Shockwaves in College Football: Which Team Crashed the Coaches Poll Preseason Top 25?

Here we go again—another preseason Coaches Poll has dropped, and with it, the swirling debates that every college football junkie loves to sink their teeth into. Now, before we dive headfirst into the rankings drama, let me ask: if stadiums could talk, would the fans enduring some of the worst venues be more fired up or completely checked out? Because, honestly, the backdrop for all this preseason hype—from Texas on their Arch Manning buzz to Ohio State flexing that inaugural 12-team CFP title—is as important as the squads themselves. ESPN had Penn State perched at No. 1 with a sleek, balanced offense ready to roar, but the Coaches Poll? Not so much; they’ve placed Texas and Ohio State at the very top, stirring up plenty of chatter over who got snubbed or seriously underrated lower down the list. And oh, do the fans have opinions—BYU and Texas A&M’s rankings are already causing quite the ruckus, not to mention the perceived snub of Clemson and Georgia. Week 0 can’t come soon enough, because the preseason chatter is one thing—but the real action on the field? That’s when the truth is revealed. Ready to see where your team landed and why this poll has tongues wagging? LEARN MORE.

The time has finally come for the Coaches Poll to release its preseason top 25 rankings. 

For the most part, Texas and Ohio State have been considered the top two programs heading into the 2025 college football season. It’s no surprise that there’s a ton of hype surrounding Arch Manning and the Longhorns. As for the Buckeyes, they’ve earned a ton of respect by winning the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. 

Despite all the buzz surrounding Texas and Ohio State this offseason, ESPN previously had Penn State ranked No. 1 in the country. 

“After finally turning the corner under coach James Franklin in 2024, the Nittany Lions look loaded for bear this coming season. With Allar, Allen and Singleton returning, Penn State should have one of the most balanced offenses in the FBS, especially if Allar takes the next step as a downfield passer. Adding Pena, Ross and Hudson was critical; Penn State’s receivers didn’t have a reception in a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. Pena, a slot receiver, had 84 catches for 941 yards with nine scores in 2024,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote.

On Monday, we learned that the Coaches Poll doesn’t support ESPN’s way-too-early rankings.

Texas was ranked No. 1 in the preseason top 25, with Ohio State claiming the No. 2 spot. 

Here’s the full top 25:

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Georgia
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Ole Miss
16. SMU
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
19. Indiana
20. Kansas State
21. Texas A&M
22. Iowa State
23. BYU
24. Texas Tech
25. Boise State

Plenty of fans are debating the bottom half of this top 25. Apparently, they don’t love BYU and Texas A&M’s rankings. 

Others are arguing that Clemson and Georgia were disrespected in the preseason Coaches Poll.

Luckily for the college football world, it won’t be long before the season begins. After all, Week 0 is just around the corner. 

Related: ESPN Unveils Top 25 For 2025 College Football Season – And Fans Aren’t Happy