In Austin, Texas, the college football scene is buzzing as the Texas Longhorns have made history by securing the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP Top 25 rankings. This marks the first time the Longhorns have achieved this honor, narrowly edging out Penn State, who took the second place by just five points. This close vote is the tightest for a preseason ranking since 1998.
Completing the top five are Ohio State at No. 3, Clemson at No. 4, and Georgia rounding it out at No. 5. The preseason AP Top 25 shows that the SEC and Big Ten conferences are dominating, with the SEC boasting four teams and the Big Ten having three in the top ten.
Texas gained significant attention with redshirt sophomore Arch Manning now taking the reins as quarterback after spending two years behind Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns are eager to bring home a championship title, something they haven’t done since 2005.
Penn State is also looking strong, with its highest preseason ranking since 1997. The Nittany Lions return veteran quarterback Drew Allar and star running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Meanwhile, Clemson, returning quarterback Cade Klubnik and his top three receivers, aims to climb back to the top.
Other notable mentions include Miami, who is making strides with quarterback Carson Beck, a Georgia transfer. The Sun Devils of Arizona State and the Fighting Illini of Illinois are also grabbing attention with their highest preseason rankings in years.
The upcoming Week 1 matchups will be a spectacle, particularly the clash between No. 1 Texas and defending national champions No. 3 Ohio State. Additionally, No. 9 LSU will travel to No. 4 Clemson, and No. 10 Miami will host No. 6 Notre Dame in an exciting finish to the opening week.
This year promises to be thrilling for college football fans, with teams looking to make their mark early in the season.
