The preseason AP Top 25 was released Monday, and I’m sad to report that the evil voters who take part in it denied us the opportunity to have a No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup to open the season. While they followed the lead of the Coaches Poll and put Texas at No. 1, Ohio State checks in at No. 3, with their Big Ten rival, Penn State, finishing at No. 2.
Other than that, the poll wasn’t too dissimilar from what we’ve seen elsewhere, including our own CBS Sports 136. However, while the order of teams wasn’t shocking, there are some interesting tidbits to be gleaned from preseason expectations.
AP Top 25 poll: Texas makes history as preseason No. 1, Penn State is No. 2 in college football rankings
Will Backus
The Big Ten and SEC dominate
Just in case the size of the checks they’re cashing from television networks isn’t enough proof, the poll does an excellent job of showing you the gap (I’ll leave you to decide whether it’s real or perceived) between the sports’ two dominant leagues and everybody else.
Four of the top five teams in the poll hail from the Big Ten or SEC. The only interloper is Clemson at No. 4, and that’s no coincidence. Not only do the Tigers have an experienced team returning, but they’re the only program from outside the SEC or Big Ten to win a national title in the College Football Playoff era.
Taking it further, seven of the top 10 and 11 of…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ap-top-25-poll-takeaways-big-ten-sec-widen-gap-but-parity-exists-among-national-title-contenders/
Author : Tom Fornelli
Publish date : 2025-08-11 18:41:00
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