PITTSBURGH -- With August upon us and the opener against Coastal Carolina only 28 days away, the tell-tale signs of football season are all around. The USA Today coaches poll was unveiled today, giving a glimpse at who should be contending for the BCS title this season.

The Nittany Lions come in at #22, which considering the lack of experience at quarterback might be alright, but with the talent surrounding whoever will take the snaps, 22 might be a little low. But let's take a closer look at the poll.

- Here's the top five
#1 Georgia
#2 USC
#3 Ohio State
#4 Oklahoma
#5 Florida

- For all the flack the Big Ten has been receiving this offseason (mainly stemming from Ohio State's back-to-back BCS title game losses), the coaches still respect the midwestern conference. The Big Ten boasts five teams in the top 25 (#3 Ohio State, #12 Wisconsin, #19 Illinois, Penn State and #24 Michigan), which is tied for tops with the SEC and Big 12.

- The Nittany Lions' schedule has received some ridicule from "experts" for being too soft, but the slate features four teams in the top 25 (the aforementioned Big Ten squads) and two other teams that received votes (#35 Oregon State and #40 Michigan State).

- As far as Penn State being snubbed by the voters, let's take a look at some of the teams ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions.

- #11 Auburn is looking at essentially the same challenge Penn State is facing. The Tigers will be breaking in a new, athletic quarterback in Kodi Burns. But both of Penn State's options under center are better passers than Burns. Auburn and Penn State finished 6th and 7th in scoring defense last season, but the Lions return more starters on both sides of the ball. Auburn is sitting at #11 based upon recent history and it wouldn't surprise me if the voters are still trying to make up for the Tigers being snubbed from the 2005 BCS title game.

- #15 Virginia Tech is another team ranked so high because of its history. The Hokies have two options at quarterback in pure passer Sean Glennon and versatile Tyrod Taylor, but neither has thrived in Blacksburg. Tech must also replace RB Brandon Ore who was kicked off the team and find a pair of starting receivers. The offense will struggle to score, but what's new for coach Frank Beamer? His teams have always relied heavily on defense and special teams, but the defense only returns four starters. Granted, they play in the weak ACC, but the Hokies are rated too high.

- #20 Oregon must also find a quarterback and will also try to replace stud RB Jonathan Stewart. The Ducks only return one starting wide receiver and while the defense returns 7 starters from last season, it's still the Pac 10, so Oregon might as well be called the ucks because they don't play any D.

There's a quick glance at the first coaches' poll of the season, and as with all preseason polls, remember, this is simply a guess. Sorry for the cliche, but the national title is won on the field, so we won't really know anything until the pads are strapped on and the hits are delivered. But until then, we've got something to argue about and get us through the dog days of WNBA and Arena football taking the primetime TV slots.

Well I'm off to try and teach my 10-month-old nephew how to throw a knuckleball.
- Wible