Sporting News released its complete 1-136 preseason rankings for the 2025 college football season. Texas claims the top spot, followed by Ohio State at No. 2.
The Longhorns earned the No. 1 ranking in both the AP and Coaches preseason polls. Ohio State sits at No. 3 in the AP poll and No. 2 in the Coaches poll.
Those two teams will settle things on the field when they meet at 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 30 at Ohio Stadium.
That’s not the only marquee matchup in Week 1. Clemson and LSU – ranked No. 7 and No. 9 respectively – face off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame and Miami – No. 5 and No. 12 in these rankings – play Aug. 31 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Before any of those games, Iowa State and Kansas State kick off the season in Dublin, Ireland. The Cyclones and Wildcats – ranked No. 19 and No. 20 – meet in Week 0 at 12 p.m. ET at Aviva Stadium.
The FBS expanded to 136 teams this season with the addition of Missouri State and Delaware. Sporting News will update these rankings throughout the season.
College football rankings 2025
Top 25 for Week 0
1. Texas (0-0)
Arch Manning takes over at quarterback for the Longhorns. Texas needs to replace four offensive line starters, but receivers Tre Wisner and Ryan Wingo should have breakout seasons.
The Longhorns visit Ohio State – where they won 25-22 on Sept. 10, 2005 to kick-start their last national championship run.
2. Ohio State (0-0)
The quarterback battle between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz remains unsettled. Receiver Jeremiah Smith posted 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns last season and can launch a Heisman campaign against Texas in Week 1.
Texas limited Smith to one catch for three yards in the CFP semifinals last season. Carnell Tate (733 yards, 4 TDs) and Brandon Inniss (176 yards, TD) should benefit opposite Smith.
3. Penn State (0-0)
The Nittany Lions have their highest preseason ranking since 1997 – when they started No. 1 and finished 9-3. It’s a big year for James Franklin with the return of three-year starter Drew Allar and 1,000-yard rushers Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
The addition of Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles adds intrigue. Penn State opens with Nevada.
4. Georgia (0-0)
The Bulldogs might be the least-discussed returning SEC champion of the 21st century. Kirby Smart probably prefers it that way.
Georgia has a friendlier schedule this year. Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and USC transfer Zachariah Branch should help the receiver room. Nate Frazier averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season, giving Gunner Stockton another weapon.
The Bulldogs open with Marshall.
5. Notre Dame (0-0)
The quarterback competition between C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchey headlines Marcus Freeman‘s fourth season. Notre Dame returns a strong roster led by preseason All-American running back Jeremiyah Love.
Miami isn’t an easy Sunday night opener. The Irish have lost their last six road games there, a streak dating back to 1977.
6. Oregon
Oregon coach Dan Lanning is 35-6 since taking over in 2022 – the fourth-best record in the FBS behind Georgia (39-4), Ohio State (36-6) and Michigan (36-6). The Ducks beat Michigan in Big Ten regular season play last year.
Oregon faces Montana State in the opener.
7. Clemson (0-0)
The Tigers face a tough test in Week 1. Dabo Swinney has the preseason ACC favorite, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a defense featuring TJ Parker and Peter Woods.
Clemson lost three games to SEC schools last season. LSU coach Brian Kelly is openly calling Memorial Stadium “Death Valley Junior.”
8. Alabama (0-0)
Kalen DeBoer enters Year 2 with a tough opener against Florida State at a renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. The Crimson Tide went 2-3 on the road last season.
It’s a statement game for DeBoer and first-year starter Ty Simpson, who won the quarterback job in fall camp.
9. LSU (0-0)
The Tigers need to break a string of five straight losses in season-openers against Clemson. Brian Kelly faces pressure after going 4-8 against top-25 teams over three seasons, including 1-3 in 2024.
10. Illinois (0-0)
The Illini crack the top 10 under Bret Bielema heading into a Friday night opener against Western Illinois. Linebacker Gabe Jacas posted 74 tackles and eight sacks last season.
Illinois’ entire offensive line returns for quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Illini have never won 10 games in back-to-back seasons.
11. Florida (0-0)
The Gators open against Long Island University – one of the friendlier matchups on a schedule where the lowest-ranked opponent is USF at No. 76. DJ Lagway is recovering from a calf injury, but coach Billy Napier remains optimistic about his availability against the Sharks.
12. Miami, Fla. (0-0)
Carson Beck makes his Miami debut against Notre Dame – reviving a classic 1980s rivalry. Beck went 24-3 as a starter at Georgia, including 9-3 against ranked teams over two seasons.
