AP Poll: Alabama hailed as preseason No. 1, Clemson at No. 5
Marvin Gentry / USA TODAY Sports
Alabama will enter the college football season ranked No. 1 for the second straight year, as the Crimson Tide were hailed as the nation's top team in Monday's preseason AP Poll.
Ohio State owns the second spot, while Florida State - which opens the season against Alabama - rounds out the top three.
Defending national champion Clemson is ranked fifth, one rung below No. 4 USC.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the preseason rankings is Texas, which was pegged as the country's 23rd-best team despite failing to record a winning season since 2013.
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama |
| 2 | Ohio State |
| 3 | Florida State |
| 4 | USC |
| 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 |
| 19 | South Florida |
| 20 | Kansas State |
| 21 | Virginia Tech |
| 22 | West Virginia |
| 23 | Texas |
| 24 | Washington State |
| 25 | Tennessee |