AP High 25: Texas No. 1 in Preseason Ballot, Setting Up High-3 Matchup vs. Ohio State

When Texas and Ohio State meet in Columbus on Aug. 30 (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), it’ll likely be for the No. 1 ranking in the nation. 

Texas received the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 college football preseason poll for the 2025 season, which was unveiled Monday. Ohio State, meanwhile, was No. 3, while Penn State was ranked No. 2 between Texas and OSU.

[Related: RJ Young’s Ultimate 136 college football rankings]

Texas obtained its No. 1 rating after two appearances within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinals in every of the final two years, incomes 25 of the 65 first-place votes. The Longhorns additionally obtained the No. 1 rating as Arch Manning is ready to take over at quarterback for the 2025 season. Manning, a redshirt sophomore, sat behind Quinn Ewers the final two seasons, however briefly performed in 2024, recording 939 passing yards, two interceptions, 108 dashing yards and 13 whole touchdowns.

Ohio State obtained the No. 3 rating after successful its first nationwide championship beneath head coach Ryan Day final season. Fourteen gamers from that crew had been chosen within the 2025 NFL Draft, together with quarterback Will Howard and broad receiver Emeka Egbuka. The Buckeyes arguably have the 2 greatest gamers in school soccer coming into 2025, nevertheless, with broad receiver Jeremiah Smith and security Caleb Downs returning. Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are battling for the beginning quarterback job. Ohio State acquired 11 first-place votes. 

Penn State almost acquired the No. 1 total rating. It earned 23 first-place votes and was solely 5 factors shy of Texas’ level whole. The Nittany Lions return quarterback Drew Allar, together with operating backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, serving to them obtain their highest rating within the AP High 25 preseason ballot since 1997.

Clemson, which returns quarterback Cade Klubnik and several other stars on protection, earned the No. 4 rating, receiving 4 first-place votes. Georgia rounds out the highest 5, receiving one first-place vote. 

Notre Dame, Oregon (which acquired the ultimate first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami (Fla.) spherical out the highest 10.

The SEC leads all conferences with 10 groups within the preseason High 25, essentially the most ever by a convention and another than a yr in the past. The SEC has 4 groups within the high 10 for the second straight yr. The Huge Ten, which has gained the final two nationwide championships, has two of the highest three groups within the ballot for the third straight yr and 6 within the High 25 for the third yr in a row. 4 Huge 12 groups are ranked, with defending convention champion Arizona State the very best at No. 11. The ACC has three.

Here is the total high 25:

1. Texas
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson  
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami (Fla.)
11. Arizona State 
12. Illinois 
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Florida
16. SMU 
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma 
19. Texas A&M 
20. Indiana 
21. Ole Miss
22. Iowa State
23. Texas Tech
24. Tennessee 
25. Boise State

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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