The 2026 preseason AP Top 25 Poll

[u/SirMellencamp]

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

[u/dukecityvigilante]

WE GOT VOTES THIS IS NOT A DRILL WE GOT VOTES

[u/wooooooo1776 → u/dukecityvigilante]

Top 40 baby!!!!

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/dukecityvigilante]

Jason Eck is the best thing to happen to the Lobos

[u/Dixo0118 → u/ID_Poobaru]

Vandals had him first

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Dixo0118]

He was such a good hire by the Vandals, revitalized the program after being ass for so long

Too bad you guys fell off a cliff after his departure

[u/Shakarak → u/dukecityvigilante]

You love to see it

[u/jim_shushu → u/dukecityvigilante]

All aboard the New Mexico Eckspress!

[u/dwors025 → u/dukecityvigilante]

Please just decide to suck at football one out of every three seasons.

That way you keep Eck, and he doesn’t ever go to Madison.

[u/ILM_Ryan]

Me: Preseason polls shouldn’t be a thing.

Also me: Oh boy, the first preseason AP poll! College football is back!

[u/PSU632 → u/ILM_Ryan]

Oh c'mon, you know you love them. People love a good ranking. Especially when extreme amounts of parasocial pride are involved.

[u/FrazzledBear → u/PSU632]

Nobody knows what these numbers mean but they’re provocative. It gets the people going.

[u/Corgi_Koala → u/PSU632]

If the AP and Coaches Poll went away, we'd all end up using another ranking. Likely ESPN would publish their own.

[u/imused2it → u/PSU632]

I hate em. The polls are just haters. How can they not have my team in the top 10??? All we have is a brand new coaching staff, major roster turnover, a top 5 SOS, and being not great historically at football going against us!

[u/dubcwa → u/ILM_Ryan]

I’m the same way. There shouldn’t be polls until after week 5. But I get on here at 9am sharp to scour to see where my team is lol

[u/TheNastyCasty → u/dubcwa]

There shouldn’t be polls until after week 5.

The problem is that there’s no way for this to ever be realistic. If AP stops doing preseason polls, everyone will just reference the coaches poll or the ESPN poll or whatever other poll comes to take its place.

[u/lkn240 → u/TheNastyCasty]

It's also a great tool to market early season games to casuals.

[u/horsewitnoname → u/lkn240]

Even non-casuals honestly. It’s just good marketing in general

[u/lbutler1234 → u/ILM_Ryan]

I'd say the issue isn't really with their existence, but rather the importance folks place on them

[u/lkn240 → u/lbutler1234]

And the inability of some voters to sufficiently alter their pre-season rankings once games start being played

[u/Front-Broccoli5957 → u/lkn240]

This is the biggest issue imo

[u/OGrand → u/Front-Broccoli5957]

Well it creates a broken system.

For example: Take a conference, rank most of their teams in the top 25, have those teams have OOC schedules that are below their fair market equivalent team and talent wise.

Now when these teams play each other when they get into their conference schedules, all the losses look “good” because it was against a “ranked” team and wins are good/better depending on the team cause they were also “ranked”.

The teams just shuffle amongst themselves the entire time and nothing ever really changes. Start the entire cycle again using the previous season to forecast the next season in your pre-season poll and….we are back at step 1.

To be force-fed Notre Dame is gonna actually do it for the 70th fucking time just for them, to the surprise of fucking no-one, fall flat.

[u/chaser676 → u/ILM_Ryan]

Sees 6 opponents in the top 25, 4 in the top 12

I'm in danger

[u/Pan_TheCake_Man → u/chaser676]

Preseason rankings mean nothing, unless it’s my team

[u/TeeDeeTeeEcks → u/chaser676]

4 in the top 12

Get on our level. We have 5 in the top 11.

[u/chaser676 → u/TeeDeeTeeEcks]

Yeah that's pretty unbelievable. Nobody can ever say shit about your schedule.

On a related note, I truly believe this will be the first year a 9-3 team goes to the playoff

[u/hoosierwhodat]

They’re urged to base their votes on head-to-head results, not reputation, preseason speculation or regional bias.

So then what are these based on?

