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Crimson Tide Ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches' Poll Alabama to face three teams in the top 10
The Tide starts the season out at No. 2 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll

The Tide starts the season out at No. 2 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll

Aug. 2, 2012

USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches' Top 25 Get Acrobat Reader

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The football team begins the season ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll, as the preseason rankings were released on Thursday. The Crimson Tide will face three of the teams in the top 10 including No. 1 LSU, No. 8 Michigan and No. 10 Arkansas.

"You are always flattered when your team or your players get recognized on a national basis, but it means nothing in terms of what this team has been able to accomplish or what this team can do," said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. "Nobody really knows who the best teams are, and that's why we play the games."

Alabama came in with the most first-place votes with 20, followed by Southern California with 19 and LSU with 18. Oklahoma and Florida State also each received one first-place vote. Rounding out the top 10 is Southern California at No. 3, Oklahoma, Oregon, Georgia, Florida State and South Carolina at No. 9.

The Crimson Tide begins preseason practice on Friday with its first of two practices that day beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.