What will the 2021 preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll potentially look like? It’s our predicted best guess on the early college football rankings.
Before getting started, note that below is NOT the actual 2021 Preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll – it’s our prediction and projection of what it might be.
Pete Fiutak (College Football News) — The preseason college football polls might not mean what they used to, but they’re still fun, and they’re still a great indicator of the expectations going into a season.
Clemson was the preseason No. 1 team in the 2019 and 2020 Coaches Polls. Ohio State was No. 2 in 2020, Alabama third, Georgia fourth, and LSU fifth.
Where was Notre Dame? The eventual College Football Playoff team started out tenth, Texas A&M was 13th, and UCF (21st) and Cincinnati (22nd) were the only preseason ranked teams outside of the Power Five.
What will the 2021 preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll rankings look like? Considering how insane 2020 was – and how wild the final rankings were – this might be the most interesting preseason top 25 in a while.
This is usually a whole lot easier – this might look totally ridiculous once the real thing comes out considering all the teams outside of the norm likely to be in.
It’s our call based on historical precedent, returning talent, and guessing how the coaches are perceiving teams and big brand names compared to some of 2020’s surprise stars.
Once the 2021 preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll is released, we’ll break it all down and do a deep dive analysis.
2021 Preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll Prediction
25. Oklahoma State Cowboys (20)
24. Miami Hurricanes (22)
23. Michigan Wolverines (NR)
22. Liberty Flames (17)
21. Iowa Hawkeyes (16)
20. Arizona State Sun Devils (NR)
19. Washington Huskies (NR)
18. Indiana Hoosiers (12)
17. Texas Longhorns (19)
16. Penn State Nittany Lions (NR)
15. USC Trojans (21)
14. Wisconsin Badgers (NR)
13. Florida Gators (13)
12. LSU Tigers (NR)
11. North Carolina Tar Heels (18)
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5)
9. Oregon Ducks (NR)
8. Cincinnati Bearcats (8)
7. Iowa State Cyclones (9)
6. Texas A&M Aggies (4)
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (2)
4. Georgia Bulldogs (7)
3. Clemson Tigers (3)
2. Oklahoma Sooners (6)
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (1)
Yahoo Sports
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I see things breaking out like RJJ. I think SC is the 3rd or 4th best team in the South, and will struggle to be bowl eligible. While we have elite talent at some positions, running the ball and stopping the run will be quite a challenge. And then their is the Clay factor. He is the worst coach in all of Power 5 football, and what is even more galling, he has no sense of the magnitude of coaching SC football. If SC loses to San Jose State, instead of claiming this is unacceptable, he will make silly proclamations… Read more »
If USC were to actually lose to SJS (at the Coliseum no less), the party would FINALLY be over for The Cat! Not even he could overcome that black mark. That would be the last “I’ve got to look at the tape.” we’d ever have to hear from the dude. JMHO. Maybe it would be worth it. Ya, think?
The media unanimously thinks USC is the #1 team in the South. Could it possibly be that they know more than us hard-core USC fans?
Given the OL and the interior run D issues on this team, I just do not understand it. I just read the PFF predictions and SC is favored in every game but ND (as per your post below, PFF gives SC a 20% chance of winning that one) and ASU (SC is given a 47% chance of winning that one). I read a post on another board comparing SC and Oregon OL recruiting for the last five years: Quantity: Oregon – 22; SC – 13 Quality: Of the top 12 in rankings, 11 went to Oregon and 1 went to… Read more »
Allen, you bring up a valid point of observation, your comment the party would FINALLY be over for The Cat! made by your obvious affection and loyalty to USC. However we both know, things are much more complicated below the surface. Its obvious to those who have taken the time to be honest with themselves, Mr. Helton & James ‘Jimmy’ Sexton did a “Game Set – Check mate” on Brightest minds(Though Questionable) at this Venerable Temple of Learning. Keeping in mind …THE CONTRACT EXTENSION which is valid through the 2023 season. If he is terminated today or after a loss to SJS,… Read more »
Any coach who believes in moral victories, like Clay “The Cat” Helton does, is doomed to failure. Throw in the fact that he is not smart enough to be the HC at USC, and you have a deadly negative combination: lack of brains, plus a “pat-me-on-the-back” attitude. Helton could have done A LOT of things to make his ride at USC more palatable and successful, but he insisted on keeping old pals of his on the staff who had jumped the shark long ago, and, and that’s assuming they ever knew how to swim in the first place. He’s a… Read more »
Allen, Your first two paragraphs echo all of the complaints and disappointment, you and your fellow Sports Pundits have expressed for the last 2-3 years. They have undeniable merit..aside from that they are meaningless in the grand scheme, ineffective on the powers that be. With regards to the contract extension, as I stated, many intricate dynamics and forces are taking place. You assume Swann was outmaneuvered, that indicate he was the sole authority enabling the extension, which I highly doubt. Its not known, if, Swann brought the extension potential to Helton or He(Helton) requested the extension in a meeting. However… Read more »
The super arrogant Swann was always way over his head within the USC admin. I lay A LOT more blame at the feet of that professional schmoozer with the big bling Super Bowl ring and the pay-me-for-my-John Hancock-mentality.