[u/AllTimeTy → u/hoosierwhodat]

preseason vibes

[u/SMUHypeMachine → u/AllTimeTy]

*vibrates harder*

Like this??

[u/2011StlCards → u/SMUHypeMachine]

Needs to be at least 5 times as hard as that to reach LSU levels

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/hoosierwhodat]

Head to head results.

We’re undefeated, bitch.

[u/The_Horse_Joke → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

UTAH AINT PLAYED NOBODY PAAAAAUUUULLLLL

[u/lkn240 → u/hoosierwhodat]

I'm very confused on how they can base votes on head to head results when there are literally no results yet (unless I'm reading that sentence wrong)

[u/BrogenKlippen → u/lkn240]

Let me introduce you to the world of hypothetical matchups that end up being as important as the real games themselves

We’re so back

[u/jaysrule24 → u/BrogenKlippen]

Don't be silly, hypothetical matchups aren't as important as real games. They're more important.

[u/Lefaid → u/jaysrule24]

A real matchup is only played once. A hypothetical matchup considers what if the matchup was played 100s of times and bases our results on that.

It is more statistically sound. This is why I spend my Saturday staring at models. Watching actual football might corrupt my pure models.

[u/joethahobo → u/lkn240]

The unranked teams all lost their spring games

[u/All_the_dinohorses → u/hoosierwhodat]

Mostly vibes.

[u/Dokkan_Lifter → u/hoosierwhodat]

Aka logos and "star rankings" when current freshmen were playing against guys who just failed geometry

[u/duke5572 → u/Dokkan_Lifter]

oh, they will very much still be playing against guys who failed geometry

[u/ID_Poobaru]

Who the fuck is voting for Boise State after the last season

[u/Dokkan_Lifter → u/ID_Poobaru]

Unfortunately, they're the only G6 team most AP voters know and get penned in at 25 to avoid bias claims. Hawaii, UTSA, Army, and Navy are all more deserving of preseason hype imo

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Dokkan_Lifter]

Brand recognition just doing a lot of the work for Boise

I hope Hawaii balls out this season, CFB is better when they’re good.

[u/wriley499 → u/ID_Poobaru]

I'm shocked there isn't more discussion about Hawaii tbh. Alejado is so fun to watch.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/wriley499]

Everyone forgets about them all the time

[u/Duck_Caught_Upstream]

I think USC should be higher for 2 reasons

1. I’m high on them this year

2. I’m also trying to sabotage them by hyping them in the preseason

[u/MarbleDesperado → u/Duck_Caught_Upstream]

However, have you factored in that they’re still coached by Lincoln Riley?

[u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 → u/MarbleDesperado]

Lincoln Riley made the 4 team playoff three times with OU. I don't think he's a championship level HC, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see USC among the top of the rankings at the end of the season.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756]

He was also at a school that had a significant financial and recruiting advantage over every Big 12 school sans Texas.....USC doesn't have that in the Big Ten. They did in the PAC 12.

[u/IAMY0URK1NG → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

USC JUST started using those resources within the past year & a half btw.

New facility, new front office, number 1 class, HOF DC..….USC is back to supporting football like it should have been. The sanctions didn’t fuck us, the previous administration did. USC will be pretty damn good this season. But not championship level. I think next season or the season after is when you’ll see a full fledged blue blood USC.

[u/Gelu6713 → u/IAMY0URK1NG]

I mean the sanctions did fuck us, then the previous administration fucked us more.

[u/SparkyMV → u/Duck_Caught_Upstream]

With the lone exception of the 2022 crosstown rivalry, USC has not gone into a ranked opponents stadium and won since the last Obama administration. 14 is fine just gotta pull out wins against good teams for once.

[u/doormatt26 → u/SparkyMV]

yeah 14 is about the ceiling of “all the ingredients but gotta see them win a big one” which they haven’t done in yearsss

[u/samhit_n → u/Duck_Caught_Upstream]

17 out of 22 starters returned for them, and they also had the best recruiting class in the nation. They're definitely scarier than some teams ranked in the top 10.

[u/Duck_Caught_Upstream → u/samhit_n]

That plus Patterson at DC

I think the hire was really boom or bust but the potential it Booms gives them a higher ceiling than the teams from 8-18

[u/akwho → u/Duck_Caught_Upstream]

USC’s schedule is brutal this year. Basically guarantees no playoff appearance and a mid result in 2026. 2027 will be LR’s defining season.

