Ohio State Tops Preseason AP Poll, Draws 40 First-Place Votes

What Happened

Per Yahoo Sports, Ohio State was voted No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, collecting 40 first-place votes. The report lists Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas rounding out the top five. No official school or league statement accompanies the poll release; the rankings come from the AP's panel of voters ahead of the season. The story frames the results as part of a broader breakdown of conference representation across the preseason poll.

Why It Matters

• A preseason No. 1 shapes early-season media coverage and scheduling attention, even though it carries no bearing on playoff seeding.
• Ohio State's 40 first-place votes signal voter consensus built on last season's results, not on anything from the 2025 schedule.
• The top-five composition of Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas indicates which programs enter the year with the most preseason credibility among voters.

Josh's Receipt

THE PATE STATE READ

THE PATE STATE READ: A preseason No. 1 is a compliment, not a certificate. This is a temperature check, not a forecast, and it will read differently by October. Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas earned their preseason standing too — none of them stumbled into the top five. Ohio State's 40 first-place votes reflect memory of what already happened, not a guarantee of what happens next. A ranking like this moves perception a spot, not the sport itself. The field settles it from here.(Josh has not yet commented.)

What's Next

• Watch how the preseason poll holds up once Week 1 games are played and results start reshaping voter opinion.
• Track whether Ohio State's non-conference schedule tests the No. 1 status early in the season.