To no one’s surprise the Clemson Tigers are atop the Coaches Poll entering the 2019 season. Clemson won last year’s national championship over Alabama, and the coaches have always voted last year’s champion as the No. 1 team at the start of the following year. Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma are ranked No. 2-4, while the No. 5 team is an interesting pick.
Clemson will pick up where it left off … on the top of the Amway Coaches Poll rankings. @AmwayUS @WeAreAFCA https://t.co/Tmw6E46uKN pic.twitter.com/BfYfpiccKa
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) August 1, 2019
Although the Ohio State Buckeyes have a new coach and a new quarterback, they are ranked No. 5 in the Coaches Poll to start the season. That’s some high praise for new coach Ryan Day. Day is replacing the legendary Urban Meyer, but most of his fellow colleagues expect Ohio State to not miss a beat.
The preseason top 25 coaches poll is out. Let the arguing commence. pic.twitter.com/9EYazseyFM
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 1, 2019
Interestingly, Notre Dame is ranked No. 9 despite making it to the College Football Playoff last season. The Fighting Irish are bringing back most of last year’s team and starting quarterback Ian Book, but an easy schedule in 2018 and being routed by Clemson in the Cotton Bowl has led to most being down on their chances.
The coaches seem just as hyped about Utah as the rest of us too. Utah comes in at No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, and the Utes are favored over many of the blue bloods to win the Pac 12 South. There is a lot of talent in the trenches as always, but the real difference is in the backfield. Zack Moss is a very good running back, and high school teammate Tyler Huntley is one of the conference’s better quarterbacks.
UCF is the only non-Power Five team ranked in the Top 25. The Knights have finished each of the last two regular seasons undefeated, but their brash marketing and questions at quarterback have left many pessimistic. Brandon Wimbush has not looked sharp in early practices, and with Darriel Mack Jr. sidelined with a broken ankle, the Knights might finally take a tumble.
