AP top-25 rankings: My ballot, the preseason poll and solid Pac-12 representation

The conference accounted for 20 percent of the AP top-25

The Pac-12 had five teams in the AP preseason poll on Monday, matching the Big Ten and falling one short of matching the SEC.

In anticipation of the most anticipated Pac-12 season in a decade — and the final year in the conference for eight schools — two teams have cracked the AP top 10: USC will begin the season ranked sixth, with Washington ranked tenth.

Three more teams are ranked in the teens: 14th-ranked Utah, 15th-ranked Oregon, and 18th-ranked Oregon State.

UCLA was one of the ‘others receiving votes’.

As recently as 2021, the Pac-12 had five teams in the AP preseason poll, before a disastrous non-conference performance resulted in scant poll representation throughout the fall.

Late last month, the Associated Press received the ballot below. Every week, I’ll publish my in-season ballot.

Appalachian State, Fresno State, Iowa, Kentucky, Miami, Mississippi, Pittsburgh, SMU, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Toledo, and UTSA are also on the list (in alphabetical order).

1. Georgia has a new playcaller (Mike Bobo), a new starting quarterback (likely Carson Beck), and new offensive tackles. However, they are absolutely loaded everywhere else and have a plethora of blue-chip recruits all the way down the depth chart. Kirby Smart’s second unit is good enough to make the top 25. (AP poll position: 1)
2. Michigan: Coach Jim Harbaugh’s spat with the NCAA could result in a multi-game suspension, but the Wolverines are unlikely to be affected. With powerhouse offensive and defensive lines, returning star tailback Blake Corum, and starting quarterback JJ McCarthy, they are built to beat Ohio State. (AP poll position: 2)
3. LSU: The Tigers are poised to challenge Alabama for the SEC West title, with 15 returning starters and second-year coach Brian Kelly’s system firmly established. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, who attended Arizona State for three years (2019-21), is a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. (AP poll position: 5)
4. Washington: With quarterback Michael Penix Jr. delivering missiles to an elite group of wide receivers, the Huskies are expected to average 40 points per game once again. Their efforts to win the conference and make the playoffs are dependent on a defense led by edge rushers Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui. The Hotline believes that Washington is the best bet to end the Pac-12’s six-year playoff drought. (AP poll position: 10)
5. Alabama: For the first time since we used a typewriter, the Crimson Tide has finished outside the top two in our preseason rankings. Is a reversal on the way, or will Alabama reclaim its dominance? Much is riding on the ability to fill the voids left by quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson. (AP poll position: 4)
6. Ohio State: We may come to regret ranking the Buckeyes this low, as the majority of starters return on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Kyle McCord is expected to take over the offense, which will feature the best receiving corps in the country. OSU’s fate will be decided by two road games: the Week Four trip to Notre Dame and the season finale against Michigan. (AP poll position: 3)
7. USC: Under Lincoln Riley, all of the pieces are in place for a playoff berth in Year Two, as he returns 16 starters, strengthens his defense, and welcomes back Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. However, the Trojans had an out-of-this-world turnover margin (plus-21) last season, and we expect a reversion to the mean this fall. A handful of plays determine the outcome of every season. Will those crucial bounces betray USC? (AP poll position: 6)
8. Clemson: The ACC’s former king has lost ground to Florida State, but it still has enough talent to win the conference and compete for a playoff spot. The Tigers should have a strong defense and will not require much from their offense. (AP poll position: 9)
9. Florida State: The atmosphere in Tallahassee is reminiscent of the 1990s, as coach Mike Norvell continues to assemble a playoff-caliber roster. That vibe, however, could vanish if the season opener against LSU (in Orlando) goes poorly. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to find out who the ACC favorite is: the Seminoles play Clemson on September 23. (AP poll position: 8)
10. Notre Dame: The addition of quarterback Sam Hartman (from Wake Forest) provides a solid foundation for second-year coach Marcus Freeman after a shaky start. However, with Ohio State, Clemson, and USC on the schedule, the Irish have no margin for error in the remaining nine games. (AP poll position 13)
