If “Talkin’ Season” gave Tiger and Gamecock fans plenty of optimism, the AFCA Coaches Poll cemented those good feelings. On Monday, the preseason rankings were released, with Clemson checking in at #6 and USC ranked thirteenth. Texas is #1 in the poll, the Longhorns’ highest preseason ranking since opening at No. 2 in 2009, the year they last contended for a national title.
The defending national champion, Ohio State, opens the season ranked second, followed by Penn State, Georgia, and Notre Dame.
The SEC leads all Power Four conferences with nine teams in the preseason poll, followed by the Big Ten with six. The Big 12 places five teams in the rankings, while the ACC rounds it out with three.
AFCA Coaches Poll
| RK | Team | REC | PTS | TREND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas(28) | 0-0 | 1606 | NR |
| 2 | Ohio State(20) | 0-0 | 1565 | NR |
| 3 | Penn State(14) | 0-0 | 1525 | NR |
| 4 | Georgia(3) | 0-0 | 1466 | NR |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 1360 | NR |
| 6 | Clemson(2) | 0-0 | 1324 | NR |
| 7 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1307 | NR |
| 8 | Alabama | 0-0 | 1210 | NR |
| 9 | LSU | 0-0 | 1056 | NR |
| 10 | Miami | 0-0 | 823 | NR |
| 11 | Arizona State | 0-0 | 806 | NR |
| 12 | Illinois | 0-0 | 734 | NR |
| 13 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 665 | NR |
| 14 | Michigan | 0-0 | 580 | NR |
| 15 | Ole Miss | 0-0 | 573 | NR |
| 16 | SMU | 0-0 | 555 | NR |
| 17 | Florida | 0-0 | 498 | NR |
| 18 | Tennessee | 0-0 | 492 | NR |
| 19 | Indiana | 0-0 | 460 | NR |
| 20 | Kansas State | 0-0 | 438 | NR |
| 21 | Iowa State | 0-0 | 392 | NR |
| 21 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | 392 | NR |
| 23 | BYU | 0-0 | 287 | NR |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 0-0 | 261 | NR |
| 25 | Boise State | 0-0 | 246 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 221, Missouri 142, Louisville 126, USC 116, Utah 86, Baylor 76, Auburn 50, Iowa 49, Memphis 34, Army 33, Tulane 31, Georgia Tech 27, TCU 24, Nebraska 19, Syracuse 16, Washington 15, Navy 14, Arkansas 14, Duke 12, Colorado 12, Minnesota 11, UNLV 8, Florida State 8, Kansas 6, Vanderbilt 3, Buffalo 1