Alabama Ranked No. 1 in First USA Today Coaches’ Poll
In the first USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll of the year, the reigning champion Crimson Tide sit securely at No. 1.
Directly behind them are the Clemson Tigers at No. 2, the Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3, and the 2020 CFP runner-up Ohio State Buckeyes sit at No. 4. The top four teams should come to nobody’s surprise - they have all been powerhouses during the College Football Playoff era and show no signs of slowing down.
In total, the SEC features six total teams, including the Crimson Tide. The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies round out the top 10 teams.
The Florida Gators, who fell to Alabama in last year’s SEC Championship, are knocking on the door at No. 11. UF and Georgia are the preseason favorites to run the SEC East.
Two spots further at No. 13, the LSU Tigers are looking to rebound after an ugly 2020 campaign. The Bayou Bengals entered the season attempting to defend their 2019 national title and immediately failed after they lost a shootout to Mississippi State. If LSU continues the recent trend of poor performance, “Coach O” could be on the hot seat.
SEC fans will have to move down 12 more spots to find any more representation. Barely getting in at No. 25 are the Lane-Kiffin-led Ole Miss Rebels.
One of the most notable absentees from the poll is cross-state rival Auburn. They were the fourth team left out, and first-year coach Bryan Harsin will have heavy expectations if he wants to have a successful time on the Plains.
Also left off the poll, but receiving votes, are SEC teams Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.
Below is the full USA Today Sports AFCA Poll:
USA Today Sports AFCA Top 25 | ||
Pre-Season (8-10-21) | ||
#1 | Alabama Crimson Tide | |
#2 | Clemson Tigers | |
#3 | Oklahoma Sooners | |
#4 | Ohio State Buckeyes | |
#5 | Georgia Bulldogs | |
#6 | Texas A&M Aggies | |
#7 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | |
#8 | Iowa State Cyclones | |
#9 | North Carolina Tarheels | |
#10 | Cincinnati Bearcats | |
#11 | Florida Gators | |
#12 | Oregon Ducks | |
#13 | LSU Tigers | |
#14 | Southern Cal. (USC) Trojans | |
#15 | Wisconsin Badgers | |
#16 | Miami Hurricanes | |
#17 | Indiana Hoosiers | |
#18 | Iowa Hawkeyes | |
#19 | Texas Longhorns | |
#20 | Penn State Nittany Lions | |
#21 | Washington Huskies | |
#22 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | |
#23 | UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns | |
#24 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | |
#25 | Ole Miss Rebels |