EUGENE – Let the debates begin. The preseason Coaches Poll was released by USA Today Sports on Thursday and now fans and experts will have the fun of debating who’s overrated and who’s underrated, while we all wait for the college football season to really begin.
The Oregon Ducks were one of five Pac-12 teams to be placed in the top 25 of the initial poll, which is voted on by 64 coaches from across the country. The Ducks came in at No. 22, their lowest preseason ranking in the Coaches Poll since 2007.
Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, and Ohio State were the top 5 teams. Stanford checked in at No. 7 and the Cardinal were the only Pac-12 team in the top 10. USC is No. 17, Washington is No. 18, and UCLA is No. 24.
TOP 25 TEAMS, WEEK 1
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | 1ST PLACE VOTES |
| 1 | Alabama | 14-1 | 1585 | 55 |
| 2 | Clemson | 14-1 | 1524 | 7 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 11-2 | 1398 | 0 |
| 4 | Florida State | 10-3 | 1351 | 1 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 12-1 | 1321 | 0 |
| 6 | Louisiana State | 9-3 | 1241 | 0 |
| 7 | Stanford | 12-2 | 1149 | 0 |
| 8 | Michigan | 10-3 | 1062 | 0 |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 10-3 | 1034 | 0 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 9-4 | 960 | 1 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 12-2 | 901 | 0 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 10-3 | 792 | 0 |
| 13 | Houston | 13-1 | 668 | 0 |
| 14 | Texas Christian | 11-2 | 649 | 0 |
| 15 | Iowa | 12-2 | 579 | 0 |
| 16 | Georgia | 10-3 | 525 | 0 |
| 17 | Southern California | 8-6 | 468 | 0 |
| 18 | Washington | 7-6 | 454 | 0 |
| 19 | Oklahoma State | 10-3 | 426 | 0 |
| 20 | North Carolina | 11-3 | 422 | 0 |
| 21 | Baylor | 10-3 | 383 | 0 |
| 22 | Oregon | 9-4 | 361 | 0 |
| 23 | Louisville | 8-5 | 331 | 0 |
| 24 | UCLA | 8-5 | 296 | 0 |
| 25 | Florida | 10-4 | 245 | 0 |
