As the title game on Monday draws closer, there are a number of way too early preseason rankings now coming out.
Two in particular are Athlon Sports and Sporting News
Athlon only puts one Pac-12 team in their preseason top 25. Oregon is at #11 and they say "the race to in the 2020 Pac-12 title appears to be wide open". Sporting News puts three Pac-12 teams in the preseason top 25: #22 Arizona State, #18 Utah, and #6 Oregon.
What I found MOST interesting as a Cal fan is that Athlon did put three Pac-12 teams in their next set of teams that they labeled "The Next Tier - Teams that Just Missed the Top 25". This includes UW, Cal, and USC. Athlon does have a final tier, where they include both Arizona State and Utah in "Teams to Watch".
Here is what Athlon said about Cal:
Two in particular are Athlon Sports and Sporting News
- https://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25-college-football-rankings
- https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nca...-clemson-ohio-state/nksaexznh9m51jojwz2c4htqi
Athlon only puts one Pac-12 team in their preseason top 25. Oregon is at #11 and they say "the race to in the 2020 Pac-12 title appears to be wide open". Sporting News puts three Pac-12 teams in the preseason top 25: #22 Arizona State, #18 Utah, and #6 Oregon.
What I found MOST interesting as a Cal fan is that Athlon did put three Pac-12 teams in their next set of teams that they labeled "The Next Tier - Teams that Just Missed the Top 25". This includes UW, Cal, and USC. Athlon does have a final tier, where they include both Arizona State and Utah in "Teams to Watch".
Here is what Athlon said about Cal:
Oregon ranks as Athlon’s very early favorite to win the Pac-12, but keep an eye on coach Justin Wilcox’s team next fall. A healthy year from quarterback Chase Garbers under new play-caller Bill Musgrave should allow the Golden Bears to push for a spot in the top 25. The ground game is solid with Christopher Brown and Marcel Dancy back, while four of the team’s top five receiving options are back. California’s offensive line should also take a step forward with most of the lineup set to return in 2020. Wilcox and coordinator Tim DeRuyter have elevated the program’s defense among the best in the Pac-12, but this unit loses All-America linebacker Evan Weaver and safeties Jaylinn Hawkins and Ashtyn Davis. However, the news isn’t all bad, as linebacker Kuony Deng and cornerback Camryn Bynum are two of the Pac-12's top defenders going into 2020. Washington and Oregon come to Berkeley next year, but road trips to USC, Arizona State and Wazzu are on tap.
Curious what other folks think about Cal not being put in preseason top 25 but at least getting favorable mentions. That feels about right to me, given a decent 8-5 season and the key starters returning for Cal on both sides of the ball.
