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College Football Preseason No. 1s Have Gone 10 Years Without a Title

Ohio State is the defending national college football champion. The Buckeyes return 15 starters and have such depth at quarterback that the player expected to lead the team last season has been converted to a receiver.

Understandably, the team is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press poll announced Sunday. Indeed, it is the first unanimous preseason No. 1 in the poll’s history.

But recent history shows that preseason No. 1s have not cruised to championships. None since Southern Cal in 2004 has finished the season in the top spot.