Clemson is ranked No. 12 in SI poll, has two top-10 opponents

Sports Illustrated became the latest to release its preseason poll and like all the rest, Ohio State stands alone at the top.

The poll, which is in the Aug 10 issue of Sports Illustrated, pegs Clemson as the No. 12 team in the country, the same position that the Tigers were placed in the Amway Coaches Poll.

Clemson, who finished the season ranked No. 15, is coming off a 40-6 bowl win against Oklahoma, which is ranked No. 21 in SI’s poll.

Other 2015 Clemson opponents that were ranked include Notre Dame at No. 4, Florida State at No. 9 and Georgia Tech at No. 19. The Tigers play all of those teams at home this season.

SI senior writer Andy Staples writes in his football preview: “It’s difficult to remember a season that opened with this much uncertainty ... It could get crazy. Let’s embrace it.”

After Ohio State, the top five is Auburn, TCU, Notre Dame and Alabama.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 1:50 PM.