RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesUSA TODAY released their first college football Coaches Poll for the 2026 season and while it should come as no surprise that the UCLA Bruins didn’t crack the Top-25, new UCLA head coach Bob Chesney saw his former team , the James Madison Dukes earn some votes.
Like UCLA, James Madison did not make the Top-25, but the Dukes, fresh off of a College Football Playoffs appearance, garnered six votes in this week's poll. JMU’s time in the CFP was short-lived, with the Oregon Ducks blowing out the Dukes in Round One, but even without Chesney in the fold, JMU has earned some respect.
Chesney took a lot of talent with him to Los Angeles but the Dukes should have enough talent to remain near the top of the Sun Belt Conference. JMU was the only Sun Belt school to earn votes in the Coaches Poll.
The Big Ten Conference received much more recognition in the inaugural Coaches Poll of the season, with Ohio State sitting in the No. 1 spot with Oregon right behind them at No. 2. The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers find themselves at No. 6 despite coming off of an unbeaten season.
In total, there are eight Big Ten teams in the Top-25, with No. 14 USC, No. 16 Michigan, No. 17 Penn State, No. 19 Washington and No. 22 Iowa all making the cut. It’s been awhile since UCLA last cracked the Coaches Poll, having not accomplished the feat since October of 2023 when Chip Kelly was still the Bruins ’ head coach.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Bob Chesney's former school earns votes in first Coaches Poll of 2026
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