2026 underdog or tossup games
Oregon #2
Washington #17
@penn state #18
Ohio State #1
@Indiana #6

[u/HookEm_Tide]

First time in over a decade without any no. 1 votes for an SEC team.

[u/LaFrescaTrumpeta → u/HookEm_Tide]

dang that’s actually crazy. (i need yalls reign to stay ended pls lol)

[u/HookEm_Tide → u/LaFrescaTrumpeta]

Our run game is trying its best to meet your needs.

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

1 OhioSt (40)

2 Oregon (14)

3 Uga

4 ND (6)

5 Texas

6 Indiana (8)

7 Miami (1)

8 A&M

9 Ole Miss

10 Oklahoma

11 Lsu

12 Ttu

13 Alabama

14-T Byu & Usc

16 Michigan

17 Washington

18 Psu

19 Smu

20 Tenn

21 Utah

22 Iowa

23 Houston

24 Louisville

25 Missouri

Receiving votes:

• 26 Clemson (112)

• 27 Florida (51)

• 28 Boise (43)

• 29 Arizona (32)

• 30 Tcu (11)

• 31-T Navy & SCar(10)

• 33 Illinois (9)

• 34-T OkSt & Vandy (8)

• 36 Pitt (7)

• 37 Vt (6)

• 38 Minn (5)

• 39-T Unlv & New Mexico & Gt & Louisiana (4)

• 43-T Jmu & Auburn (3)

• 45-T Memphis & Cal (2)

• 47-T Liberty & Wmu & Tulane & Uva (1)

Edit: Byu and Usc are tied, I didn't realize that was intentional.

[u/c-papi → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

i love my gamecocks but 31st is funny for a team that went 4-8 last year with one win in conference

[u/Ticklebump → u/c-papi]

Our 3-9 record really got the people going.

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal → u/Ticklebump]

I at least get yours to an extent just based on people being excited for what Franklin can do there.

[u/TheTigerbite → u/c-papi]

I mean, LSU went 3-5 in conference and are ranked 11th. 🤷‍♂️

[u/smitherenesar → u/TheTigerbite]

LSU went 3-Jayden in conference

Fixed that for you

[u/Weave77 → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

6 Indiana (8)

I take it that Indiana must be a polarizing team for voters.

[u/Dietcereal → u/Weave77]

Of the top 7 teams, they probably have the biggest question at QB. If Hoover looks like Mendoza they'll shoot up, if he continues to turn the ball over those first place votes will evaporate.

[u/CFLuke → u/Weave77]

Some voters may have the mindset that as the defending champions, they are #1 unless proven otherwise

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

In the top 25:

9 SEC teams (5 top 10)

8 Big10 (3 top 10)

4 Big12 (0 top 1)

3 ACC (1 top 10)

ND (top 10)

No g5

[u/Mekthakkit → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

AP Top 25 Breakdown by Conference

Rank	SEC	Big Ten	Big XII	ACC	Independent
1	—	#1 Ohio State	—	—	—
2	—	#2 Oregon	—	—	—
3	#3 Georgia	—	—	—	—
4	—	—	—	—	#4 Notre Dame
5	#5 Texas	—	—	—	—
6	—	#6 Indiana	—	—	—
7	—	—	—	#7 Miami	—
8	#8 Texas A&M	—	—	—	—
9	#9 Ole Miss	—	—	—	—
10	#10 Oklahoma	—	—	—	—
11	#11 LSU	—	—	—	—
12	—	—	#12 Texas Tech	—	—
13	#13 Alabama	—	—	—	—
14	—	#14 USC; (Tie)	#14 BYU; (Tie)	—	—
15	—	—	—	—	—
16	—	#16 Michigan	—	—	—
17	—	#17 Washington	—	—	—
18	—	#18 Penn State	—	—	—
19	—	—	—	#19 SMU	—
20	#20 Tennessee	—	—	—	—
21	—	—	#21 Utah	—	—
22	—	#22 Iowa	—	—	—
23	—	—	#23 Houston	—	—
24	—	—	—	#24 Louisville	—
25	#25 Missouri	—	—	—	—

Hopefully that format is correct.

