USA Today Puts Ohio State at No. 1

Even though the Ohio State Buckeyes have to replace nine starters on defense, including All-American linebacker A.J. Hawk and receiver Santonio Holmes, USA Today ranked Ohio State number one in its preseason college football poll.

Coming off a 10-2 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes received 28 of 63 first-place votes and 1,487 points from Division I-A coaches.

Ohio State returns all their key starters on offense including Troy Smith at quarterback and all-everything Ted Ginn, Jr, at wide receiver. Defending national champion Texas (13-0) is second after receiving 11 first-place votes and 1,378 points.

Notre Dame (9-3) and USC (12-1) are tied for third with 1,348 points apiece. Oklahoma (8-4) is fifth with 1,320 points. The Sooners had the second-most first-place votes -- 13 -- but those doubtlessly came in before the news Wednesday that coach Bob Stoops permanently dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn from the team for being paid far in excess of hours worked at a local car dealership.

Auburn (9-3), which received the remaining first-place vote, is sixth, while West Virginia (11-1), Florida (9-3), Louisiana State (11-2) and Florida State (8-5) complete the top 10.

Miami (9-3) is 11th, followed by California (8-4), Louisville (9-3), Georgia (10-3), Michigan (7-5), Virginia Tech (11-2), Iowa (7-5), Clemson (8-4), Penn State (11-1) and Oregon (10-2).

TCU (11-1), Nebraska (8-4), Tennessee (5-6), Alabama (10-2) and Texas Tech (9-3) complete the poll.

Here is the complete Top 25 Poll:

Week 1 USA Today Poll
1. Ohio State (28) 0-0 1,487
2. Texas (11) 0-0 1,378
3. USC (1) 0-0 1,348
3. Notre Dame (9) 0-0 1,348
5. Oklahoma (13) 0-0 1,320
6. Auburn (1) 0-0 1,206
7. West Virginia 0-0 1,202
8. Florida 0-0 1,054
9. LSU 0-0 1,037
10. Florida State 0-0 874
11. Miami (FL) 0-0 839
12. California 0-0 798
13. Louisville 0-0 785
14. Georgia 0-0 784
15. Michigan 0-0 778
16. Virginia Tech 0-0 591
17. Iowa 0-0 519
18. Clemson 0-0 493
19. Penn State 0-0 406
20. Oregon 0-0 373
21. TCU 0-0 270
22. Nebraska 0-0 261
23. Tennessee 0-0 216
24. Alabama 0-0 210
25. Texas Tech 0-0 198
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Arizona State 182, Boston College 87, Utah 84, Arkansas 64, South Carolina 55, Boise State 46, Wisconsin 37, UCLA 29, Georgia Tech 28, Fresno State 14, Tulsa 11, Iowa State 9, Minnesota 9, Maryland 8, Purdue 7, Texas A&M 6, Memphis 5, Nevada 3, UTEP 3, Rutgers 2, Northern Illinois 2, Northwestern 2, Oregon State 2, Arizona 2, Brigham Young 2, Colorado 1, Duke 1.

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