You know the college football season is finally just around the corner when the annual preseason Top 25 poll drops. While there will always be critics about whether preseason polls are more harmful than helpful, especially in this current player-movement era, they make for great discussion topics. There's just something about seeing 25 teams listed in order that evokes a visceral reaction from fans, journalists and everyone else associated with the sport.
The Big Ten led the way in this year's preseason poll, taking the top two spots with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Oregon. Reigning national champion Indiana wasn't too far behind at No. 6. The SEC countered with two top-five teams (No. 3 Georgia and No. 5 Texas) and five top-10 teams overall.
With any ranking, especially one before any games are even played, there are teams that jump out as either underrated or overrated. These are the teams that fit that mold in the 2026 preseason AP top 25: It was a bit surprising, frankly, to see Texas land at No. 5 and not receive a single first-place vote. Is it skepticism that Steve Sarkisian can get the most out of one of the most expensive rosters in the country?
Do AP voters also believe quarterback Arch Manning is overrated the way multiple industry sources did in our CBS Sports story last week? Perhaps it is lingering regret over ranking Texas preseason No. 1 a season ago only for UT to miss the playoff. The Longhorns have a stacked schedule -- they play five top 11 teams and seven top 25 teams total -- but on paper, at least, this is a team talented enough to compete for a national championship.
The voter skepticism will be put to an early test Week 2 against No. 1 Ohio State. If you want to buy into Lincoln Riley and USC, go for it. I just won't be one of those people, not after watching Riley squander some elite talent in Los Angeles through his first four seasons at USC.
There are reasons to be optimistic around USC, including Jayden Maiava's return and a spending spree on its freshman recruiting class. But I'm skeptical that turning to Gary Patterson, who last worked as on-field coach in 2021, to run the defense proves to be some magical fix. This six-game slate in the heart of the Big Ten schedule will define USC's season: No. 2 Oregon on Sept. 26, No. 17 Washington on Oct. 3, at No. 18 Penn State on Oct. 10, at Wisconsin on Oct. 24, No. 1 Ohio State on Oct. 31 and at No. 6 Indiana on No. 14.
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