USC Picked Eighth In Preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

Highest preseason ranking for Trojans since 1996.

July 31, 2003

The USC football team is ranked eighth in the 2003 preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll released on Thursday.

It's the highest preseason ranking for Troy since debuting at No. 7 in 1996.

The Trojans--coming off a No. 4 ranking and an 11-2 finish in 2002--garnered 1,075 points in voting that took place among 63 Div. I head coaches.

Oklahoma is No. 1 (1,514 points), followed by defending national champion Ohio State (1,495), then No. 3 Miami, Fla. (1,448), No. 4 Texas (1,291), No. 5 Kansas State (1,165), No. 6 Auburn (1,153) and No. 7 Michigan (1,110).

Oklahoma captured 29 first-place votes to Ohio State's 28. Miami had five votes for the top spot, while Auburn had one.

USC's Aug. 30 game at No. 6 Auburn will be the first time a top 10 Trojan team has opened a season with a top 10 opponent since 1972, when No. 8 USC defeated No. 4 Arkansas in Little Rock.

USC's schedule also includes No. 18 Notre Dame, No. 19 Washington and No. 23 Arizona State.

The Top 25

1.  Oklahoma (29)  1,514
2.  Ohio State (28)  1,495
3.  Miami, Fla. (5)  1,448
4.  Texas  1,291
5.  Kansas State  1,165
6.  Auburn (1)  1,153
7.  Michigan  1,110
8.  USC  1,075  11-2
9.  Georgia  1,030
10.  Virginia Tech 932
11.  Pittsburgh  712
12.  Florida State  711
13.  Maryland  704
14.  North Carolina State  682
15.  LSU  662
16.  Tennessee  658
17.  Virginia  526
18.  Notre Dame  515
19.  Washington  459
20.  Wisconsin  348
21.  Florida  312
22.  Purdue  305
23.  Arizona State  297
24.  Oklahoma State  159
25.  Colorado State  143
25.  Penn State  143

Others receiving votes: Iowa 132; Colorado 127; TCU 95; Texas A&M 90; Oregon State 70; Nebraska 64; UCLA 40; West Virginia 31; Hawaii 24; Boise State 22; BYU 22; Fresno State 22; Minnesota 22; Boston College 21; Arkansas 16; Washington State 16; Mississippi 14; Clemson 13; Missouri 12; Oregon 12; Marshall 11; Georgia Tech 9; New Mexico 9; Southern Mississippi 9; Utah 7; South Carolina 4; Air Force 3; Louisville 3; California 2; Illinois 1; North Texas 1; Syracuse 1; Toledo 1.