MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Ohio State has been voted the nation's No. 1 team in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today coaches college football poll.
Defending national champion Texas was second.
Notre Dame and Southern California tied for third, Oklahoma was No. 5, with Auburn, West Virginia, Florida, LSU, and Florida State rounding out the top 10.
The Buckeyes were voted No. 1 despite losing nine starters on defense, including all-America linebacker A.J. Hawk.
They play the Longhorns in Austin on Sept. 9.
"I'd rather be (No.) 99 and just come in and sneak up on people," junior kick returning specialist and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. told the Columbus Dispatch. "Being No. 1, it's cool, but it puts a lot of burdens on our head."
In spots 11-20 are Miami (Fla.), California, Louisville, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Clemson, Penn State, and Oregon with TCU, Nebraska, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas Tech completing the poll.
