AP Preseason College Football Poll – Bama #1, LSU #12

No college football team has claimed three straight national championships in almost 70 years,  but if the AP preseason college football rankings are any indication, the Alabama Crimson Tide could very well be celebrating a three-peat of their own at the end of the upcoming season.

Because of a dominating defense, the return of quarterback AJ McCarron and the leadership of coach Nick Saban, the Tide is a near unanimous choice.

Meanwhile, with questions at quarterback (Zach Mettenberger), the Tigers will depend on a strong running game to go with an always unbending defense.

Here's a look at the AP's preseason top 20:

1) Alabama

2) Ohio State

3) Oregon

4) Stanford

5) Georgia

6) South Carolina

7) Texas A&M

8) Clemson

9) Louisville

10) Florida

11) Florida State

12) LSU

13) Oklahoma State

14) Notre Dame

15) Texas

16) Oklahoma

17) Michigan

18) Nebraska

19) Boise State

20) TCU