Overview
- The US LBM preseason Coaches Poll was released Aug. 4 and named Ohio State No. 1 after the Buckeyes received 38 first-place votes.
- The poll’s preseason top five are Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame, while 2025 champion Indiana opened at No. 6 with 14 first-place votes.
- The SEC placed nine teams in the top 25 and the Big Ten placed eight, a split that highlights coach perceptions of those conferences’ depth.
- USA TODAY compiles the poll from FBS head coaches who are picked by an AFCA random draw, though some outlets reported the panel had 72 voters and others 73.
- Analysts caution the poll is a snapshot not a prediction because transfer-portal churn and recruiting can reshape teams, few preseason No. 1s since 1991 have finished the year at the top, and the season begins Week 0 on Aug. 29 in Dublin when results will start to test these rankings.