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Alabama Football Ranked #1 in AP Preseason Poll

By James Rodgers

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide center Ryan Kelly (70) prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Jake Coker (14) against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide center Ryan Kelly (70) prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Jake Coker (14) against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Alabama football team and Clemson will start the 2016 season in the same position they finished the 2015 campaign, in 1st and 2nd.

To the surprise of no one, the Crimson Tide took the top spot in the initial Associated Press poll. Alabama football garnered 33 of 61 first place votes. Clemson received 16 first place votes. The Coaches Poll also ranked Alabama number one. The Tide is the clear favorite to win another national championship after winning four of the last seven.

Oklahoma (4 first place votes), Florida State (5), and LSU (1) round out the top 5. Big10 Conference favorites Ohio State and Michigan finish out the top 7. Each received 1 first place vote.

The SEC had six teams in the Top 25 with Alabama, LSU, Tennessee (9th), Ole Miss (11th), Georgia (18th), and Florida (25th) all making the list.

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The University of Southern California, Alabama’s first opponent, comes in at 20th.

Alabama has been ranked number one in the AP preseason poll five times (1966, 1978, 2010, 2013). The program has only started and finished the season ranked number one once (1978). This is the ninth straight year Alabama has had a number one ranking, an all-time record. Miami’s run of seven straight from ’86 to ’92 is second.

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That makes it nine straight years for Saban to have a number one ranking. Tom Osborne with four straight is the next closest coach.

As usual, the expectations for Alabama are sky-high. Anything short of a fifth National Championship in eight years would be a disappointment for most fans. While that might be crazy to comprehend, it is the level the program has risen to under Saban.

The Crimson Tide are in a good position to make their third straight College Football Playoff appearance. The Playoff Committee claims it does not look at other rankings. I don’t buy that for a second. If Alabama is able to stay undefeated until the first Committee rankings are released on November 1st it’s all but a guarantee they’d be in the top 4.

The opening weekend of college football will have a major impact on the AP rankings. There are a number of Top 25 match ups; (1) Alabama vs (20) USC, (4) FSU vs (11) Ole Miss, (18) Georgia vs (22) North Carolina, (3) Oklahoma vs (15) Houston.

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Each team that loses will have plenty of time to get back into contention for the playoff, but they will start behind the eight ball. No matter the outcomes, there will be a massive shakeup from week 1 to 2. None of us can wait for the season to get started. The AP poll being released means it’s just around the corner!

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