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The Week 1 AP Poll was released Monday afternoon (August 24), even as several conferences have canceled their seasons as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Clemson is one of just three ACC teams in the initial poll, with the ACC-included Notre Dame ranked No. 10, and the Sam Howell-led North Carolina Tar Heels coming in at No. 18. Virginia is scheduled to play both of those ACC teams in their modified 10-game schedule, with Clemson on the road and UNC at home.
It’s the usual players at the top as Ohio State (No. 2), Alabama (No. 3), Georgia (No. 4), and Oklahoma (No. 5) round out the top five. The Virginia Cavaliers are one of the teams receiving votes, coming in at No. 39.
The SEC led all conferences with seven ranked teams, followed by six from the Big Ten, and four from the Big 12.
Here is the full poll:
College Football AP Poll - Week 1
Rank | School | Conference |
---|---|---|
Rank | School | Conference |
1 | Clemson | ACC |
2 | Ohio State* | Big Ten |
3 | Alabama | SEC |
4 | Georgia | SEC |
5 | Oklahoma | Big 12 |
6 | LSU | SEC |
7 | Penn State* | Big Ten |
8 | Florida | SEC |
9 | Oregon* | Pac-12 |
10 | Notre Dame | Independents |
11 | Auburn | SEC |
12 | Wisconsin* | Big Ten |
13 | Texas A&M | SEC |
14 | Texas | Big 12 |
15 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
16 | Michigan* | Big Ten |
17 | USC* | Pac-12 |
18 | North Carolina | ACC |
19 | Minnesota* | Big Ten |
20 | Cincinnati | American Athletic |
21 | UCF | American Athletic |
22 | Utah* | Pac-12 |
23 | Iowa State | Big 12 |
24 | Iowa* | Big Ten |
25 | Tennessee | SEC |
BUT — and it’s a big but — you might remember that the Big Ten and Pac-12 have cancelled their seasons due to concerns over the virus and its short-and-long-term implications. The ACC, Big 12, and SEC are planning to push ahead, along with the American Athletic Conference (although UConn has cancelled its season).
If you take out the nine teams that won’t be playing, the Top 25 looks just a little different.
Virginia sneaks in at No. 25 in the adjusted poll, becoming one of seven ACC schools ranked as Virginia Tech (No. 18), Miami (No. 19), and Louisville (No. 20) were all also receiving votes.
Here is the poll when adjusted for cancellations:
AP Poll - Week 1 (with cancellations)
Rank | School | Conference |
---|---|---|
Rank | School | Conference |
1 | Clemson | ACC |
2 | Alabama | SEC |
3 | Georgia | SEC |
4 | Oklahoma | Big 12 |
5 | LSU | SEC |
6 | Florida | SEC |
7 | Notre Dame | Independents |
8 | Auburn | SEC |
9 | Texas A&M | SEC |
10 | Texas | Big 12 |
11 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
12 | North Carolina | ACC |
13 | Cincinnati | American Athletic |
14 | UCF | American Athletic |
15 | Iowa State | Big 12 |
16 | Tennessee | SEC |
17 | Memphis | American Athletic |
18 | Virginia Tech | ACC |
19 | Miami | ACC |
20 | Louisville | ACC |
21 | Appalachian State | Sun Belt |
22 | Kentucky | SEC |
23 | Baylor | Big 12 |
24 | TCU | Big 12 |
25 | Virginia | ACC |