Southern California picked up 45 of a possible 60 first-place votes and is easily the No. 1 team in the initial USA Today Top 25 coaches' poll released on Friday.
The Trojans, 11-2 last season but loaded as 2007 approaches, picked up 1,481 total points, easily outdistancing No. 2 LSU (1,372 points) and No. 3 Florida (1,278 points). The Tigers picked up four first-place votes and the defending national champion Gators grabbed nine.
Texas is No. 4 (1,231 points), with Michigan -- which received two first-place votes -- fifth (1,218 points).
The remainder of the top 10: West Virginia (1,205), Wisconsin (1,114), Oklahoma (1,026), Virginia Tech (1,005) and Ohio State (919). The Big Ten has three teams in the top 10 -- the most of any conference.
The Southeastern Conference has six teams in the initial top 25, including No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 Auburn, No. 15 Tennessee and No. 20 Arkansas.
Boise State, which finished last season at No. 6, opens 2007 at No. 23. Florida State, unranked at the end of a 7-6 season a year ago, opens at No. 21.
Source: AP
The Trojans, 11-2 last season but loaded as 2007 approaches, picked up 1,481 total points, easily outdistancing No. 2 LSU (1,372 points) and No. 3 Florida (1,278 points). The Tigers picked up four first-place votes and the defending national champion Gators grabbed nine.
Texas is No. 4 (1,231 points), with Michigan -- which received two first-place votes -- fifth (1,218 points).
The remainder of the top 10: West Virginia (1,205), Wisconsin (1,114), Oklahoma (1,026), Virginia Tech (1,005) and Ohio State (919). The Big Ten has three teams in the top 10 -- the most of any conference.
The Southeastern Conference has six teams in the initial top 25, including No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 Auburn, No. 15 Tennessee and No. 20 Arkansas.
Boise State, which finished last season at No. 6, opens 2007 at No. 23. Florida State, unranked at the end of a 7-6 season a year ago, opens at No. 21.
Source: AP