With college football returning in two weeks, the Associated Press became the second media site to release a preseason poll.
News broke Sunday morning concerning the preseason rankings, as the AP voted Alabama at No. 1. It joins the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll, who voted the Crimson Tide as the top-ranked program earlier this summer.
LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia and Florida all join Alabama in the top 25, representing the Southeastern Conference at Nos. 5, 9, 11, 18 and 25 respectively.
Head coach Nick Saban and Alabama return much talent on both sides of the ball; however, it looks for players to emerge in replacing leaders that were lost to the National Football League.
The Tide will face Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 3 for the Advocare Classic at AT&T Stadium.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.