How important are preseason polls? On the one hand, they’re not. At least, they shouldn’t be. They’re mostly just something to write about in August and get fans excited for the season with. On the other hand, they’re incredibly important, as teams claim their strength of schedule and perceived toughness based on the AP and Coaches Polls, dating back to the preseason polls. This, in turn, directly impacts the College Football Playoff Selection Committee argues for or against teams in their own rankings.
This means that it’s worth taking a look at these polls and seeing where the AAC is, and how they are being perceived, to start the 2021 season.