The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll has set the stage for a historic start to the college football season, with Texas ranked No. 1 for the first time in the poll’s history. The Longhorns, who received 28 of 67 first-place votes, will immediately defend their top spot in a monumental Week 1 matchup against defending national champion Ohio State.
The Buckeyes open the season at No. 2, earning 20 first-place votes and setting up the first-ever No. 1 versus No. 2 season opener in the history of the coaches poll.
Penn State, Ohio State’s primary challenger in the Big Ten, begins at No. 3 with 14 first-place votes. This marks the first time since 2012 that three teams have received double-digit first-place votes in the preseason poll. Perennial powerhouse Georgia starts at No. 4, claiming three No. 1 votes, while last season’s runner-up, Notre Dame, is positioned at No. 5.
Clemson holds the No. 6 spot with the remaining two first-place votes. The rest of the top 10 includes Oregon at No. 7, Alabama at No. 8, LSU at No. 9, and Miami (Fla.) at No. 10. Alabama’s No. 8 ranking is the program’s lowest in a preseason poll since 2008.
The SEC leads all conferences with nine teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten has six ranked teams, including Illinois at No. 12—its highest preseason placement since 1990—and last year’s surprise playoff team Indiana at No. 19.
The Big 12 is represented by five teams, led by defending conference champion Arizona State at No. 11. The ACC placed three teams in the rankings, while Boise State is the lone representative from the Group of Five conferences, starting the season at No. 25.
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