NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma is the preseason No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll.
The Sooners received 42 of 59 first-place votes to easily outpoint No. 2 Alabama, which received 13 first-place votes. Oregon, which lost last season’s BCS championship game, is third and LSU is fourth.
The Ducks and Tigers will open the season against each other at Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 3 in Arlington, Texas. They each received two first-place votes in the coaches’ poll.
Florida State is fifth, followed by Stanford, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
Defending national champion Auburn starts the season ranked 19th in the coaches’ poll.
After a tumultuous offseason, Ohio State is ranked 16th. Notre Dame is No. 18.
