Shocking Shake-Up in the Latest Coaches Poll—See Which Teams Surged Into the Top 25

The 2025 preseason Coaches Poll is out, and it ushers in a fresh round of college-football debate just weeks before kickoff. Coaches across the FBS placed Texas at No. 1 for the first time in program history, edging perennial power Ohio State by eight first-place votes, while Penn State, Georgia and Notre Dame round out a star-studded top five. Full Coaches Poll Top 25 (first-place votes) 1. Texas (28) 2. Ohio State (20) 3. Penn State (14) 4. Georgia (3) 5. Notre Dame 6. Clemson (2) 7. Oregon 8. Alabama 9. LSU 10. Miami 11. Arizona State 12. Illinois 13. South Carolina 14. Michigan 15. Ole Miss 16. SMU 17. Florida 18. Tennessee 19. Indiana 20. Kansas State 21. Texas A&M 22. Iowa State 23. BYU 24. Texas Tech 25. Boise State SEC vs. Big Ten: Power Shift Watch • Nine SEC teams cracked the rankings, led by Texas and Georgia, underscoring the league’s depth in the first season of a 16-team super-conference. • The expanded Big Ten counters with six ranked programs, including two of the top three (Ohio State, Penn State), setting up a potential postseason collision. Surprise Climbers & Snubs • Illinois debuts at No. 12—the Illini’s best preseason slot since the poll began in 1950. • Arizona State rockets to No. 11 after last year’s playoff run, while Oklahoma is the highest vote-getter outside the Top 25. What No. 1 Really Means History says wearing the preseason crown is no guarantee: only one preseason No. 1 (Alabama 2017) has hoisted the national trophy in the past decade. With a 12-team playoff, however, an early top seed now virtually assures a postseason berth and home-field advantage in the first round. How Coaches Cast Their Ballots A rotating panel of 66 FBS head coaches ranks teams weekly, assigning 25 points for a first-place vote and one point for 25th. Totals determine the official order published by USA TODAY and the American Football Coaches Association. Key Dates to Know • Aug 20: AP Top 25 drops—expect more fireworks if Texas and Ohio State flip spots. • Aug 28: Week 0 double-header (Illinois vs. BYU; Clemson vs. Boise State) gives four ranked teams an early stage. • Sept 6–7: SEC-Big Ten Kickoff Classic headlines Labor Day weekend with Georgia-Ohio State and Texas-Michigan showdowns. Bottom Line The 2025 preseason Coaches Poll plants the flag for a season defined by conference realignment and an expanded playoff. If the early numbers hold, fans could see as many as seven SEC programs and five Big Ten squads in the postseason field—yet recent history warns that an unranked dark horse often crashes the party. Buckle up: the road from the Coaches Poll to the College Football Playoff promises turbulence, twists and high-stakes showdowns.