2017 college football Top 25: Preseason rankings
Results of first 2017 coaches poll
See which teams the college football coaches ranked as the best heading into the 2017-18 season. Gallery: Clint Davis / Scripps.
#1 - ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (2016-17 Record: 14-1) — Head Coach: Nick Saban (11th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Florida State (in Atlanta, Georgia) | Biggest test: Nov. 25 at AuburnPhoto by: Kevin C. Cox
#2 - OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (2016-17 Record: 11-2) — Head Coach: Urban Meyer (6th season) | First game: Aug. 31 at Indiana | Biggest test: Nov. 25 at MichiganPhoto by: Rich Schultz
#3 - FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher (8th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Alabama (in Atlanta, Georgia) | Biggest test: Nov. 11 at ClemsonPhoto by: Marc Serota
#4 - USC TROJANS (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: Clay Helton (2nd season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Western Michigan | Biggest test: Sept. 9 vs. StanfordPhoto by: Harry How
#5 - CLEMSON TIGERS (2016-17 Record: 14-1) — Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (10th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Kent State | Biggest test: Sept. 16 at LouisvillePhoto by: Tom Pennington
#6 - PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (2016-17 Record: 11-3) — Head Coach: James Franklin (4th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Akron | Biggest test: Oct. 28 at Ohio StatePhoto by: Sean M. Haffey
#7 - WASHINGTON HUSKIES (2016-17 Record: 12-2) — Head Coach: Chris Petersen (4th season) | First game: Sept. 1 at Rutgers | Biggest test: Nov. 10 at StanfordPhoto by: Otto Greule Jr
#8 - OKLAHOMA SOONERS (2016-17 Record: 11-2) — Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. UTEP | Biggest test: Sept. 9 at Ohio StatePhoto by: Brett Deering
#9 - MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (3rd season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Florida (in Arlington, Texas) | Biggest test: Oct. 21 at Penn StatePhoto by: Gregory Shamus
#10 - WISCONSIN BADGERS (2016-17 Record: 11-3) — Head Coach: Paul Chryst (3rd season) | First game: Sept. 1. vs Utah State | Biggest test: Nov. 18 vs. MichiganPhoto by: Ronald Martinez
#11 - OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: Mike Gundy (13th season) | First game: Aug. 31 vs. Tulsa | Biggest test: Oct. 28 at West VirginiaPhoto by: Brett Deering
#12 - LSU TIGERS (2016-17 Record: 8-4) — Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (1st full season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. BYU (in Houston, Texas) | Biggest test: Nov. 4 at AlabamaPhoto by: Joe Robbins
#13 - AUBURN TIGERS (2016-17 Record: 8-5) — Head Coach: Gus Malzahn (5th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Georgia Southern | Biggest test: Nov. 25 vs. AlabamaPhoto by: Kevin C. Cox
#14 - STANFORD CARDINAL (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: David Shaw (7th season) | First game: Aug. 26 vs Rice | Biggest test: Sept. 9 at USCPhoto by: Otto Greule Jr
#15 - GEORGIA BULLDOGS (2016-17 Record: 8-5) — Head Coach: Kirby Smart (2nd season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Appalachian State | Biggest test: Oct. 28 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Fla.)Photo by: Wesley Hitt
#16 - FLORIDA GATORS (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Jim McElwain (3rd season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Michigan (in Arlington, Texas) | Biggest test: Nov. 25 vs Florida StatePhoto by: Rob Foldy
#17 - LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Bobby Petrino (8th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Purdue (in Indianapolis, Ind.) | Biggest test: Oct. 21 at Florida StatePhoto by: Andy Lyons
#18 - MIAMI HURRICANES (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Mark Richt (2nd season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Bethune-Cookman | Biggest test: Sept. 16 at Florida StatePhoto by: Daniel Shirey
#19 - KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Bill Snyder (26th season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Central Arkansas | Biggest test: Nov. 18 at Oklahoma StatePhoto by: Jamie Squire
#20 - WEST VIRGINIA (2016-17 Record: 10-3) — Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen (7th season) | First game: Sept. 3 vs. Virginia Tech | Biggest test: Nov. 25 at OklahomaPhoto by: Erich Schlegel
#21 - SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS (2016-17 Record: 11-2) — Head Coach: Charlie Strong (1st season) | First game: Aug. 26 at San Jose State | Biggest test: Nov. 24 at UCFPhoto by: Jason Behnken
#22 - VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (2016-17 Record: 10-4) — Head Coach: Justin Fuente (2nd season) | First game: Sept. 3 vs. West Virginia (in Landover, Maryland) | Biggest test: Nov. 4 at MiamiPhoto by: Michael Shroyer
#23 - TEXAS LONGHORNS (2016-17 Record: 5-7) — Head Coach: Tom Herman (1st season) | First game: Sept. 2 vs. Maryland (in Landover, Maryland) | Biggest test: Oct. 14 vs Oklahoma (in Dallas, Texas)Photo by: Cooper Neill
#24 - TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Butch Jones (5th season) | First game: Sept. 4 vs. Georgia Tech (in Atlanta, Georgia) | Biggest test: Oct. 21 at AlabamaPhoto by: Stacy Revere
#25 - UTAH UTES (2016-17 Record: 9-4) — Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (13th season) | First game: Aug. 31 vs North Dakota | Biggest test: Nov. 18 at WashingtonPhoto by: George Frey