Texas Ranks No. 1 in Closest Preseason AP Poll Since 1998

For the first time in school history, the Texas Longhorns have been ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the 2025 college football season, narrowly edging out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998. Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points, marking a historic milestone as they have never before entered a season ranked No. 1 in either the AP or Coaches Poll. The Longhorns, led by head coach Steve Sarkisian in his fifth season and quarterback Arch Manning, face a significant challenge in their season opener against defending national champion Ohio State, ranked No. 3, in a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal. The SEC conference leads with 10 teams in the Top 25, continuing its dominance for the fifth consecutive year, while the Big Ten also maintains strong representation. Despite losing key players to the NFL, Texas has been on an upward trajectory with 25 wins in their last 30 games and two straight CFP semifinal appearances, fueling high expectations for a breakthrough national championship run. The season opener in Columbus between Texas and Ohio State is highly anticipated, featuring two of the top three teams, although Penn State is ranked No. 2 ahead of Ohio State due to a talented returning roster and recent conference realignment impacts.