The Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Monday have Ohio State and Oregon leading the preseason chart. This marks the first time in 65 years, and only the second in history, that the Big Ten Conference occupies the top two spots.

Ohio State received 40 first-place votes, while Oregon gained 14. These votes came from 69 media members covering college football. Ohio State ranks No. 1 for the ninth time, equaling Alabama’s record for second-most preseason top rankings, though Oklahoma still leads with ten.

Oregon, meanwhile, has achieved its highest-ever preseason ranking, having previously ranked third four times. Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas follow to complete the top five. Defending champion Indiana starts at No. 6, trailed by Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

Notre Dame received six first-place votes, while Indiana got eight, and Miami one. This instance marks the first occasion since 1987, when Oklahoma and Nebraska from the Big Eight held the top two preseason spots. The last time Big Ten schools claimed No. 1 and 2 was in 1961, with Iowa and Ohio State.

The Big Ten has won three consecutive College Football Playoff championships (with Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana) and is aiming for a fourth title. This conference has consistently included two of the top three teams in these rankings for four straight years.

The Southeastern Conference features nine teams in this preseason’s Top 25, marking three consecutive years of such representation. Five of the top 10 hail from the SEC, a first since 2013. Four Big 12 teams are present, with champion Texas Tech at No. 12. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three ranked teams: Miami, No. 19 SMU, and No. 24 Louisville.

Top-Ranked Ohio State

Ohio State’s offense is powerful. Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin stands out as the most accurate passer nationally. Jeremiah Smith leads in receiving yards and touchdowns over two years, and Bo Jackson has accumulated over 1,000 rushing yards as a freshman. Despite defense changes with eight departing starters, six incoming transfers are expected to play significant roles. Early-season challenges loom with a visit to Texas on Sept. 12 and five of nine conference matches against ranked teams.

Ohio State has concluded a season at No. 1 six times: in 1942, 1954, 1968, 2002, 2014, and 2024.

SEC’s Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia maintains its top-five status for the ninth consecutive year. The two-time defending SEC champion is favored to reach its sixth straight conference title game and its sixth College Football Playoff appearance in a decade. Texas, last year’s preseason No. 1, enters the top five for three consecutive years. No. 8 Texas A&M returns to the preseason top 10, making a comeback after finishing No. 6 in 2022.

Starting off with the No. 9 Rebels, Pete Golding begins his initial full season as Mississippi’s head coach in the preseason top 10 for the second time in three years. No. 10 Oklahoma appears in the preseason top 10, following its former Big 12 involvement in 2022.

Indiana’s Position

Returning national champion Indiana ranks outside the top five, a peculiarity not seen in 40 years for a champion, except for Michigan’s ninth-place despite its 2024 title. Indiana became the first 16-0 team in modern times and proudly boasts a talent-rich roster with a top-10 transfer class. Josh Hoover, stepping in from TCU, replaces Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, introducing uncertainty among voters.

Poll Highlights

• Ohio State aims to be the 12th team to start and finish at No. 1 since the AP poll’s 1950 inception, with Alabama last achieving it in 2017.
• Notre Dame, holding its highest preseason ranking since 2006, enters with a 10-game win streak. Quarterback CJ Carr stands out as a Heisman hopeful.
• Lane Kiffin’s LSU debuts at No. 11, following a 7-6 season under Brian Kelly and Frank Wilson.
• Ten of last year’s 12 CFP teams are ranked. James Madison and Tulane from the Group of Six did not make it.
• No. 23 Houston earns its first preseason rank in four years, a third since 1991.

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