Miami OC Shannon Dawson Advocates for Eliminating College Football Preseason Polls

Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has voiced strong opposition to college football's preseason polls, labeling them "the most ridiculous thing on the planet" and "the stupidest thing." Dawson argued in a press conference that these early rankings are arbitrary, often based on past performance rather than future potential, and become less relevant with the increasing unpredictability introduced by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal.

"You shouldn’t have a ranking until October. How do you know?" Dawson questioned. He pointed to the volatility of rankings, citing examples where teams ranked highly in the preseason, like Texas A&M, did not maintain that status throughout the season. Dawson noted that in the previous season, five of the top-10 preseason teams failed to finish in the top-25 at the end of the year.

Dawson also specifically criticized the perceived bias favoring the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in preseason voting. "So we sit here and look at schedules, and obviously everything is SEC, SEC. Well look… they have all of their teams in the top-25. Guess what. Good for you. At the end of the year, half of them won’t be in the top-30," he stated. He believes this bias leads voters to inflate the perceived strength of teams based on their conference affiliation rather than actual on-field performance.

Dawson's critique extends to how these early rankings influence public perception and media narratives. He suggested that relying on preseason polls gives undue weight to subjective opinions and provides "talking points that are idiots." Instead, he advocates for letting teams prove themselves on the field throughout the season before establishing rankings.

This perspective aligns with broader discussions about the reliability of preseason polls in modern college football. The landscape has changed significantly with the introduction of NIL and the transfer portal, making it harder to predict team performance months in advance. Teams that were once considered perennial powerhouses can experience rapid declines, while unheralded programs can emerge as strong contenders, as demonstrated by the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers championship season.

Dawson suggested that a more objective approach, potentially using analytics and efficiency-driven rankings after games have been played, would provide a more accurate representation of team strength. However, he acknowledged that the tradition of preseason polls is likely to persist due to vested interests within the sport.