The defending national champion will open the 2021 season at No. 1 in one prominent college football poll.
The preseason coaches poll from USA Today was released Tuesday and Alabama unsurprisingly was ranked No. 1. The Crimson Tide went undefeated last season to win their sixth national title in 14 seasons under head coach Nick Saban.
The programs that have routinely been atop the rankings in recent years were next in line with Clemson at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 4. Two SEC teams — Georgia and Texas A&M — followed in the poll at Nos.