FRISCO, Texas — Preseason polls are not supposed to have a bearing on how the College Football Playoff Selection Committee ranks teams later in the season. Still, the Big 12 is taking extra care to make sure the CFP doesn’t have additional ammunition to use against the conference later this season.
In a surprising move before the 30th year of the conference’s existence, administrators and coaches opted to discontinue the media’s annual preseason poll. Their unanimous approval in a vote conducted earlier this summer was straightforward: significant roster turnover due to the transfer portal often leads to preseason polls painting an inaccurate picture of teams, and increasing parity in the Big 12 has allowed for wild, worst-to-first finishes, which usually hinder a rise in the national polls.
“We were adamant as coaches to our athletic directors that we have to get rid of this because the narrative is so poor,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman told CBS Sports.
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Last season, that team was Arizona State. The Sun Devils were picked by the media to finish last — 16th — in the Big 12 but wound up winning the conference title and clinching a berth in the CFP with a No. 12 ranking. ASU finished with 11 wins but didn’t appear in the national polls until…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-12-nixes-preseason-poll-to-help-shape-narrative-should-national-college-football-rankings-follow-suit/
Author : Brandon Marcello
Publish date : 2025-07-09 12:37:00
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