The Coaches Poll now has nothing to do with selecting anybody for the postseason, but that doesn't mean they're going to stop making them. The first edition of the 2014 Coaches Poll was released today, and the Cougars are not in the Top 25. BYU did pick up 18 votes though, which would make them 38th. The full poll is below.
Texas is the highest ranked opponent on BYU's schedule, at #24. Assuming the Longhorns find a way to get past North Texas in their first game, BYU should have a road game against a Top 25 squad (at least as far as the Coaches Poll is concerned). Given how far back BYU is, it would be unlikely for them to move into the Top 25 after the first week, no matter how badly they beat UConn, who was picked to finish near the bottom of the AAC by their media.
Other BYU opponents listed include UCF, with 102 votes (27th), Boise State at 13 votes (39th), and Houston with two votes (49th). Neither Utah or Utah State got any votes.
Even if BYU runs the table, it is entirely possible that the Cougars may not beat a single team that finishes in the Coaches Poll Top 25.
What do you think? Is this a fair assessment of where BYU should be headed into the season? Are they too high? Too low?
RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | PREVIOUS RANK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Florida State Seminoles | 14-0 | 1543 | 56 | NR |
2 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 11-2 | 1455 | NR | |
3 | Oklahoma Sooners | 11-2 | 1382 | 3 | NR |
4 | Oregon Ducks | 11-2 | 1314 | 1 | NR |
5 | Auburn Tigers | 12-2 | 1271 | NR | |
6 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 12-2 | 1267 | 1 | NR |
7 | UCLA Bruins | 10-3 | 1085 | NR | |
8 | Michigan State Spartans | 13-1 | 1050 | NR | |
9 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 11-2 | 1009 | 1 | NR |
10 | Baylor Bears | 11-2 | 965 | NR | |
11 | Stanford Cardinal | 11-3 | 955 | NR | |
12 | Georgia Bulldogs | 8-5 | 905 | NR | |
13 | LSU Tigers | 10-3 | 833 | NR | |
14 | Wisconsin Badgers | 9-4 | 654 | NR | |
15 | USC Trojans | 10-4 | 627 | NR | |
16 | Clemson Tigers | 11-2 | 535 | NR | |
17 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 9-4 | 509 | NR | |
18 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 10-4 | 358 | NR | |
19 | Mississippi Rebels | 8-5 | 346 | NR | |
20 | Texas A&M Aggies | 9-4 | 266 | NR | |
21 | Kansas State Wildcats | 8-5 | 257 | NR | |
22 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 9-4 | 228 | NR | |
23 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 7-6 | 175 | NR | |
24 | Texas Longhorns | 8-5 | 143 | NR | |
25 | Washington Huskies | 9-4 | 142 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Missouri 126; Florida 122; Central Florida 102; Mississippi State 74; Oklahoma State 56; TCU 54; Michigan 53; Iowa 49; Miami (Fla.) 45; Duke 41; Louisville 32; Marshall 27; Brigham Young 18; Boise State 13; Louisiana-Lafayette 12; Virginia Tech 12; Texas Tech 8; Minnesota 6; Cincinnati 6; Northwestern 5; Oregon State 4; Fresno State 4; GeorgiaTech 2; Houston 2; Arkansas 1; Arizona 1; Northern Illinois 1. |