On Monday, the Associated Press will release its preseason top 25. The AP Poll has been around since 1936 and started making a preseason poll beginning with the 1950 season.
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The Longhorns have never been the No. 1 team in the preseason AP poll, registering starts in the No. 2 spot in 1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, and 2009. Texas has been ranked to start the year 57 times with 35 preseason top-10 appearances and 24 preseason top-5 rankings.
Texas was ranked No. 1 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll earlier this week, a first for the program. Week one opponent Ohio State was No. 2, setting up the always-entertaining 1 vs. 2 matchup in at least one of the polls.
That should happen in another poll, too.
Here’s my predicted AP Poll.
1. Texas
Like in the Coaches Poll where Texas received 28 of the 67 votes, I expect there to be a split of first-place votes among the teams that ended up making it deep into the College Football Playoff last year. But with the Longhorns as the betting favorite to win the title at +500 according to Bet MGM, expect to see a number of pollsters agree with the book and put Texas on top. The Arch Manning hype may be overplayed to some, but the Longhorns were a couple of plays away from playing for the title last year and have years of built-up talent surrounding a quality quarterback
2. Ohio State
The voters aren’t going to let a sensical No. 1 vs. No. 2 opportunity pass. Ohio State was right behind Texas in the Coaches Poll and the Buckeyes carry +525 odds to win the national title on Bet MGM. Even with a competition at quarterback, players like Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs make OSU formidable.
3. Notre Dame
The national finalists aren’t going too far. Like the teams in front of them, the Irish are replacing a veteran starting quarterback but they’ve been a team with a lot of good feelings and good press in the offseason. Jeremiyah Love leads a big time running back room, and Marcus Freeman has a talented defense that will be tested with a solid schedule this year.
4. Penn State
Drew Allar has his doubters, but as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation he’ll have his believers, too. James Franklin took the Nittany Lions to a place they haven’t been in a long, long time, albeit with the advantage of a fairly easy CFP draw. Add Jim Knowles on defense and elite running backs on offense and this team is a Big 10 title and national championship contender.
5. Clemson
Another offseason darling. Cade Klubnik is returning with fantastic young receivers around him. The defense is going to be stellar. Dabo Swinney used the portal for once. The Atlantic Coast Conference is going to be a cakewalk. Clemson of old may be back.
The rest of the top 25
6. Georgia
7. Alabama
8. Oregon
9. LSU
10. Arizona State
11. Miami
12. Illinois
13. Michigan
14. Ole Miss
15. South Carolina
16. SMU
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
19. Texas A&M
20. Kansas State
21. Indiana
22. Texas Tech
23. Iowa State
24. Boise State
25. Oklahoma