The UCLA Bruins did not make it into either the US LBM Coaches Poll nor the Associated Press preseason Top 25, but both lists have different Big Ten opponents being at the top of the conference.
Both polls have the Texas Longhorns ranked No.1, but then opinions differ. The US LBM Coaches Poll had the defending national champion, Ohio State Buckeyes ranked No. 2 overall, followed by the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Associated Press poll flipped the Big Ten teams with Penn State at No. 2 and Ohio State at No. 3. Here is more from USA TODAY Sports:
“One notable swap from the Coaches Poll finds a change atop the Big Ten. Coaches went with Ohio State, the defending national champions, at No. 2 behind the Longhorns; the media went with Penn State, believing in the Nittany Lions’ clearer situation on offense and greater degree of carryover from last season,” Paul Myerberg wrote for USA Today. “The Nittany Lions received 23 first-place votes in the AP poll – just two behind Texas. Another advantage for PSU is the addition of former OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Clearly, coaches and the media believe both teams are good enough to win the Big Ten and deliver the league’s third national championship in a row.”
With both coaches and media having two of the Bruins’ top opponents ranked as the No. 2 and 3 teams in college football, one thing is for certain: DeShaun Foster and his Bruins will have an uphill battle to win the Big Ten Conference.
The acquisition of redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava, along with others, will need to pay dividends if the Bruins will have any chance of competing for a Big Ten championship, not to mention a bowl or playoff appearance.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: No consensus on preseason Big Ten football favorite
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
