Full Breakdown
Ohio State and Oregon Lead 2026 AP Preseason Top 25, Highlighting Big Ten-SEC Power Shift
8/17/2026, 8:43:27 PM
Core Event: AP Preseason Poll Places Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2
The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 on Monday. Ohio State secured the No. 1 spot with 40 first-place votes out of 69 ballots, while Oregon earned No. 2 with 14 first-place votes. Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas round out the top five. This is the first time in 65 years that the Big Ten holds the top two positions, and only the second occurrence ever.
Background & Context: Recent Conference Success and Historical Rankings
The Big Ten entered the 2026 season after three straight College Football Playoff championships (Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana). The last time the conference occupied the top two preseason slots was in 1961, when Iowa and Ohio State led the poll. The SEC fielded nine teams in the Top 25—the most of any conference—but received no first-place votes. Ohio State has finished a season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll six times (1942, 1954, 1968, 2002, 2014, 2024) and now seeks to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1.
Data & Statistics: Vote Totals, Conference Representation, Schedule Toughness
- First-place votes: Ohio State 40, Oregon 14, Notre Dame 6, Indiana 8, Miami 1.
- Total ballots: 69 media members.
- Conference representation: Big Ten eight teams (Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, Washington, Penn State, Iowa, Iowa State); SEC nine teams (Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama, etc.).
- Ohio State schedule: Six opponents are preseason Top 25 teams, including a Week 2 road game at Texas (No. 5) and home games versus Indiana and Oregon.
- Oregon schedule: Opens at Boise State, then travels to Oklahoma State; both opponents are projected to be ranked, and the Ducks will also face Ohio State, Michigan and Washington later in the season.
Why It Matters: Implications for Conference Supremacy and National Title Race
The poll intensifies the debate over Big Ten versus SEC dominance. The first heavyweight inter-conference matchups arrive on Sept. 12, when No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma travels to No. 16 Michigan. Early results could influence the CFP selection committee, as the Big Ten aims for a fourth consecutive national title while the SEC seeks a return to the championship game.
Official Statements & Responses
Analysts note that preseason rankings shape fan interest and media narratives, even as the polls “don’t matter” to on-field performance.
What's Next: Early-Season Tests for the Top Teams
- Ohio State: Week 2 at Texas (No. 5), followed by home games versus Indiana and Oregon.
- Oregon: Week 1 at Boise State, Week 2 at Oklahoma State, with later season clashes against Ohio State, Michigan and Washington.
- SEC-Big Ten showdown: Sept. 12 sees Ohio State travel to Texas and Oklahoma face Michigan, providing the first high-stakes comparison of the two power conferences.
These matchups will be the first indicators of whether the preseason hierarchy holds as the 2026 season unfolds.
