The preseason AP Prime 25 Ballot has been released with the college football season simply across the nook. In fact, there’s loads of controversy that has instantly include that.
Whereas some could doubt the worth of polls, significantly preseason polls, they do just a few essential issues. For one, these are a snapshot of what writers who comply with the game intently assume at a given second in time, even when that is liable to alter rapidly. It will probably additionally assist to set the narrative, particularly early within the season.
So, protecting that in thoughts, listed here are just a few notable takeaways from the AP Prime 25 Ballot, which is headlined by No. 1 Ohio State.
The Large Ten dominates the SEC on the high
One of many main debates in faculty soccer has at all times been which convention is finest. For some time, it appeared the SEC was undisputed. Now, after three years of the Large Ten profitable the nationwide championship in a row, that is up for extra debate.
The SEC would nonetheless argue it is deeper than the Large Ten. With 9 ranked groups within the AP preseason Prime 25 Ballot and one other 4 receiving votes (the Large Ten has eight and two, respectively), that is an actual argument.
Nevertheless, the Large Ten dominates on the high. Ohio State and Oregon take the highest two spots whereas the Large Ten has three of the highest six spots. On high of that, three Large Ten groups acquired first-place votes whereas the SEC did not have a single group to get a first-place vote.
Texas Tech has competitors within the Large 12
There isn’t a doubt that typical knowledge has Texas Tech repeating as Large 12 champions in 2026. Nevertheless, if the AP Ballot is to be believed, that is not such a certain factor, and there will probably be competitors on the high of the convention.
Particularly, No. 12 Texas Tech must take care of No. 14 BYU in 2026. The Cougars had been proper there in 2025 as nicely, and with extra expertise at quarterback, they may very well be able to make a transfer. Additionally ranked within the Large 12 are Utah and Houston, although it is a parity-driven convention and something might occur.
Nationwide champion Indiana is getting no respect
Indiana has been a powerhouse below Curt Cignetti, going 27-2 total, together with an unbeaten nationwide championship season in 2025. Positive, there’s some roster turnover, however that kind of group typically will get extra good thing about the doubt than being No. 6 within the preseason ballot.
Notably, No. 6 is the bottom preseason AP Ballot rating for a defending nationwide champion since Michigan was No. 9 going into 2024, however that got here with a training change. With out a teaching change, it has been since LSU in 2020, which was additionally ranked No. 6.
A number of groups are ranked due to their emblem
It is a drawback that tends to return up in preseason polls. Particularly, rosters are more durable to evaluate in preseason with the variety of transfers. Voters return to dependable standbys, like No. 18 Penn State or No. 20 Tennessee.
The reality is Penn State and Tennessee, together with arguably Missouri, Iowa and Utah, are all groups dealing with main questions and, in a number of instances, coming off unhealthy seasons. They find yourself filling behind the Prime 25 on repute, and since they really feel like a safer wager than one other program. In brief, it is secure.
The Group of Six is lacking
The other finish of that coin is that the Group of Six, also called the American Convention, C-USA, Solar Belt, MAC, Mountain West and Pac-12, are fully lacking from the preseason Prime 25.
This comes, equally to overranking name-brand groups, from the turnover created by the switch portal. It is more durable to evaluate these colleges. So, slightly than are available confidently {that a} college like James Madison will repeat 2025 with a turnover roster, it is simpler to go away them off completely and make them show it over the course of the season.
