AP top 25: Two-time defending champions UGA selected as preseason No. 1

ATLANTA — The Associated Press has released its 2023 preseason Top 25 College Football Poll and it’s no surprise who is ranked No. 1 heading into the season.

The back-to-back national champion Georgia Bulldogs will enter the season as the team to beat. They earned 60 first-place votes in Monday’s poll.

Last year, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll after they won the 2021 College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs have been selected as the preseason favorite by the AP poll only one other time in 2008.

Here are the top 25 rankings:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Washington
11. Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. Kansas State
17. TCU
18. Oregon State
19. Wisconsin
20. Oklahoma
21. North Carolina
22. Ole Miss
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Iowa

The AP poll media panel is made up of 63 members this year, including Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein. Klein is the only TV reporter in the local market with a vote.

Each week this season, Channel 2 will publish Klein’s ballot on WSBTV.com.

Zach Klein’s Top 25 ballot

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Alabama
4. Ohio State
5. USC
6. LSU
7. Florida State
8. Clemson
9. Penn State
10. Texas
11. Washington
12. Tennessee
13. Notre Dame
14. Oregon
15. Utah
16. TCU
17. Kansas State
18. Oregon State
19. Tulane
20. Texas A&M
21. Wisconsin
22. Ole Miss
23. North Carolina
24. UTSA
25. Oklahoma

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