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16 clusters · 71 sources · 56 days · First seen 2 months ago · Last updated 5 days ago

Ohio State maintains No. 1 ranking as season begins

Overview

The preseason consensus for the 2026 college football season continues to position Ohio State as the primary frontrunner. Early July analytics from ESPN's FPI and SP+ ratings placed the Buckeyes first, highlighting a strong defensive core. By late July, Ohio State topped several unofficial Big Ten preseason media polls, including those from CBS Sports, USA Today, and Cleveland.com, with Oregon and Indiana following in second and third, respectively. The August 5 Coaches Poll reaffirmed Ohio State at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 2, noting Georgia at No. 3 and Alabama at No. 11. On August 17, the Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 poll, maintaining Ohio State at No. 1 with 40 first-place votes, followed by Oregon at No. 2 and Georgia at No. 3. This marks the first time in 65 years that the Big Ten Conference has held both the No. 1 and No. 2 preseason rankings. The AP poll also placed Notre Dame at No. 4 and Texas at No. 5, while noting that Alabama has fallen outside the top 10 for the first time since 2008, landing at No. 13. Reigning national champion Indiana holds the No. 6 spot in the AP poll despite significant roster turnover. Following the start of the regular season, the first AP Top 25 poll shows Ohio State maintaining its No. 1 ranking with 46 first-place votes. However, the rankings have shifted significantly: Georgia has moved to No. 2, Notre Dame to No. 3, and Oregon has slipped from No. 2 to No. 6 after a narrow win over Boise State. LSU entered the top 10 at No. 8, while Michigan fell out of the rankings entirely following a controversial 13-12 victory over Western Michigan.

Entities

Ohio State Buckeyes · Oregon Ducks · Ohio State · Big Ten Conference · SEC

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The 2026 preseason AP Top 25 college football poll has been released.
[● 4 SOURCES] Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll with 40 first-place votes.
[● 4 SOURCES] Oregon is ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP poll.
[● 4 SOURCES] Georgia is ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll.
[● 4 SOURCES] Notre Dame is ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP poll.
[● 4 SOURCES] Texas is ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP poll.
[● 4 SOURCES] Defending national champion Indiana is ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP poll.
[● 4 SOURCES] Michigan dropped out of the AP Top 25 rankings following Week 1. detroitsportsnation.com · www.maizenbrew.com · www.si.com · www.nytimes.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Ohio State is ranked #1 in the 2026 Big Ten preseason media polls.
[● 3 SOURCES] Oregon is ranked #2 in the 2026 Big Ten preseason media polls.
[● 3 SOURCES] Indiana is ranked #3 in the 2026 Big Ten preseason media polls.
[● 3 SOURCES] The preseason polls are unofficial and compiled by media members, not by the Big Ten Conference.

Timeline

5 days ago

[SPORTS] 11 sources
Michigan falls out of AP Top 25 after controversial win over Western Michigan
The AP Top 25 college football rankings saw Michigan fall out of the Top 25 after a controversial win, while LSU rose to No. 8 and Ohio State maintained its No. 1 ranking.
12 days ago

[SPORTS] 3 sources
Ohio State and Texas emerge as major 2026 college football contenders
Urban Meyer has predicted Ohio State will win the Big Ten and Texas will win the SEC for the 2026 season, despite Ohio State facing significant roster turnover and a difficult schedule.
17 days ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
College football experts release 2026 season and playoff predictions
Sports analysts have released their 2026 college football predictions, highlighting potential College Football Playoff contenders including Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ohio State.
18 days ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
Ohio State favored to win Big Ten championship in 2026 preseason odds
Ohio State enters the 2026 Big Ten football season as the betting favorite, followed by Oregon and Indiana, while linebacker Payton Pierce is noted as a potential breakout star for the Buckeyes.
18 days ago

[SPORTS] 8 sources
Indiana ranked No. 6 in preseason college football poll
Reigning champion Indiana is ranked No. 6 in the AP preseason college football poll as NIL-driven parity increases championship odds for more teams.
19 days ago

