A slate of familiar faces lead the preseason coaches poll ahead of 2021.
Gary Cosby Jr via Imagn Content Services, LLC
USA Today released its annual preseason coaches poll Tuesday morning, and a slate of familiar faces topped the list ahead of the 2021 college football season.
Alabama checks in at No. 1 in the USA Today Sports AFCA poll. The Crimson Tide received 63 of the 65 first-place votes, with Oklahoma receiving the other two. The Sooners rank No. 3 in the coaches poll behind Clemson, while Ohio State and Georgia sit at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The Crimson Tide enter 2021 following their sixth national championship in the Nick Saban era. Clemson, Oklahoma and Ohio State each appeared in the College Football Playoff last season. The SEC leads the coaches poll with six teams in the top 25, while five Big Ten schools made the list. Oregon is projected as the best Pac-12 team in 2021 after landing at No. 12 in the poll.
Check out the entire preseason coaches poll below:
1. Alabama (63 first-place votes)
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma (two first-place votes)
4. Ohio State
5. Georgia
6. Texas A&M
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa State
9. North Carolina
10. Cincinnati
11. Florida
12. Oregon
13. LSU
14. USC
15. Wisconsin
16. Miami
17. Indiana
18. Iowa
19. Texas
20. Penn State
21. Washington
22. Oklahoma State
23. Louisiana Lafayette
24. Coastal Carolina
25. Ole Miss
Others Receiving Votes: Utah 145; Northwestern 120; Arizona State 90; Auburn 84; Liberty 68; Brigham Young 53; Texas Christian 48; Michigan 30; Central Florida 29; NC State 27; Boise State 27; Kentucky 20; San Jose State 18; Army 13; Virginia Tech 9; Missouri 8; UCLA 7; Tulsa 6; Pittsburgh 6; Boston College 6; Houston 5; Ball State 5; West Virginia 4; Southern Methodist 4; Appalachian State 4; UAB 3; Arkansas 3; Nevada 2; Mississippi State 2; Air Force 2; Stanford 1; Marshall 1; Florida State 1; California 1
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