Georgia Opens at No.1 in Preseason USA Today Sports AFCA Football Coaches Poll
On the heels of consecutive national championships and an undefeated 2022 season, it should come as no surprise that Georgia is ranked No.1 in the 2023 preseason USA Today Sports AFCA football coaches poll that was released on Monday, marking the second time in program history that the Bulldogs opened a season atop the coaches poll. Georgia opened the 2008 season at No.1 before ultimately finishing 10-3 and No.10 in the final coaches poll. After taking the college football world by storm over the past two seasons, the Bulldogs were picked first on 61 of 66 ballots.
Matthew Stafford was playing quarterback for Georgia the last time the Bulldogs opened the season at No.1 in the coaches poll entering the 2008 season.
Coming off of consecutive College Football Playoff berths itself, Michigan follows Georgia at No.2. The Wolverines did not earn any first place votes, but their lofty ranking represents the highest preseason coaches poll ranking in program history. After missing out on the College Football Playoff for only the second time in the last nine years, Alabama opens the 2023 campaign at No.3. The Crimson Tide also snagged four first place votes, the second most behind Georgia . Coming in at No.4, Ohio State picked up the final first place vote after pushing Georgia to the brink in the Chic-Fil-A Peach Bowl last December. Fresh off an SEC West title and an appearance in the SEC Championship game in Brian Kelly's first year in Baton Rouge, LSU rounds out the top-5, giving the SEC three teams in the top-5 of the preseason coaches poll.
USA Today Sports AFCA Football Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (61)
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (4)
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (1)
5. LSU Tigers
6. USC Trojans
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
8. Florida State Seminoles
9. Clemson Tigers
10. Tennessee Volunteers
11. Washington Huskies
12. Texas Longhorns
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
14. Utah Utes
15. Oregon Ducks
16. TCU Horned Frogs
17. Kansas State Wildcats
18. Oregon State Beavers
19. Oklahoma Sooners
20. North Carolina Tar Heels
21. Wisconsin Badgers
22. Ole Miss Rebels
23. Tulane Green Wave
24. Texas Tech Red Raiders
25. Texas A&M Aggies
