The writers who vote in the AP football poll each week issued their pre-season ranking on Monday. Clemson will start out the season ranked 9th. That’s up four spots from where the Tigers finished last season after starting the season ranked 4th. This is the lowest pre-season ranking for Clemson by the AP since 2015 when the Tigers started the campaign at #12 and finished at #2.
Two-time defending national champion Georgia received 60 of the 63 first place votes and finish atop the poll. The Bulldogs are followed by Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama and LSU in the top five.
South Carolina received enough votes to finish 27th in the poll with 73 points. The Gamecocks’ season opening opponent, North Carolina, is ranked 21st. Coastal Carolina also received votes worth three points.
Five USC opponents are ranked in the poll (Georgia, Clemson, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas A&M), and Clemson has three opponents ranked (Florida State, Notre Dame, North Carolina).
AP Pre-Season Football Poll
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- LSU
- Southern Cal
- Penh State
- Florida State
- Clemson
- Washington
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- Oregon
- Kansas State
- TCU
- Oregon State
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma
- North Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Tulane
- Iowa
