Georgia Opens at No.1 in Preseason USA Today Sports AFCA Football Coaches Poll

Georgia opened at No.1 in the preseason USA Today Sports AFCA football coaches poll.

On the heels of consecutive national championships and an undefeated 2022 season, it should come as no surprise that Georgia is ranked No.1 in the 2023 preseason USA Today Sports AFCA football coaches poll that was released on Monday, marking the second time in program history that the Bulldogs opened a season atop the coaches poll. Georgia opened the 2008 season at No.1 before ultimately finishing 10-3 and No.10 in the final coaches poll. After taking the college football world by storm over the past two seasons, the Bulldogs were picked first on 61 of 66 ballots.

Matthew Stafford was playing quarterback for Georgia the last time the Bulldogs opened the season at No.1 in the coaches poll entering the 2008 season

Coming off of consecutive College Football Playoff berths itself, Michigan follows Georgia at No.2. The Wolverines did not earn any first place votes, but their lofty ranking represents the highest preseason coaches poll ranking in program history. After missing out on the College Football Playoff for only the second time in the last nine years, Alabama opens the 2023 campaign at No.3. The Crimson Tide also snagged four first place votes, the second most behind Georgia . Coming in at No.4, Ohio State picked up the final first place vote after pushing Georgia to the brink in the Chic-Fil-A Peach Bowl last December. Fresh off an SEC West title and an appearance in the SEC Championship game in Brian Kelly's first year in Baton Rouge, LSU rounds out the top-5, giving the SEC three teams in the top-5 of the preseason coaches poll.

USA Today Sports AFCA Football Coaches Poll

1. Georgia (61)

2. Michigan Wolverines

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (4)

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (1)

5. LSU Tigers

6. USC Trojans

7. Penn State Nittany Lions

8. Florida State Seminoles 

9. Clemson Tigers

10. Tennessee Volunteers

11. Washington Huskies

12. Texas Longhorns

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

14. Utah Utes

15. Oregon Ducks 

16. TCU Horned Frogs

17. Kansas State Wildcats

18. Oregon State Beavers

19. Oklahoma Sooners

20. North Carolina Tar Heels

21. Wisconsin Badgers

22. Ole Miss Rebels

23. Tulane Green Wave

24. Texas Tech Red Raiders

25. Texas A&M Aggies