The voters in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll have weighed in, and the Top 25 is now out for fans and pundits to debate until they actually take the field in a few weeks.
Preseason polls are speculative, of course, and trying to figure out which teams aren’t ranked but perhaps should be is even more of a crapshoot. To further clarify, none of the five teams listed here were truly snubbed, as they were all mentioned on multiple ballots. But here are a few notable programs that will start the season outside the poll but might at some point be ranked.
TEXAS ON TOP: Longhorns lead preseason poll for first time
OUTLOOKS: Breaking down every Top 25 team in poll
Left out of the preseason poll for the first time since 1999, the Sooners nearly gave the SEC a record 10th team in the Top 25, missing the rankings by just 25 poll points. Unlike some teams on this list, however, Oklahoma will have ample opportunities to prove its worthiness of receiving poll votes, starting in Week 2 when the Sooners take on No. 14 Michigan. Most of the issues in Norman for the last couple of seasons have been on the offensive side of the ball, so Oklahoma’s long-term staying power this season will largely hinge on the performance of transfer quarterback John Mateer.
