The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 college football rankings on August 17, 2026. Ohio State claimed the No. 1 spot while Oregon took No. 2, marking the first time the Big Ten has occupied the top two positions in a preseason poll since 1961.
Big Ten Dominance and Conference Rankings
With Ohio State and Oregon leading the poll, the Big Ten now has eight teams in the Top 25, just behind the SEC’s nine ranked programs. Indiana, the 2025 national champion, sits at No. 6, while Michigan, Penn State, Washington and Iowa also appear in the rankings.
Top Five Overview
Georgia (SEC) holds the No. 3 slot, marking its eighth consecutive year with a top‑five preseason ranking. Notre Dame (Independent) is No. 4, and Texas (Big 12) rounds out the top five at No. 5. Betting odds list Ohio State as the favorite to win the national championship at +600, followed by Notre Dame and Texas at +650 each.
Schedule Strength and Key Matchups
Ohio State inherits a challenging schedule, including a visit to Indiana on Oct. 17 and a home game against Oregon on Nov. 7. Those contests will heavily influence the Big Ten championship race and potential College Football Playoff seeding.
Missouri, ranked No. 25, faces the toughest stretch of games against five top‑10 opponents in its final seven weeks, including Texas A&M, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s schedule is also demanding, featuring four top‑10 foes.
Notable Teams Outside the Top 25
Clemson, a traditional power, fell out of the Top 25 for the first time since 2011, landing at No. 26 with 112 points. The Tigers sit five points behind No. 25 Missouri and will open the season at No. 11 LSU.
Texas, entering at No. 5, will face Ohio State in Week 2, offering an early test for the Longhorns. Quarterback Arch Manning, who struggled in his first start last season, is expected to lead the offense.
Conference Representation
The SEC contributes nine teams to the poll, the Big Ten eight, the Big 12 four, the ACC three, and independent Notre Dame one. The ACC’s top‑ranked team is Miami at No. 7, while the conference’s other representatives are SMU (No. 19) and Louisville (No. 24).
Coaching Changes and Outlook
Four Top 25 programs have new head coaches this season, including Mississippi under Pete Golding and LSU under Lane Kiffin. Their early performance will be closely watched as they seek to improve on last year’s results.
Overall, the preseason poll reflects high expectations for the Big Ten, which secured three of the last four national titles. Voters noted that the SEC has not produced a champion in the past three seasons, reinforcing confidence in the Midwest’s football programs.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
