. Bulldogs (7-6) 21; South Florida Bulls (5-7) 12; N.C. State Wolfpack (8-5) 11; BYU Cougars (10-3) 10; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (8-5) 10; Virginia Cavaliers (8-5) 9; Houston Cougars (13-1) 7; Southern Miss. Golden Eagles (12-2) 6; Central Florida Knights (5-7) 5; Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-4) 5; Fla. International Panthers (8-5) 3; Missouri Tigers (8-5) 3; Tennessee Volunteers (5-7) 3; Northern Illinois Huskies (11-3) 2; Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-7) 1.