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The Associated Press released their first poll rankings for the 2016 college football season, and the Fighting Irish find themselves ranked in the top 10. Despite not technically naming a starter for the opener in Austin, Texas, on September 4th, Notre Dame still comes in at #10. Notre Dame will face 3 opponents that are currently ranked in the AP top 25; Stanford (8), MSU (12), and USC (20). However, as the season rolls on, that will certainly change.
Here's the complete poll:
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 0-0 | 1469 | 33 | 1 |
| 2 | Clemson Tigers | 0-0 | 1443 | 16 | 2 |
| 3 | Oklahoma Sooners | 0-0 | 1352 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | Florida State Seminoles | 0-0 | 1325 | 5 | 14 |
| 5 | LSU Tigers | 0-0 | 1269 | 1 | 16 |
| 6 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 0-0 | 1224 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Michigan Wolverines | 0-0 | 1147 | 1 | 12 |
| 8 | Stanford Cardinal | 0-0 | 1029 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Tennessee Volunteers | 0-0 | 1021 | 0 | 22 |
| 10 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 0-0 | 1006 | 1 | 11 |
| 11 | Ole Miss Rebels | 0-0 | 718 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 | Michigan State Spartans | 0-0 | 710 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | TCU Horned Frogs | 0-0 | 707 | 0 | 7 |
| 14 | Washington Huskies | 0-0 | 651 | 0 | NR |
| 15 | Houston Cougars | 0-0 | 644 | 0 | 8 |
| 16 | UCLA Bruins | 0-0 | 496 | 0 | NR |
| 17 | Iowa Hawkeyes | 0-0 | 484 | 0 | 9 |
| 18 | Georgia Bulldogs | 0-0 | 448 | 0 | NR |
| 19 | Louisville Cardinals | 0-0 | 447 | 0 | NR |
| 20 | USC Trojans | 0-0 | 344 | 0 | NR |
| 21 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | 0-0 | 316 | 0 | 20 |
| 22 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 0-0 | 283 | 0 | 15 |
| 23 | Baylor Bears | 0-0 | 280 | 0 | 13 |
| 24 | Oregon Ducks | 0-0 | 218 | 0 | 19 |
| 25 | Florida Gators | 0-0 | 180 | 0 | 25 |
| Others Receiving Votes: Miami 159, Texas A&M 81, Utah 74, Washington St. 68, Boise St. 49, San Diego St. 46, Wisconsin 42, Auburn 22, Pittsburgh 15, Arkansas 14, Texas 12, Nebraska 11, Navy 8, Northwestern 5, W. Kentucky 4, South Florida 2, Toledo 2. | |||||