Ohio State & Oregon Seize Top 2 in Explosive Preseason AP Poll
College Football Preseason Rankings: Big Ten Takes the Top Two Spots for First Time in 65 Years!
What Just Happened?
Imagine if your school’s sports teams were so good that two teams from the same conference (that’s a group of schools that play each other regularly) grabbed the #1 and #2 spots in the whole country before the season even starts. That’s exactly what happened with the Big Ten Conference!
On August 17, 2026, the Associated Press (AP) released their Top 25 Preseason Poll—a ranking of the best college football teams before a single game is played. Here’s the big news:
Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #1
Oregon Ducks are ranked #2
This is the first time since 1961 (that’s 65 years ago!) that the Big Ten has held both top spots, and only the second time ever in history!
How Does the Poll Work?
Think of it like a popularity contest, but with experts:
- 69 media members who cover college football vote
- Each voter ranks their top 25 teams
- Teams get points based on where they’re ranked (#1 = 25 points, #2 = 24 points, etc.)
- The team with the most total points wins the #1 spot
Ohio State got 40 first-place votes and 1,672 total points
Oregon got 14 first-place votes and 1,597 total points
Important Point: Other teams also got first-place votes!
- Notre Dame: 6 votes
- Indiana: 8 votes
- Miami: 1 vote
The Complete Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | Team | Points | Last Year’s Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State (40) | 1,672 | 12-2 |
| 2 | Oregon (14) | 1,597 | 13-2 |
| 3 | Georgia | 1,513 | 12-2 |
| 4 | Notre Dame (6) | 1,510 | 10-2 |
| 5 | Texas | 1,483 | 10-3 |
| 6 | Indiana (8) | 1,440 | 16-0 |
| 7 | Miami (1) | 1,379 | 13-3 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 1,131 | 11-2 |
| 9 | Ole Miss | 1,102 | 13-2 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 1,047 | 10-3 |
| 11 | LSU | 988 | 7-6 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 983 | 12-2 |
| 13 | Alabama | 904 | 11-4 |
| 14 | BYU | 839 | 12-2 |
| 14 | Southern Cal | 839 | 9-4 |
| 16 | Michigan | 718 | 9-4 |
| 17 | Washington | 501 | 9-4 |
| 18 | Penn State | 482 | 7-6 |
| 19 | SMU | 434 | 9-4 |
| 20 | Tennessee | 394 | 8-5 |
| 21 | Utah | 304 | 11-2 |
| 22 | Iowa | 260 | 9-4 |
| 23 | Houston | 252 | 10-3 |
| 24 | Louisville | 194 | 9-4 |
| 25 | Missouri | 117 | 8-5 |
Fun Fact: Oregon’s #2 ranking is the highest in their program’s history! Their previous best was #3 (done four times).
Why Is This a Big Deal for the Big Ten?
1. Historic Achievement
- Last time Big Ten had #1 and #2: 1961 (Iowa and Ohio State)
- Only other time a conference did this: 1987 (Oklahoma and Nebraska from the Big Eight)
2. Championship Pedigree
The Big Ten has won the last THREE College Football Playoff championships in a row:
- 2023: Michigan
- 2024: Ohio State
- 2025: Indiana
Now they’re going for an unprecedented FOURTH straight title!
3. Consistent Dominance
This is the fourth consecutive year the Big Ten has had two of the top three teams in the preseason rankings.
Conference Breakdown: Who’s Represented?
| Conference | Teams in Top 25 | Notable Teams |
|---|---|---|
| SEC (Southeastern) | 9 (most of any conference!) | Georgia (#3), Texas (#5), Texas A&M (#8), Ole Miss (#9), Oklahoma (#10), LSU (#11), Alabama (#13), Tennessee (#20), Missouri (#25) |
| Big Ten | 5 | Ohio State (#1), Oregon (#2), Indiana (#6), Michigan (#16), Penn State (#18), Iowa (#22) |
| Big 12 | 4 | Texas Tech (#12), BYU (#14), Utah (#21), Houston (#23) |
| ACC (Atlantic Coast) | 3 | Miami (#7), SMU (#19), Louisville (#24) |
| Independent | 1 | Notre Dame (#4) |
| Group of Six | 0 | First time with zero representation |
Key Insight: The SEC has five teams in the top 10 for the first time since 2013!
