Alabama football opens season at No. 2 on USA Today Coaches Poll

One of the sure signs that the college football season is nearly upon us comes when the preseason Top 25 polls are released. On Thursday, the USA Today Coaches Poll was released and five Southeastern Conference teams will begin the season in the top 10.

The Alabama Crimson Tide was voted second overall in the preseason coaches poll. The LSU Tigers, who lost to the Crimson Tide 21-0 in last season’s BCS National Championship game, will open the season as the top-ranked team in America.

The Tigers tallied 1,403 points and 18 first-place votes. Alabama garnered 1,399 points and 20 first-place votes — the most out of any team in the nation. Behind the Crimson Tide is Southern California. The Trojans recorded 1,388 points and received 19 first-place votes.

The rest of the top 10 includes numerous SEC schools. The Oklahoma Sooners will begin the year as the fourth-ranked team in the land. Oregon is fifth, followed by Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina and Arkansas.

The entire poll is listed below.

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Southern California
4. Oklahoma
5. Oregon
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Michigan
9. South Carolina
10. Arkansas
11. West Virginia
12. Wisconsin
13. Michigan State
14. Clemson
15. Texas
16. Nebraska
17. TCU
18. Stanford
19. Oklahoma State
20. Virginia Tech
21. Kansas State
22. Boise State
23. Florida
24. Notre Dame
25. Auburn

Full rankings, complete with point totals and a list of other schools receiving votes, can be found at USAToday.com.