AP Preseason Poll Top 25 Released for 2026 College Football Rankings

Weeks after being the overwhelming No. 1 pick in the Coaches Poll, Ohio State claimed the top spot in the preseason Associated Press Top 25.

The Buckeyes received 40 first-place votes. Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas rounded out the top five.

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Notre Dame
5. Texas
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Texas A&M
9. Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma
11. LSU
12. Texas Tech
13. Alabama
14. BYU
15. USC
16. Michigan
17. Washington
18. Penn State
19. SMU
20. Tennessee
21. Utah
22. Iowa
23. Houston
24. Louisville
25. Missouri

OSU coach Ryan Day had to overhaul his defense after losing a number of key standouts including Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles. The offense is bound to look a little different as well with Arthur Smith replacing Brian Hartline as the offensive coordinator.

Still, no team has more talent top to bottom than the Buckeyes.

They return leading passer Julian Sayin, leading rusher Bo Jackson and leading receiver Jeremiah Smith. Day also dipped into the transfer portal to find some experienced replacements for the defensive production he lost.

Ohio State won't have to wait long for one of the biggest tests on the schedule. The Buckeyes complete their home-and-home series with Texas in Austin on Sept. 12.

The Longhorns' position in the preseason polls indicates how the general excitement around them has been restored despite their underwhelming 2025 campaign. They fell flat in the opener against Ohio State and wound up missing the College Football Playoff altogether.

The performance of quarterback Arch Manning in the second half inspires some hope that everything will click now. He threw for 1,714 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions in Texas' final six games.

Manning will play a huge role in whether Texas is contending for a national championship, but he's not the sole reason why Steve Sarkisian's squad is so well regarded. Defensive back Jelani McDonald, who had team highs in tackles (80) and interceptions (three) is back along with SEC sack leader Colin Simmons.

According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, the Longhorns rank sixth nationally in returning production.

Anything short of a CFP bid will be a massive disappointment.

The pressure is even higher for Oregon and coach Dan Lanning after getting to the semifinals of last year's playoff.

"We've played as good of football as anybody in the last few years outside of the team that won the national championship," Lanning told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg in July. "So we're close. Let's go attack 2026. New season, new team — let's see if we can become the best version of us."

Quarterback Dante Moore turned down the chance to be a possible top-five pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and that set the tone for the offseason. Keeping the defensive line intact was particularly crucial as Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington are all sticking around.

Lanning isn't in any serious danger of losing his job. A lot of schools would love to have a coach with an .857 winning record in a power conference.

But Lanning is beginning to occupy a position similar to Day before Ohio State had its championship breakthrough in 2024. The longer he goes without a title, the more people will question whether he can get Oregon over the hump.