College football rankings: What history says about preseason No. 1 teams

BCS rankings era

2000 Preseason No. 1: Nebraska (finished No. 8); National Champion: Oklahoma (preseason No. 19)

2001 Preseason No. 1: Florida (finished No. 3); National Champion: Miami (preseason No. 2)

2002 Preseason No. 1: Miami (finished No. 2); National Champion: Ohio State (preseason No. 13)

2003 Preseason No. 1: Oklahoma (finished No. 3); Co-National Champion: USC (preseason No. 8)

— BCS national champion LSU finished No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll after starting at No. 14 in the 2003 preseason rankings

2004 Preseason No. 1: USC (finished No. 1); National Champion: USC 

2005 Preseason No. 1: USC (finished No. 2); National Champion: Texas (preseason No. 2)

2006 Preseason No. 1: Ohio State (finished No. 2); National Champion: Florida (preseason No. 7)

2007 Preseason No. 1: USC (finished No. 3); National Champion: LSU (preseason No. 2)

2008 Preseason No. 1: Georgia (finished No. 13); National Champion: Florida (preseason No. 5)

2009 Preseason No. 1: Florida (finished No. 3); National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 5)

2010 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 10); National Champion: Auburn (preseason No. 22)

2011 Preseason No. 1: Oklahoma (finished No. 16); National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 2)

2012 Preseason No. 1: USC (finished unranked); National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 2)

2013 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 7); National Champion: Florida State (preseason No. 11)

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College Football Playoff rankings era

2014 Preseason No. 1: Florida State (finished No. 5); National Champion: Ohio State (preseason No. 5)

2015 Preseason No. 1: Ohio State (finished No. 4); National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 3)

2016 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 2); National Champion: Clemson (preseason No. 2)

2017 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 1); National Champion: Alabama

2018 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 2); National Champion: Clemson (preseason No. 2)

2019 Preseason No. 1: Clemson (finished No. 2); National Champion: LSU (preseason No. 6)

2020 Preseason No. 1: Clemson (finished No. 3); National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 3)

2021 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 2); National Champion: Georgia (preseason No. 5)

2022 Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 5); National Champion: Georgia (preseason No. 3)

2023 Preseason No. 1: Georgia (finished No. 4); National Champion: Michigan (preseason No. 2)

2024 Preseason No. 1: Georgia (finished No. 6); National Champion: Ohio State (preseason No. 2)

2025 Preseason No. 1: Texas (finishes ?); National Champion: ?

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All-time appearances in AP Top 25 preseason rankings

1. Ohio State — 72 | 94.7 percent of polls | 8.1 average ranking

2. Oklahoma — 67 | 88.2 percent of polls | 7.1 average ranking

3. USC — 63 | 82.9 percent of polls | 9.9 average ranking

4. Notre Dame — 62 | 81.6 percent of polls | 9.1 average ranking

5. Alabama — 59 | 77.6 percent of polls | 7.1 average ranking

6. Texas — 58 | 76.3 percent of polls | 8.9 average ranking

7. Michigan — 54 | 71.1 percent of polls | 7.8 average ranking

8. Penn State — 51 | 67.1 percent of polls | 10.8 average ranking

9. Nebraska — 46 | 60.5 percent of polls | 8.3 average ranking

10. Tennessee — 45 | 59.2 percent of polls | 12.2 average ranking

T-11. LSU — 44 | 57.9 percent of polls | 10.5 average ranking

T-11. Georgia — 44 | 57.9 percent of polls | 11.0 average ranking

13. Florida State — 42 | 55.3 percent of polls | 8.9 average ranking

14. Florida — 41 | 53.9 percent of polls | 10.5 average ranking

15. Auburn — 40 | 52.6 percent of polls | 11.5 average ranking

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