The first major poll of the pre-season is out, this one by the coaches on the panel for the USA Today, and Clemson will start the season ranked 9th. The Tigers did not receive a first-place vote and had 1078 points. USC received enough votes to finish 27th in points overall.
Two-time defending champion Georgia received 61 of the 66 first place votes and is atop the poll. Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU follow in the top five.
The AP pre-season ranking voted on by media covering college football will be released on Monday.
USA Today Coaches Pre-Season Poll
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS |
| 1. | Georgia (61) | 1,643 |
| 2. | Michigan | 1,510 |
| 3. | Alabama (4) | 1,489 |
| 4. | Ohio State (1) | 1,481 |
| 5. | LSU | 1,294 |
| 6. | USC | 1,228 |
| 7. | Penn State | 1,181 |
| 8. | Florida State | 1,145 |
| 9. | Clemson | 1,078 |
| 10. | Tennessee | 991 |
| 11. | Washington | 941 |
| 12. | Texas | 848 |
| 13. | Notre Dame | 841 |
| 14. | Utah | 839 |
| 15. | Oregon | 820 |
| 16. | TCU | 655 |
| 17. | Kansas State | 440 |
| 18. | Oregon State | 365 |
| 19. | Oklahoma | 320 |
| 20. | North Carolina | 315 |
| 21. | Wisconsin | 309 |
| 22. | Ole Miss | 303 |
| 23. | Tulane | 225 |
| 24. | Texas Tech | 200 |
| 25. | Texas A&M | 196 |
Others receiving votes: Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; UTSA 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; SMU 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; BYU 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.
