The college football world is buzzing as the Texas Longhorns have achieved a monumental first, securing the No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll. This marks the first time in program history that Texas will kick off a season atop the prestigious rankings. The announcement on Monday ignited immediate discussion, especially given the razor-thin margin separating the Longhorns from their closest competitor, Penn State. This historic top billing sets the stage for a compelling and highly anticipated 2025 season, with the Longhorns immediately facing a massive test on the road.
A Historic First for the Longhorns
Texas’s ascent to the preseason No. 1 spot wasn’t a landslide victory in the eyes of the voters. They narrowly edged out the Penn State Nittany Lions by just five points, making it the closest preseason vote since 1998. The Longhorns garnered 25 first-place votes and a total of 1,552 points from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. This achievement also extends the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) impressive streak, marking the fifth consecutive year an SEC team has claimed the preseason No. 1 position.
The excitement surrounding the Longhorns is palpable, largely fueled by the arrival of “Arch Mania.” Redshirt sophomore Arch Manning, nephew to NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, is now the undisputed starting quarterback. After two years as a high-profile backup, Manning is stepping into the spotlight and is already considered the BetMGM favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. This quarterback transition, combined with a strong returning defense featuring All-America linebacker Anthony Hill and pass rusher Colin Simmons, provides a robust foundation for Texas. While the team saw 12 players drafted into the NFL, including three first-round picks, elite recruiting classes and strategic additions from the transfer portal are expected to mitigate losses, particularly on the offensive line and at receiver.
Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, who has guided the Longhorns to a remarkable 25 wins in their last 30 games and two consecutive College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal appearances since a 5-7 record in 2021, acknowledged the heightened expectations. “This is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian stated at SEC media days. “But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.” Despite the top ranking, Texas received only 38.5% of the first-place votes, the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia in 2008. Historically, Texas has ended a season at No. 1 three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but had never before opened a season higher than No. 2.
The Nation’s Elite: Top Contenders and Key Matchups
The 2025 preseason AP Top 25 poll is loaded with talent and sets the stage for an electrifying season. Here’s the complete list, with first-place votes in parentheses:
- Texas (25)
- Penn State (23)
- Ohio State (11)
- Clemson (4)
- Georgia (1)
- Notre Dame
- Oregon (1)
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami
- Arizona State
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- Florida
- SMU
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- Iowa State
- Texas Tech
- Tennessee
- Boise State
The top 10 is rounded out by Notre Dame, Oregon (who received the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU, and Miami. Notably, Alabama finds itself outside the preseason top five for the first time since 2008.
The schedule wastes no time in delivering marquee matchups. Week 1 of the college football season, kicking off on August 23rd, will feature an unprecedented three top-10 showdowns. The most anticipated is the August 30th opener, a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal: No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State. The Buckeyes, despite their national championship victory, enter the season with significant changes, including a new starting quarterback (Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz) and only five returning offensive starters and three on defense. Coach Ryan Day emphasized their drive: “This team has its own identity. It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.”
Other must-watch Week 1 games include No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson (dubbed the “Battle of Death Valley”) and No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami. Penn State, ranked No. 2, returns veteran quarterback Drew Allar and star running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and faces a relatively lighter schedule before crucial late-season matchups against Oregon and Ohio State. Several other top teams, including Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, and Miami, will also be breaking in new starting quarterbacks, adding an element of unpredictability to the early weeks of the season.
Conference Powerhouses and Emerging Threats
The 2025 preseason Top 25 poll clearly illustrates the current landscape of college football, with two conferences dominating the landscape. The SEC continues its reign as the premier conference, boasting a record 10 teams in the preseason Top 25 – one more than last year. Four of these SEC powerhouses are positioned within the top 10 for the second consecutive year, underscoring the league’s deep talent pool.
The Big Ten, which has claimed the past two national championships, also demonstrates formidable strength. It places two of its teams in the top three of the poll for the third straight year and has a total of six teams ranked in the Top 25 for the third year in a row. The Big 12 follows with four ranked teams, led by defending conference champion Arizona State at No. 11, marking their highest preseason ranking since 1998. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) contributes three teams to the initial poll, with Clemson leading the charge.
