The Associated Press released its Preseason Top 25 on Monday, and all 130 FBS teams were considered for the first poll of the season.
It's a unique situation for the annual poll, which is in its 85th year. The AP Poll made the decision for its voters to consider all teams for its preseason poll. There are 54 teams that will not play in the 2020 college football season. Once the season begins, only the 76 FBS schools that are participating in the season will be considered.
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Clemson opens as the No. 1 team for the second straight season. The Tigers advanced to the College Football Playoff championship game for the second straight season in 2019. Junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence returns as the starter.
A total of nine teams that will not play football in the fall are ranked in the Top 25. Ohio State is the highest-ranked team not playing at No. 2.
AP Preseason Poll: Top 25 rankings for 2020 preseason
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS |
| 1 | Clemson (38) | 1,520 |
| 2 | Ohio State* (21) | 1,504 |
| 3 | Alabama (2) | 1,422 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,270 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 1,269 |
| 6 | LSU (1) | 1,186 |
| 7 | Penn State* | 1,147 |
| 8 | Florida | 1,125 |
| 9 | Oregon* | 1,119 |
| 10 | Notre Dame | 995 |
| 11 | Auburn | 852 |
| 12 | Wisconsin* | 840 |
| 13 | Texas A&M | 764 |
| 14 | Texas | 703 |
| 15 | Oklahoma State | 672 |
| 16 | Michigan* | 611 |
| 17 | USC* | 534 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 496 |
| 19 | Minnesota* | 451 |
| 20 | Cincinnati | 234 |
| 21 | UCF | 229 |
| 22 | Utah* | 211 |
| 23 | Iowa State | 199 |
| 24 | Iowa* | 134 |
| 25 | Tennessee | 133 |
Others receiving votes: Memphis 86, Virginia Tech 85, Boise State 68, Arizona State 66, Miami (FL) 42, Louisville 32, Appalachian State 26, Washington 21, Kentucky 20, Indiana 19, Baylor 15, California 11, TCU 9, Virginia 7, Navy 6, Florida State 6, SMU 3, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Northwestern 1, UAB 1
