AP Poll Released - Auburn in the Top Ten

The AP Poll was released not long ago, and it’s fairly similar to the Coaches Poll that was released a few weeks earlier, except that Auburn is firmly inside the top ten in the minds of the writers.

The Tigers placed 9th in the preseason rankings, one of five SEC teams to find themselves in the Top 25. Auburn will play all of the other ranked SEC squads, with only one of those games at home. Alabama ranked #1 to begin the season, while Georgia placed #3, Mississippi State came in at #18, and LSU rounded out the poll at #25. Auburn gets only the Bayou Bengals at home in Week Three, but must visit Tuscaloosa, Athens, and Starkville.

Of particular note is Auburn’s season-opening opponent, the Washington Huskies. Chris Petersen’s team is ranked 6th to begin the year, back in the top ten after a Fiesta Bowl bid last year. Washington returns quarterback Jake Browning and tailback Myles Gaskin, so Auburn’s defense will have a large task ahead.

Here’s how the top ten shook out in full:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Washington
7. Oklahoma
8. Miami (FL)
9. Auburn
10. Penn State

Of the other Power Five conferences, the ACC placed four teams in the poll, while the Big Ten had five, the Big 12 had four, and the Pac 12 had four. Other SEC teams that received votes include South Carolina and Florida, who were the first two teams out of the rankings, Texas A&M, and Kentucky, who received a single vote.

So, to wrap up, Auburn plays the #1, #3, #6, #18, and #25 teams (four of which are away from home) this season. It’s, without a doubt, the hardest schedule in the country. War Eagle.