WOAY – The Associated Press announced its preseason college football rankings Monday, with West Virginia (#17) and Virginia Tech (#20) both in the top 20.
This is the second straight year the Mountaineers have started in the poll’s top 25, after being placed #22 in the 2017 preseason; that was the highest WVU would be ranked all season, while they were as high as #10 in 2016. Dana Holgorsen’s team was #20 in the preseason coaches poll released earlier this month. The Mountaineers are one of four Big 12 teams in the inital AP top 25, along with #7 Oklahoma, #16 TCU, and #23 Texas.
Virginia Tech is also in the preseason rankings for a second straight year, having started 2017 at #21 before advancing as high as #12. The Hokies were ranked #17 in the coaches poll earlier in August. They are one of four ACC schools in the first AP top 25, along with #2 Clemson, #8 Miami, and #19 Florida State. Virginia Tech opens the season at Florida State on Labor Day.
Alabama is the top-ranked team in the poll, receiving 42 first-place votes. Clemson, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Ohio State round out the top five.
