Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Points Final ‘07 rank

1. Georgia (22) 11-2 1,438 3

2. USC (14) 11-2 1,430 2

3. Ohio State (14) 11-2 1,392 4

4. Oklahoma (3) 11-3 1,329 8

5. Florida (5) 9-4 1,293 16

6. LSU (3) 12-2 1,163 1

7. Missouri 12-2 1,143 5

8. West Virginia 11-2 1,008 6

9. Clemson 9-4 999 22

10. Texas 10-3 979 10

11. Auburn 9-4 888 14t

12. Wisconsin 9-4 747 21

13. Kansas 12-1 714 7

14. Texas Tech 9-4 644 23

15. Virginia Tech 11-3 568 9

16. Arizona State 10-3 560 13

17. Brigham Young 11-2 547 14t

18. Tennessee 10-4 506 12

19. Illinois 9-4 422 18

20. Oregon 9-4 399 24

21. South Florida 9-4 350 NR

22. Penn State 9-4 313 25

23. Wake Forest 9-4 203 NR

24. Michigan 9-4 112 19

25. Fresno State 9-4 91 NR

Others receiving votes

Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.

The University of Georgia has been handed the top spot in the USA Today/Coaches’ pre-season poll announced Friday.

The Auburn football team is also ranked 11th in the poll.

The Tigers received 888 points in the poll and are one of five teams from the Southeastern Conference to earn a preseason national ranking. Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, while Florida is fifth and LSU is sixth. Tennessee rounds out the SEC squads with a No. 18 ranking.

Alabama just missed the cut coming in a 26th.

The number one ranking is Georgia’s first by a major national poll in the pre-season.

The Bulldogs’ highest pre-season rankings by major polls have previously been recorded in 1942 (2nd AP); 2004 (3rd AP, 4th USA/Coaches); and 1967 (6th AP).

“Being number one in the coaches pre-season poll does have significance since it’s one-third of the formula to decide who plays in the national championship game,” said Richt. “But the post-season poll is the one that is the most important. However, I know the ranking is exciting for Georgia football and hopefully we can do our part to stay in the race.”

Behind the Bulldogs in the USA Today/Coaches’ poll in order are Southern Cal, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, and LSU, Missouri, West Virginia, Clemson, and Texas.

Auburn finished the 2007 season tied for 14th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll after ending the year with a 9-4 record including a victory over Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Alabama finished the season unranked.

Auburn opens the 2008 season Aug. 30 hosting Louisiana-Monroe at 6 p.m. CT. Alabama will open its season playing Clemson in the Georgia Dome.