The preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll was released Saturday and the Tigers will begin the 2012 season as the No. 14 team in the nation. Clemson finished No. 22 in the final AP Poll last season.
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | PVS |
| 1 | USC (25) | 0-0 | 1445 | 6 |
| 2 | Alabama (17) | 0-0 | 1411 | 1 |
| 3 | LSU (16) | 0-0 | 1402 | 2 |
| 4 | Oklahoma (1) | 0-0 | 1286 | 16 |
| 5 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1274 | 4 |
| 6 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1107 | 19 |
| 7 | Florida State | 0-0 | 1093 | 23 |
| 8 | Michigan (1) | 0-0 | 1000 | 12 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 994 | 9 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 0-0 | 963 | 5 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 0-0 | 856 | 17 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 838 | 10 |
| 13 | Michigan State | 0-0 | 742 | 11 |
| 14 | Clemson | 0-0 | 615 | 22 |
| 15 | Texas | 0-0 | 569 | NR |
| 16 | Virginia Tech | 0-0 | 548 | 21 |
| 17 | Nebraska | 0-0 | 485 | 24 |
| 18 | Ohio State | 0-0 | 474 | NR |
| 19 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 430 | 3 |
| 20 | TCU | 0-0 | 397 | 14 |
| 21 | Stanford | 0-0 | 383 | 7 |
| 22 | Kansas State | 0-0 | 300 | 15 |
| 23 | Florida | 0-0 | 214 | NR |
| 24 | Boise State | 0-0 | 212 | 8 |
| 25 | Louisville | 0-0 | 105 | NR |