[u/IndependentlyBrewed → u/[deleted]]

Yea that’s the most shocking thing. Very rarely do I see things format correctly to mobile, very well done OC.

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal → u/Mekthakkit]

Yeah this is interesting to look at this way.

I definitely didn't realize USC and BYU were actually tied, I thought that was just an error. But I see the votes now

[u/veritek25 → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

Cal and Memphis receiving 2 entire votes each??? Guaranteed hype - both teams are winning 11+ and making the playoffs!

[u/Katwill666 → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

I really hope Navy makes the playoffs. It'd be funny to use the "Navy made the playoffs before..." card all postseason.

[u/cvsprinter1 → u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

LSU at 11 is wild. They went 7-6 last year.

[u/odsquad64 → u/cvsprinter1]

Conversely, Virginia, coming off an 11-3 season (the best season in program history), an overtime loss in the ACC Championship that kept them out of the playoffs, and a bowl win over Missouri (ranked 25 in this poll) only received one single 25th place vote.

[u/inclass3lunacy → u/odsquad64]

Tied with Liberty no less. 30th should have been the bottom

[u/XCCO → u/[deleted]]

That was pretty good guessing, though!

[u/Conn3er]

Clemson's first time missing the preseason top 25 since 2011

There’s a non 0 chance a national sports pundit will steal this tidbit from Reddit

[u/TitanTigers → u/Conn3er]

ROY bus fully gassed

[u/OldManTyping1957 → u/TitanTigers]

Lil Ole Clemson activated!

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/OldManTyping1957]

All we have is bringing our own guts

[u/dbarke29 → u/OldManTyping1957]

Thank god this team doesn’t have to be distracted by expectations. That absolutely ruined last years squad.

[u/NerdLawyer55 → u/Conn3er]

This is Tyler’s fault

[u/Greenhandtowel → u/NerdLawyer55]

We actually played well the several weeks after Tyler called in, so presumably more Tyler calls = more wins. However Dabo threw a hissy fit so no one can call in anymore.

[u/Hammerhead34 → u/Conn3er]

Proud of the voters for resisting the urge to put them in the 21-25 range just so that an already overrated LSU team gets a potential “ranked” win in Week 1

Although then they ranked Mizzou their token 25 and almost ranked Florida so I don’t know

[u/iamStanhousen → u/Hammerhead34]

Where would you rank LSU?

[u/lkn240 → u/iamStanhousen]

Not the guy you replied to - but LSU is IMO one of the hardest teams to rank this year. You could defend a pretty huge variance in ranking spots for them.

[u/iamStanhousen → u/lkn240]

Oh I agree, we just don't know. I could see them realistically anywhere from 8 all the way to about 20. Talent is there to justify whatever you want to do. I have questions about how quickly the offense comes together, but I think the defense is going to be very good. Especially the secondary.

[u/Nacodawg → u/lkn240]

I’d need to have paid a lot more attention to their roster. How much talent did they lose? What guys with true reps did they return? What’s the talent level of the guys who left. How well does everybody on hand conform to Kiffin’s system in terms of skills and talent? How well does Baker get along with Kiffin?

And most importantly is LSU going to be able to run plays on 3rd and 5, or have to punt immediately out of respect to Jaden Daniels?

[u/Dr_Mantis_Teabaggin → u/iamStanhousen]

Not 5th, out of respect for Jayden Daniels.  

[u/HokiesforTSwift → u/Conn3er]

Shock the World Tour 2

[u/CargoShortsFromNam]

Losing the USC game and replacing them with BYU just to have them tied in the preseason is pretty funny

[u/redwave2505 → u/CargoShortsFromNam]

Got the bump in SoS via alphabetical order

[u/Noter_Dame → u/redwave2505]

Click here to learn one trick actuaries DON’T want you to know!

[u/WinterAffect2842]

Lobos getting votes!

[u/tmt22459 → u/WinterAffect2842]

As they should be

[u/arrowfan624]

Glad to not be 5 out of respect for Jayden Daniels

[u/RagingClue_007 → u/arrowfan624]

Texas has no respect. Disrespectful sons-a-bitches.

