🎯 A Historic Ranking: Texas Opens Season at No. 1
For the first time ever, Texas Longhorns football leads the official 2025 Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, receiving 28 of 67 first-place votes and a total of 1,606 points. This milestone eclipses previous bests from the Longhorns in the opening Coaches Poll and signals sky-high expectations as the 2025 season approaches.
Just behind them sits the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, earning 20 first-place votes and 1,565 points, followed by Penn State center stage at No. 3 with 14 top votes and rising momentum under AP renowned coach James Franklin.
🔝 Full Top 5: A Powerhouse Trifecta
The top five of the Coaches Poll includes:
- Texas (28 top votes)
- Ohio State (20)
- Penn State (14)
- Georgia (3)
- Notre Dame (0)
This marks the first time since 2012 that three teams received double-digit first-place votes in the preseason, underlining the competitiveness expected in both the SEC and Big Ten conferences.
🧠 SEC Dominance, Big Ten Powerhouses
The SEC leads the poll with 9 teams ranked, showcasing its deep talent pool. That includes No. 4 Georgia, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 17 Florida, No. 18 Tennessee, and No. 21 Texas A&M.
The Big Ten placed six teams in the top 25, including Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and more. The Big 12 follows with five teams.
📅 Defining Moment: Season-Opener No. 1 vs. No. 2
Texas will take on Ohio State in a preseason No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup at Ohio Stadium on August 30, creating one of the most anticipated season openers in years.
Longhorns’ coach Steve Sarkisian described the challenge ahead: “This is probably the most daunting season-opener of my career.”
🏆 Why Texas Finally Earned No. 1
Talent and Coaching Stability
Led by elite talent Arch Manning, considered a Heisman Trophy favorite, Texas started the 2025 campaign with arguably its strongest recruiting class ever and continuity in its coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski in their fifth years.
Proven Playoff Credentials
Texas reached the College Football Playoff in the past two seasons. Despite falling to Ohio State in the CFP semifinal, the program demonstrated consistent excellence—making the preseason No. 1 ranking feel overdue.
⚠️ Challenges & Historical Context
The Curse of Preseason No. 1
Only once since 2015 has the preseason No. 1 team (Alabama in 2017) gone on to win the national title. Other top-ranked teams have stumbled early or missed the playoff entirely.
Big Ten Media Debate
At Big Ten Media Days, Commissioner Tony Petitti raised concerns over the playoff’s fairness—especially given the Big Ten’s nine-game conference schedule. He proposed a 16-team playoff with automatic bids for top conferences, a suggestion that SEC Commissioner opposed.
📖 Season Outlook: What to Watch
| Factor | Insight |
|---|---|
| Key Matchups | Texas faces Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M in SEC tests. |
| Ohio State | New QB and coordinators add some uncertainty. |
| Penn State | Expected to dominate Big Ten with strong returning talent. |
| Notre Dame | Ranked No. 5 based on elite defense and consistent coaching. |
Upsets from teams just outside the top 25—like Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisville, USC, and Utah—could reshape the season narrative unexpectedly.
📌 Final Takeaways
- Texas makes history as the first-ever preseason No. 1 in the Coaches Poll.
- The SEC leads the top 25, with dominant representation.
- A blockbuster opener between Texas and Ohio State sets the tone.
- Past springboards Alabama and Clemson prove preseason ranking is only part of the story.
- Big Ten’s Petitti pushes for playoff reform, reflecting rising competitiveness and policy debate.
- For Texas, Ohio State, and Penn State, the pressure is on—but so is the opportunity.
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