No Preseason AP Poll jinx for the Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide will go into the 2024 season ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll. Three SEC football teams are in the top five; four in the top six and seven SEC teams are in the top 15. The eighth and ninth-ranked SEC teams are at No. 16 and No. 20. Two more SEC teams joined the group of 'Others Receiving Votes'.

The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the first place voting, with 46 votes. The only other teams gaining first-place votes were Ohio State with 15 points and Oregon with one vote.

The Texas Longhorns, ranked No. 4 have a sizable vote lead over the Alabama Crimson Tide with 1,386 points, followed by Alabama with 1,260. Alabama has a solid points advantage over Ole Miss; ranked No. 6 with 1,189 points.

The big movers from last season's final AP Poll are Arizona, down 10 spots to No. 21; Michigan down eight spots; Ohio State up eight spots; Notre Dame up seven spots; Clemson up six spots and Florida State down four spots.

Preseason AP Poll Rankings

• 1) Georgia Bulldogs

• 2) Ohio State Buckeyes

• 3) Oregon Ducks

• 4) Texas Longhorns

• 5) Alabama Crimson Tide

• 6) Ole Miss Rebels

• 7) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

• 8) Penn State Nittany Lions

• 9) Michigan Wolverines

• 10) Florida State Seminoles

• 11) Missouri Tigers; 12) Utah Utes; 13) LSU Bengal Tigers; 14) Clemson Tigers; 15) Tennessee Vols; 16) Oklahoma Sooners; 17) Oklahoma State Cowboys; 18) Kansas State Wildcats; 19) Miami Hurricanes; 20) Texas A&M Aggies; 21) Arizona Wildcats; 22) Kansas Jayhawks; 23) Southern Cal Trojans; 24) North Carolina State Wolfpack; 25) Iowa Hawkeyes

• SEC Teams among 'Others Receiving Votes' - Kentucky No. 40 and Auburn No. 41.

It is no small thing that after Nick Saban's retirement, the Crimson Tide starts the 2024 season at No. 5, exactly where it finished the 2023 season.

Also interesting is a fact provided by Brett McMurphy. Preseason AP No. 1 teams have failed to win the National Championship in 18 of the last 20 seasons. Alabama Football has no poll jinx going into the 2024 season, but the Georgia Bulldogs do.