We heard from the Preseason USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll last week, and now we have the folks from the AP weighing in.
The 2021 Preseason Associated Press Poll was released on Monday and your Ohio State Buckeyes are checking in at the same spot the Coaches, had them, at No. 4. Just ahead of OSU are Alabama (1), Oklahoma (2), and Clemson (3). Rounding out the top ten behind Ohio State are Georgia (5), Texas A&M (6), Iowa State (7), Cincinnati (8), Notre Dame (9), and North Carolina (10).
The Buckeyes are going into the year having to replace Justin Fields at quarterback, a couple of offensive linemen, and several key positions on defense including the top four linebackers on the depth chart. However, there is talent that has been stockpiled because of some of the best recruiting classes in the country. Because of that, OSU is not expected to have much of a dropoff.
No. 1 Alabama tops the preseason AP Top 25 while Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia round out the top five. Cincinnati, Iowa State and North Carolina all make the top 10.
Full poll presented by @askRegions: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/lQS5VIjDcU
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 16, 2021
Ohio State’s first game is on Thursday, September 2, against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.