AP Preseason Top 25: Clemson opens at No. 1, ahead of Ohio State

Bill Bender

AP Preseason Top 25: Clemson opens at No. 1, ahead of Ohio State image

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. 

MORE: 11 AP preseason No. 1 teams that won national championship

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

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.