Texas Tops 2025 College Football Preseason Coaches Poll: Who’s Overrated and Underrated in the Top 25?
The 2025 college football preseason Coaches Poll was released on Monday, placing the Texas Longhorns at No. 1 for the first time in poll history. Texas received 28 first-place votes, edging out Ohio State which garnered 20 first-place votes. Penn State followed closely with 14, while Georgia and Notre Dame rounded out the top five spots.
This poll sets the stage for an exciting season as Texas and Ohio State are slated to face off in the season opener on August 30 at Ohio Stadium, a historic matchup that is already generating significant buzz.
Preseason Top 25 Overview
The top 10 teams in the Coaches Poll are:
- Texas (28 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (20 first-place votes)
- Penn State (14 first-place votes)
- Georgia (3 first-place votes)
- Notre Dame
- Clemson (2 first-place votes)
- Oregon
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami
Further down the list, notable ranked teams include Arizona State at 11, Illinois at 12, and South Carolina at 13. SMU leads the ACC representatives aside from Clemson and Miami, at No. 16. The Group of Five’s Boise State is the only team from outside the Power Five conferences ranked, at No. 25.
Who’s Overranked?
Several analysts suggest that some teams might be overranked due to uncertainty at key positions, especially quarterback. For example, Ohio State is ranked No. 2 but faces questions at quarterback as they transition from Will Howard, who transferred from Kansas State, to Julian Sayin, a 5-star recruit with limited college experience (just 12 passes attempted). This lack of clear certainty at such a pivotal role could lead to an overestimation of Ohio State’s current strength in the poll.
Other teams like Arizona State at No. 11 may be considered optimistic picks given their less consistent recent performances and the competition they face in the Pac-12.
Who’s Underrated?
Teams like SMU at No. 16 may be underrated in this poll. SMU showed strong potential last season and could be poised for a breakthrough, but their lower profile compared to Power Five schools might contribute to their understated ranking.
Similarly, Boise State, despite being the only Group of Five team ranked at No. 25, may have more competitive capability than their ranking suggests, having had consistent success in recent years.
Conference Strength and Representation
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominates the rankings with nine teams, including four in the top nine: Georgia at No. 4, Alabama at No. 8, LSU at No. 9, and South Carolina at No. 13. This reflects the SEC’s continued reputation as the strongest conference in college football. The Big Ten places six teams in the poll while the Big 12 has five, illustrating competitive balance among the Power Five conferences.
Looking Ahead
The Associated Press will release its preseason top 25 poll on August 11, providing another perspective on the early outlook for the 2025 season. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if Texas can sustain its No. 1 ranking once the season begins, particularly given the challenging opening game against Ohio State.
The evolving quarterback situations and team developments over the offseason mean that these preseason rankings may shift dramatically as the season unfolds.
Ranking Source: Coaches Poll released August 4, 2025[1][2][3]