Auburn ranked 11th in USA Today Coaches preseason poll

By OANow Staff

Published: August 1, 2008

It’s never too early for rankings.

With four weeks to go until the start of the college football season, USA Today released its preseason coaches poll Friday.

Auburn came in behind three other SEC schools at No. 11.

The Tigers received 888 points in the poll and are one of five teams from the Southeastern Conference to earn a preseason national ranking.

Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, while Florida is fifth and LSU is sixth. Tennessee rounds out the SEC squads with a No. 18 ranking.

In addition, West Virginia is ranked No. 8. Auburn will play the Mountaineers Oct. 11 in Morgantown.

The Tigers finished the 2007 season tied for 14th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll after ending the year with a 9-4 record including a victory over Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Auburn will open preseason practice Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the intramural fields. Fan Day will follow from 3-5 p.m. at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

Auburn opens the 2008 season Aug. 30, hosting Louisiana-Monroe at 6 p.m.

USA Today Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
1. Georgia (22) 11-2 1,438 3
2. Southern California (14) 11-2 1,430 2
3. Ohio State (14) 11-2 1,392 4
4. Oklahoma (3) 11-3 1,329 8
5. Florida (5) 9-4 1,293 16
6. LSU (3) 12-2 1,163 1
7. Missouri 12-2 1,143 5
8. West Virginia 11-2 1,008 6
9. Clemson 9-4 999 22
10. Texas 10-3 979 10
11. Auburn 9-4 888 14t
12. Wisconsin 9-4 747 21
13. Kansas 12-1 714 7
14. Texas Tech 9-4 644 23
15. Virginia Tech 11-3 568 9
16. Arizona State 10-3 560 13
17. Brigham Young 11-2 547 14t
18. Tennessee 10-4 506 12
19. Illinois 9-4 422 18
20. Oregon 9-4 399 24
21. South Florida 9-4 350 NR
22. Penn State 9-4 313 25
23. Wake Forest 9-4 203 NR
24. Michigan 9-4 112 19
25. Fresno State 9-4 91 NR
Others receiving votes:
Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.