Ohio State opens at No. 1 in the preseason Top 25, with Oregon right behind at No. 2 — giving the Big Ten the two highest-ranked teams in the country before a single down has been played. The Bulldogs sit third, Texas fourth in its new SEC home, and Notre Dame rounds out the top five.
The SEC still flexes serious depth, placing six programs inside the poll, but the story is the Big Ten's grip on the summit. Oregon's No. 2 slot validates the Ducks' conference move, while Indiana at No. 6 signals that last season's magic has staying power in the voters' minds.
Beyond the headliners, the poll hints at a wide-open chase. Oklahoma lands at No. 9, Alabama at No. 11, and USC at No. 14 — three bluebloods stacked within five spots, all with something to prove. When the margin between No. 1 and No. 11 feels razor-thin, the race isn't about who's ranked. It's about who survives.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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