The 2019 Preseason Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports was released. Here are the topics that matter most in the preseason rankings.
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5. Who is, technically, overrated?
Everyone likes to throw out the idea of someone or something or some team being overrated or underrated, without considering that – most of the time – no one’s technically rating any of those things.
The coaches just rated the top teams – so who’s overrated?
At least, according to the CFN Preseason Team Rankings – based on how good the teams are to start the season – the five most overrated teams are …
No. 9 Notre Dame
To be honest and fair, the Irish were on this list last year, and … oops. It’s a good Notre Dame team with the potential for another excellent season, but in terms of talent and what the team is bringing into the year overall – the receiving corps needs to rise up, the linebackers are okay, and most of the top-line main stars from last year are gone – the ranking should be somewhere in the mid-teens.
– Notre Dame Preview
No. 12 Washington
There’s no questioning Chris Petersen’s ability to reload this program, but the defense has to undergo an overhaul, Jacob Eason has to prove he really is the quarterback who can keep it all going, and Oregon – ranked at 13th – is looking like the stronger Pac-12 team coming into the season. The Dawgs will get there, but before the year, they should be around the 20s.
– Washington Preview
No. 17 UCF
Of course the Knights are going to be be fantastic for the third year in a row, but there are far more question marks. The quarterback situation is a wee bit shaky after injuries, the defensive line – while good in the AAC – is just okay, and overall, this year’s version is way too high up at 17, at least in the preseason.
– UCF Preview
No. 25 Northwestern
The team should actually be better in a whole lot of ways than last year’s version, but QB Hunter Johnson still has to prove he can rock, the rest of the talent – while it’ll be productive – is just okay, and out of the gate, there are at least ten teams in the Also Receiving Votes category that appear to be better.
– Northwestern Preview
No. 29 Army
Diving into the Also Receiving Votes category, yeah, the offense is always a nightmare to deal with, but some massive parts are gone on the defensive front seven, and a whole slew of teams getting less love – Kentucky, Virginia Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Minnesota – are better.
– Army Preview
And then there are the …
NEXT: The five most underrated teams …
4. Who is, technically, underrated?
No. 8 Florida
It’s nitpicking, but the Gators are coming into the season rock-solid in just about every area and with far fewer question marks than No. 4 Oklahoma (defense, Jalen Hurts as a passer), No. 5 Ohio State (defense, Justin Fields, new coach), and No. 7 Michigan (it’s Michigan). This should be a preseason top five team.
– Florida Preview
No. 28 Mississippi State
The Bulldogs still have a whole lot of fantastic parts coming back on the amazing defensive of last year. There will be a step back overall, but the improvements on the offense will make up for it. This is a preseason top 25 team – it’s good enough to be easily in the top 20.
– Mississippi State Preview
No. 33 TCU
It’s easy to dismiss the Horned Frogs after an underwhelming season with no offense, but coming into 2019, the defense is going to be fantastic again, and the O should be a whole lot more effective. It’s a fringe top 20 team, much less a top 25 one.
– TCU Preview
No. 37 Virginia
It’s not totally wrong to keep the Cavaliers out of the preseason top 25, but they should’ve been on the fringe and could’ve very easily could’ve slid in without any beef. If it’s not Miami, this might just be the best team in the Coastal coming into the season. It’s a better team than last year’s version that came painfully close to getting to the ACC Championship.
– Virginia Preview
No. 42 South Carolina
It seems like every year South Carolina is in this category, and it might be a far better team than its record will indicate thanks to its schedule, but on talent this should be a top 25 team. However, it’s probably not going to sniff the rankings this season.
– South Carolina Preview
NEXT: The Power Two Conferences
3. The Power Two Conferences
For all of those who like to argue about which conference is the best and how good they all really are, go ahead and have your fun. However, the guys voting in the 2019 Amway Coaches Poll have their own thoughts.
There’s the SEC and Big Ten, and there’s everyone else.
The two conferences combined to make up almost 40% of the 2019 NFL Draft, and they make up more than half of the teams in the preseason poll.
The SEC has the top stars with two of the top three teams (No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia), three of the top six (No. 6 LSU). four of the top eight (No. 8 Florida), five of the top 11 (No. 11 Texas A&M), and six of the top 16 (No. 16 Auburn).
Mississippi State (28th) belongs in the top 25, and Kentucky, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee all received votes. Missouri would be there, too, if it didn’t have NCAA sanction issues.
The Big Ten? With Ohio State at No. 5, Michigan at 7, Penn State at 14, Wisconsin at 17, Iowa at 19, Michigan State at 20, and Northwestern at 25, that’s seven teams from the conference.
There’s just one Group of Five program (UCF at 17) and there’s one Independent (Notre Dame at 9). That means there are a mere ten other ranked teams from the other three Power Five conferences.
The Pac-12 was the third best-ranked league with five teams – Washington (12), Oregon (13), Utah (15), Washington State (21), and Stanford (23). The Big 12 got in Oklahoma (4), Texas (10), and Iowa State (24), and …
NEXT: The conference that’s lagging, and why it matters
2. Uhhhhhh, ACC?
Why does it seem like it’s a mortal lock that Clemson will make the College Football Playoff? It’s the No. 1-ranked team to start the season by a mile, and the next-best ACC team according to the preseason rankings doesn’t come until …
No. 22.
The Tigers have to play No. 11 Texas A&M, but in terms of how good the conferences appear to be coming into the season, there’s apparently nothing else to like about the ACC.
When your supposed second-best team – Syracuse – barely gets into the top 25, there’s a massive problem.
Miami is the third-highest team in the rankings at 29, Virginia Tech is at 32, Virginia 37, and NC State, Duke, Boston College and Florida State got a few token votes thrown their way.
Of course, the poll is just a snapshot, and it can all change up immediately once the games get going, but in terms of perception, it isn’t a good look being the distant fifth among the Power Five conferences.
NEXT: Final Overall Thoughts, Observations
1. Final Overall Thoughts, Observations
– Just remember, the AP and USA TODAY Amway Coaches polls are exercises. They’re interesting in terms of perception and a jumping off point, and they’re a great historical marker, but they don’t count – and aren’t allowed to be discussed in the room – in the College Football Playoff decisions.
– It might not seem like any big deal, but believe it when Alabama is going to use the “No One Believes In Us” rallying cry. That’s what 59-6 does. Clemson received 59 first place votes, and Alabama got six.
– I’ve been saying it all offseason – watch out for Texas A&M. The Aggies are going to upset either Clemson or Alabama, and they’re going to be good enough to have a fighting shot against both teams. the No. 11 ranking is a whole lot of early respect.
– The Big Ten not only got seven teams in the top 25, but Nebraska is 26th. The most disrespected team in the entire poll, though, is Minnesota. North Texas received three votes. Baylor got four. Temple received two votes and Duke got ten. The Golden Gophers? 1. They’re not a top 25-caliber team going into the season, but they’re technically ranked tied for 54th.
– Check out Iowa State getting some preseason kisses with a No. 24 ranking. The Cyclones are ranked in the top 25, and Miami, USC, Florida State and Tennessee aren’t.
– The Pac-12 is one of the biggest overall winners. There might not be a team in the top 11, but for a league that needs something positive to hang its hat on when it comes to an indifferent nation, getting six teams ranked in the top 25 matters.
– There’s absolutely no love whatsoever for the Group of Five programs. UCF at 17 is fine, and Boise State at 27 is okay, but Houston only receiving three votes while Memphis received 24 isn’t quite right.
