 On August 3, the Bulls were ranked #21 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.On August 19, Quinton Flowers was named to the Manning Award Watch List, making him the first Bull to be named to five preseason watch lists, as he had already been named to watch lists for the Maxwell, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards.On August 21, the Bulls were ranked #19 in the preseason AP Poll, which matched the highest preseason ranking in school history (2008).