In the first edition of the 2015 AP top 25 rankings released Sunday morning, Stanford was picked as the preseason No. 21 team in the nation, marking the fifth consecutive season in which Stanford debuted in the top 25.

Stanford was one of six Pac-12 teams ranked in the initial poll, making the conference second to only the SEC (eight teams) in poll representation. The Big Ten and Big 12 each had three teams ranked. Stanford and Oregon were the only Pac-12 North teams ranked (with Cal also receiving a vote) while four teams from the South also made the cut.

Defending Pac-12 champion and national runner-up Oregon was ranked No. 7 despite the loss of all-world quarterback Marcus Mariota thanks to a wealth of depth at the skill positions and on defense.

Meanwhile, preseason conference favorite USC checked in at No. 8 and cross-town rival UCLA, returning most of its depth chart from last season, was ranked No. 13. Arizona State and defending Pac-12 South champion Arizona were ranked No. 15 and No. 22, respectively.

No. 21 is where Stanford was ranked in the preseason going into the tumultuous 2012 season, in which the Cardinal upset then-No. 2 USC in the third week to make the jump into the top 10. Stanford finished that season ranked No. 7 in the nation after defeating a Barry Alvarez-led Wisconsin team in the 99th Rose Bowl.

Five of Stanford’s 2015 opponents are ranked in the preseason, including four in the top 15 (No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 USC, No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 13 UCLA). In the Pac-12, only Colorado and USC (six teams) play more ranked teams in 2015.

Contact Do-Hyoung Park at dhpark ‘at’ stanford.edu.