Fresno Bulldogs just outside of AP poll

By BRYANT-JON ANTEOLA
The Fresno Bee

A year ago at this time, the direction of Fresno State's football program was in question and its national reputation in decline.

But with the Bulldogs rebounding with a 9-5 record last season and 16 starters returning, Fresno State on Saturday almost cracked the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.

Fresno State received 83 points -- second most among teams outside the Top 25 -- from a panel of 65 media members.

"Obviously, these young men have done a good job in regaining some of that reputation back," Bulldogs coach Pat Hill said. "Now we've got to hang onto it. We've got great tests early. Let's see if we can hang onto that moment."

Earlier this month, Fresno State was ranked No. 25 in the USA Today poll, which marked the first time the Bulldogs cracked the coaches' preseason rankings.

The last time Fresno State was among the Top 25 in the preseason AP poll was 2005, when the Bulldogs started at No. 24 in a year best remembered for a near-upset of top-ranked USC.

This year's initial AP poll was topped by another group of Bulldogs. Georgia, seeking its first national football title in 28 years, received 22 first-place votes and 1,528 points overall.

It marks the first time Georgia has been the preseason No. 1.

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP.

"I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Pittsburgh, with 85 points, is No. 25. South Carolina, which had 84 points, was just ahead of Fresno State among the other schools receiving votes.

Wisconsin, the lone Fresno State opponent on this year's schedule to make the Top 25, is No. 13. The Badgers and Bulldogs meet Sept. 13 in Fresno.

Four other Fresno State opponents -- Rutgers (32 points), Boise State (17), UCLA (6) and Hawaii (1) -- received votes.

"We know we're a good enough team to be ranked right now," Fresno State cornerback A.J. Jefferson said. "But we don't look at that stuff until the end of the season when we know we could be ranked.

"It's only a matter of time, win a few games, we'll be ranked."

Ohio State, coming off a second consecutive loss in the national championship game but returning 20 starters, is No. 2. The Buckeyes received 21 first-place votes and 1,506 points.

No. 3 USC, which hosts Ohio State on Sept. 13, received 12 first-place votes. No. 4 Oklahoma had four first-place votes and No. 5 Florida six.

Georgia finished last season 11-2 and No. 2 in the country behind Southeastern Conference rival Louisiana State. The Tigers won the national championship in the Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 7 by beating the Buckeyes.

But a week earlier on that same field, Georgia ended with a seventh straight victory that also served as a warning for 2008.

Georgia, with myriad freshmen and sophomores playing major roles, toyed with high-scoring Hawaii and Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan in a 41-10 rout.

Richt's job since then has been to keep his team from getting too wrapped up in the hype.

"I think it motivates the guys to prepare well, but the big thing is: If you think about a championship way back in January ... that can wear you down," Richt said. "It's our responsibility as coaches to help these guys break it down to one day at a time, one workout at a times, one practice at a time. Just prepare to be in position for the challenge.

"If we don't work, we'll have no chance."