Team Storylines to Watch
Ohio State Buckeyes (#1)
- 9th time starting season at #1 (tied with Alabama for 2nd most all-time, behind Oklahoma’s 10)
- Loaded offense:
- Julian Sayin (QB): Heisman finalist, most accurate passer in the nation
- Jeremiah Smith (WR): Leads nation in receiving yards & TDs over last 2 years
- Bo Jackson (RB): 1,000+ yards as a freshman!
- Tough schedule: Visits Texas (Sept 12), plays at Indiana, hosts Oregon
- Goal: Become only the 12th team ever to start AND finish #1 (last: Alabama 2017)
Oregon Ducks (#2)
- Highest preseason ranking in school history
- Coming off 13-2 season
- Big Ten newcomers making immediate impact
Georgia Bulldogs (#3)
- 9th straight year in preseason top 5!
- Two-time defending SEC champs
- Coach Kirby Smart has them favored for 6th straight SEC title game and 6th CFP appearance in 10 years
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (#4)
- Highest preseason rank since #2 in 2006
- Heisman candidate at QB: CJ Carr
- 10-game winning streak entering season
- Still motivated from being left out of playoff last year
Indiana Hoosiers (#6) — The Defending Champs!
- First team in modern era to go 16-0 (perfect season!)
- Only 7th defending champ in 40 years ranked outside top 5
- Lost Heisman winner/No. 1 NFL pick Fernando Mendoza at QB
- New QB: Josh Hoover (transfer from TCU)
- Returns lots of talent + signed top-10 transfer class
Miami Hurricanes (#7)
- Highest preseason rank in years
- Only got 1 first-place vote but still top 10
Texas Longhorns (#5)
- Was preseason #1 last year
- 3rd straight year in top 5
Texas A&M Aggies (#8)
- First top 10 preseason rank since 2022
- That year marked beginning of end for former coach Jimbo Fisher
LSU Tigers (#11)
- Lane Kiffin’s first team as head coach
- Finished 7-6 and unranked last year under previous coaches
Ohio State’s Gauntlet: A Look at Their Schedule
The Buckeyes don’t get any easy weeks! Here’s their murderer’s row:
- Week 2: at Texas (#5) — September 12
- Big Ten play: Five of nine conference games vs. preseason ranked teams
- Key matchups:
- at Indiana (#6) — defending champs!
- vs. Oregon (#2) — at home
- vs. Michigan (#16) — rivalry game
- vs. Penn State (#18)
Reality Check: Ohio State must replace 8 defensive starters for the second straight year, but at least 6 transfers are projected to start or play major roles.
Historical Context: Preseason #1 Teams
Since the AP poll started in 1950:
- Only 11 teams have started AND finished #1
- Last to do it: Alabama (2017)
- Ohio State has finished #1 six times: 1942, 1954, 1968, 2002, 2014, 2024
Summary
| Key Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| Historic First | Big Ten has #1 & #2 for first time since 1961 |
| Top Dogs | Ohio State (#1, 40 votes) & Oregon (#2, 14 votes) |
| Conference Power | Big Ten: 3-peat champs going for 4th straight; SEC: 9 teams in top 25 |
| Defending Champ | Indiana (#6) — first 16-0 team ever, but QB change drops them |
| Toughest Road | Ohio State faces 5 ranked Big Ten foes + Texas |
| Coaching Storylines | Lane Kiffin at LSU; Kirby Smart’s Georgia dynasty continues |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the "AP Top 25 Poll"?
It’s a weekly ranking of the best 25 college football teams voted on by 69 sports journalists. The preseason poll comes out before any games are played—it’s basically experts’ best guesses based on returning players, recruiting, coaching, and last year’s results.
Why does being ranked #1 in the preseason matter?
It brings hype, recruiting advantages, and playoff positioning. But it also puts a target on your back—every team wants to beat the #1 team! Historically, only 11 teams have ever started AND finished #1.
What’s the "Big Ten Conference"?
A group of 18 universities (mostly in the Midwest) that compete together in sports. Famous members include Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and more. They’ve been the most dominant conference in recent years.
Who are the "Group of Six" schools mentioned?
These are conferences outside the "Power Four" (Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, ACC). They include schools like James Madison, Tulane, and others. For the first time, none made the preseason Top 25.
What’s the "College Football Playoff" (CFP)?
The postseason tournament that determines the national champion. It expanded to 12 teams recently. The top teams get invited, and they play bracket-style until one champion remains.
Final Thought: The 2026 season is shaping up to be historic! Will Ohio State wire-to-wire at #1? Can Oregon make their high ranking stick? Will Indiana prove the doubters wrong? Can the Big Ten make it four straight national titles? The games start soon—let’s find out!