The USA Coaches Poll with preseason college football rankings is out and the Pac-12 is well represented with two teams in the top 10 -- Oregon (3) and Stanford (6). The Arizona schools didn't make it into the top 25 but the Sun Devils of Arizona State (26) are knocking at the door with 158 votes while the University of Arizona Wildcats are 32nd with 28 votes. Oklahoma tops the NCAA preseason football rankings with Alabama second and Oregon third.
The USA Today Coaches Poll confirms a previous Pac-12 power ranking that listed the ASU Sun Devils as the third-best team in the conference and favorites to win the new Pac-12 Southern Division. That would put them in the inaugural Pac-12 Conference Championship Game which will be held on December 3 on the home field of the team with the best record.
Arizona State returns 19 starters from last year's (6-6) team that lost far too many games but just a few points. The team will be led at quarterback by Brock Osweiler and features linebacker Vontaze Burfict who is considered one of the best defensive players in the country.
The University of Arizona will be led by quarterback Nick Foles who is projected to go in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Foles will have target Juron Criner back but other injuries and questions on defense leave the Wildcats ranked lower than their in-state rivals despite finishing with a slightly better (7-6) record last season.
For more on the ASU Sun Devils visit House of Sparky and for more UA Wildcat information visit AZ Desert Swarm.
The 2011 NCAA Football season will feature the debut of Arizona State Sun Devil's new school uniforms and logos:
