Ohio State opens college football season ranked No. 1 in AP poll
The Buckeyes were placed first in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, with Oregon second as the new college football campaign nears.
Ohio State was voted No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college football poll released Monday, giving the Buckeyes the top spot before the 2026 season begins. Oregon followed at No. 2.
The ranking puts Ohio State ahead of the rest of the field as teams prepare for the opening weeks of the season. The AP poll is one of the sport’s main early benchmarks and is closely watched alongside other preseason rankings.
CBS Sports reported the first AP Top 25 of the year, while ESPN published a team-by-team look at what the ranking means for the schools in the poll. Yahoo Sports noted that the AP selection matched the coaches’ preseason view of Ohio State.
The preseason list sets the early order for a season that will unfold over the coming months, with the top teams now carrying the expectations that come with their opening positions.
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