This year's poll begins as it has the last two years, with the Alabama Crimson Tide on top. Alabama is looking for its third-straight title and its fourth title in five years.
Ohio State, Louisville, Oregon and Stanford look to be the main challengers from outside the SEC.
The SEC has won the last seven national titles, and the Tide will have plenty of competition from inside the conference. Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina all could have a say in the Tide threepeating.
No conference has more teams in the JFP 2013 College Football Preseason Top 25 Poll than the SEC which leads the way with six teams. The Big Ten and Big 12 are tied for second with five teams, and the Pac-12 comes in fourth with four teams, followed by the ACC with two. The American Athletic Conference and Mountain West each have one team in the poll; Notre Dame is the lone independent.
Rank Team Last Season Last Season Rank Record
1 Alabama Crimson Tide 1 13-1
2 Ohio State Buckeyes NR 12-0
3 Texas A&M Aggies 6 11-2
4 Oregon Ducks 3 12-1
5 South Carolina Gamecocks 7 11-2
6 Stanford Cardinal 4 12-2
7 Georgia Bulldogs 3 12-2
8 Louisville Cardinals 14 11-2
9 Florida Gators 8 11-2
10 Clemson Tigers 10 11-2
11 LSU Tigers 11 10-3
12 Florida State Seminoles 9 11-2
13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 5 12-1
14 Boise State Broncos 13 11-2
15 Oklahoma Sooners 15 10-3
16 UCLA Bruins NR 9-5
17 Texas Longhorns 16 9-4
18 TCU Horned Frogs NR 7-6
19 Oklahoma State Cowboys NR 8-5
20 Nebraska Cornhuskers 24 10-4
21 Michigan Wolverines 25 8-5
22 Oregon State Beavers 19 9-4
23 Wisconsin Badgers NR 8-6
24 Kansas State Wildcats 12 11-2
25 Northwestern Wildcats 17 10-3
Dropped out of final poll from last season: Utah State Aggies, San Jose Spartans, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Vanderbilt Commodores and Tulsa Golden Hurricane.