Ohio State named No. 1 in 2026 AP preseason college football rankings

The 2026 AP preseason Top 25 college football rankings have been released, placing Ohio State at No. 1. The Buckeyes secured 40 first-place votes, leading Oregon in the No. 2 spot with 14 votes, and Georgia in third with zero. The top five is rounded out by Notre Dame at No. 4 and Texas at No. 5. Defending national champion Indiana is ranked No. 6, followed by Miami at No. 7.

Oregon enters the season with significant individual accolades, as four Ducks earned preseason AP All-American recognition. Three players were named to the first team: quarterback Dante Moore, defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, and safety Koi Perich. Moore, a top NFL prospect, returned to Oregon to lead the team's pursuit of its first national championship.

The rankings highlight the strength of the Big Ten, which holds the top two positions and the reigning champion at No. 6. The SEC also shows strong presence, with seven teams appearing in the top 13.