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FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2010 file photo, Alabama coach Nick Saban catches a football during practice in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) Associated Press
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FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2008, file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban gestures to the fans as he leaves the field after defeating Georgia 41-30 in an NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga. Alabama will start this season where it ended last season. T Associated Press
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FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2010 file photo, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, center, holds the championship trophy with his teammates after winning the BCS Championship NCAA college football game against Texas in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanch Associated Press
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FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2010 file photo, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor (2) breaks a tackle by Oregon's Javes Lewis during the fourth quarter at the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) Associated Press
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FILE - This Jan. 1, 2010 file photo shows Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel working the sideline during the first quarter against Oregon at the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Associated Press
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FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2010, file photo, Boise State coach Chris Petersen celebrates after Boise State beat TCU 17-10 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) Associated Press

By Associated Press

NEW YORK — Alabama will start this season where it ended last season. The Crimson Tide is on top.

Coach Nick Saban has the Tide rolling the way Bear Bryant did in his day, first in The Associated Press preseason poll for the first time since 1978.

Alabama received 54 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel and 1,491 points to easily outdistance second-ranked Ohio State in the Top 25 released Saturday.

The Buckeyes, who have been ranked no lower than 11th in the last eight preseason polls, received three first-place votes.

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Boise State is third, its best preseason ranking, following another undefeated season. Underdogs no more, the Broncos even received one first-place vote.

Florida, Alabama's Southeastern Conference rival, is fourth. Fifth-ranked Texas received a first-place vote.

The rest of the top 10 has TCU sixth, followed by Oklahoma, which received a first-place vote, Nebraska, Iowa and Virginia Tech.

The 10th-ranked Hokies face Boise State at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, on Labor Day night in the season's first huge game.

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