For the first time Lamar Jackson’s junior season of 2017, the Louisville football program will begin a season nationally ranked.
The Cardinals check in at No. 24 in the preseason Associated Press top 25 poll, which was released early Monday afternoon.
U of L will open the season against another nationally ranked foe, Ole Miss, which is No. 9 in the poll. The Cards have never started a season with a win over a top 25 opponent.
Reigning national runner-up Miami is the highest-ranked team out of the ACC, checking in at No. 7. Week three opponent SMU is No. 17.
Here’s the complete poll:
Associated Press preseason top 25
- Ohio State (40) 1,672
- Oregon (14) 1,597
- Georgia 1,513
- Notre Dame (6)
- Texas 1,483
- Indiana (8) 1,440
- Miami (1) 1,379
- Texas A&M 1,131
- Mississippi 1,102
- Oklahoma 1,047
- LSU 988
- Texas Tech 893
- Alabama 904
- BYU 839
- USC 839
- Michigan 714
- Washington 501
- Penn State 482
- SMU 434
- Tennessee 394
- Utah 304
- Iowa 260
- Houston 252
- Louisville 194
- Missouri 117
Also receiving votes: Clemson 112, Florida 51, Boise State 43, Arizona 32, TCU 11, Navy 10, South Carolina 10, Illinois 9, Oklahoma State 8, Vanderbilt 8, Pittsburgh 7, Virginia Tech 6, Minnesota 5, UNLV 4, New Mexico 4, Georgia Tech 4, Louisiana 4, James Madison 3, Auburn 3, Memphis 2, California 2, Liberty 1, Western Michigan 1, Tulane 1, Virginia 1