Preseason coaches poll. 🏈

[Greenbacks]

---

19. Miami Hurricanes​

Ceiling: 11-1 | Floor: 6-6

Key game: at Florida, Aug. 31

The season opener against Florida will provide plenty of immediate answers about Miami. Is Cam Ward as advertised? How big a boost does Damien Martinez give the run game? Will the secondary have enough depth? A win, and the hype train will continue to roll -- especially with a manageable ACC schedule ahead (games against Virginia Tech and Florida State are at home). A loss, and there will be plenty of questions about how the Canes respond moving forward. It will be important, however, to keep in mind that a nonconference loss here will not make or break Miami's playoff hopes. -- Adelson

 

[Greenbacks]

20. Texas A&M Aggies​

Ceiling: 10-2 | Floor: 5-7

Key game: vs. Notre Dame, Aug. 31

You couldn't draw up a more fascinating matchup for Mike Elko's debut at Texas A&M. A Fighting Irish team with serious CFP expectations, led by Elko's former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, is coming to College Station for a prime-time showdown at Kyle Field. That's as good as it gets for a signature victory opportunity to kick off a new era for the Aggies. -- Max Olson

 

[Greenbacks]

21. Arizona Wildcats​

Ceiling: 11-1 | Floor: 5-7

Key game: at Kansas State, Sept. 13

Arizona will have a good sense of how it will stack up against the best of the Big 12 after going to Kansas State on Sept. 13. In a unique twist, this game won't count as a conference game because it has been on the books for several years -- before the Wildcats joined the league. -- Kyle Bonagura

 

[Greenbacks]

22. Kansas Jayhawks​

Ceiling: 12-0 | Floor: 6-6

Key game: at Kansas State, Oct. 26

When your archrival has beaten you 15 straight times, as Kansas State has to Kansas, that game holds some psychic power over your season. The Jayhawks are a legitimate Big 12 threat, but before last year, the Wildcats had won the previous four meetings by an average score of 44-15, before Kansas lost an 11-point lead in a 31-27 heartbreaker last season. With a favorable schedule that doesn't include Utah, Oklahoma State or Arizona, the Sunflower Showdown looms large. -- Wilson

 

[Greenbacks]

23. USC Trojans​

Ceiling: 10-2 | Floor: 4-8

Key game: at Michigan, Sept. 21

In their first game without Caleb Williams at quarterback, Lincoln Riley and USC will have a tall task: beating a talented LSU team at a neutral site to open up the season. But the "welcome to the Big Ten moment" will come a few weeks later when the Trojans head to the Big House to face off against the defending champions Michigan. -- Uggetti

 

[Greenbacks]

24. NC State Wolfpack​

Ceiling: 11-1 | Floor: 6-6

Key game: vs. Tennessee, Sept. 7

No, the game against Tennessee won't make or break the season for NC State, thanks to the guaranteed playoff spot for the ACC champion. But the Tennessee game is critical for two reasons. The first is it represents a major test for the Wolfpack's new-look offense. If NC State can match the explosive Vols offense score-for-score, it will be a great sign that the Pack are truly as dangerous as this unit looks on paper. But almost as significant is the narrative this game will help set. Florida State and Clemson get the benefit of the doubt as blue bloods when it comes to playoff positioning. NC State needs to put some proof into its pudding. A win over Tennessee could be the résumé item needed if the Wolfpack don't win the ACC but are jockeying for an at-large playoff bid. -- Hale

 

[Greenbacks]

25. Iowa Hawkeyes​

Ceiling: 10-2 | Floor: 4-8

Key game: at Ohio State, Oct. 5

With no Penn State, Oregon, Michigan or USC on the schedule, the Hawkeyes own one of the Big Ten's more favorable slates. The Hawkeyes don't have to knock off Ohio State to make it to the Big Ten championship game. But an upset victory in Columbus could elevate Iowa into prime position to make it to Indy, and potentially, the playoff. -- Trotter

 

[MAGAking1]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1823348966261420102