Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal drops LSU to No. 3 in AP preseason poll
LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu walks off the field during football practice in Baton Rouge, La. LSU dismissed Mathieu, a Heisman Trophy finalist, for violating school and team rules. With the loss of Mathieu, the Tigers are ranked third in the Associated Press preseason college football poll released Aug. 18, 2012. (Aug. 2, 2012) Credit: AP
Southern California is No. 1 in the AP top 25, tossing off the weight of NCAA sanctions and returning to a familiar place in the rankings -- with a boost from LSU's problems.
USC earned the top spot in The Associated Press' preseason college football poll for the seventh time in school history and the first time in five seasons, edging out No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 LSU.
The Trojans, banned from postseason play the past two seasons, received 25 of a possible 60 first-place votes from a media panel in a close vote. USC received 1,445 points. Defending national champion Alabama had 17 first-place votes and 1,411 points, and LSU, the Crimson Tide's SEC rival, got 16 first-place votes and 1,402 points.
"We definitely didn't come here to be underdogs," Trojans safety T.J. McDonald said Saturday. "The ranking doesn't mean we've done anything as a team. But it's good to see we're back where we're supposed to be."
Oklahoma was fourth with a single first-place vote and Oregon was fifth. Michigan, at No. 8, received the only other first-place vote.
LSU was poised to start the season No. 1 before Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu got kicked off the team a week ago. In light of that development, the AP extended the voting deadline. Before Mathieu was dismissed, reportedly for failed drug tests, LSU had received 28 of a possible 60 first-place votes. USC was a close second with 22 first-place votes and Alabama was third with nine.
The USA Today coaches' poll, which was released Aug. 2, had LSU at No. 1, followed by Alabama and USC.-- AP
