UNDATED (AP) _ Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason college
football poll for the second straight season and third time in five years.
The Crimson Tide, coming off a last-second loss in the national championship
game that left it No. 2 to Clemson in the final Top 25 of 2016, received 52 from
a panel of 61 media members.
Ohio State was No. 2, edging out No. 3 Florida State and preventing the first 1
vs 2 opening game since the AP preseason poll began in 1950. Alabama opens the
season against the Seminoles in Atlanta on Sept. 2, just the fourth opener
involving top-five teams and the first pitting teams ranked in the top three.
Southern California starts the season at No. 4. Defending national champion
Clemson begins the post-Deshaun Watson era at No. 5.