LSU, Bama top preseason coaches poll; Dogs 6th

Two Southeastern Conference programs are at the top of the preseason USA Today top 25 coaches poll, released Thursday.

LSU comes in at No. 1, while defending champ Alabama is No. 2 -- a reversal of last year's final rankings. Southern Cal is No. 3, meanwhile, and Georgia comes in at No. 6.

The Bulldogs opened fall camp on Thursday in Athens.

Georgia Tech was third in the receiving votes category.


USA Today Top 25 Poll

The USA Today Top 25 football coaches preseason poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2011 records, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and 2011 final ranking:

Record Pts Pvs
1. LSU (18) 13-1 1403 2
2. Alabama (20) 12-1 1399 1
3. Southern Cal (19) 10-2 1388 __
4. Oklahoma (1) 10-3 1276 15
5. Oregon 12-2 1258 4
6. Georgia 10-4 1061 20
7. Florida State (1) 9-4 1055 23
8. Michigan 11-2 1023 9
9. South Carolina 11-2 981 8
10. Arkansas 11-2 948 5
11. West Virginia 10-3 833 18
12. Wisconsin 11-3 743 11
13. Michigan State 11-3 717 10
14. Clemson 10-4 598 22
15. Texas 8-5 549 __
16. Nebraska 9-4 501 24
17. TCU 11-2 499 13
18. Stanford 11-2 497 7
19. Oklahoma State 12-1 476 3
20. Virginia Tech 11-3 461 17
21. Kansas State 10-3 398 16
22. Boise State 12-1 271 6
23. Florida 7-6 250 __
24. Notre Dame 8-5 166 __
25. Auburn 8-5 66 __

Others receiving votes: Washington 64, Louisville 46, Georgia Tech 35, Cincinnati 32, Texas A&M 28, Baylor 23, Utah 22, Mississippi State 21, South Florida 12, N.C. State 11, BYU 10, Louisiana Tech 10, Virginia 9, Houston 7, Southern Mississippi 6, UCF 5, Rutgers 5, FIU 3, Missouri 3, Tennessee 3, Northern Illinois 2, Texas Tech 1.