Texas Tops Penn State in Historic AP Preseason Football Poll

The 2025 college football season is already buzzing, thanks to the AP preseason college football poll. For the first time ever, Texas claims the top spot, riding high on the hype around quarterback Arch Manning.

This is a huge moment for the Longhorns, who just made back-to-back Playoff semifinal runs. Now, they’re hungry for a national title.

The preseason poll has set up a wild season, full of big-name teams and matchups that could go either way. Some storylines feel bigger than ever—let’s poke around and see what’s actually shaping up.

Texas Longhorns: A Historic Milestone

Texas has never started a season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll—until now. With Arch Manning stepping in as the starting quarterback, expectations feel almost unreal.

Manning, nephew to Peyton and Eli, arrived as a five-star recruit and already leads Heisman conversations. The Longhorns snagged 25 first-place votes, barely edging out No. 2 Penn State by just five points.

Key Players to Watch

Texas brings back a tough defense, anchored by linebacker Anthony Hill and pass rusher Colin Simmons. On the other side, Manning leads a retooled offense with four new full-time offensive line starters and a mostly untested group of receivers.

That mix of young talent and proven guys could make Texas a nightmare matchup, but it’s hard to know for sure until the games start.

Penn State and Ohio State: Close Contenders

Penn State lands at No. 2, collecting 23 first-place votes. It’s their best preseason spot since 1997.

Defending champs Ohio State aren’t far behind, ranked No. 3 with 11 first-place votes. The Buckeyes get a shot at Texas right out of the gate, hosting them on August 30. That one’s circled on every calendar.

Top 10 Matchups to Watch

• No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State on August 30
• No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson on August 30
• No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami on August 31

Those early-season games should give us a real sense of who’s for real and who’s just hype.

Preseason AP Top 25 Rankings

The AP Top 25 is a mix of usual suspects and a few teams hoping to break through. Here’s how the top 10 shakes out:

• No. 1 Texas
• No. 2 Penn State
• No. 3 Ohio State
• No. 4 Clemson
• No. 5 Georgia
• No. 6 Notre Dame
• No. 7 Oregon
• No. 8 Alabama
• No. 9 LSU
• No. 10 Miami

Alabama sits outside the top five for the first time since 2008. That feels strange, honestly.

Teams to Watch

Several teams picked up first-place votes, which says a lot about how wide open things are. Georgia and Oregon each grabbed one, Clemson got four.

The SEC leads with 10 ranked teams. The Big Ten follows with six, then the Big 12 with four, and the ACC with three. No. 25 Boise State is the lone ranked team from outside the Power 4 conferences.

Other Teams Receiving Votes

• BYU: 156 votes
• Utah: 144 votes
• Baylor: 132 votes
• Louisville: 90 votes
• USC: 64 votes
• Georgia Tech: 63 votes
• Missouri: 33 votes
• Tulane: 23 votes
• Nebraska: 23 votes
• UNLV: 21 votes
• Toledo: 13 votes
• Auburn: 10 votes
• James Madison: 9 votes
• Memphis: 9 votes
• Florida State: 8 votes
• Duke: 6 votes
• Liberty: 5 votes
• Navy: 5 votes
• Iowa: 5 votes
• TCU: 4 votes
• Pittsburgh: 3 votes
• Army: 2 votes
• Colorado: 1 vote
• Louisiana: 1 vote

Historical Context and Future Predictions

Texas becomes the 24th school to start a season at No. 1, joining the likes of Oklahoma, Alabama, and Ohio State. But being preseason No. 1 isn’t always a blessing.

In 75 years of these polls, only 11 teams have started and finished at the top. That’s a tough road, no matter how good you look in August.

Preseason No. 1 Teams and Their Performance

• 2017 Alabama
• 2004 USC
• 1999 Florida State
• 1993 Florida State
• 1985 Oklahoma

Since the Playoff era kicked off in 2014, preseason No. 1 teams always finish in the top six, but only 2017 Alabama won it all. This year, Texas opens as a 2.5-point underdog at Ohio State on August 30.

By the way, no preseason No. 1 has lost its first game since 1990, when Miami got knocked off by BYU. That’s a streak Texas probably doesn’t want to break.

Conclusion

The 2025 college football season feels like it could be one for the books. Texas sits at preseason No. 1, which is already making some noise.