Big Ten Seizes the Summit in Preseason Poll

The Buckeyes sit atop the preseason Top 25 at No. 1, with the Ducks right behind at No. 2, giving the Big Ten the two highest chairs before a single snap has been taken. The SEC answers with depth — Bulldogs at No. 3, Longhorns at No. 4, Aggies at No. 8, Sooners at No. 9, Rebels at No. 10, and Crimson Tide at No. 11 — but the conference doesn't hold the summit, and that's the loudest signal this poll sends.

The most fascinating inclusion is Texas Tech at No. 12, a spot that says the Red Raiders are being taken seriously before kickoff. The Fighting Irish check in at No. 5, the Hurricanes at No. 7, and the Hoosiers at No. 6 — a ranking that demands attention. Three Tigers programs appear across the poll at Nos. 13, 23, and 25, and two Cougars squads land at Nos. 15 and 24, giving the bottom third a crowded, competitive feel.

With every team at 0-0, this poll is pure projection — a preseason argument waiting for Saturdays to settle it.