AP preseason poll: Nos. 1 vs. 3 in Atlanta; UGA ranks No. 15

The first college football game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium will feature two of the nation's top three teams, according to the Associated Press preseason poll released today.

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The poll ranks Alabama No. 1 and Florida State No. 3, setting up the teams’ Sept. 2 showdown in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in Atlanta’s new $1.5 billion stadium.

The only team separating the Crimson Tide and the Seminoles in the poll is Ohio State, ranked No. 2.

Rounding out the top 10: USC at No. 4, defending national champion Clemson No. 5, Penn State No. 6, Oklahoma No. 7, Washington No. 8, Wisconsin No. 9 and Oklahoma State No. 10.

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The Georgia Bulldogs are ranked No. 15.

Alabama, ranked preseason No. 1 for the second consecutive year, received 52 of 61 first-place votes and a total of 1,513 points from the media panel. Ohio State had three first-place votes and 1,414 points.

Florida State drew four first-place votes and USC two.

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