College football’s defending champs will start the season in the top spot in the Associated Press preseason poll. The Clemson Tigers are preseason #1 for the first time in the program’s history. Alabama, who fell to Clemson in the title game last season, came in at #2.
The Tigers and Tide have dominated college football in the past few years. Alabama had been preseason #1 the past 3 years, which was a record-tying run. The two teams are 55-4 the past four seasons and have split the last four national championships.
The SEC had another dominant showing in the poll. Four SEC teams are ranked in the top 10, and 6 are in the top 25. Georgia came in at #3, LSU is ranked #6, and Florida is ranked #8. As usual, the winner of the SEC is going to have to survive a gauntlet.
Preseason AP Top 25
1. Clemson (15-0)
2. Alabama (14-1)
3. Georgia (11-3)
4. Oklahoma (12-2)
5. Ohio State (13-1)
6. LSU (10-3)
7. Michigan (10-3)
8. Florida (10-3)
9. Notre Dame (12-1)
10. Texas (10-4)
11. Oregon (9-4)
12. Texas A&M (9-4)
13. Washington (10-4)
14. Utah (9-5)
15. Penn State (9-4)
16. Auburn (8-5)
17. UCF (12-1)
18. Michigan State (7-6)
19. Wisconsin (8-5)
20. Iowa (9-4)
21. Iowa State (8-5)
22. Syracuse (10-3)
23. Washington State (11-2)
24. Nebraska (4-8)
25. Stanford (9-4)