Ohio State and Oregon have opened the 2026 college football season at No. 1 and No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. The ranking gives the Big Ten its first preseason top-two combination in 65 years and only the second such result in the poll’s history.
The Associated Press reported that Ohio State received 40 first-place votes from the 69 media members who took part in the poll, while Oregon received 14. Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas completed the top five, with defending national champion Indiana starting at No. 6.
The poll also places nine Southeastern Conference teams in the preseason Top 25. Five of the top 10 teams come from the SEC, while four Big 12 teams and three ACC teams were ranked in the published list.
Ohio State’s position reflects a program entering the season with high expectations after recent playoff success. Oregon’s second-place ranking is the highest preseason position in that program’s history, according to the AP report.
A separate CBS Sports report on the preseason coaches poll also placed Ohio State and Oregon at the top, although the two polls are conducted through different voting processes. The AP ranking is a starting point rather than a prediction of the final championship order, and the regular season will determine how the teams’ positions change.
Sources: Associated Press — https://apnews.com/article/bd5dd1c058fab6047510f09e18b035f1; CBS Sports — https://www.games.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ohio-state-oregon-preseason-coaches-poll-top-25/
