The first AP Top 25 poll of the college football season dropped on Monday as we continue to inch closer to the start of the 2025 season later this month. The USA TODAY US LBM Coaches Poll was unveiled earlier this month, so it’s interesting to see how the similarities and differences in the two polls. One of the biggest disparities was the Tennessee Volunteers coming in at the No. 24 spot on the AP Poll after being ranked No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. The difference in positions for the Vols could come down to the fact they’re switching quarterbacks and rolling with Appalachian State transfer and former UCLA Bruin Joey Aguilar in a very tough SEC.
It’s easy to imagine that Tennesse would find itself higher in the AP Poll with Nico Iamaleava still the starting quarterback, While Iamaleava didn’t dominate the SEC last season, he possess all the attributes one could look for in a quarterback and should only progress as he gets more college experience under his belt. UCLA, not Tennessee, will get to see what Nico can do in 2025.
Both polls have the same top three teams, Texas, Ohio State and Penn State, with the Longhorns holding down the top spot in both lists. The AP Poll has Penn State as the No. 2 team while the Coaches Poll give the No. 2 spot to the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
The UCLA Bruins don’t see their name on either poll but the Bruins will face some of the top teams in the nation, as they’ll face the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers, who are ranked No. 19 in the Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Poll.
The Joey Aguilar-Nico Iamaleava comparison will remain a talking point. We will soon find out which man is a better quarterback.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Did the UCLA-Tennessee QB swap hurt the Volunteers in the newly-released AP Poll?
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
