The Ohio State Buckeyes are the defending champion of the college football world, but that earned them only so much respect in the first AP Poll entering this season. After finishing 14-2 and beating Texas and Penn State last year,

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The preseason AP Top 25 was released Monday, solidifying Ohio State vs. Texas football as a marquee matchup to open the 2025 campaign. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 3 in the poll. Only, No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State ranked ahead of OSU.

The AP Top 25 college football poll preseason rankings are out. Texas took the No. 1 spot for the first time in an opening poll, narrowly edging out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998. Defending champion Ohio State ranked No. 3.