Alabama is No. 1 in Preseason USA Today Coaches’ Poll

NEW YORK (WCBI/AP/ESPN) —Alabama is No. 1 in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The Crimson Tide were an overwhelming choice, receiving 58 of 62 first-place votes. Ohio State was second and received three first-place votes. Oregon is No. 3, Stanford is 4, Georgia is five and No. 6 Texas A&M received the other first-place vote.

Half the top 10 is from the Southeastern Conference, which has won the last seven national championships, including three in the last four years by Alabama.

South Carolina is No. 7 and Florida is No. 10. No. 8 Clemson and No. 9 Louisville round out the top 10. No. 13 LSU gives the SEC six teams in the top 25.

Notre Dame, which lost the BCS title game 42-14 to Alabama last season, is No. 11.

The Crimson Tide have 12 starters returning from last season’s title team, including senior quarterback AJ McCarron, who has been under center for each of the last two championship squads.

McCarron will operate behind a revamped offensive line that will feature junior left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, who has been projected as a early first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft. Alabama also boasts a pair of talented sophomores in wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back T.J. Yeldon.

Alabama once again figures to have a strong defense anchored by linebackers C.J. Mosley and Adrian Hubbard.

After opening their season on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech, the Crimson Tide will face a major test in their second game on Sept. 14, when they travel to College Station to take on Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and the sixth-ranked Aggies.

Florida State is No. 12 in the poll, which was released Thursday, while Oklahoma State and Texas round out the top 15.

Oklahoma is 16th, followed by Michigan, Nebraska, Boise State, TCU, UCLA, Northwestern and Wisconsin. USC and Oregon State complete the top 25.

Top 25 Record Pts Pvs
1. Alabama (58) 13-1 1,545 1
2. Ohio State (3) 12-0 1,427 NR
3. Oregon 12-1 1,397 2
4. Stanford 12-2 1,262 6
5. Georgia 12-2 1,250 4
6. Texas A&M (1) 11-2 1,215 5
7. South Carolina 11-2 1,136 7
8. Clemson 11-2 1,047 9
9. Louisville 11-2 1,010 13
10. Florida 11-2 930 10
11. Notre Dame 12-1 872 3
12. Florida State 12-2 844 8
13. LSU 10-3 797 12
14. Oklahoma State 8-5 726 NR
15. Texas 9-4 622 18
16. Oklahoma 10-3 620 15
17. Michigan 8-5 589 NR
18. Nebraska 10-4 426 23
19. Boise State 11-2 420 14
20. TCU 7-6 400 NR
21. UCLA 9-5 202 NR
22. Northwestern 10-3 186 16
23. Wisconsin 8-6 172 NR
24. Southern Cal 7-6 165 NR
25. Oregon State 9-4 135 19

Others receiving votes: Kansas State 113; Miami (Fla.) 101; Michigan State 89; Baylor 80; Virginia Tech 65; Fresno State 62; Arizona State 51; Ole Miss 32; Vanderbilt 29; Utah State 23; Brigham Young 20; North Carolina 19; Northern Illinois 19; Tulsa 9; Ohio 8; San Jose State 8; Arizona 5; Cincinnati 3; East Carolina 3; Kent State 3; Mississippi State 3; Washington 3; Central Florida 2; Arkansas 1; Arkansas State 1; Rutgers 1; Tennessee 1; Toledo 1.

Categories: College Sports, Local Sports, Top Sports Story

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *