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Clemson tops preseason AP college football poll before Big Ten, Pac-12 will be removed

The first AP college football poll is live, and we know it will change even without knowing Week 1 results.

Logos Of The World Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The 2020 college football season will be considerably different from recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we will still get weekly rankings if football happens.

On Monday, the Associated Press posted their first rankings for the preseason. The Clemson Tigers — last year’s national title runner-up — claimed the top spot with 38 first place votes. They’re followed by Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

You might be asking yourself why Ohio State is ranked after the Big Ten postponed their season. The AP had voters consider all teams in the preseason poll, but all subsequent polls will only factor in teams that are playing games.

“The preseason poll has always been a speculative ranking of teams based on last year’s results and knowledge about the new makeup of teams,” said Michael Giarrusso, AP’s global sports editor. “This year, we think it is crucial to give all the teams and all their fans a snapshot look at what the Top 25 would have been to open the season.”

When the next poll comes out, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, USC, Minnesota, Utah, and Iowa will not be included.

2020 preseason AP college football rankings

RANK TEAM 2019 RECORD POINTS
RANK TEAM 2019 RECORD POINTS
1 Clemson 14-1 1,520 (38)
2 Ohio State 13-1 1,504 (21)
3 Alabama 11-2 1,422 (2)
4 Georgia 12-2 1,270
5 Oklahoma 12-2 1,269
6 LSU 15-0 1,186 (1)
7 Penn State 11-2 1,147
8 Florida 11-2 1,125
9 Oregon 12-2 1,119
10 Notre Dame 11-2 995
11 Auburn 9-4 852
12 Wisconsin 10-4 840
13 Texas A&M 8-5 764
14 Texas 8-5 703
15 Oklahoma State 8-5 672
16 Michigan 9-4 611
17 USC 8-5 534
18 North Carolina 7-6 496
19 Minnesota 11-2 451
20 Cincinnati 11-3 234
21 UCF 10-3 229
22 Utah 11-3 211
23 Iowa State 7-6 199
24 Iowa 10-3 134
25 Tennessee 8-5 133