[u/SaltyLonghorn → u/RagingClue_007]

I only respect crawfish and beignets. Rest of that state is le poopoo.

[u/Sea_Damage9357 → u/arrowfan624]

Oh no, lawsuit incoming …

[u/Original_Fact_6682 → u/Sea_Damage9357]

He coming for that oil money!

[u/stoneapplefruit → u/arrowfan624]

Re5pect!

[u/MadManMax55 → u/arrowfan624]

I hope some writer put LSU at 5 just for the memes.

[u/pyrofiend4]

Georgia at 3 with zero first place votes ahead of Notre Dame with 6 of them is a bit surprising.

[u/lkn240 → u/pyrofiend4]

Kirby probably already has the zero first place votes up in the locker room screaming about how no one believes in the Dawgs

[u/Smooth-Majudo-15 → u/pyrofiend4]

It could be weirder. IU getting the 2nd most first place votes in the Coaches Poll but being ranked 6th stands out

[u/althawk8357 → u/Smooth-Majudo-15]

I think coaches can tell how well disciplined IU'S team is. They play like it's work.

[u/WTF_MATLAB → u/pyrofiend4]

Notre Dame is always going to be more polarizing and Georgia has had the better consistency over the years, still kind of weird to see 6 first place votes vs none however.

[u/JohnNixx6 → u/pyrofiend4]

I think it makes sense for the preseason consensus for Georgia -- not a national championship team, but a very high floor (like the last few years).

[u/OnionFutureWolfGang → u/JohnNixx6]

Just because of the floor it still wouldn't surprise me if you were a national championship team. Just takes a couple of things to go right when you have a good floor.

[u/Dreamtrue2025 → u/pyrofiend4]

Isn’t Georgia the youngest team on average? Maybe that’s a decent sized factor?

[u/Squishy_20]

Indiana with 8 first place votes but ranked 6th

[u/montague68 → u/Squishy_20]

Disrespekt

[u/KennyKettermen → u/montague68]

Just handing extra motivation to Cig on a platter

[u/nighthawk252 → u/Squishy_20]

I don’t think that’s too surprising, I think the Coaches’ poll did the same.

I think there’s a group of voters whose mindset is they finished the year at the top of the mountain, and they stay there until someone knocks them off.

There’s a consensus list of 7 teams that they have as the top contenders this year, and my guess is the rest of those voters put Indiana towards the back of that list on average.

[u/Coveo]

Preseason top 2 in the AP Poll for the first time in Oregon history. Gulp. The expectations of this season are going to stress me the fuck out. As much as some people like to joke about "off-season natties," it's never been quite like this before.

[u/Duck_Caught_Upstream → u/Coveo]

Off-season natty loss to Ohio State in the playoffs

Yup checks out

[u/nightowl1135 → u/Coveo]

Literally was relieved we weren’t #1. Non sarcastically. 😂

[u/Haywright → u/Coveo]

Preseason poll putting us at #2 didn't go so well last season. Hope it treats you better

[u/Goducks91 → u/Haywright]

Do you hope it treats us better haha?

[u/Mattp55 → u/Goducks91]

I’m not the other guy but I don’t think most PSU fans have a strong opinion on Oregon.

If their success is at the expense of Ohio State I can get behind it 

[u/Haywright → u/Mattp55]

I'm the other guy and agree with this sentiment

[u/jamiebond → u/Coveo]

I mean we’ve been ranked 3rd in the preseason 4 times it’s not that crazy of a difference.

And the offseason natty stuff is really overplayed it’s honestly pretty rare for our preseason expectations to be that far off from our final results. Just look at the 4 times we were ranked number 3 in the preseason poll:

2011: Finished ranked 4th.

2013: Finished ranked 9th.

2014: Finished ranked 2nd

2024: Finished ranked 3rd.

Really we pretty much always live up to the preseason hype. We’ve never won a natty but to be fair we’ve never been the preseason favorite to do it either.

[u/JiveHawk → u/jamiebond]

We also spent a good chunk of 2024 at number 1 and then for some reason fell to 3 even though we didn’t get to play a playoff game

[u/IamNICE124]

Lol starting a season off at 6th is still just crazy as an Indiana fan. Grateful for every day this era of IU football lasts.