The matchup sets the tone for coach Mario Cristobal.
13. South Carolina (0-0)
The Gamecocks face Virginia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday. LaNorris Sellers is getting Heisman hype, but needs to prove he can take over games.
South Carolina went 4-2 in games where Sellers rushed for 50 yards or more, including a 36-33 loss to LSU.
14. Arizona State (0-0)
Arizona State enters as the preseason Big 12 favorite. Quarterback Sam Leavitt should get off to a fast start against Northern Arizona.
Receiver Jordyn Tyson returns from a season-ending collarbone injury. He ranked fourth among returning FBS receivers with 91.8 receiving yards per game in 2024.
15. Ole Miss (0-0)
The Rebels have gone 39-13 over four seasons under Lane Kiffin – a .750 winning percentage that ranks seventh among Power 4 programs. Ole Miss remains the best program that hasn’t reached the CFP.
The Rebels open against Georgia State in Week 1.
16. Michigan (0-0)
Five-star freshman Bryce Underwood could start the opener against New Mexico. Michigan quarterbacks combined for 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season.
A revamped backfield with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall should carry the load against the Lobos. That sets up a road trip to Oklahoma in Week 2.
17. SMU (0-0)
The Mustangs reached the CFP in their first ACC season. Rhett Lashlee returns a talented roster with quarterback Kevin Jennings.
Safety Isaiah Nwokobia averaged 80.5 tackles with seven interceptions over two seasons. SMU opens against East Texas A&M.
18. Texas A&M (0-0)
Mike Elko begins Year 2 with a tricky opener against UTSA. The Roadrunners have posted five straight winning seasons under Jeff Traylor.
The Aggies have one of the deepest backfields in the FBS. Quarterback Marcell Reed and running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels combined to average 5.2 yards per carry in 2024.
19. Iowa State (0-0)
The Week 0 matchup against Kansas State in Dublin serves as an early Big 12 tone-setter. The Cyclones won 11 games for the first time in school history under Matt Campbell in 2024.
Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings in the series.
20. Kansas State (0-0)
Chris Klieman enters his seventh season with the program. Avery Johnson returns for his second year as the full-time starter.
Dylan Edwards leads the backfield after averaging 7.4 yards per carry in a time-share with DJ Giddens last season.
21. Oklahoma (0-0)
Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer ranked fifth nationally in total offense with 330.4 yards per game last season. His skill set faces a test in a crucial year for the Sooners.
Mateer denied wrongdoing in reported gambling allegations related to his Venmo transactions in 2022. Oklahoma opens with Illinois State.
22. Tennessee (0-0)
The Vols’ ranking has shifted since quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred. UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar faces pressure in the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tennessee is 3-1 in non-conference regular-season games against Power 4 opponents under Josh Heupel, with the last loss coming to Pitt in 2021.
23. Texas Tech (0-0)
The Red Raiders have generated offseason buzz because of increased NIL initiatives. Texas Tech is 16-11 in Big 12 play over three seasons under Joey McGuire.
The Red Raiders open with Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
24. Louisville (0-0)
Preseason All-American running back Isaac Brown rushed for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns on 7.1 yards per carry last season. The Cardinals open Jeff Brohm‘s third season against Eastern Kentucky.
25. Indiana (0-0)
Reigning Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti looks for an encore after leading the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record and CFP appearance. Indiana opens against Old Dominion in Week 1.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza passed for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 68.7% completion percentage at Cal last season.
