Comparing Preseason Top 25: Coaches Poll and Phil Steele

Phil Steele’s Top 25 preseason poll gives great details on each team with a two-page in-depth breakdown of projected starters, schedule, stats and recent history. However, Steele’s poll is published in June and is not as up-to-date on recent transfers, injuries, etc. (he does update players lost on his website).  (Click on team names on Phil Steele poll below to review the 2-page PDF on each team.)

The Coaches Poll counts as one-third of the final BCS standings, so its preseason Top 25 lays the framework for the entire season. The football rankings are compiled by the USA TODAY Board of Coaches made up of 59 head coaches at Division I FBS institutions. All coaches are members of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

 

Phil Steele Top 25	Coaches Poll Top 25
1. Alabama	1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma	2. Alabama
3. Boise State	3. Oregon
4. Oregon	4. LSU
5. Virginia Tech	5. Florida State
6. Notre Dame	6. Stanford
7. LSU	7. Boise State
8. Texas A&M	8. Oklahoma State
9. Georgia	9. Texas A&M
10. Florida State	10. Wisconsin
11. TCU	11. Nebraska
12. Nebraska	12. South Carolina
13. Arkansas	13. Virginia Tech
14. South Carolina	14. Arkansas
15. Ohio State	15. TCU
16. Stanford	16. Ohio State
17. USC	17. Michigan State
18. Texas	18. Notre Dame
19. Oklahoma State	19. Auburn
20. Southern Miss	20. Mississippi State
21. Houston	21. Missouri
22. Arizona State	22. Georgia
23. Wisconsin	23. Florida
24. Penn State	24. Texas
25. USF	25. Penn State

Auburn, Florida, Michigan State, Mississippi State, and Missouri are the teams included in the Coaches Poll and missing from Phil Steele’s Top 25.

USC is serving an NCAA bowl ban and is not eligible to receive votes in the Coaches Poll.

Arizona State, Houston, Southern Miss, USF are the teams included in Steele’s list and not included in the Top 25 of the Coaches Poll. However, Arizona State did receive enough votes to be ranked #26, Houston would be #37, USF would be #38, and Southern Miss would be #42.

Phil Steele discusses Alabama and the SEC predictions for 2011

USA TODAY Kristen Berset and Erick Smith break down 2011 Preseason Coaches Poll