For the second consecutive year, Alabama will start the college football season as the top-ranked team.
For the sixth time in its history and the fourth time under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide are the No. 1 team in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. Alabama also was picked first in the Coaches Poll as the Crimson Tide picked up 49 out of 65 first-place votes.
Alabama received 52 of 61 first-place votes from the media panel. Ohio State comes inat No. 2 as the Buckeyes received three first-place votes. Florida State received four first-place votes to come in at No. 3 while USC (two first-place votes) Clemson, last year’s national champion, rounded out the top 5.
Link: Big Ten makes statement, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 shine in Preseason Coaches Poll
With the college football season starting on Saturday, fans are already anticipating the showdown between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State on Sept. 2. The game will be just the fourth opener involving top-five teams and the first pitting teams ranked in the top three.
Penn State, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin and Oklahoma State round out the top 10.
2017 Preseason AP Poll
1. Alabama (52 first-place votes)
2. Ohio State (3)
3. Florida State (4)
4. USC (2)
5. Clemson
6. Penn State
7. Oklahoma
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
10. Oklahoma State
11. Michigan
12. Auburn
13. LSU
14. Stanford
15. Georgia
16. Louisville
17. Florida
18. Miami (Fla.)
19. South Florida
20. Kansas State
21. Virginia Tech
22. West Virginia
23. Texas
24. Washington State
25. Tennessee
Others receiving votes: TCU 98, Utah 85, Notre Dame 65, Boise State 37, NC State 26, Northwestern 25, Pittsburgh 23, Oregon 21, Houston 19, Colorado 18, San Diego State 9, UCLA 9, BYU 5, Appalachian State 4, Nebraska 4, Tulsa 4, Kentucky 3, Texas A&M 3, Michigan State 1
