Alabama will start this year the same way it finished last season: atop the polls.
With 1,548 points, the defending national champion was named as the top team in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll with Oklahoma (1,462 points) starting the season at No. 2. Last year's preseason No. 1 Clemson follows close behind the Sooners at No. 3 with 1,447 points.
The Crimson Tide also checked in as No. 1 in the USA Today coaches poll last week with 63 of the 65 first-place votes.
Either Alabama or Clemson has topped the AP preseason poll ahead of every season for the last six years, dating back to 2016.