Crimson Tide tops AP preseason poll

Alabama has become only the second school to top the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll for three straight seasons.

The defending champion Crimson Tide debuted atop the ranking when it was released Monday morning, receiving 42 out of 61 first-place votes.

Coming in second was Clemson, which received 18 first-place votes.

Georgia is No. 3 and Wisconsin ranked No. 4 while receiving one first-place vote.

Ohio State rounds out poll’s top five.

The next five are Washington, Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.), Auburn and Penn State.

The only other team to top the AP’s preseason rankings three years in a row was Oklahoma from 1985 to 1987.

The SEC landed the most teams in the top 25 with six, followed by the Big Ten with five. The Big 12 and the ACC had four each.

The University of Central Florida Knights, the only team to finish last season undefeated, was ranked No. 21 in the poll. That marks the first time in program history the school is ranked to begin the season.