Ohio State and Oregon Lead 2023 AP Preseason Rankings

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Ohio State and Oregon have secured the top two positions in The Associated Press Top 25, marking a significant moment for the Big Ten Conference. This achievement of holding the first two spots in the preseason rankings has occurred only once before, 65 years ago.

The Buckeyes received 40 first-place votes, while Oregon earned 14, as decided by 69 media members who cover college football. Ohio State begins the season ranked No. 1 for the ninth time, tying with Alabama for second-most preseason No. 1 rankings, following Oklahoma’s ten. Oregon achieved its highest preseason ranking ever at No. 2, having previously appeared at No. 3 four times.

Top Five Teams

The top five also includes Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas. Defending national champion Indiana ranks No. 6, followed by Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Notre Dame received six first-place votes, Indiana got eight, and Miami received one.

The last time a league held the first two preseason positions was in 1987 with Oklahoma and Nebraska from the Big Eight.

Big Ten Dominance

This marks the first instance since 1961 that the Big Ten has the No. 1 and No. 2 teams. In 1961, Iowa and Ohio State led the poll, although Iowa eventually fell from the rankings, while Ohio State finished second behind Alabama that year. The Big Ten aims for a fourth consecutive national title, having won the last three College Football Playoff championships with Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana.

The conference has maintained two of the top three teams in preseason rankings for four years now.

SEC and Other Conferences

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads with nine teams in the Top 25, continuing a three-year trend. Five of these teams are in the top ten, a first since 2013.

In the Big 12, four teams are ranked, with Texas Tech leading at No. 12. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three ranked teams: Miami, SMU at No. 19, and Louisville at No. 24. No teams from the Group of Six are in the Top 25.

Ohio State’s Prospects

Ohio State boasts a powerful offense, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who was the nation’s most accurate passer last season. Jeremiah Smith tops receiving yards and touchdowns over the past two years, and Bo Jackson follows a 1,000-yard rushing season. Despite replacing eight defensive starters, the Buckeyes rely on skilled transfers. They face early tests, including a visit to Texas and matches against ranked teams like Indiana and Oregon.

Ohio State aims to finish a season as No. 1 for the seventh time, their last being in 2024.

The SEC Spotlight

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia remains in the top five for the ninth consecutive year. Having won back-to-back SEC championships, the Bulldogs are favorites to compete in a sixth conference title game and a fifth College Football Playoff appearance in ten years.

Texas opens the season in the top five for the third year. Texas A&M is in the top ten at No. 8 for the first time since 2022, the turning point for coach Jimbo Fisher. Pete Golding’s Mississippi begins at No. 9, and Oklahoma rounds out the top ten.

Indiana’s Uncertain Position

Indiana, a recent national champion, is ranked outside the top five despite winning multiple titles in the modern era. The team made history by finishing 16-0 and continues to show potential, yet changes at quarterback seem to have affected voters’ confidence.

Poll Insights

Ohio State strives to be the 12th team to start and finish as No. 1 concurrently in AP poll history, a feat last achieved by Alabama in 2017.
Notre Dame, leveraging a ten-game win streak and Heisman hopeful CJ Carr, hasn’t held such a high preseason spot since 2006.
LSU, led by Lane Kiffin, starts at No. 11 after finishing last year unranked.
Ten out of last year’s College Football Playoff teams feature in the current rankings, excluding James Madison and Tulane.
Houston, ranked No. 23, is on the preseason list for the third time since 1991.

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