Ohio State and Oregon Lead AP Top 25 Poll

Ohio State and Oregon have topped The Associated Press Top 25 released on Monday. This marks the first time in 65 years, and only the second time ever, that the Big Ten Conference holds the top two positions in the preseason rankings.

Ohio State secured 40 first-place votes while Oregon received 14, as voted by 69 media members covering college football. The Buckeyes will start the season ranked No. 1 for the ninth time, their first since 2015. They now share the second-most preseason No. 1 rankings with Alabama, only trailing Oklahoma’s ten occurrences.

Oregon achieved its highest preseason ranking, surpassing the previous peak of No. 3, achieved four times. Rounding out the top five are Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas. Defending national champion Indiana begins at No. 6, followed by Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Oklahoma in the top ten. Notre Dame collected six first-place votes, Indiana got eight, and Miami received one.

This year is noteworthy as it is the first time a conference has had the top two spots since Oklahoma and Nebraska of the Big Eight in 1987. The last appearance of Big Ten as Nos. 1 and 2 was in 1961 with Iowa and Ohio State leading the poll. The Big Ten champions have claimed the College Football Playoff championship three times consecutively (Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana). This year, they aim for a fourth consecutive title.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominates with nine teams in the Top 25 for the third consecutive year. It has five teams among the top ten, a first since 2013. The Big 12 features four ranked teams, led by Texas Tech at No. 12. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three ranked teams, including Miami, No. 19 SMU, and No. 24 Louisville. No Group of Six schools appear in the Top 25.

Buckeyes Loaded Offense

Ohio State boasts a powerful offense. Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin was the nation’s most accurate passer last season. Jeremiah Smith leads in receiving yards and touchdowns over two years. Bo Jackson achieved a 1,000-yard rushing season as a freshman. Despite replacing eight defensive starters for the second year, six transfers are expected to impact significantly. The Buckeyes will have an early challenge, visiting Texas on September 12 and facing five ranked opponents, including hosting Oregon and visiting Indiana.

The Buckeyes have concluded the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll six times: 1942, 1954, 1968, 2002, 2014, and 2024.

Georgia Bulldogs and SEC Dynamics

Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs maintain a top-five preseason position for the ninth straight year. They aim for a third consecutive SEC championship and a CFP spot for the sixth time in ten years. Last year’s No. 1, Texas, continues in the top five for a third year. Texas A&M, ranked No. 8, returns to the preseason top 10, having last been there in 2022. Pete Golding’s first season as Mississippi head coach sees the Rebels at No. 9 in the top 10 for the third time since 1970. Oklahoma is ranked No. 10 in the preseason top 10 for the first time since 2022.

Indiana’s Position

Indiana, the reigning national champion, is one of seven defending champions in 40 years and the second in the last three years to be ranked outside the preseason top five. After a perfect 16-0 season, they retain significant talent and add a top-10 transfer class. Transitioning from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza to TCU transfer Josh Hoover may have influenced voter doubts.

Poll Highlights

• Ohio State aims to be the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since 1950, the last being Alabama in 2017.
• Notre Dame achieves the highest preseason rank since 2006, beginning with a 10-game winning streak.
• Lane Kiffin’s LSU team is ranked No. 11 after a 7-6 season.
• Ten out of the twelve CFP teams last year remain ranked. James Madison and Tulane do not make the list.
• Houston is at No. 23, its third appearance since 1991.