Alabama preseason No. 1 in coaches poll; Penn State comes in at No. 20

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Alabama preseason No. 1 in coaches poll; Penn State comes in at No. 20

Associated Press | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 5:33 p.m.

Abby Drey | Centre Daily Times via AP

Penn State coach James Franklin (second from front right) congratulates freshman cornerback Kalen King (4) during practice Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in University Park.

Defending national champion Alabama is the preseason No. 1 in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll released Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide got 63 of the 65 first-place votes, and No. 3 Oklahoma got the other two. Clemson is No. 2, with Ohio State and Georgia rounding out the top five.

Penn State, which went 4-5 last year, is ranked No. 20. Pitt and West Virginia were listed among teams also receiving votes.

No. 8 Iowa State has its highest preseason ranking since USA Today started administering the coaches poll in 1991. So does No. 10 Cincinnati.

At No. 17, Indiana is ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll for the first time. And Mack Brown’s North Carolina team is ranked ninth, its best opening slot since heading into the season at No. 8 in 1997.

The Associated Press Top 25 will be released Aug. 16.

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