[SPORTS] 14 sources
UNC and TCU to open college football season in Dublin
UNC and TCU kick off the 2026 college football season in Dublin, Ireland. Amidst roster changes, UNC coach Bill Belichick faces scrutiny over staff absences and a difficult debut season.
22 days ago

[SPORTS] 3 sources
Ohio State enters 2026 season ranked number one in AP Poll
Ranked number one in the AP Poll, Ohio State faces a challenging 2026 schedule as they look to maintain their top status with returning talent and a strengthened offensive line.
24 days ago

[SPORTS] 4 sources
Ohio State named No. 1 in 2026 AP preseason college football rankings
Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in the 2026 AP preseason college football Top 25, followed by Oregon and Georgia. Four Oregon players, including quarterback Dante Moore, earned All-American honors.
27 days ago

[SPORTS] 36 sources
Ohio State leads preseason AP Top 25 college football poll
The 2026 preseason AP Top 25 poll places Ohio State at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 2, while Alabama falls outside the top 10 for the first time since 2008.
30 days ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
Ohio State named preseason No. 1 in college football Coaches Poll
Ohio State has claimed the preseason No. 1 spot in the college football Coaches Poll, leading a competitive field that includes Georgia and Indiana in the race for playoff positioning.
about 1 month ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
CBS Sports releases preseason college football rankings for 138 FBS teams
CBS Sports released preseason college football rankings for all 138 FBS teams, placing Ohio State at No. 1 and highlighting SEC dominance with Texas and Georgia in the top five.
about 1 month ago

[SPORTS] 8 sources
Ohio State leads preseason college football rankings for 2026 season
Preseason college football rankings place Ohio State at No. 1 for the 2026 season, amid debates over Big Ten dominance and the impact of the NIL era on player investment and coaching stability.
about 1 month ago

[SPORTS] 4 sources
College Football Coaches Poll Shows SEC, Big Ten Dominance in Top 25
The preseason Coaches Poll ranks Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2, and shows SEC and Big Ten teams filling 68% of the top‑25, with Alabama at No. 11 and Auburn unranked.
about 1 month ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
College Football AP Top 25 Preseason Rankings Projected for 2026 Season
Projected 2026 AP preseason Top 25 ranks Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon at the top, with Houston, Iowa, Clemson and others filling the lower spots.
about 2 months ago

[SPORTS] 6 sources
Ohio State Leads 2026 Big Ten Preseason Media Polls
Ohio State is ranked #1 in all 2026 Big Ten preseason media polls, with Oregon #2 and Indiana #3; Michigan sits at #5 in the Cleveland.com poll.
2 months ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
Ohio State ranked No. 1 in ESPN's 2026 college football preseason rankings
Ohio State tops ESPN’s 2026 preseason FPI and SP+ rankings, with analysts spotlighting several defensive standouts expected to lead the Buckeyes.

Sources

107jamz.com · awfulannouncing.com · babsolute.com.au · bleacherreport.com · boston.com · breitbart.com · buckeyesports.com · byucougars.com · chicago.suntimes.com · chicitysports.com · collegefootballpoll.com · cornnation.com · covers.com · dailydigest.ie · dailyemerald.com · dailytarheel.com · deadspin.com · desotocountynews.com · detroitsportsnation.com · elevenwarriors.com · essentiallysports.com · fanSided.com · finos.org · fishduck.com · foxnews.com · foxsports.com · goducks.com · heavy.com · hvilleblast.com · insidethehall.com · itsgame7.com · landgrantholyland.com · lewistownsentinel.com · liveblog.wtop.com · maizenbrew.com · mininggazette.com · msn.foxsports.com · musicals.nl · nbcsports1060.com · news9.com · newsday.com · nytimespost.com · observer-reporter.com · rockytopinsider.com · rotoballer.com · saturdaydownsouth.com · saturdaytradition.com · semissourian.com

This summary has been updated 26 times: see revision history