Alabama ranked No. 1 in preseason coaches poll

Eyeing its fourth national title in eight years, Alabama is No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll released Monday.

Led by head coach Nick Saban and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, the Crimson Tide received 54 of the 66 first-place votes in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.

No. 2 Ohio State received five first-place votes and No. 3 Georgia, the defending College Football Playoff national champion, received six.

No. 18 Texas, which finished 5-7 in coach Steve Sarkisian's first season in 2021, drew the other first-place ballot.

Clemson and Notre Dame round out the top five, followed by Michigan, Texas A&M, Utah, Oklahoma and Baylor.

Alabama opens the season on Sept. 3 against Utah State in Tuscaloosa.

The rest of the top 25:

11. Oklahoma State

12. Oregon

13. North Carolina State

14. Michigan State

15. Southern California

16. Pittsburgh

17. Miami (Fla.)

18. Texas

19. Wake Forest

20. Wisconsin

21. Kentucky

22. Cincinnati

23. Arkansas

24. Mississippi

25. Houston