The Broncos are the highest ranked non-BCS team in the USA Today Coaches' Poll released today.
At No. 16, Boise State is one spot ahead of TCU and two spots in front of Utah. The Oregon Ducks came in at No. 14. Full poll and analysis after the jump.
Rank
|
Team (first-place votes) |
2008 record
|
Points
|
Final 2008 rank
|
|
1.
|
Florida (53)
|
13-1
|
1,466
|
1
|
|
2.
|
Texas (4)
|
12-1
|
1,386
|
3
|
|
3.
|
Oklahoma (1)
|
12-2
|
1,358
|
5
|
|
4.
|
Southern California (1)
|
12-1
|
1,321
|
2
|
|
5.
|
Alabama
|
12-2
|
1,134
|
6
|
|
6.
|
Ohio State
|
10-3
|
1,126
|
11
|
|
7.
|
Virginia Tech
|
10-4
|
1,020
|
14
|
|
8.
|
Penn State
|
11-2
|
988
|
8
|
|
9.
|
LSU
|
8-5
|
917
|
NR
|
|
10.
|
Mississippi
|
9-4
|
889
|
15
|
|
11.
|
Oklahoma State
|
9-4
|
861
|
18
|
|
12.
|
California
|
9-4
|
711
|
25
|
|
13.
|
Georgia
|
10-3
|
707
|
10
|
|
14.
|
Oregon |
10-3
|
694
|
9
|
|
15.
|
Georgia Tech
|
9-4
|
559
|
22
|
|
16.
|
Boise State |
12-1
|
542
|
13
|
|
17.
|
TCU
|
11-2
|
461
|
7
|
|
18.
|
Utah
|
13-0
|
404
|
4
|
|
19.
|
Florida State
|
9-4
|
371
|
23
|
|
20.
|
North Carolina |
8-5
|
293
|
NR
|
|
21.
|
Iowa
|
9-4
|
257
|
20
|
|
22.
|
Nebraska
|
9-4
|
236
|
NR
|
|
23.
|
Notre Dame |
7-6
|
194
|
NR
|
|
24.
|
Brigham Young
|
10-3
|
178
|
21
|
|
25.
|
Oregon State |
9-4
|
165
|
19
|
|
Others receiving votes (with 2008 records) | |||||
Kansas (8-5) 138; Michigan State (9-4) 136; Texas Tech (11-2) 114; Cincinnati (11-3) 90; Pittsburgh (9-4) 64; West Virginia (9-4) 55; Rutgers (8-5) 51; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 46; Missouri (10-4) 44; Illinois (5-7) 38; Clemson (7-6) 30; South Carolina (7-6) 18; UCLA (4-8) 14; Auburn (5-7) 12; Nevada (7-6) 11; South Florida (8-5) 11; Kentucky (7-6) 9; North Carolina State (6-7) 7; Arkansas (5-7) 6; Wisconsin (7-6) 6; Northwestern (9-4) 5; Southern Mississippi (7-6) 4; Wake Forest (8-5) 4; Arizona (8-5) 3; Boston College (9-5) 3; Central Michigan (8-5) 3; East Carolina (9-5) 3; Colorado (5-7) 2; Maryland (8-5) 2; Navy (8-5) 2; Tennessee (5-7) 2; Houston (8-5) 1; Michigan (3-9) 1; Minnesota (7-6) 1; Troy (8-5) 1. |
If you're looking for WAC schools, you better be okay with disappointment. Despite a smattering of preseason hype for LaTech and Fresno State, the only other WAC team mentioned by the coaches was Nevada at No. 40 with 11 total votes.
The other thing to note is that Boise State was much closer to besting No. 15 Georgia Tech than they were getting caught by No. 17 TCU. The difference between the Yellow Jackets and the Broncos was 17 votes; the difference between the Horned Frogs and the Broncos, 81.
How should Bronco fans feel about the preseason ranking?
Well, I feel great. Starting the season in the Top 20 and higher than any other non-BCS team is all that any Bronco fan can ask for. Since the USA Today poll makes up one third of the BCS formula and since it is traditionally one of the least coherent polls around, you have to be pleased that the Broncos landed where they did.
(Note: The only fear I have is that there are already MWC teams breathing down BSU's neck, and with three MWC teams in the Top 25 and a perceived soft schedule for the Broncos, the possibility exists of BSU getting jumped in the polls before season's end. [/knockingonwood])
Other notes:
- Boise State's two nonconference opponents for 2010 made the list: Oregon State at No. 25 and VaTech at No. 7
- Diet Shastas all around at the Watson household. Notre Dame squeaked in at No. 23.
- Things could be worse if you're a WAC fan. You could be a Sun Belt fan. The total points received by Sun Belt teams is Troy's one.