Ohio State tops AP preseason poll as Big Ten reclaims historic standing
The Associated Press has released its first Top 25 poll of the college football season, placing Ohio State at the summit and marking a significant shift in conference power dynamics.
Ohio State has been ranked number one in the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the 2026 college football season, securing 40 first-place votes from the 69 media members who submitted ballots. The Buckeyes top the rankings for the first time since 2015, positioning themselves as the primary contenders ahead of Week 0, which begins in 12 days. Oregon follows at number two, with Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas rounding out the top five.
The release of the poll highlights a historic realignment in college football, as the Big Ten Conference now holds the top two spots for the first time in 65 years. The last instance of a single conference occupying the number one and two positions occurred in 1961, when Iowa and Ohio State led the rankings. Prior to that, Oklahoma and Nebraska of the Big Eight held those positions in 1987. Eight Big Ten teams feature in the current poll, tying the SEC for the most selections from any conference.
Defending national champion Indiana enters the season ranked sixth, a position they also held in the Coaches Poll earlier this month. The Hoosiers are part of the Big Ten’s strong showing, which underscores the conference's depth. Meanwhile, Georgia has not returned to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game since winning back-to-back titles in 2023, and the SEC has not reached the final since that period.
Ohio State faces a demanding early schedule, including a fixture against Texas on 12 September. Five of their nine conference games are against opponents ranked in the preseason poll, including a home match against Oregon and a trip to Indiana. The Buckeyes’ offence features Heisman finalist Julian Sayin, who was the most accurate passer last season, alongside key contributors Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson. The team aims to become only the 12th programme to start and finish a season ranked number one.
Historical context suggests caution for the preseason leaders, as no team ranked number one in the preseason poll has won the national title since Alabama in 2017. USC achieved this feat in 2004, but the trend indicates that early rankings guarantee little. Texas, which was ranked number one in the previous year’s preseason poll, finished 10-3 after an opening loss to Ohio State, illustrating the volatility of the early season.
Other teams receiving votes include Clemson with 112 points, Florida with 51, Boise State with 43, and Arizona with 32. Additional mentions include TCU, Navy, South Carolina, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, UNLV, New Mexico, Georgia Tech, Louisiana, James Madison, Auburn, Memphis, California, Liberty, Western Michigan, Tulane, and Virginia.
