Alabama, Clemson take top spots in preseason Amway Coaches Poll

The Alabama Crimson Tide earned the No. 1 spot in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, with the the Clemson Tigers not far behind at No. 2.

The Alabama Crimson Tide earned the No. 1 spot in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, with the Clemson Tigers not far behind at No. 2.

Alabama defeated Clemson 45–40 in the national title game last season. The Crimson Tide received 55 out of 64 first place votes, while the Tigers took seven.

Oklahoma, Florida State and Ohio State complete the top five. They are followed by LSU, Stanford, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee. 

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This is the 46th time that Alabama holds down the top spot in the poll and the third time the team is No. 1 headed into the season. Clemson boasts its highest–ever preseason ranking with the No. 2 spot, six places ahead of its previous best ranking, which came in 2013.

The complete preseason coaches poll:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida State
5. Ohio State
6. LSU
7. Stanford
8. Michigan
9. Notre Dame
10. Tennessee
11. Michigan State
12. Ole Miss
13. Houston
14. TCU
15. Iowa
16. Georgia
17. Southern California
18. Washington
19. Oklahoma State
20. North Carolina
21. Baylor
22. Oregon
23. Louisville
24. UCLA
25. Florida