The 2026 AP Top 25 preseason college football poll is slated for release at noon Eastern Time, bringing together the opinions of more than 60 journalists who cover the sport for The Associated Press and its partner outlets.
Voters have been instructed to ground their rankings in actual head‑to‑head results, shutting out preseason reputation, speculation and regional bias from the equation.
Indiana enters the conversation after a flawless 16‑0 campaign in 2025 that culminated in a national championship, a feat that earned the Hoosiers a unanimous No. 1 spot in the final poll and a Heisman‑winning quarterback in Fernando Mendoza.
Ohio State, despite slipping to a No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff after a loss to Indiana in the Big Ten title game, remains the preseason favorite, opening at +600 odds to capture the championship. The Buckeyes have not held the top preseason position since 2015.
The top five is rounded out by Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana and Oregon, each listed with odds of +650 or +800, indicating a tightly contested race among the elite programs.
The AP’s voting mechanism relies on online submissions that are automatically tabulated on a 1‑to‑25 point scale, ensuring a systematic aggregation of voter preferences.
Beyond the top tier, returning stars such as quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith are expected to bolster Ohio State’s offense, while defensive anchor Kenyatta Jackson Jr. will look to fortify the line.
Historical Context
Since the AP poll’s inception in 1936 and its shift to the Top 25 format in 1989, the rankings have served as a barometer for national title expectations, a role that continues to evolve as the sport’s landscape changes.