Canine schools abound in the preseason Top 25 rankings as the 2019 college football season gets underway.
Canine schools abound in the ranks, and a good many of them are included near the top of the heap in college football. Which schools made the preseason Top 25?
Dog O’Day is only looking at Division I schools in this report and using their Associated Press ranking, focusing on schools with canine mascots or those with live doggy mascots on the sidelines.
The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs roared through the Southeastern Conference’s East Division, winding up at the Sugar Bowl against Texas, where the Longhorns triumphed 28-21 after their bull mascot nearly trampled Uga.
Reveille the Collie is known as the First Lady of Texas A&M, and she’s pretty pleased that the Aggies start the season No. 12 overall, looking to be a threat in the SEC West. Texas A&M destroyed North Carolina State last year in the Gator Bowl, winning 52-13.
In the Pacific Northwest, Dubs takes over his first full year of mascot duties for the Huskies of Washington, ranked No. 13 and looking to win the Pac-12 North. They fell 28-23 to Ohio State’s Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.
Among programs with vet schools, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Clemson Tigers are No. 1 after winning the National Championship Game by a 44-16 score over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Florida Gators (SEC) are No. 8, the Auburn Tigers (SEC) are No. 16, the Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten) are No. 18 and the Washington State Cougars (Pac-12) are No. 23.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs, Boise State Broncos, and Fresno State Bulldogs all also received Top 25 votes.
During last year’s bowl season, canine schools went 5-5, though on two occasions (the aforementioned Texas A&M-North Carolina State Gator Bowl and the Arkansas State-Nevada Arizona Bowl) two canine schools played each other.
Each week during the 2019 college football season Dog O’Day will provide a recap of how the canine schools did that weekend. Did your team make the AP’s Top 25? How do you think they’ll do this season?