Unveiled: Preseason Top 25 Poll Reveals Shocking Predictions for College Football Playoff Contenders!

Alright, buckle up — college football fans, the 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be one heck of a show. Texas sits atop the preseason AP poll, riding high with Arch Manning under center, but hey, we all know that hype doesn’t always translate to NFL stardom — just ask some of those legendary college players who fizzled out before they ever got a pro snap (and yes, there’s a video for that). Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia aren’t just filling seats; they’re primed for war, with the playoff field expanding to a 12-team dance featuring conference champs, at-large heavy-hitters, and the top Group of Five contender. The landscape’s twisting and turning, and I gotta wonder — will these preseason rankings hold steady, or are we in for some seismic curveballs? One thing’s for sure: this playoff field is a mix of redemption stories and fresh promises. So, who’s your bet to break the mold and claim the crown? Dive into the full breakdown and see what could be your Cinderella story this football season. LEARN MORE

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What will the 2025-26 College Football Playoff look like, according to the preseason Top 25 rankings?

The preseason Top 25 poll, via the Associated Press, was released on Monday. Texas came in at No. 1 overall. The Longhorns, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, have a lot of hype heading into the 2025 season. Texas is coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State.

Penn State came in at No. 2 in the rankings. Ohio State is third, setting up a No. 1 vs. No. 3 matchup for Week 1. Meanwhile, Clemson and Georgia round out the top five.

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff will once again feature 12 teams. But it’s not just the 12 highest ranked teams. Instead, it’s the four conference champions (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC), the seven highest-ranked at-large teams and the highest-ranked Group of Five team.

According to the preseason Top 25 poll from the Associated Press, here’s what that 12-team field will look like.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit is seen during ESPN’s College GameDay show at Times Square on September 23, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The four conference champions

According to the Associated Press’s preseason Top 25 rankings, the following four teams will win their respective conferences and secure automatic bids to the College Football Playoff in 2025-26:

Texas – SEC
Penn State – Big Ten
Clemson – ACC
Arizona State – Big 12

The seven at-large teams

There will be some huge at-large teams, as only four can win the major conferences. Just last year, Ohio State made it into the field as an at-large No. 8 seed. The Buckeyes went on to win the College Football Playoff, knocking off Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame.

Here’s who this year’s seven at-large teams will be, according to the Associated Press’s preseason Top 25 poll:

Ohio State
Georgia
Notre Dame
Oregon
Alabama
LSU
Miami

Group of 5 pick

Last year, Boise State made it into the field as a No. 3 seed, as the highest-ranked Group of Five team. Once again, the Broncos are projected to make it into the field this year. Boise State is the highest-ranked Group of Five team in the country heading into the regular season.