Clemson #2 in Preseason AP Poll

Clemson, S.C.—Clemson is ranked second in the preseason Associated Press poll released on Sunday.   Clemson was also second in the Amway Coaches Poll released earlier in the month.

This is the highest preseason ranking in Clemson history in either of the major polls.  Clemson was fourth in the preseason poll by the Coaches and the Associated Press in 1988, and fourth by Associated Press in 1984.

This also marks the fifth straight year Clemson has been ranked in the preseason of both polls.  Clemson was 14^th in the preseason of both polls in 2012, eighth in 2013, 16^th in 2014 and 12^th in the preseason last year.

Clemson, Alabama, Oregon and Florida State are the only schools in the country to finish in the top 25 of the final AP poll each of the last five years.  Dabo Swinney’s program is the only school in the nation to finish the same or better in the final poll than its preseason ranking each of the last five years.

The appearance in the preseason AP poll means Clemson has appeared  in 76 of the  last 83 AP polls (all polls since beginning of 2011 season), tied for fifth in the nation with Oregon.

Clemson received 16 first-place votes, the most first-place votes Clemson has received in the preseason.  The previous high was 11 in the 1984 preseason poll.  It is the first time since 1991 that Clemson has received any first place votes in the preseason poll.  Clemson had one that season.

2016 Preseason AP Poll

1. Alabama, 2.  Clemson, 3. Oklahoma, 4.  Florida State, 5.  LSU, 6.  Ohio State, 7.  Michigan, 8. Stanford, 9. Tennessee, 10.  Notre Dame, 11. Mississippi, 12. Michigan State, 13. TCU, 14. Washington, 15. Houston, 16. UCLA, 17. Iowa, 18. Georgia, 19. Louisville, 20. Southern California, 21. Oklahoma State, 22. North Carolina, 23. Baylor, 24. Oregon, 25. Florida.

2016 Preseason Amway Coaches Poll

1. Alabama, 2. Clemson, 3.  Oklahoma, 4.  Florida State, 5.  Ohio State, 6.  LSU, 7.  Stanford, 8. Michigan, 9.  Notre Dame, 10. Tennessee, 11. Michigan State, 12.  Mississippi, 13.  Houston, 14. TCU, 15.  Iowa, 16. Georgia, 17.   Southern California, 18. Washington, 19. Oklahoma State, 20.  North Carolina, 21. Baylor, 22. Oregon, 23. Louisville, 24.  UCLA, 25.  Florida.