The fact that Folt blatantly fired Swann immediately and instantly disliked his over-inflated opinion of himself tells me a lot.
Any bean counter can draw up a contract. But it takes a real idiot to bargain against yourself and okay radically overpaying a coach for an extended period that no one else wants.
Allen- this probably sounds blasphemous, but if losing to SJS got the “CAT” tarmacked, it would be worth it.
SC has never played well in game one under Helton, so losing to the Spartans is a real possibility.
I was at the W MICH game, where we all learned that severe heatstroke was a real possibility, and also that USC football was way over-rated for 2017. At least Jake Olson got to snap USC’s final PAT.
And I say that losing to SJS would indeed be worth it if it really got The Cat canned. I know that may be sinking pretty low — but it has taken a long, long time to get here.
I will now post the return talent (production) for SC 2021 opponents. SC returns 71% of its offensive production and 69% of its defensive production. Our main conference opponents stack up as follows: UCLA: 92% of its offensive production and 84% of its defensive production. ASU: 82% of its offensive production and 94% of its defensive production UTAH: 82% of its offensive production and 93% of its defensive production These are SC’s main competitors in the Pac 12 South. All return more production on O and especially on D than SC. Utah’s stats are bit a deceptive as it will… Read more »
Being #15 is optimistic at best. Seeing as how we have become paper Trojans (not something you buy at the pharmacy). The Cat’s coaching techniques are, and have been, suspect at best. On paper we should beat just about any team we play. (as long as we don’t need a running game) When Helton gets involved all bets are off. In fact betting should be on how many times Helton blows an opportunity. What odds do you think we’d get if we bet on Helton calling time out from the two yardline, first and goal, to discuss the play? What… Read more »
Interestingly, absolutely a lot of Trojans see USC losing to UCLA this season, even though the game is in the Coliseum and Helton has done very well against the Bruins. Yet, I have yet to see UCLA rated above USC from literally any media source at this stage on either a regional, Pac-12, or national basis. UCLA is never mentioned as a top 25 pick and is lucky to break into anyone’s top 30. USC is always rated in the top 20, and even the top 15. There seems to be a big disconnect there. Does it all just come… Read more »
You know I think UCLA beats USC handily (UCLA is stronger in 2021 than in 2020 and SC is weaker; I also think Slovis will be out due to injury and SC will rely on its true frosh Dart). I think most of these ratings are based on 2020 – SC went 5-0, and UCLA went 3-4. UCLA has a brutal schedule in 2021, but I still think that there is a 50/50 chance UCLA competes for the Pac 12 South crown and an equal 50/50 chance it competes for third place with SC. You know I am picking SC… Read more »
The truth is, UCLA football gets zippo respect from the media. I was shocked to see Phil Steele literally leave the Bruins out of his Top 40 and rank UCLA 6th in the Pac-12. He has USC at #13 in his top 40, and 2nd in the Pac-12 behind ORE. Whatever you think of Steele, he does his research and re-evals his teams every year in exceedingly detailed fashion. His books must contain five million words. USC wasn’t very good in 2020, barely beating horrible teams like ARIZ and mediocre ASU (only played three games) and UCLA. Anybody who watched… Read more »
Allen, See my above post about returning talent. The 2020 Bruins went 3-4 and were 15 points from being 7-0. And, they have upgraded their talent. The talent on the SC 2021 team is a downgrade from the 2020 team. But, UCLA has a brutal schedule. We will know by Week 4 if the Bruins are for real! .
