The Preseason AP Poll has been revealed:
- Texas
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Clemson
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Oregon
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami
- Arizona State
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- Florida
- SMU
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Indiana
- Ole Miss
- Iowa State
- Texas Tech
- Tennessee
- Boise State
Preseason Hype
The release of the Preseason AP Poll is one of the biggest attention grabbers in the college football world. For the rest of the season, a team’s performance will be judged as good or bad based on this original ranking.
While fans are split 50/50 on whether preseason polls should exist, we cannot ignore the fact that this poll carries tremendous weight on how teams are judged throughout the season.
Since this poll helps to determine which teams can or cannot afford losses during the season, let’s discuss which teams are ranked too high, too low, or just right in this poll.
Too High
Penn State
In 2024, Penn State’s record against top-10 opponents was 1-3. Since 2021, the record extends to 2-10. The Nittany Lions are perennially a double-digit win team; however, they fail to defeat their most talented opponents. In the most recent college football playoff, Penn State beat the two least-talented teams in the field before losing to Notre Dame.
Penn State is replacing Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren, who were undoubtedly the best players on this team. Drew Allar is coming off a season in which he threw 4x as many interceptions as he did in 2023 and showed little signs of progression.
Penn State should certainly find itself in the college football playoff next season and possibly the Big 10 Championship game; however, questions surrounding Penn State’s performance in big games must be answered before this ranking is truly justified.
Texas A&M
The annual Texas A&M hype train has begun. Propping up this team has become a tradition of sorts. At first, fans thought it was quarterback play that was holding the Aggies back. Then, fans started to believe that it must be Jimbo Fisher. So, in 2024, Mike Elko took the job at Texas A&M. The Aggies then finished the season with a record of 8-5.
Some of the hype for Texas A&M originates from the new starting quarterback, Marcel Reed. Reed took over the job from Conner Weigman, and he showed some flashes of great quarterback play. However, college football fans need to temper expectations of this young player. In games that Marcel Reed started, the Aggies were 4-4 and beat 0 ranked teams. Texas A&M is now 15-11 in the last 2 seasons.
Miami
You will find no arguments from most fans about Miami being a ranked team. The Hurricanes are inside the top 15 in total team recruiting talent according to 247 Sports. They have five-star players on the offensive and defensive lines. Carson Beck now has two seasons of experience, during which he has thrown for 7,426 yards, 52 TDs, and 18 INTs.
However, 3 of Miami’s top 4 receivers will be transfers, and the entire secondary will be filled with transfers. Regardless of how well Mario Cristobal has recruited, there seems to be a lack of development in the program involving players recruited directly from high school.
In 2024, Cam Ward threw for 4,313 yards, 39 TDs, and 7 INTs. Ward also finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Even with Ward’s performance and a friendly schedule, the Hurricanes finished the regular season at 10-2, losing to Syracuse and Georgia Tech. If Miami could not finish with a top 10 ranking last season, it seems odd to rank this year’s team so high.
Too Low
Alabama
As is usually the case with college football fans and Alabama, this choice will be controversial. The Crimson Tide disappointed last season, experiencing head-scratching losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma during the regular season. Kalen DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa ended quite embarrassingly. However, the Tide possesses all of the tools to rebound at an elite level.
Alabama returns 8 starters on a defense that ranked 5th in forced turnovers and 10th in points allowed per game. It also returns 8 starters on offense, including PFF’s preseason #1 offensive line. Jalen Milroe’s departure means that an exciting player is leaving, while a more scheme-friendly QB will become the new starter. Ty Simpson, a former 5-star recruit, will be looking to take care of the football after Jalen Milroe committed 17 turnovers last season.
Alabama will enter the 2025 season with the #1-ranked roster in terms of recruiting talent. Just one offseason ago, Kalen DeBoer was the hottest coaching name in the country after going 25-3 at Washington and reaching the national championship. It seems too soon to think that Alabama opens a college football season as a non-top 5 team.
Oregon
Oregon ended the 2024 season in shocking fashion, as they were blown out by Ohio State at a score of 41-21. Seeing as Ohio State won their playoff games by an average of 17.5 PPG, Oregon was not the only team to be blown out by a red-hot Buckeyes squad. This end to the season overshadowed the fact that Oregon also beat Ohio State earlier in the season. The Ducks ended the season with a record of 2-1 versus top-5 teams and 3-1 versus top-25 teams.
The defending Big 10 champions possessed the 6th most talented roster in college football last season, according to recruiting rankings. During the offseason, Oregon added the #1 high school recruiting class by average player rating and the #1 transfer portal class by average player rating. Dante Moore is the projected starting QB. Moore is the 6th highest-rated QB in the last 4 recruiting cycles. He was one of the most sought-after prospects in high school and the transfer portal.
Oregon’s running back will be transfer Makhi Hughes, who finished 10th in the country in rushing yards last season and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. All-American safety Dillon Thieneman and 5-star offensive tackle Isaiah World are two other players who entered the Oregon program during the offseason.
Just Right
Ohio State
Some fans will argue that the defending national champion should be ranked #1 until they are beaten. However, #3 seems like a solid place to rank Ohio State. The Buckeyes are a mix of returning talent and departing production. While they are losing players such as Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, JT Tuimoloau, and Jack Sawyer, the Buckeyes also return arguably the two best players in college football- Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs.
The Buckeyes have not experienced a season with 3+ losses since 2011. They are one of the safest bets in the country when it comes to a preseason ranking inside the top-5. Starting at QB for Ohio State will be Julian Sayin, a former 5-star and #1 QB in the 2024 recruiting class. At wide receiver, alongside Jeremiah Smith, will be former 5-stars Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and Mylan Graham. Ohio State acquired Max Klare in the transfer portal, who was one of the nation’s best tight ends in 2024.
In the last decade, Ohio State has finished the season with an average AP Poll ranking of #4. The Buckeyes will need to see development from a lot of young talent to win the national title, but the #3 preseason ranking seems ideal given the mix of departing production, returning superstars, and young five-stars.
Florida
The famous stat that has circulated in college football is that “Florida went 6-0 in games that DJ Lagway started and finished.” Florida even had the lead on Georgia before Lagway left the game with an injury. Lagway quickly became one of college football’s most enjoyable players to watch, and he now has another offseason under his belt. Most of the “hype” around Florida this offseason has been based on Lagway’s potential, so his health is paramount to Florida matching this preseason ranking.
According to recruiting rankings, Florida had the nation’s 12th most talented roster in 2024. The Gators then added on to that roster with the 7th-ranked recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, including two 5-star wide receivers in Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson. Florida will have one of the SEC’s best offensive lines led by arguably the nation’s best center in Jake Slaughter. At RB, Jadan Baugh had a breakout freshman campaign, totaling 673 yards on 5.1 yards per carry.
In games not started and finished by DJ Lagway, Florida’s defense allowed 26 points per game. In games started and finished by Lagway, Florida’s defense allowed just 13 points per game. Florida has the talent and depth to validate this #15 ranking.
Given Florida’s daunting schedule, the Gators could easily start and end the season at #15. That’s what makes this ranking just right. Florida will face 7 ranked opponents in 2025. The highest-ranked 4-loss team in 2024 was Clemson, which finished at #14. If the Gators finish the season 8-4 with multiple ranked wins, #15 is a likely landing spot at the end of the season.
