It's pretty rare that there's ever a serious race for No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. Even if there's a debate, it's typically settled long before ballots are cast. Over the last 20 seasons, the difference in first-place votes between No.

The Ohio State football team is starting the season ranked in the top three of the AP Poll, but the Buckeyes won't finish there.

USC and UCLA did not reach the top 25 in the first poll from AP voters ahead of the 2025 season. Penn State is No. 2 in the closest preseason vote since 1998, and defending champion Ohio State is