Ohio State, Oregon headline preseason AP college football poll
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Ohio State and Oregon are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, marking the first time in 65 years the Big Ten holds the top two spots and only the second time ever. Ohio State received 40 first-place votes, while Oregon got 14.
- Ohio State will enter the season ranked No. 1 for the ninth time, tying Alabama for second-most preseason No. 1 rankings, and aims to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 in the AP poll history. Oregon achieves its highest preseason ranking ever at No. 2.
- The Big Ten has won the last three College Football Playoff championships and seeks a fourth consecutive title, with five of its teams in the top 25. The SEC leads with nine teams in the preseason Top 25, including five in the top 10.
- Key early-season matchups include Ohio State visiting Texas and Oklahoma playing Michigan on Sept. 12, highlighting the ongoing rivalry between the Big Ten and SEC conferences. Ohio State faces a challenging schedule with five games against ranked opponents.
- Other notable rankings include Georgia at No. 4, Notre Dame at No. 5 (their highest since 2006), defending champion Indiana at No. 6, and Texas opening in the top five for the third straight year. LSU debuts at No. 11 under new coach Lane Kiffin.
