Ohio State tops AP poll as Big Ten reclaims historic apex
Ohio State and Oregon lead the Top 25, marking the first time since 1961 that the Big Ten holds the top two spots, while historical volatility casts doubt on early standings.
The Associated Press has released its 2026 college football preseason Top 25 poll, placing Ohio State at the summit and Oregon second. This ranking marks a significant institutional milestone, representing the first time since 1961 that the Big Ten Conference holds the top two positions in the preseason poll. The SEC remains a dominant force with five teams in the top 10, led by Georgia at No. 3 and Texas at No. 5.
Ohio State enters the season with a 31-game unbeaten streak, the longest active run in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Buckeyes open their campaign on September 5 against Ball State, with the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Their path to the top includes a Week 2 clash against Texas, a matchup that suggests the current hierarchy may be subject to rapid adjustment as the season progresses.
Oregon, under head coach Dan Lanning, boasts a 48-8 record over four seasons, tying Ryan Day for the third-best record among active FBS head coaches in that span. The Ducks open on September 5 against Boise State, televised on CBS. The structural strength of the Big Ten is further evidenced by USC at No. 19 and Michigan at No. 21, while Indiana rounds out the top 25 at No. 25.
Beyond the top tier, Lane Kiffin’s first LSU team is ranked No. 11, and Texas Tech stands as the highest-ranked Big 12 representative at No. 12. Oklahoma, ranked No. 10, faces scrutiny due to a challenging schedule and offensive concerns, with analysts highlighting it as a candidate to finish unranked. Historical data underscores the volatility of these rankings; in 18 of the last 19 years, at least one team from the preseason top 10 has failed to finish in the top 10.
The poll reaction also details Week 1 schedules and broadcast information for all 25 teams. Key statistical trends include Miami’s first true road opener in a decade against Stanford, and Texas’s lowest yardage averages since Steve Sarkisian took over. As the season begins on September 3, the disparity between preseason expectations and final outcomes remains a defining feature of college football governance and performance metrics.
