Tigers ranked 5th in preaseason AP Poll

(WOLO) – The reigning national champions at Clemson will start their title defense ranked fifth in the preseason AP poll.

Despite finishing on top of the sport in last year’s College Football Playoff, the Tigers did not receive a single first-place vote in the opening set of rankings for 2017.

Alabama, who Clemson defeated for the crown in Tampa back in January, is on top of the poll, receiving 52 of 61 first place votes.

The Tigers were also ranked fifth by the preseason Coaches Poll.

AP Preseason Top 25

1. Alabama
2. Ohio St.
3. Florida St.
4. Southern California
5. Clemson
6. Penn St.
7. Oklahoma
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
10. Oklahoma St.
11. Michigan
12. Auburn
13. LSU
14. Stanford
15. Georgia
16. Louisville
17. Florida
18. Miami
19. South Florida
20. Kansas St.
21. Virginia Tech
22. West Virginia
23. Texas
24. Washington St.
25. Tennessee