Huskies, Cougars ranked in preseason college football poll

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 21, 2017

The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars are both ranked in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 college football poll released Monday.

The Huskies are No. 8, their best preseason ranking since they were No. 4 in 1997.

The Cougars are ranked 24th. It’s WSU’s first appearance in the preseason poll since 2002.

Alabama is ranked No. 1. The Crimson Tide became the first program in 12 years to take the top spot in The Associated Press preseason media poll two straight years, and will start the season ranked in the top five for the ninth consecutive time.

Alabama received 52 of 61 first-place votes from media members. Ohio State was No. 2, edging No. 3 Florida State and preventing the first 1-vs.-2 opening game since the preseason poll began in 1950. Alabama opens the season against the Seminoles in Atlanta on Sept. 2, just the fourth opener involving top-five teams and the first pitting teams ranked in the preseason top three.

Southern California, which finished last season on a nine-game winning streak and No. 3 in the country, starts at No. 4. Defending national champion Clemson begins the post-Deshaun Watson era at No. 5. Florida State received four first-place votes, Ohio State got three and USC two.

For the complete poll, click here.