'Bama No. 1 in preseason coaches' poll; Ohio St. 2

photo Alabama wide receiver Kenny Bell (7) and defensive back Deion Belue (13) run a drill during spring NCAA college football practice Saturday, March 16, 2013, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama is No. 1 in the USA Today preseason coaches' poll.

The Crimson Tide was an overwhelming choice, receiving 58 of 62 first-place votes. Ohio State was second and received three first-place votes. Oregon is No. 3, Stanford is 4, Georgia is five and No. 6 Texas A&M received the other first-place vote.

Half the top 10 is from the Southeastern Conference, which has won the last seven national championships, including three in the last four years by Alabama.

South Carolina is No. 7 and Florida is No. 10. No. 8 Clemson and No. 9 Louisville round out the top 10. No. 12 LSU gives the SEC six teams in the top 25.

Notre Dame, which lost the BCS title game 42-14 to Alabama last season, is No. 11.

No. 2 pick Ohio State was the school picked by one of the Chattanooga area's top football stars - Vonn Bell of Ridgeland High School. Bell was the Male Athlete of the Year winner at the Times Free Press Best of Preps banquet in June.

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