AP Preseason Poll Top 25 Released for 2025 College Football Rankings

Texas will open the 2025 college football season as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25.

The Longhorns already claimed the top spot in the Coaches Poll, garnering eight more first-place votes than Ohio State. This is the first time they're first in the preseason AP poll.

Penn State leapfrogged its Big Ten rival and sits second ahead of the Buckeyes.

AP Top 25

1. Texas

2. Penn State

3. Ohio State

4. Clemson

5. Georgia

6. Notre Dame

7. Oregon

8. Alabama

9. LSU

10. Miami

11. Arizona State

12. Illinois

13. South Carolina

14. Michigan

15. Florida

16. SMU

17. Kansas State

18. Oklahoma

19. Texas A&M

20. Indiana

21. Ole Miss

22. Iowa State

23. Texas Tech

24. Tennessee

25. Boise State

This helps to further underline the stakes for Texas' trip to Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 30, in which the Longhorns will be the first top-ranked team to be a Week 1 underdog dating back to 1978:

In an era of the 12-team playoff, the matchup won't mean as much as it would've in a previous generation. When Ohio State fell to the Longhorns in their second game of 2005, they knew their national championship hopes were hanging by a thread. Now, whoever comes out on the losing end will maintain a path to the College Football Playoff.

Still, it's always a big occasion when No. 1 plays No. 2.

That's only one of three Top-10 clashes in Week 1, too. No. 4 Clemson hosts No. 9 LSU on Aug. 30, while No. 10 Miami and No. 6 Notre Dame will get prime-time treatment on Aug. 31.

The Fighting Irish are coming off a runner-up finish in the CFP, so their fanbase won't panic too much if they come up short in the opener.

The same may not be said for the other three teams mentioned.

LSU and Miami are still waiting for the breakthroughs that were promised with the marquee coaching hires of Brian Kelly and Mario Cristobal. Suffering a defeat in Week 1 would inevitably lead fans of the Tigers or Hurricanes to wonder whether 2025 will be more of the same.

In the case of Clemson, winning an ACC title eased some of the pressure that had been building on Dabo Swinney. Still, the two-time national champion has seen firsthand that past success only carries you so far. We have a good idea of how fans will respond if Clemson loses a big Week 1 tilt.

Texas isn't the only program that will be celebrating the release of the AP Poll. Arizona State (No. 11) and Illinois (No. 12) are knocking on the door of the Top 10, and this is their best preseason ranking since 1998 and 1990 respectively.

The Sun Devils enjoyed a massive turnaround in Kenny Dillingham's second year as head coach. They have to replace leading rusher and first-team All-American Cam Skattebo but retained starting quarterback Sam Leavitt and leading receiver Jordyn Tyson.

For the Fighting Illini, head coach Bret Bielema is trying to make history. The program has never won more than 10 games or had back-to-back 10-win seasons. With 16 returning starters across the roster, Illinois could crash the CFP party in the same way Indiana did in 2024.