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2023 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll has Ohio State among top five

You know the college football season is just around the corner when some of the major polls release their preseason rankings. That’s what we have today with the initial release of the 2023 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Preseason Coaches poll.

As expected, Ohio State is fairly highly ranked, and among the top ten, but the Buckeyes checked in a little lower than what many probably anticipated. These preseason polls can be taken with a grain of salt because we really don’t know exactly how a team will put all of the pieces together and play upon breaking the seal for real on the season.

And with the Buckeyes replacing C.J. Stroud at quarterback, and having to reload on the offensive line while still figuring things out on defense, well — there is pause for concern.

Here’s how the top ten of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll looks with a complete view of the top 25 at the bottom.

No. 10 - Tennessee Volunteers

USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 991
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 6

No. 9 - Clemson Tigers

Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1078
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 12

No. 8 - Florida State Seminoles

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1145
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 10

No. 7 - Penn State Nittany Lions

Five reasons Penn State could cause some problems for Ohio State
Syndication The Columbus Dispatch

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1181
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 7

No. 6 - USC Trojans

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1228
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 13

No. 5 - LSU Tigers

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1294
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 15

No. 4 - Ohio State Buckeyes

Thoughts following Ohio State’s Scarlet and Gray spring game
Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1485
First Place Votes | 1
Last season’s final ranking | No. 4

No. 3 - Alabama Crimson Tide

Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1489
First Place Votes | 4
Last season’s final ranking | No. 5

No. 2 - Michigan Wolverines

Three Big Ten coaches that are primed for head jobs | Buckeyes Wire
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1510
First Place Votes | 0
Last season’s final ranking | No. 3

No. 1 - Georgia Bulldogs

What Georgia coach Kirby Smart said about Ohio State at the Peach Bowl
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Poll Details

Poll Points | 1643
First Place Votes | 61
Last season’s final ranking | No. 1

NEXT … The Rest of the Poll

The Complete Preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll

USA TODAY AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll

Rank

Team

Record

Points

Change

1

Georgia

0-0

1,643 (61)

2

Michigan

0-0

1,510

3

Alabama

0-0

1,489 (4)

4

Ohio State

0-0

1,485(1)

5

LSU

0-0

1,294

6

USC

0-0

1,228

7

Penn State

0-0

1,181

8

Florida State

0-0

1,145

9

Clemson

0-0

1,078

10

Tennessee

0-0

991

11

Washington

0-0

941

12

Texas

0-0

848

13

Notre Dame

0-0

841

14

Utah

0-0

839

15

Oregon

0-0

820

16

TCU

0-0

655

17

Kansas State

0-0

440

18

Oregon State

0-0

365

19

Oklahoma

0-0

320

20

UNC

0-0

315

21

Wisconsin

0-0

309

22

Miss

0-0

303

23

Tulane

0-0

225

24

Texas Tech

0-0

200

25

Texas A&M

0-0

196

Others Receiving Votes

Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; Texas-San Antonio 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; Southern Methodist 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.

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Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire