Alabama begins the 2016 season No. 1 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, released earlier today. The Crimson Tide received 55 of 64 possible first place votes. Clemson earned it’s best ever preseason ranking in the poll and will start the year at No. 2 after losing to Alabama in the National Championship Game last season. 

The remaining two first place votes were split between No. 4 Florida State and No. 10 Tennessee. The Volunteers earned their first top 10 ranking in the poll since October 29, 2006.

The SEC leads all conferences with six teams ranked among the Top 25. Joining Alabama and Tennessee, the league has No. 6 LSU, No. 12 Ole Miss, No. 16 Georgia and No. 25 Florida.

The Crimson Tide will kick off its 2016 season against No. 17 USC on Sept. 3 in Arlington, Texas, in the Advocare Cowboys Classic. After the Trojans, Alabama will face three other opponents ranked in this poll including Ole Miss in September, Tennessee in October and LSU in November.