Longhorns Crowned No. 1 in AP Preseason Poll: A New Era Begins in Austin

The Texas Longhorns are officially the team to beat in 2025. For the first time in program history, Texas has claimed the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, a monumental achievement that reflects the program’s resurgence and sky-high expectations heading into the new season

Texas earned 25 of the 64 first-place votes, edging out Penn State (23 votes) and defending national champion Ohio State (11 votes)

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This historic ranking comes just days after the Longhorns also topped the preseason Coaches Poll, marking their debut as a unanimous No. 1 across both major national rankings

Why Texas Deserves the Top Spot

The Longhorns’ rise to the top is no fluke. After back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff, Texas enters 2025 with a stacked roster, elite coaching, and a schedule that promises high-stakes matchups from the very start

Leading the charge is sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, who steps into the starting role with immense expectations. Despite limited starting experience, Manning has already shown flashes of brilliance and is considered a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and a potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

Texas also boasts a formidable defense anchored by preseason All-Americans Anthony Hill Jr. and Colin Simmons. Their presence, along with a deep and experienced supporting cast, gives the Longhorns balance on both sides of the ball—a key ingredient for championship contention

A Tough Schedule

Texas won’t have much time to ease into the season. Their opener on August 30 is a blockbuster showdown against No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus—a rematch of their 2024 Cotton Bowl clash. The Longhorns also face SEC powerhouses Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M, making their path to the playoff anything but easy

Yet, it’s precisely this strength of schedule, combined with their talent and momentum, that makes Texas worthy of the No. 1 ranking. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has built a program that’s not just competitive, but championship-caliber.

The Road Ahead

With the eyes of the college football world fixed on Austin, the Longhorns have a golden opportunity to turn preseason hype into postseason glory. If Arch Manning and company can navigate their brutal schedule and live up to expectations, 2025 could be the year Texas finally returns to the summit of college football.

Complete AP Preseason Top 25 College Football Poll