Gators at No. 10 in USA Today preseason poll

Capturing their second-straight national championship last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide earned the No. 1 spot in the 2013 preseason USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 poll released Thursday, while the Florida Gators – ranked 10th in the final 2012 poll – maintained their spot and checked in at No. 10 to start the season.

It is Florida’s highest preseason ranking through USA Today – and first time opening the season in the top 10 of the rankings – since 2010 (No. 3).

Alabama received 58 of 62 possible first-place votes with Ohio State (3), Oregon, Stanford and Georgia rounding out the top five.

Six total Southeastern Conference teams were ranked by the coaches this preseason – five in the top 10 – including Texas A&M (No. 6), South Carolina (No. 7) and LSU (No. 13). UF’s in-state rival Florida State debuted at No. 12.

The Gators, which concluded the 2012 campaign at 11-2 (7-1 SEC), began their last two seasons slotted at No. 23 in the 2011 and 2012 USA Today preseason polls.

Preseason 1-5: Alabama (58), Ohio State (3), Oregon, Stanford, Georgia
6-10: Texas A&M, South Carolina, Clemson, Louisville, Florida
11-15: Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas
16-20: Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, Boise State, TCU
21-25: UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin, USC, Oregon State

Seven SEC coaches will be voting in the poll this season: Bret Bielema (Arkansas), James Franklin (Vanderbilt), Les Miles (LSU), Mark Richt (Georgia), Nick Saban (Alabama), Steve Spurrier (South Carolina), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M)

Coaches from seven of Florida’s 12 opponents will be voting: Franklin, Miles, Richt, Spurrier, Matt Campbell (Toledo), Al Golden (Miami), Jimbo Fisher (Florida State)