11
Ohio State Crowned Preseason No. 1: Full Top 25 Rankings Drop
College Football Preseason Rankings 2026: Ohio State Starts at #1, But History Says Don’t Celebrate Yet
What Just Happened?
The 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll came out on August 4th, and it’s the first official look at how college football experts think the season will go. Think of it like a "best guess" list made by 72 head coaches before any games are played.
Key Date: The poll was released August 4, 2026 — less than a month before real games kick off!
The Big Headline: Ohio State is #1 (Again)
The Ohio State Buckeyes were voted #1 overall — the first time since 2015. Here’s how the voting broke down:
- 38 out of 72 coaches put Ohio State at #1
- That’s more than half the panel!
But before Buckeyes fans start planning the championship parade, there’s a really important history lesson:
IMPORTANT HISTORY CHECK
Since USA TODAY started running this poll in 1991, only 4 teams have started the season at #1 AND finished the season at #1.Translation: Being #1 in August rarely means you’re #1 in January.
Top 5: A Mix of Old Powers and New Contenders
| Rank | Team | First-Place Votes | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 38 | First time #1 since 2015 |
| 2 | Oregon | 6 | Highest preseason rank in school history! |
| 3 | Georgia | 7 | SEC powerhouse, always in the hunt |
| 4 | Texas | 2 | Was #1 last preseason, dropped to #4 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 5 | Beat out defending champ by 2 tiny points |
The Craziest Stat: The Defending Champ is #6
Indiana won the national championship last year. You’d think they’d be #1, right? Nope — they’re #6.
But here’s the wild part: Indiana got 14 first-place votes — the second-most of any team! Notre Dame (at #5) only got 5 first-place votes.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
The poll uses a points system (25 for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc.). Indiana got more #1 votes, but Notre Dame was ranked higher on more ballots overall. It’s like winning the popular vote but losing the electoral college!
Six teams got multiple first-place votes — that hasn’t happened since 2008!
Conference Bragging Rights: SEC Wins the Numbers Game
Even though the Big Ten has the top two teams (Ohio State & Oregon), the SEC has the most ranked teams:
| Conference | Ranked Teams | Top Teams |
|---|---|---|
| SEC | 9 | Georgia (#3), Texas (#4), Texas A&M (#8), Oklahoma (#9), Ole Miss (#10), Alabama (#11), LSU (#13), Missouri (#25), Mississippi State (votes) |
| Big Ten | 8 | Ohio State (#1), Oregon (#2), Michigan (#16), Penn State (#17), Washington (#19), Iowa (#22), USC (#14), UCLA (votes) |
| Big 12 | 4 | Texas Tech (#12), BYU (#15), Utah (#21), Kansas State (votes) |
| ACC | 3 | Miami (#7), Clemson (#23), SMU (#20) |
NOTE ON CLEMSON: #23 is their lowest preseason rank since 2011. The ACC is having a down year.
The Full Top 25 (Preseason Coaches Poll)
- Ohio State (38)
- Oregon (6)
- Georgia (7)
- Texas (2)
- Notre Dame (5)
- Indiana (14) — Defending National Champs
- Miami
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi (Ole Miss)
- Alabama — First time outside Top 10 since 2008!
- Texas Tech
- LSU
- USC
- BYU
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Washington
- SMU
- Utah
- Iowa
- Clemson
- Houston
- Missouri
Teams Just Missed the Cut ("Receiving Votes")
These teams got some love but not enough to crack the Top 25:
Louisville, Florida, TCU, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Florida State, NC State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Arizona State, Duke, James Madison, New Mexico, Pittsburgh, Navy, Western Michigan, San Diego State, Cal, Hawaii, Jacksonville State, Kansas State
WATCH LIST: Florida State, Nebraska, and Kansas State are big names sitting just outside — they could jump in fast with a strong start!
Why This Poll Matters (And Why It Doesn’t)
Why It Matters:
- Early spotlight — Top teams get more TV games, better recruiting buzz
- Playoff positioning — The new 12-team playoff means rankings help with seeding
- Fan excitement — Gives everyone something to argue about before kickoff!
Why It Doesn’t:
- Coaches don’t watch every team — They’re busy coaching their own!
- Preseason #1 rarely wins — Only 4/34 times since 1991
- Games are played on grass, not paper — Injuries, upsets, and breakout stars change everything
Summary: What You Need to Know
- Ohio State is #1 with a commanding lead in votes (38/72)
- History says #1 usually fails — only 4 teams since 1991 went wire-to-wire
- Oregon hits program-high #2 — Ducks flying high in the Big Ten
- Defending champ Indiana is #6 — but got 14 first-place votes (2nd most!)
- SEC dominates with 9 ranked teams — most of any conference
- Alabama falls to #11 — first time out of preseason Top 10 since 2008
- Clemson at #23 — lowest since 2011, ACC only has 3 ranked teams
- Real football starts soon — and that’s when the real rankings begin!
FAQ: Your Preseason Poll Questions Answered
Who votes in the Coaches Poll?
65 FBS head coaches (this year 72 participated) vote weekly during the season. It’s run by USA TODAY Sports and sponsored by US LBM (a building materials company).
How does the points system work?
Each coach ranks their Top 25. #1 gets 25 points, #2 gets 24, down to #1 = 1 point. Total points determine the ranking. That’s why Indiana (14 first-place votes) can be behind Notre Dame (5 first-place votes) — Notre Dame was ranked higher on more total ballots.
Does this poll determine the playoff?
No. The College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee releases its own rankings starting in November. But the Coaches Poll influences narratives, media coverage, and sometimes committee thinking.
Why is Alabama so low at #11?
They lost their legendary coach Nick Saban (retired after 2023), had a transition year in 2024, and are under new coach Kalen DeBoer. Voters are in "wait and see" mode.
When do the rankings actually matter?
The CFP rankings in November/December decide who makes the 12-team playoff. Preseason polls are just for fun, hype, and early-season scheduling perks. The real race starts when the balls are kicked off!
FINAL THOUGHT: Enjoy the debate, wear your team’s gear proudly, but remember — every team is 0-0 right now. The only ranking that counts is the final one in January!
