The defending national champion Clemson Tigers starts the season the way they finished last January -- atop the Amway Coaches Poll.
The Tigers received 59 of 65 first-place votes in the poll, released Thursday, giving them the top spot in the preseason coaches ranking for the first time in school history. No. 2 Alabama received the other first-place votes.
The 1-2 ranking for Clemson and Alabama comes as little surprise headed into the season, as both teams are favorites to make it back to the College Football Playoff, with the potential to meet for the fifth straight time in the playoffs.