Big Ten's Iowa Connection: Ohio State, Oregon Top AP Preseason Poll
The Big Ten Conference owns the top two spots in the AP preseason college football poll for the first time in 65 years, and Iowa fans have a unique reason to take notice. Ohio State and Oregon sit at Nos. 1 and 2, a feat the conference last achieved in 1961 when Iowa and Ohio State held those exact positions.
That 1961 season ended in disappointment for Hawkeye fans, as Iowa stumbled to a 4-4 finish after a promising 4-0 start. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, went 8-0-1 and finished No. 2 behind Alabama. Now, more than six decades later, the Big Ten is back on top of the college football world with a chance at an unprecedented fourth straight national championship.
Ohio State opens as unanimous favorite
The Buckeyes received 40 of 69 first-place votes from media members, while Oregon earned 14. Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas round out the top five. Defending national champion Indiana starts at No. 6, followed by Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.
This marks Ohio State's ninth preseason No. 1 ranking, tying Alabama for second-most all-time behind Oklahoma's 10. It's the Buckeyes' first preseason top spot since 2015.
Head coach Ryan Day's squad returns a loaded offense. Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin was the nation's most accurate passer last season, Jeremiah Smith leads all receivers in yards and touchdowns over the past two years, and Bo Jackson rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman.
The defense faces questions with eight starters to replace, but six transfers are projected to play significant roles. Ohio State faces a brutal schedule, including a Sept. 12 trip to Texas and five conference games against ranked opponents.
SEC dominates with nine ranked teams
The Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with nine ranked teams for the third straight year. Five of the top 10 programs hail from the SEC, the first time that has happened since 2013.
Georgia sits atop the SEC at No. 4, marking the Bulldogs' ninth straight preseason top-five appearance. The two-time defending SEC champions are favored to reach a sixth consecutive conference title game.
Texas, the preseason No. 1 last year, opens at No. 5. Texas A&M checks in at No. 8, its highest preseason ranking since 2022. Mississippi and Oklahoma round out the SEC's top-10 presence at Nos. 9 and 10.
Indiana's title defense draws skepticism
The Hoosiers became the first team in the modern era to finish 16-0, but voters have doubts. Indiana is the seventh returning national champion in 40 years to be ranked outside the top five, and the second in three years.
The quarterback change from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to TCU transfer Josh Hoover appears to be the main concern. Despite returning significant talent and signing a top-10 transfer class, the Hoosiers open at No. 6.
What this means for Iowa football
While the Hawkeyes are not ranked in the preseason poll, the Big Ten's strength has direct implications for Iowa's schedule and conference title hopes. The Hawkeyes face a gauntlet of ranked opponents in conference play, and the league's depth means every game carries playoff implications.
The Big Ten has won three straight College Football Playoff championships, and this season marks the fourth consecutive year the conference has placed two teams in the preseason top three. That dominance shows no signs of slowing down.
Other notable rankings
Notre Dame has its highest preseason ranking since 2006 at No. 3, with quarterback CJ Carr a Heisman candidate. The Fighting Irish bring a 10-game winning streak into the season.
Lane Kiffin's first LSU team opens at No. 11 after finishing 7-6 and unranked last year. Houston earned its first preseason ranking in four years at No. 23.
Ten of the 12 College Football Playoff teams from last season are ranked. The two exceptions are James Madison and Tulane from the Group of Six, which has no representatives in the preseason top 25.
The Big 12 has four ranked teams, led by conference champion Texas Tech at No. 12. The ACC has three, with Miami joined by SMU at No. 19 and Louisville at No. 24.
Can the Big Ten make it four straight?
Ohio State will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. Alabama was the last to accomplish the feat in 2017.
The Buckeyes have ended a season No. 1 six times, most recently in 2024. With the most talented roster in the country and a schedule that will test them early, Ohio State has every opportunity to extend the Big Ten's championship streak.
For Iowa fans, the message is clear: the Big Ten is the strongest conference in college football, and the Hawkeyes will need to bring their best every week to compete in this gauntlet.