Preseason rankings have been a part of college football since 1950 and in that time no team had ever been unanimously selected as the No. 1 team in college football. That 65-year streak ended Sunday when the Ohio State Buckeyes received all 61 first place votes. Ohio State football will be ranked prior to the season for the 27th consecutive year, (the longest active streak in the FBS), and the Buckeyes have been in the top 10 of the preseason poll for ten of the last thirteen years. The last time the Buckeyes were the top preseason team was 2006 and this is the eighth time that Ohio State will kick off the season in the top spot. The last two times Ohio State was the preseason number one (’98, ’06) the Buckeyes finished the season ranked No. 2. The unanimous selection broke the previous record of first-place votes received (96.7%) held by Alabama (2013) and Florida (2009). Both teams received 58 of the 60 first place votes in their respective years and neither team was able to finish the season with a championship. In AP preseason poll history, only four teams have ever received more than 95% of first-place votes and not a single one went on to win the national title in that year. Fittingly, that 2009 Florida team was coached by Urban Meyer the last time he was coming off a national title. The Gators tore through the regular season without issue before losing their first game to Alabama in the SEC title game…
Continue Reading: Ohio State football named No.1 in preseason AP poll
