Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Alabama is the top-ranked team in the AP Poll.
The Crimson Tide garnered 42 of 61 first place votes (Clemson got 18; Wisconsin got 1), enough to secure their 7th preseason #1 ranking, the third most all-time after Oklahoma’s 10 and Ohio State’s 8 appearances. With no signs of Nick Saban slowing down soon, it’s easy to envision passing Ohio State and at least tying Oklahoma.
‘Bama’s previous preseason Number 1 appearances were in 1966, 1978, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2017. In two of those seasons (1978, 2017), the Tide went on to win the national championship (another good argument for 1966, as well).