Ohio State and Oregon secured the top two spots in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 college football rankings released Monday, marking the first time since 1987 that two teams from the same conference held the top positions. The Big Ten Conference now leads with the most ranked teams in the poll at nine, while the SEC follows with eight.
Ohio State earned 40 first-place votes to claim the No. 1 ranking, its ninth preseason No. 1 spot in program history and its first since 2015. The Buckeyes are now tied with Alabama for the second-most preseason No. 1 rankings in AP history, trailing only Oklahoma’s 10. Oregon secured the No. 2 ranking with 14 first-place votes, its highest preseason position in program history after previously opening at No. 3 four times.
The top five is rounded out by Georgia (No. 3), Notre Dame (No. 4), and Texas (No. 5). Indiana, the defending national champion, starts at No. 6, followed by Miami (No. 7), Texas A&M (No. 8), Mississippi (No. 9), and Oklahoma (No. 10). Notre Dame received six first-place votes, while Indiana earned eight and Miami received one.
Big Ten’s Historic Preseason Dominance
The 2026 preseason poll marks the first time since 1987—when Oklahoma and Nebraska of the former Big Eight led the rankings—that two teams from the same conference have occupied the top two spots. The Big Ten’s preseason success extends beyond Ohio State and Oregon, with seven additional teams ranked in the Top 25, including Michigan (No. 11), Penn State (No. 14), and Wisconsin (No. 18).
The conference’s rise comes amid recent national championship success, with Indiana winning the 2025 title and Michigan claiming back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. Ohio State, despite losing the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana and a College Football Playoff quarterfinal to Miami, returns a stacked roster featuring quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, along with defensive transfers Terry Moore and Earl Little Jr.
SEC’s Conference Strength and Notable Absences
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) remains the most represented league in the poll with eight teams, including Georgia (No. 3), Texas A&M (No. 8), and Mississippi (No. 9). However, the conference also faces scrutiny over perceived overreliance on preseason rankings, with critics noting that 12 teams ranked in the 2025 preseason poll finished outside the Top 25 by season’s end.
Notable absences from the Top 25 include Florida State, which fell out of the rankings after a 2025 season-ending loss, and LSU, which failed to crack the preseason poll despite high preseason expectations. Penn State, Clemson, and LSU were among the teams that underperformed relative to their preseason projections in 2025, raising questions about the predictive value of early rankings.
AP Voter Dynamics and Historical Context
The AP Top 25 is determined by votes from 69 media members who cover college football, with each voter submitting a ranked ballot. While the system aims for objectivity, critics argue that geographic bias and limited exposure to non-power-conference teams can influence results. For example, teams from the Pac-12 and Big 12 are underrepresented in the current poll, with only Oregon (Pac-12) and Texas (Big 12) ranked in the Top 10.
The preseason poll has historically been a contentious but influential predictor of postseason success. In 2025, Texas began the season ranked No. 1 but lost its opening game to Ohio State, illustrating the volatility of early rankings. Ohio State, which has not won a national title since 2014, enters 2026 as the favorite to reclaim the top spot after a strong offseason of roster upgrades.
What’s Next for the Top Teams
Ohio State opens its 2026 season against Texas on September 12, a rematch of last year’s season-opener that could further shape the playoff conversation. Indiana, the defending champion, will look to build on its 2025 success, while Oregon aims to surpass its highest preseason ranking in program history.
The AP Top 25 will be updated weekly throughout the season, with the first regular-season games kicking off in late August.