Trojans Set Atop Preseason Coaches Poll

It's been a familiar place for USC this decade.

Southern California picked up 45 of a possible 60 first-place votes and is easily the No. 1 team in the initial USA Today Top 25 coaches' poll released on Friday.

The Trojans, 11-2 last season but loaded as 2007 approaches, picked up 1,481 total points, easily outdistancing No. 2 LSU (1,372 points) and No. 3 Florida (1,278 points). The Tigers picked up four first-place votes and the defending national champion Gators grabbed nine.

Texas is No. 4 (1,231 points), with Michigan -- which received two first-place votes -- fifth (1,218 points).

The remainder of the top 10: West Virginia (1,205), Wisconsin (1,114), Oklahoma (1,026), Virginia Tech (1,005) and Ohio State (919). The Big Ten has three teams in the top 10 -- the most of any conference.

The Southeastern Conference has six teams in the initial top 25, including No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 Auburn, No. 15 Tennessee and No. 20 Arkansas.

Here's the complete coaches poll.

USA Today Poll
1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481
2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372
3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278
4. Texas 0-0 1,231
5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218
6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205
7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114
8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026
9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005
10. Ohio State 0-0 919
11. Louisville 0-0 836
12. California 0-0 763
13. Georgia 0-0 604
14. Auburn 0-0 595
15. Tennessee 0-0 583
16. Rutgers 0-0 466
17. UCLA 0-0 454
18. Penn State 0-0 440
19. Nebraska 0-0 388
20. Arkansas 0-0 360
21. Florida State 0-0 301
22. TCU 0-0 233
23. Boise State 0-0 222
24. Hawaii 0-0 214
25. Texas A&M 0-0 209
Others Recieving Votes
Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1.