The first of the not useless preseason polls was released today, with the unveiling of the coaches poll. Penn State is not eligible to receive votes in the coaches poll until completing its NCAA sentence (currently set at end of the 2015 season, making Penn State eligible for coaches poll voting in 2016). With the new College Football Playoff, the coaches poll is now just another poll that ultimately means nothing, with no computer formula or attachment to the national championship trophy. The College Football Playoff has a brand new trophy, but the Crystal Ball Run will continue with the number one team as determined at the end of the season being awarded the traditional crystal ball. What coaches poll is not going to crown the playoff champion though?
Anyway, Penn State is not eligible but the rest of the Big Ten is. Four Big Ten teams appear in the coaches preseason poll. Ohio State is the highest ranked at number six overall, followed by Michigan State at number eight. Both are in Penn State’s division and make trips to Beaver Stadium this season. Defending national champion Florida State received 56 first-place votes and tops the poll, as expected. Alabama, Oklahoma and Oregon follow behind in that order, with the Sooners picking up three first-place votes and Oregon grabbing one. Ohio State and No. 8 South Carolina also received a first-place vote. Seven SEC schools appear in the top 25.
Wisconsin comes in at No. 14 and Nebraska rounds out the Big Ten contingent at No. 22. Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern appear in the others receiving votes category, in that order.
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