Status quo for Georgia Bulldogs in preseason AP poll

In the lead up to college football, there is often a great deal of discussion and, ultimately, divisiveness among pundits with regard to evaluating the quality of specific teams across the country. However, this preseason has produced a significant amount of “status quo”, and that is never more true than surrounding Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Sports Illustrated ranked the Bulldogs 12th in its preseason edition.

The nation’s coaches (partnering with Amway and USA Today) ranked the Bulldogs 12th in its preseason edition.

And now, the Associated Press also ranks the Bulldogs 12th in its preseason edition.

In fairness to the voters in all three polls, the top 12 teams in the country were unanimous (though in a different order), and a handful of teams (including #1 Florida State) enjoyed similar circumstances with uniformity. It is extremely likely that Georgia’s football team will not rank 12th at the conclusion of the upcoming season, but with a mix that includes a Heisman Trophy candidate in the backfield, a “new” starter at quarterback (who happens to be a 5th-year senior) and some high-profile defections on defense, that preseason projection is defensible.

The Georgia Bulldogs open the season against the Clemson Tigers in less than two weeks, but until then, fans are left to debate between three polls that are identical. Things are rough in Athens.