Here's why Southern California is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason poll:

Every player who scored a touchdown in the Trojans' 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in last season's Orange Bowl is still playing for USC. And so is Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who threw five TD passes.

Leinart, Reggie Bush and the rest of Pete Carroll's crew provided a scary glimpse of what was to come in 2005 when they wrapped up their second straight national title on that warm January night in Miami.

This year's goal is three in a row, something that's never been done.

"It's always good to be on top, but at the same time we're focused and coach Carroll always reminds us, 'Don't worry about who's No. 1 or No. 2. Just stay focused,' " said sophomore receiver Dwayne Jarrett, who finished off a big freshman year with 115 yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl.

USC (1,619 points) received 60 out of a possible 65 first-place votes in the media poll released yesterday, grabbing the top spot in the preseason for the fifth time in school history.

Southern California, which has won 22 straight games, opens its season Sept. 3 against Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium.

No. 2 Texas (1,500 points), coming off an 11-1 season and a Rose Bowl win, got four first-place votes. Tennessee is No. 3 and Michigan and LSU round out the top five. No. 12 Louisville received the other first-place vote.

Joe Giglio of The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., voted Louisville No. 1 after examining the schedules for all BCS conference teams. The Cardinals moved to the Big East this season.

"Louisville was the only one that I came up with as going undefeated," he said.

B.G. Brooks of the Rocky Mountain News of Denver was one of four voters to put Texas No. 1.

"I thought USC had lost too much, particularly in the coaching staff," he said.

The Trojans have only five returning starters on defense and had to replace four assistants, including offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

AP TOP 25

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press preseason college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2004 records, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and final ranking:

RECORD PTS PVS

1. SOUTHERN CAL (60) 13-0 1,619 1

2. TEXAS (4) 11-1 1,500 5

3. TENNESSEE 10-3 1,376 13

4. MICHIGAN 9-3 1,329 14

5. LSU 9-3 1,291 16

6. OHIO ST. 8-4 1,205 20

7. OKLAHOMA 12-1 1,204 3

8. VIRGINIA TECH 10-3 1,184 10

9. MIAMI 9-3 1,142 11

10. FLORIDA 7-5 1,080 —

11. IOWA 10-2 1,011 8

12. LOUISVILLE (1) 11-1 892 6

13. GEORGIA 10-2 869 7

14. FLORIDA ST. 9-3 764 15

15. PURDUE 7-5 711 —

16. AUBURN 13-0 650 2

17. TEXAS A&M 7-5 576 —

18. BOISE ST. 11-1 375 12

19. CALIFORNIA 10-2 358 9

20. ARIZONA ST. 9-3 313 19

21. TEXAS TECH 8-4 256 18

22. BOSTON COLLEGE 9-3 232 21

23. PITTSBURGH 8-4 211 25

24. FRESNO ST. 9-3 196 22

25. VIRGINIA 8-4 153 23

Others receiving votes: Alabama 121, Oregon 97, Utah 77, Georgia Tech 62, Bowling Green 57, N.C. State 57, Colorado 38, UCLA 19, Iowa St. 18, Minnesota 18, Miami (Ohio) 15, Penn St. 11, UTEP 10, Oregon St. 8, Wisconsin 5, Clemson 3, Memphis 3, Nebraska 3, Colorado St. 1, Notre Dame 1, Southern Miss. 1, Toledo 1, West Virginia 1, Wyoming 1.