The preseason AP Top 25 poll was released Monday, and it has taken on a different look in what will be one of the earliest college football seasons in recent memory. Even though the Big Ten, Pac-12, Mountain West and MAC have opted to postpone their fall seasons, the Associated Press decided to leave voter teams from those conferences in their initial poll. With that in mind, there was not much surprise at the top.
Clemson, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Trevor Lawrence, chimed in as preseason no. 1st team in America for the second straight season. The Tigers are followed by the first team from the Big Ten to be included – the Ohio State Buckeyes. Even though they will not be playing this fall, Justin Fields and co. widely regarded as one of the top teams in the country prior to the shutdown.
Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma round out the top five, with defending national champion LSU coming in at number 6.
Cincinnati is the highest ranked team of Group of Five at no. 20, with no. 21 UCF as the only other Group of Five team included in the interview.
Here is the Preseason AP Top 25 poll in its entirety.
1. Clemson (38)
2. Ohio State (21)
3. Alabama (2)
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. LSU (1)
7. Penn State
8. Florida
9. Oregon
10. Notre Dame
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Texas A&M
14. Texas
15. Oklahoma State
16. Michigan
17. USC
18. North Carolina
19. Minnesota
20. Cincinnati
21. UCF
22. Utah
23. State of Iowa
24. Iowa
25. Tennessee
Others who get votes: Memphis 86, Virginia Tech 85, Boise State 68, Arizona State 66, Miami (FL) 42, Louisville 32, Appalachian State 26, Washington 21, Kentucky 20, Indiana 19, Baylor 15, California 11, TCU 9, Virginia 7, Navy 6, Florida State 6, SMU 3, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Northwestern 1, UAB 1