College football 1-136 rankings: (1-25)
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | WEEK 1 OPPONENT |
| 1 | Texas | 0-0 | at Ohio State |
| 2 | Ohio State | 0-0 | vs. Texas |
| 3 | Penn State | 0-0 | vs. Nevada |
| 4 | Georgia | 0-0 | vs. Marshall |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | at Miami, Fla. (Aug. 31) |
| 6 | Oregon | 0-0 | vs. Montana State |
| 7 | Clemson | 0-0 | vs. LSU |
| 8 | Alabama | 0-0 | at Florida State |
| 9 | LSU | 0-0 | at Clemson |
| 10 | Illinois | 0-0 | vs. Western Illinois (Aug. 29) |
| 11 | Florida | 0-0 | vs. Long Island |
| 12 | Miami | 0-0 | vs. Notre Dame (Aug. 31) |
| 13 | South Carolina | 0-0 | vs. Virginia Tech (Aug. 31) |
| 14 | Arizona State | 0-0 | vs. Northern Arizona |
| 15 | Ole Miss | 0-0 | vs. Georgia State |
| 16 | Michigan | 0-0 | vs. New Mexico |
| 17 | SMU | 0-0 | vs. East Texas A&M |
| 18 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | vs. UTSA |
| 19 | Iowa State | 0-0 | vs. Kansas State (Week 0) |
| 20 | Kansas State | 0-0 | vs. Iowa State (Week 0) |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | vs. Illinois State |
| 22 | Tennessee | 0-0 | vs. Syracuse |
| 23 | Texas Tech | 0-0 | vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 24 | Louisville | 0-0 | vs. Eastern Kentucky |
| 25 | Indiana | 0-0 | vs. Old Dominion |
Rest of FBS (26-136)
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | WEEK 1 OPPONENT |
| 26 | Boise State | 0-0 | at South Florida (Aug. 28) |
| 27 | Georgia Tech | 0-0 | at Colorado (Aug. 29) |
| 28 | Baylor | 0-0 | vs. Auburn (Aug. 29) |
| 29 | Iowa | 0-0 | vs. Albany |
| 30 | Nebraska | 0-0 | at Cincinnati (Aug. 28) |
| 31 | TCU | 0-0 | at North Carolina (Sept. 1) |
| 32 | USC | 0-0 | vs. Missouri State |
| 33 | BYU | 0-0 | vs. Portland State |
| 34 | Missouri | 0-0 | vs. Central Arkansas (Aug. 28) |
| 35 | Utah | 0-0 | at UCLA |
| 36 | Auburn | 0-0 | at Baylor (Aug. 29) |
| 37 | Navy | 0-0 | vs. VMI |
| 38 | Tulane | 0-0 | vs. Northwestern |
| 39 | UNLV | 0-0 | vs. Idaho State (Week 0) |
| 40 | Washington | 0-0 | vs. Colorado State |
| 41 | Florida State | 0-0 | vs. Alabama |
| 42 | Toledo | 0-0 | at Kentucky |
| 43 | Duke | 0-0 | vs. Elon (Aug. 28) |
| 44 | Pitt | 0-0 | vs. Duquesne |
| 45 | Minnesota | 0-0 | vs. Buffalo (Aug. 28) |
| 46 | Arkansas | 0-0 | vs. Alabama A&M |
| 47 | North Carolina | 0-0 | vs. TCU (Sept. 1) |
| 48 | Vanderbilt | 0-0 | vs. Charleston Southern |
| 49 | Liberty | 0-0 | vs. Maine |
| 50 | James Madison | 0-0 | vs. Weber State |
| 51 | Kansas | 0-0 | vs. Fresno State (Week 0) |
| 52 | Colorado | 0-0 | vs. Georgia Tech (Aug. 29) |
| 53 | Louisiana | 0-0 | vs. Rice |
| 54 | Memphis | 0-0 | vs. Chattanooga |
| 55 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | vs. Miami, Ohio (Aug. 28) |
| 56 | Cincinnati | 0-0 | vs. Nebraska (Aug. 28) |
| 57 | NC State | 0-0 | vs. East Carolina (Aug. 28) |
| 58 | Virginia Tech | 0-0 | at South Carolina (Aug. 31) |
| 59 | Syracuse | 0-0 | vs. Tennessee |
| 60 | UCLA | 0-0 | vs. Utah |
| 61 | Rutgers | 0-0 | vs. Ohio (Aug. 28) |
| 62 | Kentucky | 0-0 | vs. Toledo |
| 63 | UTSA | 0-0 | at Texas A&M |
| 64 | Michigan State | 0-0 | vs. Western Michigan (Aug. 29) |
| 65 | Boston College | 0-0 | vs. Fordham |
| 66 | Maryland | 0-0 | vs. FAU |
| 67 | Houston | 0-0 | vs. Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 28) |
