SOUTH BEND – The Notre Dame football team checked in at No. 17 today in the Coaches Preseason Poll for the upcoming season.

The Irish, who open preseason practice on Aug. 4 at Culver Academies, finished 9-4 last season. Notre Dame opens its 2014-15 season by hosting Rice on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m.

Florida State, the defending national champion, tops the preseason poll. The Seminoles, led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston, received 56 of the 62 first-place votes from coaches.

Alabama was picked No. 2, followed by Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Ohio State, UCLA, Michigan State, South Carolina and Baylor round out the top 10.

Stanford checked in at No. 11 with Georgia, LSU, Wisconsin, USC, Clemson, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Ole Miss and Texas A & M in the top 20. The final five were Kansas State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.

The season is set to conclude this year with the four-team College Football Playoff. The championship game is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2015 at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.