Shockwaves in College Football: Writer’s Preseason AP Poll Top 25 Defies All Expectations

Ah, preseason rankings — that magical moment when college football fans collectively hold their breath, clutch their lucky charms, and ponder an age-old question: which teams will soar, and which promising players might just crash and burn before tasting NFL glory? As the Associated Press gears up to drop its 2025 Top 25 at noon, the debate heats up. Texas, Penn State, Ohio State — sure, they’re all solid picks, but what about those underrated squads lurking in the shadows? And speaking of unexpected twists, ever wonder why some college studs can’t quite hack it in the pros? Before the official rankings hit, Ralph D. Russo, AP’s longtime college football sage, now turned voter, has tossed his hat into the ring with a ballot that might surprise you. With Week 1 looming, it’s clear football’s drama is about so much more than just numbers on a chart — it’s about legacy, potential, and the unpredictable magic of the game itself. LEARN MORE.

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It’s preseason rankings day in the college football world.

On Monday afternoon, August 11, the Associated Press’s preseason Top 25 rankings will be released. Who will come in at No. 1? There are several worthy candidates this year, from Texas to Ohio State to Penn State. Perhaps we’ll get a surprise and someone else will have the top spot.

We made our prediction for what the Top 10 will look like here.

Ahead of the release of the preseason AP Poll top 25 rankings, the former Associated Press college football writer, Ralph D. Russo, has unveiled his ballot, heading into the start of the 2025 college football regular season.

Russo, who led the Associated Press’s college football rankings for 20 years, is now a voter for the first time.

“For the first time in my long career covering college football, I am part of the AP Top 25 voter panel. I was honored to be asked to participate by my former colleagues and happy to relieve my new colleague Matt Brown of voting duties after he diligently handled the task for eight years. There is no “I” in team, right?” he explained.

“It also was not an easy decision for me to become a voter. I liked being above the fray. My job was to administer the poll. Help pick voters. Make sure all the votes were cast accurately (and hopefully, on time) on Sunday mornings. And then write about the poll, highlighting the news and most fascinating and notable results.”

Here’s how his Top 25, published by The Athletic, shakes out: