The 2024 preseason AP Top 25 was released on Monday and, as expected, Georgia topped the poll, followed by Ohio State. The Bulldogs, who lost one game by three points in their pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive national title, gobbled up 46 first-place votes, to No. 2 Ohio State's 15 and No. 3 Oregon's one.
Kirby Smart's team now officially seeks to become the first outfit since 2017 Alabama to start and end a season as the AP No. 1. Only two other teams in college football's Championship Era (2004 USC, 1999 Florida State) started and ended at No. 1.
The SEC and Big Ten gobbled up eight of the top nine spots, and 15 of the top 25, out-pacing their equivalents in the FCS coaches poll, which was also released Monday. No. 7 Notre Dame is the highest-ranked non-Power 2 team; Florida State leads the ACC at No. 10 while Utah paces the Big 12 at No. 12. The Group of 5 conferences collectively did not garner a spot in the poll.
This marks Georgia's seventh straight season to begin in the AP top 5, while Ohio State (71 all-time AP preseason Top 25 appearances, the most ever) begins in the top 6 for the 12th straight year. The Buckeyes have begun every season with a number next to their name since 1968. Ohio State, buoyed and burdened by the biggest offseason talent haul in college football, begin 2024 eight spots higher than they finished 2023.
Elsewhere, Oregon's No. 3 start is its highest since 2014, and Texas's No. 4 ranking is its highest since 2009. Both teams played for (and lost) national titles in those seasons. Meanwhile, Alabama's No. 5 rankings its its lowest since 2009, a year that began the Crimson Tide's run of six national titles under Nick Saban. (The Tide were not ranked ahead of Saban's first season, climbed as high as No. 16 at one point, but ultimately finished out of the poll.)
Other teams who have jockeyed into historically significant -- good or bad -- starting positions:
No. 6 Ole Miss: highest since 1970
No. 9 Michigan: the lowest defending champions since 2011 Auburn
No. 11 Missouri: highest since 2008
No. 14 Clemson: lowest since 2014
No. 21 Arizona: highest since 1999
No. 22 Kansas: highest since 2008, and first appearance since 2009
The full poll:
1. Georgia -- 1,532 total points (46 first-place votes)
2. Ohio State -- 1,490 (15)
3. Oregon -- 1,403 (1)
4. Texas -- 1,386
5. Alabama -- 1,260
6. Ole Miss -- 1,189
7. Notre Dame -- 1,122
8. Penn State -- 1,060
9. Michigan -- 995
10. Florida State -- 971
11. Missouri -- 927
12. Utah -- 887
13. LSU -- 804
14. Clemson -- 689
15. Tennessee -- 629
16. Oklahoma -- 566
17. Oklahoma State -- 538
18. Kansas State -- 526
19. Miami -- 492
20. Texas A&M -- 292
21. Arizona -- 237
22. Kansas -- 231
23. USC -- 172
24. NC State -- 171
25. Iowa -- 140
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