Alabama starts season at No. 1 in USA Today coaches’ poll

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Alabama ended last season at the top of the college football world -- and Coach Nick Saban’s team is starting the new one at the same place.

The defending BCS champion Crimson Tide received 55 out of 59 first-place votes to easily claim the top spot in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll. No. 2 Ohio State got the other four first-place votes.

The preseason top five features the same teams as the final poll of the 2009 season, with Nos. 2, 4 and 5 shuffled a bit. Florida will enter the season at No. 3, followed by Texas and Boise State.

Last year, the Longhorns finished at No. 2, followed by the Gators, Broncos and Buckeyes.

The Pacific 10 Conference is represented by Oregon at No. 11 and Oregon State at No. 23.

The USA Today preseason coaches’ poll:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Florida

4. Texas

5. Boise State

6. Virginia Tech

7. Texas Christian

8. Oklahoma

9. Nebraska

10. Iowa

11. Oregon

12. Wisconsin

13. Miami (Fla.)

14. Penn State

15. Pittsburgh

16. Louisiana State

17. Georgia Tech

18. North Carolina

19. Arkansas

20. Florida State

21. Georgia

22. Oregon State

23. Auburn

24. Utah

25. West Virginia

-- Chuck Schilken