Ohio State, Oregon top AP preseason poll in Big Ten milestone
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- Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll with 40 first-place votes, entering the season atop the rankings for the ninth time in program history
- Oregon starts at No. 2, its highest preseason ranking ever, after receiving 14 first-place votes in the 69-member media panel
- Big Ten holds the top two spots in the AP preseason poll for the first time since 1961, highlighting its dominance with three straight CFP titles and four straight years of multiple top-three teams
- Georgia lands at No. 4 and extends its streak to nine consecutive years in the preseason top five under Kirby Smart, maintaining SEC presence despite shifting power dynamics
- Texas opens in the top five for the third straight year at No. 5, hosting No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12 in a marquee early-season matchup that could reshape playoff trajectories
- Indiana, last season’s undefeated national champion, starts at No. 6 — the seventh returning champion in 40 years to be ranked outside the top five — amid questions about quarterback transition from Mendoza to Hoover
- SEC leads all conferences with nine teams in the Top 25, including five of the top 10 for the first time since 2013, fueling ongoing debate over conference strength
Why it matters: The Big Ten now has a legitimate claim to national dominance with three straight CFP titles and the top two preseason teams for the first time in decades, while the SEC's depth keeps it competitive — setting up high-stakes games on Sept. 12 that could shift momentum and playoff access in favor of one conference. These matchups carry direct implications for College Football Playoff selection and long-term realignment influence.
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