| 68 | Washington State | 0-0 | vs. Idaho |
| 69 | San Jose State | 0-0 | vs. Central Michigan (Aug. 29) |
| 70 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | vs. UT-Martin (Aug. 28) |
| 71 | Army | 0-0 | vs. Tarleton State (Aug. 29) |
| 72 | Ohio | 0-0 | at Rutgers (Aug. 28) |
| 73 | Western Kentucky | 0-0 | vs. Sam Houston (Week 0) |
| 74 | West Virginia | 0-0 | vs. Robert Morris |
| 75 | Texas State | 0-0 | vs. Eastern Michigan |
| 76 | South Florida | 0-0 | vs. Boise State (Aug. 28) |
| 77 | Arizona | 0-0 | vs. Hawaii |
| 78 | UCF | 0-0 | vs. Jacksonville State (Aug. 28) |
| 79 | Cal | 0-0 | at Oregon State |
| 80 | Wake Forest | 0-0 | vs. Kennesaw State (Aug. 29) |
| 81 | Miami, Ohio | 0-0 | at Wisconsin (Aug. 28) |
| 82 | Oregon State | 0-0 | vs. Cal |
| 83 | Virginia | 0-0 | vs. Coastal Carolina |
| 84 | Stanford | 0-0 | at Hawaii (Week 0) |
| 85 | Northwestern | 0-0 | at Tulane |
| 86 | Mississippi State | 0-0 | at Southern Miss |
| 86 | Purdue | 0-0 | vs. Ball State |
| 88 | UConn | 0-0 | vs. Central Connecticut |
| 89 | Buffalo | 0-0 | at Minnesota (Aug. 28) |
| 90 | Sam Houston | 0-0 | at Western Kentucky (Week 0) |
| 91 | Colorado State | 0-0 | at Washington |
| 92 | Fresno State | 0-0 | at Kansas (Week 0) |
| 93 | Georgia Southern | 0-0 | at Fresno State |
| 94 | Northern Illinois | 0-0 | vs. Holy Cross |
| 95 | East Carolina | 0-0 | at NC State (Aug. 28) |
| 96 | Arkansas State | 0-0 | vs. Southeast Missouri State |
| 97 | Appalachian State | 0-0 | at Charlotte (Aug. 29) |
| 98 | Jacksonville State | 0-0 | at UCF (Aug. 28) |
| 99 | Air Force | 0-0 | vs. Bucknell |
| 100 | South Alabama | 0-0 | vs. Morgan State |
| 101 | North Texas | 0-0 | vs. Lamar |
| 102 | Hawaii | 0-0 | vs. Stanford (Week 0) |
| 103 | Coastal Carolina | 0-0 | vs. Virginia |
| 104 | San Diego State | 0-0 | vs. Stony Brook (Aug. 28) |
| 105 | Louisiana Tech | 0-0 | vs. SE Louisiana |
| 106 | Old Dominion | 0-0 | at Indiana |
| 107 | Utah State | 0-0 | vs. UTEP |
| 108 | Southern Miss | 0-0 | vs. Mississippi State |
| 109 | Bowling Green | 0-0 | vs. Lafayette (Aug. 28) |
| 111 | Eastern Michigan | 0-0 | at Texas State |
| 112 | UTEP | 0-0 | at Utah State |
| 113 | Western Michigan | 0-0 | at Michigan State (Aug. 29) |
| 114 | Wyoming | 0-0 | at Akron (Aug. 28) |
| 115 | Central Michigan | 0-0 | at. San Jose State (Aug. 29) |
| 116 | FAU | 0-0 | at Maryland |
| 117 | Marshall | 0-0 | at Georgia |
| 118 | Charlotte | 0-0 | vs. Appalachian State (Aug. 29) |
| 119 | UL-Monroe | 0-0 | vs. Saint Francis (Aug. 28) |
| 120 | Troy | 0-0 | vs. Nicholls |
| 121 | FIU | 0-0 | vs. Bethune-Cookman (Aug. 29) |
| 122 | Delaware | 0-0 | vs. Delaware State (Aug. 28) |
| 123 | Middle Tennessee | 0-0 | vs. Austin Peay |
| 124 | New Mexico State | 0-0 | vs. Bryant |
| 125 | Ball State | 0-0 | at Purdue |
| 126 | Rice | 0-0 | at Louisiana |
| 127 | Temple | 0-0 | at UMass |
| 127 | New Mexico | 0-0 | at Michigan |
| 128 | UAB | 0-0 | vs. Alabama State (Aug. 28) |
| 129 | Nevada | 0-0 | at Penn State |
| 130 | Georgia State | 0-0 | at Ole Miss |
| 131 | Missouri State | 0-0 | at USC |
| 132 | Akron | 0-0 | vs. Wyoming (Aug. 28) |
| 133 | Tulsa | 0-0 | vs. Abilene Christian |
| 134 | UMass | 0-0 | vs. Temple |
| 135 | Kennesaw State | 0-0 | at Wake Forest (Aug. 29) |
| 136 | Kent State | 0-0 | vs. Merrimack |
