No need to overthink it: Alabama is No. 1 in the AP preseason Top 25.

The Crimson Tide became the first program in 12 years to take the top spot in The Associated Press preseason media poll two straight years, and will start the season ranked in the top five for the ninth consecutive time.

Coach Nick Saban’s program has become the surest thing in sports these days. The Tide does not always win the national championship – just half the time over the last eight years – but is always in contention. Since 2008, only once has Alabama lost more than one game before bowl season.

The Crimson Tide received 52 of 61 first-place votes from media members in the poll released Monday. Ohio State was No. 2, edging No. 3 Florida State and preventing the first 1 vs. 2 opening game since the preseason poll began in 1950. Alabama opens the season against the Seminoles in Atlanta on Sept. 2, just the fourth opener involving top-five teams and the first pitting teams ranked in the preseason top three.

Southern California, which finished last season on a nine-game winning streak and No. 3 in the country, starts at No. 4. Defending national champion Clemson begins the post-Deshaun Watson era at No. 5. Florida State received four first-place votes, Ohio State got three and USC two.

The one bit of bad news for Alabama? The Tide has failed to win the national championship the three previous times it was preseason No. 1 under Saban. The last team to start and finish No. 1 was USC in 2004, and the Trojans were ranked No. 1 the following season – the last team to do it before this year.

Ohio State is No. 2 in the preseason poll for the eighth time, one behind Oklahoma for most times starting the season second. The Buckeyes also extended the longest current streak of years appearing in the preseason Top 25 to 29. Penn State has the record at 34 from 1968-2002.

KENTUCKY: Coach Mark Stoops says wide receiver Dorian Baker could miss the 2017 season after fracturing his left ankle during Saturday’s scrimmage.

The school issued a release saying the 6-foot-3, 211-pound senior will miss “significant time” following surgery on Tuesday to repair a fracture and dislocation of the ankle. Stoops announced Baker’s injury on Saturday and said he was disappointed for him because he had had a good offseason and was helping other Wildcat receivers during camp.

Stoops hopes Baker has a full recovery and looks forward to his return.

Baker could redshirt and return next season if he cannot play. He caught 14 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns last season despite missing three early games because of a hamstring injury.

UTAH: Sophomore Tyler Huntley will be Utah’s starting quarterback after beating out returning starter Troy Williams.

The decision to start Huntley was a bit of a surprise since Williams, a senior, started all 13 games last season and was voted an offensive captain last week. Williams threw for 2,757 yards and 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions last season.

Huntley is a sophomore from Dania, Florida. Coaches praised him throughout camp for his playmaking ability. He played in four games last year, passing for 60 yards and running for 15 yards with a touchdown.

“He’s electric,” Coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier in camp. “He’s able to make a play when everything breaks down, he can escape and extend the play and make something happen.”

Tennessee: Wide receiver Josh Smith is expected to miss the start of the season after injuring his collarbone.

Volunteers Coach Butch Jones said there’s no timetable on Smith’s potential return but added that he anticipates the fifth-year senior will miss at least Tennessee’s first game.

The Vols open the season Sept. 4 against Georgia Tech.

Smith has dealt with injuries throughout his career. He played just three games in 2014 before an ankle injury forced him to redshirt. He missed one game last year with an ankle injury and had groin surgery during the offseason.