Posted August 22, 2017 at 09:00 AM | Updated August 22, 2017 at 10:41 AM
By Ron Higgins, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
LSU vs. JSU football Josh Growden : LSU vs Jacksonville State
Brett Duke
38th AP preseason ranking for LSU
The Associated Press college football rankings, created in 1936, is starting its 82nd year. LSU's No. 13 preseason ranking announced Monday is the 38th time the Tigers have a preseason AP rank.
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Chuck Cook
How the AP rankings have changed through the years
Since 1989, 25 teams have been ranked weekly during football season. The poll ranked just 20 teams from its inception through the 1961 season. Then from 1962 to 1967 it was a 10-team ranking, increasing to 20 teams in 1968 and staying that way through 1988.
The preseason poll began in 1950. Until 1968 with the exception of one year, the final AP poll was issued before the bowl games. Since 1969, the final poll has been after the bowl games.
Having a high preseason ranking is usually helpful. Since 1998 when Tennessee won the first BCS national championship, 13 of 19 teams that won national titles were ranked in the top five in preseason.