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Ohio State Tops Preseason Coaches Poll, SEC Holds Nine Spots

8/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ohio State football leads the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll with 38 of 72 first-place votes.
The SEC has nine teams in the top 25, including Texas (No. 4), Ole Miss (No. 10) and Alabama (No. 11).
The Big Ten contributes eight ranked programs, led by Ohio State (No. 1) and Michigan (No. 16).
The Big 12 fields four ranked teams, headed by Texas A&M (No. 8) and Texas Tech (No. 12).

History

Historical Context

After the AP began its preseason poll in 1950, the 1998 edition ranked Tennessee Volunteers No. 1, awarding them 31 of the 65 first-place votes and coinciding with their AP national championship—a breakthrough for the SEC. In 2024 the LBM Coaches Poll puts Ohio State first with 38 of 72 votes, while the SEC now fields nine top-25 teams, underscoring the enduring SEC-Big Ten rivalry.

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Story summary

Ohio State football leads the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll with 38 of 72 first-place votes.
The SEC has nine teams in the top 25, including Texas (No. 4), Ole Miss (No. 10) and Alabama (No. 11).
The Big Ten contributes eight ranked programs, led by Ohio State (No. 1) and Michigan (No. 16).
The Big 12 fields four ranked teams, headed by Texas A&M (No. 8) and Texas Tech (No. 12).

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