Texas Tops Preseason Rankings Slightly Above No. 2 Penn State
The college football landscape for the 2025 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with Texas claiming the top spot in the preseason AP Top 25 ranking for the first time in the program's history.
The Top Tier
Texas, led by their strong defenses and turnover numbers, takes the No. 1 position, narrowly edging out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998. The Longhorns, who had a 13-3 record last season, will open their campaign with a high-profile rematch against defending national champion Ohio State on Aug. 30.
Penn State, as the defending national champion, comes in at No. 2, benefiting from strong program continuity. Ohio State checks in at No. 3, expected to win around 10 games despite losing coordinators, their quarterback, and defensive ends. The team retains top talent like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Clemson, with the most returning player production in the country, is ranked fourth, expected to improve significantly from last season. Georgia, a traditional SEC power, rounds out the top five.
Notable Teams
Other notable teams include Penn State (No. 2), who were last ranked this high entering the season in 1997, and Notre Dame (No. 6), the national runner-up, who received zero first-place votes. Oregon (No. 7), Alabama (No. 8), LSU, and Miami complete the top 10.
The SEC leads conferences with 10 teams in the Top 25, followed by the Big Ten with six. Defending Big 12 champion Arizona State is ranked 11th, while Indiana, who finished last season 11-2 and reached the College Football Playoff in Curt Cignetti's first year in Bloomington, is No. 20 in the preseason poll.
Tennessee is ranked 24th, SMU is 16th, Oklahoma is 18th, Kansas State is No. 17, five spots ahead of Iowa State, and Boise State is ranked 25th.
While the AP Top 25 provides a clear picture of the top teams, it's important to note that ESPN's rankings vary slightly, placing some teams like Clemson and Miami lower than the AP Top 25, reflecting different evaluators’ perspectives on returning talent and team strength.
In summary, the preseason top teams for 2025 show Texas as the new leader, with Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia also highly ranked, reflecting a competitive landscape among the traditional powerhouses for the upcoming NCAA football season.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Trump's enforcement actions in Washington D.C.: Insights from the political arena
- Aircraft collides with another one on the runway during landing at Montana airport, igniting flames
- UEFA under fire for post on Mohamed Salah's Palestinian contemporary's demise
