AP Top 25 debuts Clemson's first 2024 ranking |
Clemson football has a little work to do to move up one of the traditional college football polls released on Monday with the Associated Press Top 25.
The Tigers were ranked No. 14 by the AP. It is Clemson's lowest preseason AP ranking since 2014 (16th). The Tigers were No. 12 preseason in 2015 before a run to the National Championship game. Clemson ranks second-best in the ACC behind Florida State (10), and the Tigers are ahead of conference peers in Miami (19) and NC State (24) in the Top 25. Clemson opens with No. 1 Georgia on August 31 in Atlanta (noon/ABC), which paces a Top 5 also with Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and Alabama. Georgia picked up 46 first-place votes, followed by Ohio State (15) and Oregon (1). Clemson was ranked No. 9 preseason last year and finished No. 20 in the AP Poll. Dabo Swinney’s Tigers last won the ACC in 2022, and winning the conference is set to clinch a Playoff spot in the newly-expanded 12-team field (Top 5 conference champs get a bid; Top 4 get a bye to the quarterfinals). The AP college football poll dates back to 1936. Based off of the 2024 poll, the 12-team Playoff would be Georgia, Ohio State, Florida State, Utah (last conference champion bye), Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan and Boise State (last conference champion spot). In the other traditional college football poll, Clemson was also No. 14 with the Coaches’ vote. AP Top 25 preseason 1. Georgia (46) 2. Ohio State (15) 3. Oregon (1) 4. Texas 5. Alabama 6. Ole Miss 7. Notre Dame 8. Penn State 9. Michigan 10. Florida State 11. Missouri 12. Utah 13. LSU 14. Clemson 15. Tennessee 16. Oklahoma 17. Oklahoma State 18. Kansas State 19. Miami 20. Texas A&M 21. Arizona 22. Kansas 23. USC 24. NC State 25. Iowa Others receiving votes: Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1. Godspeed No. 1 Georgia (again): 18 of last 20 AP preseason No. 1 ranked teams failed to win national title, including Georgia last season. Only Alabama in 2017 and USC in 2004 overcame the preseason No. 1 jinx Georgia is #1 in the preseason Associated Press Poll released today. Clemson is #14. This will be the highest ranked team Clemson has faced in its opener. Previous best was opening vs #4 Oklahoma on the road in 1963. That would be Bud Wilkinson's final year at Oklahoma.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
