Clemson is No. 1 in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll for the first time, followed by Alabama at No. 2.
The defending champion Tigers received 59 of a possible 65 first-place votes, and the Crimson Tide got the rest in the poll released Thursday. The Associated Press preseason Top 25 will be released Aug. 19.
Clemson beat Alabama, 44-16, in the College Football Playoff championship game in January. It was the fourth straight year the Tigers and Tide met in the playoff and third time they played for the national championship. Clemson and Alabama have alternated winning the last four championships.
Georgia was No. 3 in the coaches’ poll, followed by Oklahoma and Ohio State. No. 6 LSU and No. 8 Florida gave the SEC four top-10 teams.
Penn State was 14th in the poll, and West Virginia was among others receiving votes.
Amway Coaches Top 25 Poll
The preseason Amway Top 25 football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, final 2018 records, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and last year’s final ranking:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Clemson (59) 15-0 1619 1
2. Alabama (6) 14-1 1566 2
3. Georgia 11-3 1447 8
4. Oklahoma 12-2 1415 4
5. Ohio State 13-1 1368 3
6. LSU 10-3 1218 7
7. Michigan 10-3 1155 14
8. Florida 10-3 1103 6
9. Notre Dame 12-1 1100 5
10. Texas 10-4 1038 9
11. Texas A&M 9-4 893 16
12. Washington 10-4 834 13
13. Oregon 9-4 787 NR
14. Penn State 9-4 699 17
15. Utah 9-5 642 NR
16. Auburn 8-5 606 NR
17. UCF 12-1 436 12
17. Wisconsin 8-5 436 NR
19. Iowa 9-4 343 NR
20. Michigan State 7-6 313 NR
21. Washington State 11-2 274 10
22. Syracuse 10-3 227 15
23. Stanford 9-4 200 NR
24. Iowa State 8-5 169 NR
25. Northwestern 9-5 161 19
Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska 152, Boise State 118, Mississippi State 111, Miami 94, Army 91, Kentucky 79, Virginia Tech 64, TCU 63, Southern Cal 47, Utah State 32, Fresno State 32, Virginia 30, Cincinnati 25, West Virginia 24, Memphis 24, Oklahoma State 20, South Carolina 15, N.C. State 12, Duke 10, Boston College 5, Appalachian State 4, Baylor 4, Florida State 4, Houston 3, North Texas 3, UCLA 2, Temple 2, Arizona State 2, Minnesota 1, Mississippi 1, Tennessee 1, Troy 1.
