Alabama picked up 20 first place votes, LSU 19 and USC 18, but the Tigers were ahead of the Crimson Tide and Trojans and will start the season at number one, in the first Coaches Poll. Missouri picked up three votes and did not make the top 25.
Mizzou’s first SEC opponent (Sep. 8), Georgia, was sixth, division foe South Carolina ninth, and cross-division rival Arkansas tenth. Four of Mizzou’s SEC games come against top ten teams. Florida was 23rd, Auburn 25th. Texas A & M was just outside the top 25 and Tennessee received three votes as well.