Preseason AP Poll: UCLA football garners multiple points for first time in years

The Bruins are one of six Pac-12 programs that received a vote in Monday's AP poll

The Bruins are far from the top 25, but they still have a place in this year's preseason AP poll.

The Associated Press released its 2021 preseason poll results Monday morning, and UCLA football received two points. That placed the Bruins in a tie for No. 42, the same spot they held with seven points in the USA Today Coaches Poll last week.

Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald is the only voter who recognized the Bruins, placing them at No. 24 on his ballot.

UCLA has not been in the AP Top 25 since losing to Memphis in Week 3 of the 2017 season. Over the past 22 seasons, the Bruins have finished inside the AP Top 25 three times, despite making the cut in the preseason seven times in that span. They received one point across the entire 2020 season, coming in the Week 15 poll ahead of UCLA's loss to USC on Dec. 12.

Five Pac-12 teams made it into this week's rendition of the AP Top 25 – No. 10 Oregon, No. 15 USC, No. 20 Washington, No. 24 Utah and No. 25 Arizona State. UCLA placed sixth in its conference among AP voters, as it was the only member of the Pac-12 that ended in the receiving votes section.

The full AP poll is as follows, complete with records and first-place votes:

1. Alabama (47)
2. Oklahoma (6)
3. Clemson (6)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. Georgia (3)
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Cincinnati
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
11. Oregon
12. Wisconsin
13. Florida
14. Miami (FL)
15. USC
16. LSU
17. Indiana
18. Iowa
19. Penn State
20. Washington
21. Texas
22. Coastal Carolina
23. Louisiana-Lafayette
24. Utah
25. Arizona State

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 107, Ole Miss 106, TCU 40, Liberty 36, Auburn 32, North Carolina State 14, Michigan 12, Northwestern 8, Boise State 7, Nevada 7, BYU 6, Ball State 6, Houston 5, Boston College 5, UCF 5, West Virginia 3, UAB 2, Army 2, UCLA 2

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