The college football landscape has been set for the upcoming season with the release of the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, and for the first time in the poll’s history, the Texas Longhorns will start at No. 1. The rankings, unveiled on August 11, reflect a season of high expectations in Austin, fueled by the official ascension of quarterback Arch Manning, and a historic level of conference strength from the Southeastern Conference.
Texas secured the top spot in one of the tightest preseason votes on record, edging out No. 2 Penn State by a mere five points—1,552 to 1,547. This marks the closest margin for a preseason No. 1 since 1998. The Longhorns received 25 first-place votes from the panel of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters, while the Nittany Lions garnered 23. The vote signals a belief in Texas’s continued upward trajectory, having won 25 of their last 30 games and reached consecutive College Football Playoff semifinals. “I gave Penn State a boost within the top tier because the Nittany Lions are a more known quantity than Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia, especially at quarterback with Drew Allar,” wrote Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic, who is a first-time voter after overseeing the poll for two decades. “But I also had Texas No. 1, giving a lot of benefit of the doubt to Arch Manning and a totally rebuilt offensive line and receiver group.”
Rounding out the top five are defending national champion Ohio State at No. 3 with 11 first-place votes, Clemson at No. 4 with four first-place votes, and Georgia at No. 5 with a single first-place vote. The rankings set the stage for immediate, high-stakes drama. In a blockbuster Week 1 matchup on August 30, No. 1 Texas will travel to Columbus to face No. 3 Ohio State in a rematch of last season’s CFP semifinal, which the Buckeyes won 28-14.
The poll also highlights a significant power shift in conference representation. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) made history by placing a record 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, underscoring its depth and dominance. Following Texas, Georgia, and No. 8 Alabama, the conference is represented by LSU (9), South Carolina (13), Florida (15), Oklahoma (18), Texas A&M (19), Ole Miss (21), and Tennessee (24). The Big Ten followed with six ranked teams, including three in the top seven: Penn State (2), Ohio State (3), and Oregon (7). The Big 12 has four teams in the poll, while the ACC has three. No. 6 Notre Dame stands as the lone independent, and No. 25 Boise State is the sole representative from the Mountain West Conference.
Several top-ranked teams face significant questions heading into the season, particularly at the quarterback position. Ohio State, for instance, enters its title defense with considerable uncertainty under center. According to ESPN, the Buckeyes’ leading returning passer has just 84 career yards. Similarly, traditional powerhouses like No. 5 Georgia and No. 8 Alabama are navigating new eras at the quarterback position after disappointing seasons by their high standards.
The preseason poll, a tradition since 1950, serves as a starting point for the national conversation. The rankings will be immediately put to the test with a slate of compelling opening weekend games, including No. 4 Clemson hosting No. 9 LSU and No. 6 Notre Dame visiting No. 10 Miami. As the season kicks off on August 23, the debate sparked by these initial rankings will begin to find its answers on the field.
AP Preseason Top 25
- Texas (25 first-place votes)
- Penn State (23)
- Ohio State (11)
- Clemson (4)
- Georgia (1)
- Notre Dame
- Oregon (1)
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami (FL)
- Arizona State
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- Florida
- SMU
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Indiana
- Ole Miss
- Iowa State
- Texas Tech
- Tennessee
- Boise State
Source: The Associated Press