Beyond the traditional powerhouses, several teams have made notable jumps or returned to the preseason rankings after long absences. No. 16 SMU is back in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 40 years, a testament to their strong 2024 campaign and CFP berth. No. 12 Illinois achieves its highest preseason rank since 1990, and Indiana makes only its fourth preseason appearance ever. Boise State, at No. 25, is the sole representative from a Group of Five conference, signifying their strong 2024 performance that saw them make the 12-team CFP field.
Insights from veteran AP poll voter Ralph D. Russo highlight the nuances of preseason predictions. Russo, who admitted to “over-thinking” his ballot, offered specific teams where his vote significantly differed from the consensus:
He ranked No. 3 Alabama five spots higher, citing their strong offensive and defensive lines and the potential for Year 2 improvement under coach Kalen DeBoer.
No. 10 Texas A&M was nine spots higher on his ballot, a “flyer” based on their high percentage of blue-chip recruits (82%) and quarterback Marcel Reed.
No. 12 Oklahoma was six spots higher for Russo, who noted a complete offensive revamp under new coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.
Conversely, he placed No. 18 Illinois six spots lower, expressing skepticism about their “magic” 10-win season’s sustainability.
No. 21 South Carolina was eight spots lower on his ballot, questioning their offense’s reliance on quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
He also placed No. 24 SMU eight spots lower, pondering if his reaction to their Playoff loss was an over or underreaction. These varying perspectives underscore the inherent challenge and subjectivity in preseason polling.
Preseason Predictions: History and the Playoff Picture
While the preseason AP poll generates immense excitement, history offers a cautionary tale regarding its predictive power for national championships. Since the preseason poll debuted in 1950, only 11 teams have started and finished the season at No. 1. In the College Football Playoff era, which began in 2014, the trend is even starker: only the 2017 Alabama team managed to win the national title after starting at No. 1. Four other preseason No. 1 teams in the CFP era finished as national runner-up. However, a strong preseason ranking remains a critical indicator of future success; all 11 CFP national champions were ranked in the top six of the preseason AP poll. Furthermore, a preseason No. 1 team has not lost its first game since 1990.
The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, now in its second year, adds a new dimension. Interestingly, all 12 teams that made last season’s inaugural 12-team Playoff field are ranked in this year’s preseason poll, even some that were unranked to start last season (like Indiana, Arizona State, SMU, and Boise State). This year’s CFP will feature straight seeding based on CFP rankings once the field is set, addressing criticisms of the previous format.
Early Heisman Trophy discussions are also heating up. Beyond Texas’s Arch Manning, other quarterbacks like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik are considered top contenders. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had an outstanding freshman year, is also on the early radar. As the season unfolds, the Texas Longhorns will aim to defy historical trends and live up to their unprecedented preseason billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Texas’s No. 1 ranking historical?
This is the first time in the program’s history that the Texas Longhorns have started a college football season ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. While Texas has finished a season at No. 1 three times (1963, 1969, 2005), they had never before opened higher than No. 2. This debut at the top signifies a new level of expectation and recognition for the program under coach Steve Sarkisian, especially with Arch Manning taking the starting quarterback role.
Which early-season matchups will significantly impact the AP poll?
Week 1 of the 2025 college football season features an unprecedented three matchups between preseason top-10 teams, ensuring immediate shifts in the AP poll. The most anticipated game is the August 30th clash between No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus. Other critical early-season contests include No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson and No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami. The outcomes of these high-stakes games will heavily influence the subsequent weekly rankings and set the tone for the national championship race.
What factors should fans consider when evaluating preseason poll accuracy?
Fans should approach preseason polls as a snapshot of expectations and talent, not definitive predictions. Historically, only one preseason No. 1 team (2017 Alabama) has gone on to win the national championship in the CFP era. Factors like new starting quarterbacks (as seen in Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, and Miami), coaching changes, injury developments, and the natural progression of young players can significantly alter a team’s trajectory. While strong preseason rankings indicate potential, the actual performance on the field, especially in challenging early-season matchups, ultimately dictates a team’s true standing.
The 2025 college football season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With the Texas Longhorns leading the charge from an unprecedented No. 1 spot, coupled with a fiercely competitive top 25 and thrilling early-season matchups, fans are in for a treat. The journey to the College Football Playoff will be long and challenging, but the stage is set for an unforgettable year. Tune in and watch history unfold!
