No. 1 Alabama tops preseason college football AP Top 25 for 9th time; Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, Notre Dame round out top 5

With two of the best players in the country leading the way — and a championship-game loss as motivation — Alabama is No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason college football poll for the second straight season and ninth time overall.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, national defensive player of the year Will Anderson Jr. and the Crimson Tide received 54 of 63 first-place votes and 1,566 points in the Top 25 presented by Regions Bank released on Monday.

Ohio State is No. 2 with six first-place votes (1,506 points) from the media panel, and defending national champion Georgia is third with three first-place votes (1,455 points). Clemson is No. 4. Notre Dame rounds out the top five, setting up a tantalizing opener at Ohio State on Sept. 3.

The Tide's preseason No. 1 ranking is their seventh in 15 years under coach Nick Saban. Since the preseason rankings started in 1950, only Oklahoma, with 10 appearances, has been No. 1 in the initial poll more often than Alabama.

First-place votes in parentheses.

The Crimson Tide started last season No. 1 and finished ranked No. 2 after losing the national championship game to the Southeastern Conference-rival Bulldogs.

Saban recently called 2021 a rebuilding season for his Tide dynasty, which has won six national titles over the past 13 years. He has a point. Young was in his first season as a starter last year, playing behind an inexperienced offensive line. He was unfazed, throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Anderson was a force on the other side of the ball as Alabama broke in a back seven with mostly new starters. The sophomore led the nation in tackles for loss with 33.5, 11.5 more than No. 2 on the list.

Ohio State brings back a Heisman Trophy finalist at