TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State was named the preseason No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for the sixth time ever and first time since 1999 on Sunday.
FSU received 57 of 60 first-place votes. No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 Oklahoma each received one first-place vote.
The Seminoles, winners of 16 consecutive games and the defending national champions, also kickoff the 2014 campaign at No. 1 in the Amway Coaches poll in addition to nearly every other reputable college football ranking, including Sports Illustrated, the Sporting News, Phil Steele, CBS Sports, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and ESPN’s 2014 Preseason Football Power Index.
Florida State was also No. 1 in the AP preseason poll in 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1999, when the Seminoles went wire-to-wire in the top spot and were crowned national champions.
Only the 1999 Seminoles and the 2004 USC Trojans have accomplished the wire-to-wire AP No. 1 feat since 1950.
Two Florida State opponents are ranked in the preseason poll: No. 16 Clemson and No. 17 Notre Dame.
In 2013, FSU began the year ranked No. 11 in the AP preseason poll, but quickly ascended the rankings during an undefeated national title run.
The Seminoles return 15 starters from last season’s 14-0 squad that set the national record for points (723), while leading the nation in points allowed (12.1).
*FSU Sports Information
