USA Today 1st poll

Yes, by all means North Carolina is not in the Top Ten, it's not in the Top 25, but it has received votes and for me that is a great start for the Tar Heels. This backs up the ACC media's thoughts that Carolina is a team to look out for. Yes, Butch Davis and his team will have to prove the pre-season hype on the gridiron, but for those of us that follow this team, we believe that the head coach, his staff and the team are ready for the challenge.

I can not wait for the first game of the season for this team that has some many young men on it and all of them with one year of experience. There are going to be plenty of playmakers I believe it and while many questions are still to be answered, I believe that the biggest one has been. The Heels are for real this year and I truly think everyone associated with the program want to prove that on the field.



1. Georgia (22), 11-2, 1,438, 3
2. Southern California (14), 11-2, 1,430, 2
3. Ohio State (14), 11-2, 1,392, 4
4. Oklahoma (3), 11-3, 1,329, 8
5. Florida (5), 9-4, 1,293, 16
6. LSU (3), 12-2, 1,163, 1
7. Missouri, 12-2, 1,143, 5
8. West Virginia, 11-2, 1,008, 6
9. Clemson, 9-4, 999, 22
10. Texas, 10-3, 979, 10
11. Auburn, 9-4, 888, 14t
12. Wisconsin, 9-4, 747, 21
13. Kansas, 12-1, 714, 7
14. Texas Tech, 9-4, 644, 23
15. Virginia Tech, 11-3, 568, 9
16. Arizona State, 10-3, 560, 13
17. Brigham Young, 11-2, 547, 14t
18. Tennessee, 10-4, 506, 12
19. Illinois, 9-4, 422, 18
20. Oregon, 9-4, 399, 24
21. South Florida, 9-4, 350, NR
22. Penn State, 9-4, 313, 25
23. Wake Forest, 9-4, 20, NR
24. Michigan, 9-4, 112, 19
25. Fresno State, 9-4, 91, NR

Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.