LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California is ineligible for the USA Today coaches' poll for the upcoming season.
Grant Teaff, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, issued a statement to USA Today on Thursday confirming that his organization's members aren't allowed to vote for any school on major probation, such as a bowl ban.
USC is appealing some aspects of the numerous penalties handed down by the NCAA last month, but agreed to serve the first year of its two-year bowl ban after the upcoming season. Any hearing of the Trojans' appeal is unlikely until next year.
The coaches' poll is part of the BCS formula used to determine its national champion.