Florida football: Preseason poll not really accurate at all

The Florida football team is ranked No. 8 in the first preseason college football coaches poll, released Thursday.

As a former college football reporter, I learned not to put a lot of stock into polls.

Especially preseason ones.

Look, coaches view polls as something for fans to talk about. Players … well, they look at it about the same way.

Fans, well, we love polls because it gives us watercooler discussion points.

It has all started now that the first 2019 Amway Top 25 Coaches Poll has been released.

While Clemson and Alabama are rightfully No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, Florida football is ranked No. 8 overall in the first poll.

And I’m not sure I completely agree with it.

Not because I’m a fanboy and think my team deserves to be higher in the poll. But, just look at the Top 10 and let me know if you agree with my assessment here.

2019 Amway College Football Coaches Poll (Aug. 1)

1. Clemson (59 first-place votes)
2. Alabama (6)
3. Georgia
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. LSU
7. Michigan
8. Florida
9. Notre Dame
10. Texas
11. Texas A&M
12. Washington
13. Oregon
14. Penn State
15. Utah
16. Auburn
T-17. Wisconsin
T-17. UCF
19. Iowa
20. Michigan State
21. Washington State
22. Syracuse
23. Stanford
24. Iowa State
25. Northwestern

The first thing that stands out is Michigan, who Florida manhandled in last year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, 41-15, is ranked higher. This is where I start to fundamentally disagree with polls.

First, there is a reason why Clemson is No. 1. No one has beaten them to prove they aren’t the top team in college football. When and if that happens, they won’t be No. 1 anymore.

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But, that usually only applies to the top-ranked team in a poll. When you get lower, that philosophy gets a little hazy.

Using the top-ranked logic, Florida should be ranked ahead of Michigan, if for no other reason then Michigan lost to Florida in their last game of the season.

I know it is just one place, but that can make a difference as the season progresses.

That, and I am just nit-picking national polls which, at the end of the day, are pretty useless until the last one of the season.

Even that has taken a backseat to the College Football Playoff rankings that determine the four teams playing in the season-ending playoffs to determine a national champion.

Bowl games are more dictated with how a team finishes in their conference than their national ranking.

So, that is my take. I know it is one spot in the poll — and it’s a preseason poll to boot — but I wanted to give my two cents.

Oh, the other thing I noticed in the preseason poll: neither Florida State or Miami are on it.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below!