Florida State and Florida found their ways into the preseason Associated press top 25 poll, with the Seminoles nabbing the No. 4 spot and the Gators coming in at No. 25.
The last time the Seminoles opened a season ranked in the top 5 was in 2014 when the team began atop the rankings and it's the 16th time that FSU opens a season ranked among the top 5 in AP poll history.
Florida, meanwhile, opens a season ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since 2013 (10) and the 36th time the Gators have made their way into the preseason rankings.
Alabama earned the top spot in the preseason rankings for the first time since 2013 with the Crimson Tide earning 33 of the possible 61 first-place votes. The defending national champs are looking to become the first team to open and close a season ranked No. 1 for the first time since USC did it in 2004.
Clemson (16) was second followed by Oklahoma (4), FSU (5) and LSU (1) among the top five teams.
Miami and USF earned votes but failed to qualify for the top 25.
The Hurricanes last opened a season ranked in the AP poll in 2010 while South Florida's last preseason appearance in the rankings was 2008.
The top four spots are identical to those in the preseason coaches' poll released earlier this month.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with six teams in the rankings followed by the Pac-12 (5), Big Ten (4), ACC (4), Big 12 (4), AAC (1) and Independent (1).
1. Alabama (33)
2. Clemson (16)
3. Oklahoma (4)
4. Florida State (5)
5. LSU (1)
6. Ohio State (1)
7. Michigan (1)
8. Stanford
9. Tennessee
10. Notre Dame
11. Ole Miss
12. Michigan State
13. TCU
14. Washington
15. Houston
16. UCLA
17. Iowa
18. Georgia
19. Louisville
20. USC
21. Oklahoma State
22. North Carolina
23. Baylor
24. Oregon
25. Florida
