ππ₯ THE 2026 PRESEASON AP TOP 25 IS HERE! π₯π
2026 Preseason AP Top 25: Ohio State Starts at No. 1 as College Football Season Heats Up
August 17, 2026 | ScoreClub Sports
π The 2026 college football season is officially on the radar, and the preseason AP Top 25 has arrived.
Ohio State opens the season ranked No. 1, receiving 40 first-place votes. Oregon begins at No. 2, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas to complete a powerhouse Top 5.
From established national championship contenders to programs looking to make a statement, the preseason rankings give fans their first look at the teams expected to shape the 2026 College Football Playoff race.
π 2026 Preseason AP Top 25 Rankings
Top 10
1. Ohio State β 40 first-place votes
2. Oregon β 14 first-place votes
3. Georgia
4. Notre Dame β 6 first-place votes
5. Texas
6. Indiana β 8 first-place votes
7. Miami (FL) β 1 first-place vote
8. Texas A&M
9. Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma
No. 11 Through No. 25
11. LSU
12. Texas Tech
13. Alabama
Β Β T-14. BYU
Β Β T-14. USC
16. Michigan
17. Washington
18. Penn State
19. SMU
20. Tennessee
21. Utah
22. Iowa
23. Houston
24. Louisville
25. Missouri
π Ohio State Takes the Preseason Throne
Ohio State enters 2026 with the biggest target in college football.
The Buckeyes received 40 first-place votes and sit atop the preseason rankings at No. 1. Now comes the challenge of living up to those expectations once the games begin.
Preseason No. 1 doesn’t guarantee a trip to the national championship game, but Ohio State enters the season as the team everyone else will be chasing.
π¦ Oregon Opens at No. 2
Sitting directly behind Ohio State is Oregon at No. 2.
The Ducks received 14 first-place votes, establishing Oregon as another major national championship contender entering the season.
With the top two teams separated by only one spot in the rankings, Ohio State and Oregon will immediately command national attention.
πΆ Georgia Remains Among College Football’s Elite
Georgia begins the season ranked No. 3.
The Bulldogs have become accustomed to championship expectations, and another Top 3 preseason ranking places Georgia firmly in the conversation once again.
With the SEC featuring numerous ranked programs, Georgia will have plenty of opportunities to strengthen its championship rΓ©sumΓ© throughout the season.
βοΈ Notre Dame and Texas Complete the Top 5
Notre Dame enters at No. 4, receiving six first-place votes, while Texas begins the season at No. 5.
Both programs start within striking distance of the top of the poll and will be looking to establish themselves as serious College Football Playoff contenders from opening weekend.
π₯ Indiana Is One of the Biggest Teams to Watch
One of the most fascinating teams in the preseason poll is Indiana at No. 6.
The Hoosiers received eight first-place votes, giving Indiana even more reason to enter the season with major expectations.
Indiana will have an opportunity to prove that its lofty preseason ranking belongs among college football’s traditional national powers.
π Miami Returns to the Top 10
Miami (FL) opens at No. 7 and received one first-place vote.
The Hurricanes are followed by Texas A&M at No. 8, Ole Miss at No. 9 and Oklahoma at No. 10.
Those four teams could create significant movement near the top of the rankings as the season progresses.
π Don’t Ignore the Teams Outside the Top 10
Some of the biggest names in college football begin the season outside the Top 10.
LSU sits at No. 11, followed by Texas Tech at No. 12 and Alabama at No. 13.
BYU and USC share the No. 14 ranking, while Michigan, Washington and Penn State occupy Nos. 16 through 18.
SMU, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa, Houston, Louisville and Missouri complete the Top 25.
The gap between being ranked No. 15 and breaking into the Top 10 can disappear quickly once conference play begins.
π The College Football Playoff Race Starts Now
The preseason AP Top 25 gives us the starting point.
The field will decide everything else.
Ohio State begins at No. 1, but Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, Miami and plenty of other contenders will have opportunities to take over the national conversation.
And somewhere outside the current Top 10βor perhaps even outside the Top 25βthere could be a team preparing to become one of the surprise stories of the 2026 season.
That’s college football.
Every Saturday can change everything.
π₯ ScoreClub Sports Question of the Day
Who’s ranked too high? Who’s being slept on? And who will be standing at No. 1 when the College Football Playoff is over?
π Drop your 2026 national championship pick and join the conversation with ScoreClub Sports.
For more college football news, AP Top 25 rankings, predictions, analysis, scores and College Football Playoff coverage, follow ScoreClub Sports throughout the 2026 season.
π www.scoreclubsports.net
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2026 Preseason AP Top 25 Rankings: Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2
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The 2026 Preseason AP Top 25 is here. Ohio State opens at No. 1 ahead of Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas. See the complete Top 25 college football rankings.
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Source: NCAA / Associated Press | August 17, 2026