Oregon, a key challenger to the Buckeyes for Big Ten supremacy, enters the season at No. 2, which represents the highest starting point in the program's history. The Ducks received six first-place votes. Following the two Big Ten leaders, Southeastern Conference (SEC) contenders occupy the next several spots. Georgia enters the season at No. 3, having earned seven first-place nods, while Texas, which held the preseason No. 1 spot last year, begins this season at No. 4 with two first-place votes.
Notre Dame claimed the No. 5 position, narrowly edging out the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers by just two poll points. Despite the ranking difference, Indiana received 14 first-place votes, which stands as the second-most among all teams in the poll. This year marks the first time since 2008 that as many as six schools have received multiple first-place votes in the preseason rankings.
Miami (Fla.), the national runner-up from last year, opens the season at No. 7. The SEC maintains a dominant presence in the rankings, holding the next four positions after Miami, starting with No. 8 Texas A&M and followed by Oklahoma and Mississippi. Alabama is positioned at No. 11, marking the first time since 2008 that the Crimson Tide have been excluded from the preseason top 10. While the Big Ten holds the top two spots, the SEC leads all conferences with nine ranked teams, bolstered by Missouri edging out Louisville for the No. 25 spot. The Big Ten follows with eight teams in the opening poll, while No. 12 Texas Tech leads a group of four ranked Big 12 members. The ACC features three ranked teams, with No. 23 Clemson starting in its lowest position since 2011.
Additional teams receiving votes include: Louisville; Florida; TCU; Illinois; Arizona; South Carolina; Virginia; Vanderbilt; Auburn; Georgia Tech; Boise State; Oklahoma State; UNLV; Florida State; North Carolina State; Nebraska; Virginia Tech; Memphis; Arizona State; Duke; James Madison; New Mexico; Pittsburgh; Navy; Western Michigan; San Diego State; California; Hawaii; Jacksonville State; and Kansas State.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.