Alabama, the defending national champion, opened at at No. 1 in the AP Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened at No. 1 last year and became the first Preseason No. 1 to win the national championship since 2004. 

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Alabama opened at No. 1 in 2016. This marks the fifth the time the Crimson Tide started at No. 1 under Saban. 

Here’s a look at the AP preseason No. 1 teams since 2000 and where they finished, along with the national champion since 2000 and where it started the season.

2000 

Preseason No. 1: Nebraska (finished No. 8) National Champion: Oklahoma (preseason No. 19) 

2001  

Preseason No. 1: Florida (finished No. 3)  National Champion: Miami, Fla. (preseason No. 2) 

2002  

Preseason No. 1: Miami, Fla. (finished No. 2)  National Champion: Ohio State (preseason No. 13)  

2003 

Preseason No. 1: Oklahoma (finished No. 3) National Champion: USC (preseason No. 8) 

2004

Preseason No. 1:  USCNational Champion:  USC 

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2005 

Preseason No. 1: USC (finished No. 2) National Champion: Texas (preseason No. 2) 

2006 

Preseason No. 1: Ohio State (finished No. 2) National Champion: Florida (preseason No. 7) 

2007 

Preseason No. 1: USC (finished No. 3) National Champion: LSU (preseason No. 2) 

2008 

Preseason No. 1: Georgia (finished No. 13) National Champion: Florida (preseason No. 5) 

2009  

Preseason No. 1: Florida (finished No. 3) National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 5)

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2010 

Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 10) National Champion: Auburn (preseason No. 22) 

2011 

Preseason No. 1: Oklahoma (finished No. 16) National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 2) 

2012  

Preseason No. 1: USC (finished unranked) National Champion: Alabama (preseason No. 2) 

2013 

Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 7) National Champion: Florida State (preseason No. 11) 

2014

Preseason No. 1: Florida State (finished No. 5) National champion: Ohio State (preseason No. 5)

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2015

Preseason No. 1: Ohio State (finished No. 4) National champion: Alabama (preseason No. 3) 

2016

Preseason No. 1: Alabama (finished No. 2) National champion: Clemson (preseason No. 2) 

2017

Preseason No. 1: AlabamaNational Champion: Alabama