Tom MurphyArkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR)
E-mail: tmurphy@arkansasonline.com
Twitter: @TomMurphyADG
About: Louisiana Tech graduate (1988) with MA in English; Covered nine head coaches in last 16 seasons at Alabama (1998-2007) and Arkansas (2007-13). Married with 3 children. Native of Atlanta, Ga.
 


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Aug 17, 2026Pre-Season Rankings for Tom Murphy
1Ohio State (40)
12-2Actual: 1
Highest: 1 - 40 Voters
Lowest: 7 - Kirk Bohls
1672
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
2Miami (FL) (1)
13-3Actual: 7
Highest: 1 - Javon Edmonds
Lowest: 9 - Michael Katz
1379
Points
3Georgia
12-2Actual: 3
Highest: 2 - 7 Voters
Lowest: 8 - 2 Voters
1513
Points
4Oregon (14)
13-2Actual: 2
Highest: 1 - 14 Voters
Lowest: 10 - Javon Edmonds
1597
Points
5Indiana (8)
16-0Actual: 6
Highest: 1 - 8 Voters
Lowest: 9 - Chris Carter
1440
Points
6Texas
10-3Actual: 5
Highest: 2 - 10 Voters
Lowest: 9 - Javon Edmonds
1483
Points
7Notre Dame (6)
10-2Actual: 4
Highest: 1 - 6 Voters
Lowest: 10 - Chelsie Brown
1510
Points
8Ole Miss
13-2Actual: 9
Highest: 6 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - Pat Welter
1102
Points
9Texas A&M
11-2Actual: 8
Highest: 7 - 3 Voters
Lowest: 17 - Ralph Russo
1131
Points
10Texas Tech
12-2Actual: 12
Highest: 5 - Brett McMurphy
Lowest: 23 - Jon Wilner
983
Points
11Alabama
11-4Actual: 13
Highest: 8 - Matt Murschel
Lowest: 20 - Brett McMurphy
904
Points
12BYU
12-2Actual: 14
Highest: 8 - Stephen Means
Lowest: NR - Chris Carter
839
Points
13Oklahoma
10-3Actual: 10
Highest: 7 - Josh Furlong
Lowest: 17 - Randy Johnson
1047
Points
14USC
9-4Actual: 14
Highest: 8 - BJ Rains
Lowest: 25 - Brett McMurphy
839
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
15Utah
11-2Actual: 21
Highest: 15 - Tom Murphy
Lowest: NR - 15 Voters
304
Points
16Tennessee
8-5Actual: 20
Highest: 14 - Josh Furlong
Lowest: NR - 7 Voters
394
Points
17Michigan
9-4Actual: 16
Highest: 10 - BJ Rains
Lowest: 23 - Javon Edmonds
718
Points
18Washington
9-4Actual: 17
Highest: 10 - Brett McMurphy
Lowest: NR - 6 Voters
501
Points
19Penn State
7-6Actual: 18
Highest: 14 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - 3 Voters
482
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
20Clemson
7-6Actual: 26
Highest: 15 - Chris Carter
Lowest: NR - 34 Voters
112
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
21Vanderbilt
10-3Actual: 34
Highest: 21 - Tom Murphy
Lowest: NR - 65 Voters
8
Points
22Iowa
9-4Actual: 22
Highest: 15 - Javon Edmonds
Lowest: NR - 6 Voters
260
Points
23Missouri
8-5Actual: 25
Highest: 18 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - 37 Voters
117
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
24SMU
9-4Actual: 19
Highest: 12 - Kirk Kenney
Lowest: NR - Ian Kress
434
Points
25Houston
10-3Actual: 23
Highest: 15 - Bob Asmussen
Lowest: NR - 10 Voters
252
Points
Ranked Teams Not on Ballot: 11-LSU24-Louisville