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

Oh god no why we were supposed to not have expectations fuck

[u/HokiesforTSwift → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

I've got

big

expectations

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/HokiesforTSwift]

BIG_EXPECTATIONS_SCALLEY

[u/B_Huij → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

Do you legally have to be a Michigan fan now?

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/B_Huij]

Quite the opposite. I am actively rooting against them and am temporarily adopting Ohio State.

Gross, but it has to be done.

[u/spicydak → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

You choose violence I see.

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/spicydak]

I didn’t choose violence. This was like getting punched first and fighting back.

[u/T2_JD → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

You just hate blue that much do you? /s

[u/sportswithgary → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

I feel the same way receiving 8 votes and we haven't won a conference game in two years.

[u/soreswan]

Who the fuck put liberty? They went 4-8 last year.

[u/ad51603 → u/soreswan]

Someone voting one of each G5 conference out of principle I guess? But why not Jacksonville State or something then

[u/Mekthakkit → u/soreswan]

God works in mysterious ways.

[u/nickraymond57]

Louisville underrated

[u/TemporaryCamera8818 → u/nickraymond57]

Yeah Ole Miss has a tough game to start out, plus being a neutral site in Nashville. Brohm is a great coach

[u/MindIfILeaveThisHere]

🐀☠️

[u/FightEaglesFight]

Dang, guess Purdue just missed it.

[u/mikey45457]

One singular vote!

[u/NoReasonStoner → u/mikey45457]

It's absurd that we got 6 and you guys only got 1.

[u/chaser676]

Not that bad

[u/green_day_95 → u/chaser676]

Top 25 matchup between us now 🤝

[u/imtiredboss28]

How many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man?

[u/green_day_95]

Our first time being ranked in preseason since (checks history)…

Lamar Jackson’s last college year (2017)

[u/TheNastyCasty]

[My team] is ranked way too low while [rival team] is overrated.

[u/admiraltarkin → u/TheNastyCasty]

Actually I think 8 is perfect for us.

Unfortunately you guys should be ranked

\check notes**

137th

[u/Terminal_BAS → u/admiraltarkin]

I would take a #12 for #branding purposes

[u/SanFranTechSan → u/admiraltarkin]

Really hope “8 is perfect for us” doesn’t forecast the battered Aggie 8-4 record at the end of the regular season. 🤞🤞🤞

[u/CommanderLoco → u/SanFranTechSan]

I'm always prepared for an 8-4 season

[u/Luxypoo → u/TheNastyCasty]

I am ranked too high, and my rival team is appropriately ranked.

What do I do now?

[u/_SheWhoShallBeNamed_ → u/Luxypoo]

Start dreading people talking about you being overrated and doing nothing with the talents of your recruits

[u/quiteFLankly → u/TheNastyCasty]

Couldn't agree more.

[u/Jorr_El → u/quiteFLankly]

In 2025 BYU was returning the same coaching staff and most of all the other star players after finishing at 11-2 and #13 in the AP poll the previous year, and started unranked in the poll because of losing Jake Retzlaff as starting QB.

Utah finished the AP poll last year at 11-2 (#14), lost their head coach, offensive coordinator, a bunch of star players, but are ranked #21.

I guess Jake Retzlaff really was that guy.

[u/NoShitzGiven]

Nope. Don’t like that.

[u/Mamba-42]

Wow how on earth did Oklahoma State get votes? I didn't see that coming.

[u/Dokkan_Lifter → u/Mamba-42]

They're UNT-North, who finished last season ranked

[u/Jyingling21]

WHERE IS APP YOU COWARDS

[u/Mekthakkit → u/Jyingling21]

I've always wondered. Is the campus bookstore called the App Store?

[u/Internal-Challenge14]

6th feels right, returning a lot of talent but lost some important pieces. Losing Mendoza without an "sure-fire" QB to replace him raises questions. Feels like we got the spot out of respect for Cig and what we did while we have questions.

[u/AllTimeTy]

LSU at 11 is crazy

[u/Kiddo1029]

#5 should have been vacated out of respect for Jayden Daniels.

[u/nighthawk252 → u/Kiddo1029]

They did vacate 15, actually. BYU and USC tied for 14.

