Texas Holds Top Spot, Ohio State Ranked No. 3 in Initial AP Top 25 Poll

In its 90th anniversary season, the AP Poll continues to beguile and enchant college football fans. The rankings have virtually no bearing on the national championship race, but no one can deny the psychological power of a little number next to your team's name.

On Monday, the AP released its rankings, culled from sportswriters around the country and signaling the imminent arrival of college football. Occupying its highest preseason ranking ever is Texas, which is looking to build off a season in which it beat Arizona State in the Peach Bowl before losing to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Following the Longhorns is another team with hopes of snapping a multi-decade national title drought—Penn State. The Buckeyes, defending national championships, come in at No. 3.

Here are the full rankings, with a few historical notes where applicable.

1. Texas (first No. 1 preseason ranking ever)

2. Penn State (highest preseason ranking since 1997; highest ranking in any week since 2017)

3. Ohio State

4. Clemson

5. Georgia

6. Notre Dame

7. Oregon

8. Alabama (lowest preseason ranking since 2008)

9. LSU

10. Miami (highest preseason ranking since 2018)

11. Arizona State (highest preseason ranking since 1998)