In Austin, Texas, excitement is growing as the Texas Longhorns take the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports springtime college football re-rank. With a new starting quarterback, Arch Manning, stepping in, the anticipation around the team is palpable. Having made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, including a trip to last year’s national semifinals, Texas is now looking to win its first championship since 2005.
Joining Texas in the top six are some powerhouse teams: Clemson, Penn State, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Ohio State will have its work cut out as it needs to rebuild both lines and resolve a quarterback competition between Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin.
The rest of the rankings see LSU coming in at No. 7, followed by Oregon, Miami, Alabama, Illinois, and Tennessee closing in at No. 12. Notably, the Illinois team boasts one of the most experienced rosters in the nation and is eyeing a playoff run this season.
It’s also noteworthy that the Big Ten and SEC dominate the early rankings, securing 11 of the top 15 spots and 13 of the top 21 overall. Teams like TCU, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Auburn are expected to gain momentum in this year’s rankings.
Looking ahead, there’s potential for teams like Florida State, who finished poorly last season, to make a comeback, while squads such as Kansas and UCLA could qualify for the postseason after narrowly missing out last year. On the other end, Kent State continues to hold the last place in the Bowl Subdivision after an unsuccessful season, leading to a coaching change.
With the addition of new teams like Delaware and Missouri State to Conference USA, they cannot compete for titles or postseason spots just yet as they transition from the Championship Subdivision. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Texas and the other top-ranked teams as they try to make their mark in college football.
