Defending national champion Alabama is the preseason No. 1 in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll released Tuesday. The Clemson Tigers are ranked 2nd, followed by #3 Oklahoma, as the Sooners received the only two first-place votes not going to Alabama, as Nick Saban’s team earned 63. Defending Big Ten champion Ohio State was ranked 4th, followed by SEC heavyweight Georgia.
The Southeastern Conference is well-represented, with Texas A&M at 6, Florida in the 11th spot, LSU 13th, and Ole Miss at #25. Traditionally known as a bottom feeder in the Big 12 Conference, the recent surge of success with Iowa State has been noticed, with the Cyclones ranked #8 to open the season, just behind Notre Dame, and ahead of North Carolina and Cincinnati.
The Big Ten had five teams ranked, with Wisconsin at 15, Indiana 17, Iowa checking in at 18, and Penn State opening in the 20 position.
No. 8 Iowa State has its highest preseason ranking since USA Today started administering the coaches poll in 1991. So does No. 10 Cincinnati. At No. 17, Indiana is ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll for the first time. And North Carolina, at 9, has its best opening slot since heading into the season at No. 8 in 1997.
The Associated Press Top 25 will be released Aug. 16.
