Clemson was named No. 1 in the preseason Coaches Poll from USA Today for the second season in a row.
Last year, the Tigers turned that into a championship-game run but fell short to LSU in the title game. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be trying for his second title before he presumably heads to the NFL.
Defending Big Ten champion Ohio State checks in at No. 2. The Buckeyes lost to Clemson in the semifinals last season.
Alabama and Georgia are Nos. 3 and 4, followed by defending champ LSU, which won’t have superstar quarterback Joe Burrow this season after he was drafted at No. 1 by the Bengals.
Rounding out the top 10 are Oklahoma, Penn State, Florida, Oregon and Notre Dame. Oklahoma is seeking its fourth straight playoff berth after losing 63-28 to LSU in a Peach Bowl semifinal last year.
The Iowa Hawkeyes check in at number 23, Iowa State is at number 25.
The preseason Associated Press Top 25 will be released Aug. 24.