I would be the first to admit that I am so anti-UCLA, that I never give them the benefit of the doubt. Neither USC, nor UCLA, will be world-beaters in 2021. USC will probably be favored at the Coliseum. They always are. If DTR goes off and has a great game, USC could easily, and probably will lose. But the Bruins are ALWAYS beatable under Chip Kelly. I say it’s a toss-up game, being the big rivalry and battle for L.A. Just because UCLA lost a bunch of close games last season doesn’t mean they will win this season. JMHO.… Read more »
I think Ucla’s problem is their coach. Don’t get me wrong he was a good coach once, but he’s a one trick pony and pretty much burned out. Most of his stuff has been figured out or ruled out. Maybe he can come up with some new wrinkles or make conventional football work, but I don’t think he’s worth a tax payers dollar as a coach. The reason we are ripe for a loss is the way we won last year. The Bruins were the better team most of the day and took last minute heroics to defeat them. That… Read more »
I just love that Choc Chip Kelly has been a total failure at
UCLA so far. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
I think the Trojans will win the front end of the schedule and be 6-0. By that I mean the Helton Cat will squeak by just enough to get the “W”. Then comes the bye, and off we go into the second half with ND. This is a game that doesn’t really matter who has the best team, the passion and emotion built into this one makes it a great game ALMOST every year, but USC is due for a win and Helton’s job depends on it. Each game after is a toss up except AZ. I see the Trojans… Read more »
I don’t see USC having ANY chance to beat ND in South Bend after a bye week for both teams, even though ND is going through a big rebuild at QB and in the OL. Brian Kelly clearly owns The Cat. He just does. Things have gotten to the point where I don’t even look forward to the greatest intersectional game in CFB history anymore. That’s how far I’ve been beaten down by USC football in its current state. ND will be good. Not great, but good, as usual. USC simply doesn’t beat good teams under The Cat. That’s his… Read more »
Rialto, I think these are completely useless rating done on 2020 and without careful analysis of analysis (For example, I think . If they are correct, SC will go 10-2 in the regular season, win the Pac 12 South, and lose to Oregon in the championship game. I do not know of even one analyst with knowledge of the 2021 Helton Cats who is predicting that, even with the easiest schedule in decades. Allen is among the most optimistic at 8-4. Vegas is at 8-4. Rock is at 7-5 and I am at 6-6. Greg Katz, for example, agrees with… Read more »
You think Alabama ever gets tired of prancing about and bragging “We’re Number 1, We’re Number 1?”…
Didn’t think so.
You think Alabama ever gets tired of prancing about and bragging “We’re Number 1…
No they don’t, nor should they. Their performance over the last several years has proven their current status.
Those who denigrate them and Saban for their success are in, Mike Garrett’ words …“They’re just Envious”
I think it’s safe to say we’ll never again see another program match ALA’s streak of profound excellence under Saban.
What the Tide has done has set them clearly separate from the rest of all programs from both a historical and recent perspective. I never thought I’d see the day when every single year I was glad USC didn’t even have to take the field against a team, or teams (like OHIO ST or OU).
This has been just a brutal stretch of USC football we have all been through since Reggie Gate. When it will end, nobody knows.
Allen, we’re on track for our usual one or two championships per generation.
I remember when USC was voted #1 in the opening poll and didn’t finish in the top 25, so here we go again.
Just interested @Steveg. Where would you put the Trojans?
Allen, to me it is a academic. You have read before about how I feel about the polls at this time of year, they are always pretty much wrong, which in the end is part of the fun of college football. I guess my biggest problem with polls is the voters inability to admit their picks were wrong and vote correctly. In the end as the season progresses we do get an accurate look at who should be at the top and who shouldn’t. I can see USC in the top 25 with the Cat at the helm, but I… Read more »
Optimism is a suitable Tonic for the disenchanted.