CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson ties best AP preseason ranking

Clemson ties best AP preseason ranking


by - Staff Writer -

Clemson tied its highest preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 2 overall on Monday.

The Tigers, which were also ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll this month, have surpassed (six seasons) or matched (one) their preseason AP ranking each of the previous seven seasons. They are seeking a similar path 2016 when they were ranked No. 2 preseason to Alabama and ascended to the top spot after downing the Crimson Tide in national championship game.

The Tigers did grab more first-place votes than the Coaches Poll (3), drawing 18 first-place nods behind Alabama’s 42. The top-five is rounded out by Georgia, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

Other ACC teams to make the list are Miami (8), Florida State (19) and Virginia Tech (20).

Clemson started last season ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and finished No. 4, after taking a No. 1 ranking into the College Football Playoff.

This is the fifth Top 5 preseason ranking in the AP Poll in school history, including 1984 (No. 4), 1988 (4), 2016 (2) and 2017 (5). Clemson has now been ranked in the AP Top 25 in the preseason in seven consecutive years, which is the second-longest streak in school history. The Tigers garnered a Top 25 preseason ranking from the AP in eight consecutive years under three different head coaches across the 1987-94 seasons.

Clemson was also ranked No. 2 in the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll on Monday, tallying 14 of the 52 first-place votes.

AP Top 25 - Preseason

1. Alabama (42 first-place votes)

2. Clemson (18)

3. Georgia

4. Wisconsin (1)

5. Ohio State

6. Washington

7. Oklahoma

8. Miami

9. Auburn

10. Penn State

11. Michigan State

12. Notre Dame

13. Stanford

14. Michigan

15. Southern Cal

16. TCU

17. West Virginia

18. Mississippi State

19. Florida State

20. Virginia Tech

21. UCF

22. Boise State

23. Texas

24. Oregon

25. LSU

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