EUGENE — Coming off its second straight Pac-12 Championship, the Oregon football team will open the 2021 season at No. 12 in the USA Today Sports AFCA football coaches poll that was unveiled Tuesday, Aug. 10.

It marks the third straight season under head coach Mario Cristobal that Oregon has opened in the top 15 of the coaches poll. The Ducks are the highest ranked team in the Pac-12, with USC two spots behind at No. 14 and Washington coming in at No. 21. Utah, Arizona State, UCLA, Stanford and California also received votes.

Oregon will open the 2021 season Sept. 4 against Fresno State in Eugene before going on the road to face No. 4 Ohio State in Columbus on Sept. 11.

The Ducks return nine starters on offense, headlined by running backs C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye, and receivers Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd. Oregon also brings back its entire six-man rotation on the offensive line after that unit entered the 2020 season with just one combined career start.

All-American defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux leads the way on defense, where the Ducks bring back seven total starters. Cornerback Mykael Wright is coming off a first-team all-conference season in 2020 while linebacker Noah Sewell was the Pac-12 defensive freshman of the year.

Defending national champion Alabama is the preseason No. 1 in the coaches poll. The Crimson Tide got 63 of the 65 first-place votes while No. 3 Oklahoma got the other two. Clemson is No. 2 with Ohio State and Georgia rounding out the top five.

No. 8 Iowa State has its highest preseason ranking since USA Today started administering the coaches poll in 1991. So does No. 10 Cincinnati.

— Bulletin wire reports