AP Top 25 Poll Released, Sparks Debate Over Rankings
The AP preseason Top 25 poll debuted Aug. 17 with Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas. The US LBM Coaches Poll, released two weeks earlier, placed Notre Dame fourth and Texas fifth.
- 40 AP voters placed Ohio State first; 38 coaches did the same.
- 12 preseason AP Top 25 teams last season finished outside the final poll.
- Indiana received 8 first-place AP votes; coaches gave Indiana 14.
- Clemson ranked outside the AP Top 25 but led all teams receiving votes.
Why it matters: Preseason polls shape expectations and conference narrative heading into the season. Historical accuracy is limited — last year's poll missed on nearly half its ranked teams.
- AP voters are media members spread nationally; coaches poll ballots are typically completed by staff, not head coaches.
How 3 sources split on this story
Where they split: The two polls agree on Ohio State at No. 1 but diverge on the order of Notre Dame and Texas at Nos. 4 and 5, and on the placement of Mississippi versus Ole Miss in the teens.
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center frames this as a straightforward news item — listing rankings, noting poll differences, and cautioning that preseason polls historically miss badly.
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right frames this as fan entertainment, leaning into the ritual of complaint and debate while questioning whether AP voters know enough about every team to rank them accurately.
What’s next: The regular season opens around Labor Day weekend, roughly two weeks away.
- Ohio State plays at Texas in week two, an early test of the No. 1 ranking.
- How many of the 25 ranked teams will finish the season unranked, repeating last year's pattern?
- Will starting quarterbacks at several programs be settled before week one?