NCAA Football Rankings 2012: LSU No. 1 In Coaches Poll

Until their national championship game rematch against Alabama, LSU looked like the best team in the country for the vast majority of the 2011 season.

Now, with former Georgia QB Zach Mettenberger at the helms, the Tigers are favored to keep their lofty perch atop the college football world, as they were ranked No. 1 overall in the first coaches poll of the 2012 season.

As usual, the Crimson Tide are right behind them at No. 2, as the defending national champions actually received more first place votes (20) than the Tigers (18).

The Top 25 has a strong SEC feel to it: with three more schools (No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas) in the Top 10 and two more (No. 23 Florida and No. 25 Auburn) ranked.

It could be a rough transition for conference newcomer Texas A&M, as they slipped into the other receiving votes category. Houston, after losing their coach and their star QB, fell out of the Top 25 and into that category as well.

For more coverage of LSU football, check out And The Valley Shook, while SB Nation Houston has up to the minute coverage of Texas A&M and UH football.