The release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll signals that college football season is less than a month away. Ohio State has secured the No. 1 overall ranking in the preseason balloting for the first time since 2015, receiving first-place votes from 38 of the 72 participating coaches. Despite the prestige, history suggests the top-ranked preseason team rarely captures the national title; since began administering the poll in 1991, only four teams have managed to start and finish the season at the top of the rankings.
Oregon follows in the No. 2 position, marking the highest preseason ranking in the program’s history and earning six first-place votes. Georgia occupies the No. 3 spot with seven first-place nods, while Texas, the previous year’s preseason leader, begins this season at No. 4 with two first-place votes. Notre Dame narrowly secured the No. 5 position over defending national champion Indiana by just two poll points. Notably, the Hoosiers received 14 first-place votes—the second-highest total among all teams—marking the first time since 2008 that six different schools have received multiple first-place votes in the preseason poll.
Miami (Fla.), the runner-up from last year, opens at No. 7. The SEC maintains a strong presence, holding the next four positions: No. 8 Texas A&M, followed by Oklahoma and Mississippi. Alabama rounds out the group at No. 11, marking the first time since 2008 that the Crimson Tide have been excluded from the preseason top 10.
Conference representation remains competitive, with the SEC leading the poll with nine ranked teams, followed closely by the Big Ten with eight. The Big 12 features four ranked members, led by No. 12 Texas Tech. The ACC includes three ranked teams, with Clemson appearing at No. 23, its lowest preseason position since 2011. Missouri rounded out the top 25 by edging out Louisville for the final spot.
A wide range of other programs received votes, including Louisville, Florida, TCU, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Florida State, North Carolina State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Arizona State, Duke, James Madison, New Mexico, Pittsburgh, Navy, Western Michigan, San Diego State, California, Hawaii, Jacksonville State, and Kansas State.
The Buckeyes were picked first by 38 of the 72 coaches on the panel.
1 in the preseason rarely ends up winning the national championship.
4, though the Longhorns were voted first by two panelists.
Whether the position of your favorite team in the rankings is good news is a matter of perspective.
Consider the case of Ohio State, voted No.
But while Ohio State fans might appreciate the respect, it’s a historical fact the team voted No.
Oregon, one of the teams expected to challenge the Buckeyes for Big Ten supremacy, will open in the No.
