As expected, WVU is No. 1 in the preseason poll with 189 points and 22 first-place votes. South Florida was second with 149 points and one first-place vote. The final first-place vote went to Pitt, which finished third with 128 points. Syracuse actually managed to receive every last-place vote.

WVU has been voted the preseason favorite three straight seasons and four times in five years. Preseason practice and the quest to stay on top starts this weekend.

College football begins here Saturday with the first practice of preseason camp. As has become the custom in an unprecedented run of exposure and success for West Virginia, people like to think not about the beginning, but about the last game of the season.

One of those played after New Year’s Day. On Fox. Usually somewhere that provides a rewarding respite from the bitter mountain winters.

It’s not unreasonable. Not anymore, at least.

WVU was again picked today overwhelmingly by the Big East media to be the best team in a league that gives its champion one of those Bowl Championship Series bids, so why not?

Why not? Ask Lonnie Galloway.