Alabama No. 1 in preseason coaches poll

The Crimson Tide was ranked as the No. 1 team in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll announced Thursday. Alabama opens as the top team in the country for the second straight year and fourth time in school history.

Preseason Practice Primer: Alabama opens August Camp

Alabama reached the No. 1 ranking by receiving 49 of the 65 possible first-place votes. Ohio State came in at No. 2 earning five first-place votes, while Florida State (four first-place votes), Southern California and Clemson (seven first-place votes) rounded out the top five.

Alabama will look to rebound from a heartbreaking loss to Clemson in the national championship by making its fourth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff this season. However, while the No. 1 ranking offers an encouraging outlook, it hardly guarantees success for the Tide.

Alabama Football Depth Chart

In order to remain on top, Alabama will have to brave through a schedule that includes four teams ranked in the initial top 25. The Tide will open its season with a matchup against No. 3 Florida State on Sept. 2 inside the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Alabama will also host No. 24 Tennessee (Oct. 21) and No. 12 LSU (Nov. 4) and travel to No. 13 Auburn (Nov. 25). Other SEC schools included in the top 25 are No. 15 Georgia and No. 16 Florida

Alabama will hold its first practice at 2:40 p.m. Thursday. The team will hit the field at the same time Friday before holding its open practice Saturday at 2:30 p.m. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Following the open practice, players and coaches will be available for autographs beginning at approximately 4:45 p.m.