The Associated Press is scheduled to release its 2026 preseason Top 25 college football poll at noon Eastern Time. More than 60 AP‑affiliated journalists will cast their votes online, using a points system that awards 25 points for a first‑place vote down to one point for a 25th‑place vote.
How the poll is compiled
Voters are instructed to base their rankings on head‑to‑head results rather than reputation, preseason speculation, or regional bias. The ballot tabulation, once done by hand and fax, is now fully automated.
Top contenders
Ohio State enters the season with the best odds at +600 to win the national championship, according to betting lines. Close behind are Notre Dame and Texas, each at +650, while Indiana and Oregon sit at +800. Ohio State’s Buckeyes were the first team to top the preseason poll since 2015 and finished the 2025 regular season ranked No. 1 before falling in the Big Ten championship game.
Texas, the Longhorns, were No. 1 in last year’s preseason poll but dropped out of the rankings after early losses to Ohio State and a struggling Florida team. The Longhorns hope quarterback Arch Manning can lead a resurgence; Manning is a Heisman Trophy favorite and will be a full‑time starter for his second year.
Recent history
Indiana finished the 2025 season at No. 1 after a historic 16‑0 run capped by a national championship victory. The Hoosiers were unanimously voted No. 1 in the final poll of that season. Miami, the runners‑up, achieved its highest ranking since 2002. Ole Miss, Oregon and Ohio State rounded out the top five.
Eight Indiana players entered the professional ranks, including Heisman winner and first‑overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza. Miami contributed nine draftees, three of whom were first‑round selections.
Key returning players
Ohio State returns quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith, while veteran defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is expected to anchor the defense. Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State each have a returning quarterback entering the 2026 season, keeping them in the Heisman conversation.
Historical context
The AP college football poll began in 1936, created by former sports editor Alan J. Gould. Over the decades, the poll has evolved in size and methodology, but it remains the longest‑running ranking system that names a major college football national champion.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
