All articles tagged with #preseason poll
The article argues that the preseason AP Top 25 poll has become increasingly unreliable and should be discontinued, as it often creates inaccurate narratives and is based on hype rather than actual team performance, especially evident in the 2025 season where top-ranked teams have underperformed and dropped out early.
The 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll ranks BYU as No. 1, with Oregon, NC State, New Mexico, and West Virginia following. The poll reflects expectations for the upcoming season, with BYU returning key athletes and Oregon seeking their first title since 2016. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for November 22 in Columbia, Missouri.
The 2025 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll ranks Iowa State as the top team, projected to win its first national title since 1994, followed by New Mexico, Oklahoma State, BYU, and Wisconsin, with the season culminating in the championships on November 22 in Columbia, Missouri.
Texas is ranked No. 1 in the 2025 preseason US LBM Coaches Poll for college football, marking the first time Texas holds the top spot, with Ohio State at No. 2 in a historic season opener matchup. The poll features a strong presence of SEC and Big Ten teams, with notable rankings for Georgia, Notre Dame, and Alabama, and highlights the competitive landscape heading into the season.
North Dakota State remains the top-ranked team in the 2025 preseason Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, receiving 54 of 56 first-place votes, as the defending national champions look to defend their title in the upcoming college football season.
The 2025 Big Ten football preseason media poll ranks Michigan fifth and Michigan State tied for 13th, with Penn State and Ohio State leading the conference. Michigan aims to improve offensively and defensively after an 8-5 season, while MSU seeks a winning record under new coach Jonathan Smith. The poll also highlights top players and coaches in the league.
A poll of Big 12 coaches predicts Kansas State and Iowa State will meet in the league's championship game, with Kansas State favored to win the title, reflecting high expectations for these teams in the upcoming college football season.
The 2024 Southeastern Conference baseball preseason poll predicts Arkansas to win the championship, with Florida and LSU also receiving first place votes. The Preseason All-SEC First and Second Teams were announced, with Florida leading in selections. The regular season for SEC teams begins on Feb. 16, and the SEC Baseball Tournament is set for May 21-26 in Hoover, Ala.
Wake Forest is selected as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports preseason baseball poll, with LSU and Florida following at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. The SEC boasts six teams in the preseason top 10, with Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Texas A&M also making the list. The ACC and Big 12 have six and three ranked teams, respectively, while Oregon State leads the three ranked teams from the Pac-12.
The author shares their ballot for the SEC preseason media poll, predicting Texas A&M and Tennessee to be the top teams in the conference due to their continuity, experience, and strong rosters. They highlight Texas A&M's tough defense, rebounding, and depth, while praising Wade Taylor IV as a standout player. They express some concerns about Tennessee's transfers and the recovery of their starting point guard from injury. Overall, the author believes these two teams are the safest picks to finish in the top four of the SEC.
The Kansas Jayhawks have been ranked as the clear No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 preseason men's basketball poll, receiving 46 out of 63 first-place votes. Duke and Purdue secured the second and third spots, respectively. Kansas coach Bill Self, who missed last season due to heart surgery, is aiming for his third national title in the 75th anniversary season of the AP poll. Other notable teams in the top 5 include Michigan State and Marquette. The season is set to begin on November 6th, with exciting matchups scheduled, including the Champions Classic doubleheader featuring Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kentucky.
Purdue and Michigan State are the clear favorites in the Big Ten men's basketball media poll. Purdue received 24 out of 28 first-place votes, while Michigan State was first on four ballots and second on 24. However, the Big Ten has a history of underperforming in the NCAA Tournament, with only two teams making the Final Four in the past seven years. Other teams like Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio State are also expected to be competitive in the conference. The preseason poll also revealed Zach Edey as the player of the year, Mackenzie Mgbako as the freshman of the year, and Ace Baldwin Jr. as the transfer of the year.
Ohio State women's basketball is ranked second in the Big Ten preseason poll by coaches and third by media. The team aims to build on last year's success and make a run to the Final Four with a talented roster and notable transfer additions. Cotie McMahon and Jacy Sheldon were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, and the Buckeyes' schedule includes televised games and streaming options.
The University of North Dakota (UND) men's hockey team is ranked No. 7 in the first preseason poll released by USCHO.com, tied for the largest jump from last year's season-ending poll. UND is scheduled to face tough opponents, including No. 1 Boston University and No. 3 Minnesota, within the first month of the season. Despite a turnover in defensemen, UND brings back strong offensive firepower and has made key additions through the NCAA transfer portal.
The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team has been chosen as the top pick in the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, with three players from the team also earning spots on the Preseason All-Big West Team. Amber Igiede, Kate Lang, and Caylen Alexander were recognized for their outstanding performances. Hawai'i received 10 first-place votes, while UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, and Cal Poly followed closely behind in the rankings. The Rainbow Wahine will kick off their season with the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic.