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yesterday

AP Preseason Poll Unveils Tight Race for No. 1, Sets Stage for Early Top-10 Matchups

Voters will look to early-season results to refine a crowded field of contenders after only a five-point gap separated the top two teams.

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Overview

  • Texas claimed its first-ever preseason No. 1 spot with 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points, edging Penn State by five points in the closest preseason poll since 1998.
  • Penn State held No. 2 with 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points, while defending champion Ohio State ranked No. 3 with 11 first-place votes from a 65-member media panel.
  • Three Week 1 top-10 showdowns—including Texas at Ohio State on Aug. 30, No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson and No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami—are poised to deliver early clarity.
  • Texas enters the season with Arch Manning as its undisputed starter at quarterback, and Ohio State’s opening starter remains undecided between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz.
  • The SEC leads all conferences with a record 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, and SMU (No. 16) and Boise State (No. 25) return to the rankings after multi-decade absences.