The anticipation for the 2025 college football season reached a fever pitch Monday as the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll dropped — and it’s Texas making history at the very top.
For the first time since the poll’s inception in 1950, the Texas Longhorns will open the year ranked No. 1, earning 28 of 67 first-place votes from a panel of coaches chosen by random draw through the American Football Coaches Association. Texas, fresh off last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal run, edges out No. 2 Ohio State, which secured 20 first-place votes.
No. 3 Penn State follows closely with 14 first-place votes, while perennial contenders No. 4 Georgia (three first-place votes) and No. 5 Notre Dame round out the top five. No. 6 Clemson, which also received two first-place nods, headlines the second tier ahead of No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU, and No. 10 Miami.
The season’s opening weekend promises fireworks right away. On August 30, the No. 1 Longhorns will travel to Columbus to face the No. 2 Buckeyes in a matchup that could shape the College Football Playoff picture before September even begins. That same day, No. 6 Clemson hosts No. 9 LSU under the lights (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), while earlier, No. 8 Alabama visits Florida State (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The action continues into August 31 when No. 10 Miami heads to South Bend to take on No. 5 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
As usual, the Southeastern Conference flexed its depth, placing nine teams in the preseason top 25 — including four in the top nine: Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and the No. 17 Florida Gators. No. 12 South Carolina, No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 21 Texas A&M, and No. 17 Florida round out the SEC’s contingent.
The Big Ten landed six teams: Ohio State, Penn State, No. 12 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan, No. 19 Indiana, and the new-look No. 21 Iowa State (which is transitioning to the Big Ten in 2025).
Meanwhile, the Big 12 boasts five teams: No. 11 Arizona State, No. 20 Kansas State, No. 23 BYU, No. 24 Texas Tech, and Iowa State (still counted this preseason).
The ACC is represented by three teams in the top 25: Clemson, Miami, and No. 16 SMU, which joined the conference last season.
Finally, No. 25 Boise State stands as the only Group of Five program to crack the preseason rankings, signaling national respect for the Broncos’ consistency.
While the coaches’ poll sparks debate, it’s only part of the early season narrative. The Associated Press Top 25, often regarded as the more influential preseason poll, will be released on August 11.
Until then, the sport’s attention turns squarely to that heavyweight clash in Columbus: Texas at Ohio State — a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown to open what already promises to be a thrilling 2025 college football season.
