USC Tops First AP Top 25 Poll, LSU Is Third

s Les Miles' LSU Tigers are ranked number three in the first AP Top 25 poll of the year

The USC Trojans are  number one in the first Associated Press  Top 25 poll of the year, thanks to the suspension of LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

USC, who is ranked in the top spot of the AP preseason poll for the seventh time in school history, was banned from postseason play the past two seasons. The Trojans received 25 of a possible 60 first-place votes from a media panel, and 1,445 overall points, while the Alabama Crimson Tide, the defending national champion,  received 17 first-place votes and 1,411 overall points.

The LSU Tigers are number three in the preseason poll,  accumulating 16 first-place votes and 1,402 overall points. Many expected the Tigers to begin the season ranked number one, but that changed when they kicked Mathieu off the team a week ago for a violation of team rules.

LSU is number one in the USA Today coaches' poll, which was released prior to the Mathieu development.

Oklahoma ranks fourth in the poll, while Oregon rounds out the top five.

Six through ten consists of Georgia, Florida St., Michigan, South Carolina, and Arkansas.

View the AP Top 25 and USA Today Top 25 preseason polls.