—
NEW YORK — Alabama will start this season where it ended last season.
The Crimson Tide is on top.
Coach Nick Saban has the Tide rolling the way Bear Bryant did in his day, first in The Associated Press preseason poll for the first time since 1978.
Alabama received 54 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel and 1,491 points to easily outdistance second-ranked Ohio State in the Top 25 released Saturday.
The Buckeyes, who have been ranked no lower than 11th in the last eight preseason polls, received three first-place votes.
Boise State is third, its best preseason ranking, following another undefeated season. Underdogs no more, the Broncos even received one first-place vote.
Florida, Alabama’s Southeastern Conference rival, is fourth. Fifth-ranked Texas received a first-place vote.
The rest of the top 10 has TCU sixth, followed by Oklahoma, which received a first-place vote, Nebraska, Iowa and Virginia Tech.
The 10th-ranked Hokies face Boise State at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, on Labor Day night in the season’s first huge game.
As for Alabama, Bryant was coach the last time the Crimson Tide was the AP’s preseason No. 1. The Tide started and finished that 1978 season on top of the rankings, the first of two straight national championships for Alabama. The only other time Alabama was preseason No. 1 was 1966, when Bear’s boys were coming off back-to-back national championships.
Only 10 of the 60 previous preseason No. 1 teams have won the national championship. And only two (Florida State in ’99 and Southern California in ’04) have held the top spot for the entire season.
Notable in the top 10, Nebraska has its highest preseason ranking since 2001, when the Cornhuskers started No. 4.
The second 10 in the preseason Top 25 starts with Oregon. The defending Pac-10 champion Ducks are No. 11.
No. 12 is Wisconsin and Miami is 13th.
Southern California is No. 14. The last time the Trojans started a season outside the top 10 was 2002, Pete Carroll’s second season as coach. Carroll is gone and USC is dealing with NCAA sanctions under new coach Lane Kiffin that prevent the Trojans from playing in the postseason this season.
Pittsburgh, the highest-ranked Big East team, is No. 15.Georgia Tech, Arkansas, North Carolina, Penn State and Florida State round out the top 20.
No. 21 LSU is followed by Auburn and Georgia, giving the SEC six teams in the preseason rankings, the most of any conference. The Atlantic Coast Conference is second with five ranked teams.
Oregon State is No. 24 and West Virginia is 25.
College
Alabama starts where it finished: No. 1
- College
-
-
FSU one-hits Catholic
Winning pitcher Matt Ridenour and five relievers combined on a one-hitter and Scott Wilson smacked a three-run home run to send Frostburg State to a 7-0 win over Catholic Tuesday.
-
Ellsworth’s arm helps PSC split with Wake; GC sweeps
Cody Ellsworth tossed five solid innings and Mason Hershey smacked a bases-loaded double to lead Potomac State to a 6-2 victory over Wake Tech for a split of the Catamounts season opener.
-
Hawks hold off ACM
In a game of runs, the Hagerstown Community College Hawks had the one that counted in the closing minutes of a 69-63 victory over the host Allegany College of Maryland Trojans in the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday night at Bob Kirk Arena.
-
Terrapins running out of time for a tournament bid
Having squandered another opportunity to make an impression on a national scale, Maryland finds itself in a desperate situation as it strives to reach the NCAA tournament for a third successive season.
-
Maryland plans to channel fans’ spirit after Duke game
To keep “Beat Duke” week from turning violent at the University of Maryland, police are adding extra officers and the school is planning structured events including a postgame bonfire.
-
AP Interview: Rodriguez felt UM had turned corner
Rich Rodriguez was convinced the worst was behind him at Michigan, that better days were coming after three tumultuous seasons.
-
No. 3 Duke beats No. 14 Terps, 71-64
Everybody knows Jasmine Thomas is getting the ball when No. 3 Duke needs another late rally.
-
Florida’s Meyer exits with win
Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer met at midfield for a postgame handshake and hug, the 84-year-old Penn State coach looking forward to next season, the 46-year-old Florida coach heading toward some time away from the game.
-
Miss. St. blasts Michigan
Mississippi State displayed a program and a coach on the rise with an overwhelming performance in the Gator Bowl.
-
Five Buckeyes banned for 5 games in 2011
Welcome to Tattoo U.
- More College Headlines
-
FSU one-hits Catholic
