Cowboys Miss Out on Preseason Coaches Poll for First Time Since 2019

For the first time since 2019, the Cowboys aren’t in the coaches’ preseason Top 25.

The Preseason Coaches Poll released Monday with a top four of Georgia, Michigan, Alabama and Ohio State. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, received votes. The Cowboys’ 12 points would have put them at No. 43 in an expanded poll.

Rank	Team	Points
1	Georgia (61)	1643
2	Michigan	1510
3	Alabama (4)	1489
4	Ohio State (1)	1485
5	LSU	1294
6	USC	1228
7	Penn State	1181
8	Florida State	1145
9	Clemson	1078
10	Tennessee	991
11	Washington	941
12	Texas	848
13	Notre Dame	841
14	Utah	839
15	Oregon	820
16	TCU	655
17	Kansas State	440
18	Oregon State	365
19	Oklahoma	320
20	North Carolina	315
21	Wisconsin	309
22	Mississippi	303
23	Tulane	225
24	Texas Tech	200
25	Texas A&M	196

The Big 12 got five teams in the poll: No. 12 Texas, No. 16 TCU, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 24 Texas Tech. Future Big 12 member Utah is also on the list at No. 14.

A group of 63 coaches votes on the poll, and OSU coach Mike Gundy is among that group this season.

OSU entered last season at No. 11 on the poll. The Cowboys were No. 22 in the poll heading into 2021 and No. 15 in the poll entering 2020. In 2019, the last time the Cowboys missed the poll, OSU finished the year 8-5, climbing as high as No. 21 in that poll throughout the year.

Another point to suggest the Cowboys have a favorable schedule: OSU plays two games against preseason Top 25 teams (Oklahoma and Kansas State) — both of which come in Boone Pickens Stadium.