A new season, a new preseason coaches poll.
Two-time defending national champion Georgia landed atop the USA Today American Football Coaches Association poll released Monday. The Bulldogs became the first program to win back-to-back national titles since Alabama in 2012-13.
The panel of 63 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision teams then rounded out the top four with Michigan at No. 2, Alabama at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 4.
The Bulldogs, Crimson Tide and Buckeyes received first-place votes. TCU, which advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship last season, took its place at No. 16.
Notably, Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State all will hold quarterback battles to determine new starters as Stetson Bennett, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud all departed for the NFL, respectively.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with seven selections and the Pac-12, led by USC at No. 6, followed with five. The Big Ten and Big 12 landed four programs on the preseason coaches poll and the Atlantic Coastal Conference had three, which was led by Florida State at No. 8.
Notre Dame ranked at No. 13, rising five places after finishing the end of last season at No. 18 behind a 9-4 record.
Tulane came in ranked as the highest Group of 5 program on the poll. The Green Wave tallied a 12-2 record last year, and they enter this season’s coaches poll at No. 23.
Iowa, South Carolina and Florida were the three teams close behind and that received votes.
Here is the complete USA Today preseason coaches poll:
Georgia
Michigan
Alabama
Ohio State
LSU
USC
Penn State
Florida State
Clemson
Tennessee
Washington
Texas
Notre Dame
Utah
Oregon
TCU
Kansas State
Oregon State
Oklahoma
North Carolina
Wisconsin
Ole Miss
Tulane
Texas Tech
Texas A&M