[u/Doogitywoogity]

Man that 8-14 bracket is gonna be a bloodbath. If you want to bet on a “good” team to finish unranked that’s the range to watch.

[u/Apart_Selection7722]

California should have gotten more votes

[u/Temporary_Hat7330]

The top five SEC schools didn’t receive a single first place vote. The other five teams from all other conf in the top ten did. Interesting…

[u/The_Sandwich_Lover9]

Sure i think 12 is a good spot. Not gonna fight over it.

I will say it once I’ll say it again. In my opinion, I am a known Utah pessimist but I do not think Utah should be ranked at least not over Houston. But again just my opinion.

[u/Cheeseish]

I think this is the first time we started a poll receiving votes since the mid 2000s

[u/Perryapsis]

The first poll of the year is on time? When's the last time that happened?

Quick observations: There's a big tier gap between Miami (FL) and Texas A&M, another tier gap between Michigan and Washington, a tie for 14th, and Clemson was just 5 points away from beating Missouri for the last spot.

[u/Little-Lord-FckleRoy]

Bookmark these rankings so you can make sure to clown on the right team before the end of the season!

[u/DaZingMaster]

In our honorary #25 spot, for the team that always beats unranked teams and can’t beat ranked teams. We are the guardians of the top 25

[u/gmr548 → u/DaZingMaster]

“Can you beat Missouri?” is not a bad litmus test for a top 25 team tbh

[u/XCCO → u/DaZingMaster]

Between Iowa and Missouri for the easy button on who is going to he good but not great, I personally would have Iowa at 25 and Missouri out only because Missouri plays a tough schedule this year. Honestly, I'm of the mindset that Iowa should be unranked until they prove otherwise, but I also get they're a safe bet to go 8-4 and may have some fight against good teams to have them around 20-30.

[u/MIZ_09 → u/DaZingMaster]

What the hell is this false narrative? This is the second time we’ve been ranked in the preseason in the past decade. And the other time we were 11th.

[u/NinjaGhost42]

I haven't even looked at the list, but I just know this is outrageous!

[u/heleghir]

Alright. Which one of you fuckers gave Liberty a 25th place vote

[u/phranq]

I know making the championship will do that but Miami played 1,4,6,8, and 9 last season (went 4-1).

[u/Roe91517]

Penn State too high…I don’t get it after last year

[u/Dokkan_Lifter → u/Roe91517]

The answer lies within the logo

[u/Allcross9]

I don't care what everyone say, I love pre season polls. Part of the fun of college football is arguing nonsense with fans of some random school over the smallest slights.

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal → u/Allcross9]

I agree that I think it's fun to debate rankings and it gives us something to talk about.

I don't love the impact of poll inertia though. I'd like it a lot more if they operated under the mentality that each week is a completely new ranking for the first half of the season instead of this +3 or -10 mentality. So we'd see really big changes each week for at least the first couple of weeks once we get information of how the team actually is on the field.

[u/chemicalxv]

Damn first time Alabama has started a season ranked outside the Top 10 since 2008 (Saban's second year).

Last year was even the first time they started outside the Top 5 since then too.

[u/CasanovaJones82]

Coming in hot @ #11 with a completely new team, new Coach, new QB, new offense, all of it. The Lane Train is heading to pound town. (hopefully on the football field, not a cheerleader or intern 🤞)

[u/CoachCignetti]

Interesting

[u/DrInsano → u/CoachCignetti]

Is this the part where we're supposed to be mad because of a pre-season poll?

[u/Crapitron → u/DrInsano]

Indiana fans should be happy about being doubted again.

Fuel for the fire.

[u/DryMission5506 → u/CoachCignetti]

lil ole Indiana

[u/Tommy05Sox]

These are probably the dumbest rankings of the season, and yet, they'll have an influence on the CFP committee for months.

[u/MidniteCheeseburger]

Yo where’s Rutgers at we should be ranked?

[u/Randomizedname1234]

Received votes.

Yeah we’re in the right spot.

[u/ad51603]

Whoever voted Cal knows ball, most underrated team in the country this year

[u/T3hBau5]

You know, I understand that they factor in players leaving and whatnot but I still die on the “if you win the natty you should always start the following season at 1” hill.