USA Today/Coaches' Poll: USF ranked 21st

Even with out playing a game, the USF football team can still make history. When the USA Today/Coaches poll were released today, the Bulls found themselves at No.21, and ranked as a preseason top 25 team in the nation for the first time in the programs twelve years of playing football.

The Bulls continue to make history and establish new firsts for the program, and when the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll was released this morning, with USF sitting at No. 21, the first national preseason ranking for the program, was a welcomed one for fans.

The Bulls received votes in both the AP and Coaches' preseason polls in 2007, but didn’t begin the season ranked. The Bulls were then thrust into the spotlight last season after big wins over Auburn, West Virginia, and a 6-0 start. They spent most the season in the top 25, and climbed as high as No. 2 in national rankings. .

The Bulls finished the season 9-4, with an appearance in the Brut Sun Bowl, and return 17 starters for the 2008 season. They return 10 starters on offense, including QB Matt Grothe, OL Ryan Schmidt & Jake Griffin, WR T.J. Johnson & Carlton Mitchell, TE Cedric Hill, and RB Mike Ford. The defense returns seven starters, including All-American DE George Selvie, S Nate Allen and LB Tyrone McKenzie& Brouce Mompremier. .

Besides USF (No. 21), the Gators (No.5) are the only other Florida school to be ranked in the top 25. FSU and UCF received votes, while Miami did not appear in the poll at all. .

USF and West Virginia are the only BIG EAST teams in the top 25, with the Mountaineers at No. 8. Five other BIG EAST schools received votes and would have been ranked accordingly if the poll extended past 25: No. 29 Rutgers, No. 32 Pitt, No. 36 Cincinnati, No. 38 UCONN and No. 50 Louisville.

The preseason top five for 2008 are: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 USC, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 Florida. .

It is the first time the program has been ranked in the Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Associated Press Preseason Poll is expected out within the next two weeks. .

View The Complete Top 25 Poll Here

Breaking Down The Top 25 Poll (Capsules of each Team) 

The Bulls open training camp on Aug. 4, and the season opener is scheduled for Aug.30 against The University of Tennessee at Martin at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be carried nationally by ESPN Regional and broadcast locally by Catch 47. .

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