College football coaches have the sport picking up where it left off last season, with a pair of SEC West teams atop the 2012 USA Today preseason poll.

 

LSU is ranked first and Alabama second. In January, the second-ranked Crimson Tide beat the top-ranked Tigers 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game.

In the preseason poll, LSU picked up 18 first place votes, Alabama 20 and third-ranked Southern California 19.

Two conferences _ the SEC and Big 12 _ dominated the rankings.

The SEC has seven teams in the top 25, the Big 12 six, including Kansas State at No. 21.

With a combined six other schools receiving votes from the two conferences, only five of the 24 SEC and Big 12 teams didn’t get a vote from the coaches.

The Associated Press preseason poll will be released on Aug. 18.

Preseason ranking by conference:

SEC: 1.LSU, 2. Alabama, 6. Georgia, 9, South Carolina, 10. Arkansas, 23. Florida, 25. Auburn. Also receiving votes were Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Missouri and Tennessee.

Big 12: 4. Oklahoma, 11. West Virginia, 15. Texas, 17. TCU, 19. Oklahoma State, 21. Kansas State. Also receiving votes were Baylor and Texas Tech.

Link: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm