| USC Ranked #1 going into season! |
For the third time in the last four years, USC begins the college football season No. 1 in The Associated Press top 25.
"It’s exactly where we hope and expect to be," Carroll said. "It’s a symbol of what we’re all about."
USC received 62 of a possible 65 first-place votes from a nationwide media panel and earned a total of 1,622 points to easily outdistance LSU for the top spot. The Trojans, also the top team in the coaches poll, are the AP preseason No. 1 for the sixth time.
The Trojans, who will open the season on September 1 at home against Idaho, will be gunning for their third national title since the 2003 season. They were No. 1 in the AP poll that season, sharing the crown with BCS champ LSU, then were undisputed national champs in 2004 and were one game away from making it a three-peat before a loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl after the 2005 campaign.
LSU got the nod at number two with two first place votes heading the Tigers way. Coming off of a 10-2 record from the 2006 season LSU will look to run through the tough SEC unscathed in order to chase their title hopes. The Tigers will face Virginia Tech at home in their second game of the season. A favorable schedule has the Tigers playing South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas in Baton Rouge this year
I am so proud to be a USC fan! It is going to be a great season!
