The AP media pre-season poll was released at noon Monday and Clemson is viewed as a top four team to start the season. The Tigers were ranked fourth behind Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia. Alabama received 54 first place votes with Ohio State garnering six and Georgia three.
Texas A&M heads up the second five followed by Utah, Michigan, Oklahoma and Baylor. NC State is ranked 13th, Miami 16th, Pitt 17th, Arkansas 19th, Kentucky 20th, Ole Miss 21st and Wake Forest 22nd. USC is in the group receiving votes and totaled two points.
Clemson will face four teams ranked in the pre-season top 25 (Notre Dame, NC State, Miami, Wake Forest) and USC will face five of the ranked teams (Georgia, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Kentucky).
AP pre-season top 25
Rank Team Points (No. 1 votes)
1 Alabama 1,556 (54)
2 Ohio State 1,506 (6)
3 Georgia 1,455 (3)
4 Clemson 1,292
5 Notre Dame 1,242
6 Texas A&M 1,212
7 Utah 1,209
8 Michigan 1,203
9 Oklahoma 956
10 Baylor 884
11 Oregon 831
12 Oklahoma State 814
13 N.C. State 752
14 USC 711
15 Michigan State 631
16 Miami, Fla. 476
17 Pitt 383
18 Wisconsin 365
19 Arkansas 348
20 Kentucky 332
21 Ole Miss 324
22 Wake Forest 303
23 Cincinnati 265
24 Houston 263
25 BYU 234
