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Ohio State unveiled at No. 3 in the preseason Coaches Poll

The Buckeyes are behind Alabama and Clemson.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl - USC v Ohio State Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The preseason coaches top-25 poll was released on Thursday, and the Ohio State Buckeyes showed up as the No. 3 team in the country. The Scarlet and Gray ended last season as Big Ten and Cotton Bowl champions, and appear to have the talent to make a run for the College Football Playoff.

Above the Bucks are the usual suspects: Alabama and Clemson. Alabama won the national title last season in thrilling fashion versus Georgia, and are an early favorite to win the crown again, as seven members from their highly potent offense return. Clemson also was a CFP selectee last season, but fell to the Crimson Tide in the semifinal in the Sugar Bowl. This season, Clelin Ferrell is back on the Tigers defensive line—and is the ACC equivalent of Nick Bosa.

Rounding out the top five are the two squads that took part in the semifinal at the Rose Bowl last season. Georgia, who is quarterbacked by Jake Fromm, are No. 4. The Bulldogs are returning eight offensive starters, and face an early season test at South Carolina on Sept. 8.

Oklahoma comes in at No. 5. The Sooners have will Kyler Murray taking over the reigns at quarterback, and he’ll have early tests against UCLA and Iowa State.

The Buckeyes aren’t the only Big Ten team in the top 10. Wisconsin (No. 7) and Penn State (No. 9) join the defending conference champs. Just outside the top 10 are the two Michigan schools; the Spartans come in at No. 12, and the Wolverines sit at No. 14.

Central Florida, the defending “national champions,” sit at No. 23.

Below is the whole top 25 preseason coaches poll.

Preseason Coaches Poll Top 25

Rank Team
Rank Team
1 Alabama
2 Clemson
3 Ohio State
4 Georgia
5 Oklahoma
6 Washington
7 Wisconsin
8 Miami (FL)
9 Penn State
10 Auburn
11 Notre Dame
12 Michigan State
13 Stanford
14 Michigan
15 USC
16 TCU
17 Virginia Tech
18 Mississippi State
19 Florida State
20 West Virginia
21 Texas
22 Boise State
23 UCF
24 LSU
25 Oklahoma State