Clemson Football ranked in the top-five of coaches poll

The Amway USA Today Coaches’ preseason Poll was released today. Interestingly enough, Clemson football is ranked in the top-five of the poll.

Clemson football is ranked in the top-five of the USA Today coaches’ preseason poll to start the 2017 season.

The Tigers come into the poll ranked No. 5. Here is the top-10, courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Away USA Today Coaches’ Preseason Poll:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Florida State

4. USC

5. Clemson

6. Penn State

7. Washington

8. Oklahoma

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9. Michigan

10. Wisconsin

There aren’t too many surprises in this poll. I’m a little surprised that Ohio State is No. 2 ahead of Florida State, but you know how the pollsters love to put the Buckeyes high every year.

I’d still probably have Washington ahead of Penn State and I’m not too sure how good either of the last three teams (Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin) will be this season.

ACC Teams:

3. Florida State, 5. Clemson, 17. Louisville, 18. Miami, 22. Virginia Tech

The ACC has five teams in the top-25, four in the top-20. I’m a little surprised that Louisville comes in at No. 17 considering when you hear a lot of coaches talk, they act as if the Cardinals are a top-10 team.

Virginia Tech and Miami are both primed to be the favorites in the ACC Coastal, but I would also expect Georgia Tech to make an entrance into the top-25 after the Yellow Jackets dismantle No. 24 Tennessee in the season opener.

Poll Problems:

There are, however, a few jokes in this top-25. Georgia at No. 15, Texas at No. 23, and Tennessee at No. 24 to be exact.

How can you rank Georgia in the top-15 when they finished 8-5 and didn’t even win their own terrible division? Texas and Tennessee both enter the poll based solely on name.

Neither of those teams deserve a top-25 ranking to start the season. I imagine that Texas will take a step forward from last year’s 5-7 performance, but top-25 worthy? Give me a break.

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Neither of those programs deserve to be in over schools like Colorado, Washington State, or even NC State. It’s clear that “brand” matters, even if “brand” hasn’t been relevant since the early part of the 21st century.