For the fourth time in the Nick Saban era, Alabama is the No. 1 team in the preseason Top 25.
The Tide, who also topped the preseason Coaches' Poll, are the preseason No. 1 for the second year in a row. It's worth noting that the preseason No. 1 ranking has historically served as an albatross for Saban's Tide teams; Alabama failed to win the national championship in each of the previous three seasons they started at No. 1. The No. 1 ranking extends Alabama's record streak to 10 straight seasons with at least one week as the AP No. 1 team.
The full poll:
- Alabama -- 1,513 total points (52 first-place votes)
- Ohio State -- 1,414 (3)
- Florida State -- 1,396 (4)
- USC -- 1,325 (2)
- Clemson -- 1,201
- Penn State -- 1,196
- Oklahoma -- 1,170
- Washington -- 1,150
- Wisconsin -- 926
- Oklahoma State -- 889
- Michigan -- 881
- Auburn -- 880
- LSU -- 784
- Stanford -- 695
- Georgia -- 690
- Louisville -- 629
- Florida -- 624
- Miami -- 492
- South Florida -- 327
- Kansas State -- 317
- Virginia Tech -- 240
- West Virginia -- 207
- Texas -- 173
- Washington State -- 133
- Tennessee -- 114