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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State top preseason coaches’ poll

In this Dec. 30, 2017 file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban talks to players during practice for the upcoming Sugar Bowl semi-final playoff game against Clemson in New Orleans. Alabama won its fifth national championship under coach Nick Saban last season. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Associated Press

Defending national champion Alabama is a unanimous No. 1 in the preseason coaches’ poll, with Clemson No. 2 and Ohio State No. 3.

The Crimson Tide received 61 one first-place votes from a panel of major-college coaches in the poll released Thursday. The Associated Press media poll will be released Aug. 20.

Alabama won its fifth national championship under coach Nick Saban last season, beating Georgia in overtime of the College Football Playoff national title game. The Bulldogs were ranked fourth by the coaches and Oklahoma was fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were Washington, Wisconsin, Miami, Penn State and Auburn.

Only two other Pac-12 teams are in the top 25, with Stanford at No. 13 and Southern Cal ranked 15th. Oregon, Utah, Washington State and Arizona recieved votes.