11. Penn State: The Nittany Lions will be one of the best teams in the country, but they will finish third in the Big Ten East once again. Their defense should be excellent, but will they be able to score enough points in the crucial fourth quarters against Michigan and Ohio State? (AP poll position: 7)
12. Utah: With a difficult early-season schedule (Florida and Baylor) and a starting quarterback (Cam Rising) who missed the offseason while recovering from an ACL injury, the two-time defending Pac-12 champions face a difficult road into the playoffs. If the Utes win both games, we’ll reconsider. However, their chances of winning another Pac-12 championship are good. (AP poll position 14)
13. Tennessee: After coach Josh Heupel’s breakout second season, expectations have skyrocketed in Knoxville, but everything is riding on the late-October trip to Alabama and the mid-November home game against Georgia. If the Vols win at least one, they could return to the New Year’s Six. (AP poll position: 12)
14. Kansas State: The defending Big 12 champions are the team most likely to prevent Texas or Oklahoma from winning the Big 12 in their final season. (In the championship game, the Wildcats defeated TCU.) The offense should be powered by returning quarterback Will Howard and a veteran line, but KSU’s defense could be a work in progress. (AP poll position: 16)
15. Texas: Few programs in the country have the resources, recruiting power, and tradition that Texas does. Despite this, the Longhorns have only had one 10-win season since 2010. Is this the year Steve Sarkisian returns UT to the national stage? We’re not entirely convinced. (AP poll position: 11)
16. Wisconsin: The Hotline believes that new coach Luke Fickell and a veteran defense can propel the Badgers to the top of the Big Ten West… and become championship game fodder for the winner of the East. (AP poll position: 19)
17. Oregon: It’s been years since Eugene’s expectations for Dan Lanning’s second season have been as low — and yet they aren’t really that low. The Ducks are more than capable of winning one of the most difficult leagues in the country. We are concerned about the retooled offensive line and the defense, which struggled down the stretch last season. (AP poll position: 15)
18. Texas A&M: No program did less with more last season than the Aggies, who won just five games despite having a star-studded roster. College Station is looking to new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino — yes, that Bobby Petrino — to boost output and save coach Jimbo Fisher’s job. (AP poll position: 23)
19. Oregon State: Can the Beavers repeat as 10-win team? Is this the year they finally win the Pac-12? Much is riding on the performance of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, a Clemson transfer tasked with improving OSU’s weakest position last season. (AP poll position: 18)
20. Tulane: Ignore the Green Wave, who won 12 games and defeated USC in the Cotton Bowl. Tulane is the team to beat in the AAC and a threat to return to the New Year’s Six, thanks to the return of coach Willie Fritz and quarterback Michael Pratt. (AP poll position: 24)
21. TCU: We don’t expect the Horned Frogs’ success in 2022 to be repeated in 2023. However, some things will go wrong, which should result in a few more losses on their books. (AP poll position: 17)
22. North Carolina: Drake Maye is one of the nation’s top quarterbacks and is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. He has veterans on every unit as well as plenty of playmakers. However, the talent gap between the Tar Heels and the ACC favorites, Clemson and Florida State, is significant. (AP poll position 21)
23. UCLA: The schedule is set up for success once again, but the Bruins are missing key players at quarterback and tailback, as well as an inexperienced defense. Unless something completely unexpected happens, UCLA’s 24-year championship drought will be extended by one year — the final year of the school’s Pac-12 membership. (AP poll standings: unranked)
24. Oklahoma: We’re not convinced that coach Brent Venables is the long-term solution in Norman. We believe he can produce a short-term turnaround and keep the Sooners relevant in their final season in the Big 12. (AP poll position: 20)
25. Boise State: Few teams will face more difficult September schedules than the Broncos, who travel to Washington, San Diego State, and Memphis and host UCF. (Fortunately, they have nine returning offensive starters.) The Mountain West’s toughest competition should come from San Diego State and Air Force. (AP poll standings: unranked)