Defending national champion Alabama is No. 1 in the USA Today/Amway Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Wednesday.
The Crimson Tide received 63 of 65 possible first-place votes in a poll heavy on the usual suspects. Clemson, which is shooting for a seventh consecutive ACC championship, is ranked No. 2.
MORE: SN preseason Top 25
In the last 10 seasons, only Alabama in 2017 was ranked No. 1 in the preseason Coaches Poll and went on to win the national championship. Clemson was the Coaches Poll preseason No. 1 in 2020.
Oklahoma, which is led by Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler, received two first-place votes. Ohio State and Georgia rounded out the top five. Texas A&M is No. 6.
Notre Dame, the other CFP semifinalist from 2020, plays four of the teams ranked in the top 15 in 2021. The Irish are ranked No. 7. College Football Playoff sleepers Iowa State, North Carolina and Cincinnati round out the top 10.
Here is a look at the full Coaches Poll:
2021 USA Today/AFCA Preseason Top 25
| Rank | Team | Points (No. 1 votes) |
| 1 | Alabama | 1,621 (63) |
| 2 | Clemson | 1,508 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 1,481 (2) |
| 4 | Ohio State | 1,435 |
| 5 | Georgia | 1,386 |
| 6 | Texas A&M | 1,286 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 1,139 |
| 8 | Iowa State | 1,131 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 999 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | 979 |
| 11 | Florida | 870 |
| 12 | Oregon | 842 |
| 13 | LSU | 664 |
| 14 | USC | 655 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 654 |
| 16 | Miami | 575 |
| 17 | Indiana | 573 |
| 18 | Iowa | 554 |
| 19 | Texas | 427 |
| 20 | Penn State | 422 |
| 21 | Washington | 404 |
| 22 | Oklahoma State | 216 |
| 23 | Louisiana | 153 |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina | 150 |
| 25 | Ole Miss | 149 |
Receiving votes: Utah 145; Northwestern 120; Arizona State 90; Auburn 84; Liberty 68; BYU 53; TCU 48; Michigan 30; UCF 29; N.C. State 27; Boise State 27; Kentucky 20; San Jose State 18; Army 13; Virginia Tech 9; Missouri 8; UCLA 7; Tulsa 6; Pitt 6; Boston College 6; Houston 5; Ball State 5; West Virginia 4; SMU 4; Appalachian State 4; UAB 3; Arkansas 3; Nevada 2; Mississippi State 2; Air Force 2; Stanford 1; Marshall 1; Florida State 1; Cal 1.
