Despite falling short of the 2012 BCS National Championship, the LSU Tigers earned the No. 1 spot in the USA Today preseason coaches’ top 25 poll released Thursday, which has the Florida Gators slotted in the bottom fifth of the rankings at No. 23.
LSU received 18 of 57 possible first-place votes with Alabama (20), USC (19), Oklahoma and Oregon rounding out the top five.
Other Southeastern Conference teams ranked by USA Today this preseason include 2011 SEC East champion Georgia (No. 6), South Carolina (No. 9), Arkansas (No. 10) and Auburn (No. 25). UF’s in-state rival Florida State came in at No. 7.
Florida also began 2011 at No. 23 in the USA Today poll (No. 22 in the Associated Press top 25) but concluded the season unranked after finishing 7-6 (3-5 SEC).
The Gators are one of five unranked teams to receive recognition in the poll this preseason, joining USC (sanctioned), Texas, Notre Dame and Auburn.
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