The official preseason NCAA coaches poll was released on Sunday (yea, I know.. almost a week late. What can I say… I’m busy), but I think they are drinking the TOSU Kool-Aid cause the coaches think that the Buckeyes are the best team in the nation.

Now, TOSU will have one of the best offenses in the nation… this does help. Problem: they also must replace 9 starters from their defense. If I remember correctly from my coaching experiences (It’s not even been a year now) it takes 11 to field a defense. I don’t care how good your offense is, 2 returning starters on defense is a major problem. My other issue starts as early as the number two team, the Longhorns of Texas. Honestly, how good would they have been last year sans Vince Young? Top ten? I say no.

Actually, with USC and Notre Dame as the exceptions I could see the rest of the preseason top ten finishing.. well out of the top ten.

Take a gander for yourself:

Rank Team
1. Ohio State
2. Texas
3. Notre Dame
3. USC
5. Oklahoma
6. Auburn
7. West Virginia
9. LSU
10. Florida State
11. Miami (FL)
12. California
13. Louisville
14. Georgia
15. Michigan

I know its hard to pick the best teams in the preseason… but they could at least make an effort.

• USA Today: Week 1 (Preseason)