Ohio State opens at No. 1 in the 2026 preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, released Tuesday, leading a top-five group dominated by the Big Ten and SEC. The Buckeyes claimed 38 first-place votes, marking their first preseason top spot since 2015 as college football programs prepare for kickoff.
College football’s opening pecking order is officially set. The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll arrived Tuesday afternoon, placing Ohio State at No. 1 overall and sparking immediate debate across the country just weeks before games begin. With actual football returning to campuses in less than a month, coaches across the nation submitted ballots that reflect an offseason.
Ohio State Claims Preseason No. 1 Spot as Big Ten and SEC Lock Down the Top
The Buckeyes earned 38 first-place votes from the 72 coaches on the panel, marking the first time Ohio State has opened atop the preseason coaches balloting since 2015. While the recognition signals immense national respect, history offers a sobering warning for Buckeye fans. According to historical data from USA TODAY, only four teams have started and finished a season at No. 1 since the publication took over administering the poll in 1991.
Right behind Ohio State, Oregon secured the No. 2 spot with six first-place votes, representing the highest starting rank in program history for the Ducks. The top of the poll highlights the growing strength of the Big Ten, though traditional SEC powers remain firmly in the mix. Georgia enters the campaign at No. 3 with seven first-place nods, while Texas—last year’s preseason No. 1—starts at No. 4 after picking up two first-place votes.
Few rankings in the new top 25 generated more immediate friction than the placement of defending national champion Indiana. The Hoosiers open at No. 6.
Notre Dame edged Indiana for the No. 5 position by a mere two poll points, even though the Fighting Irish received only five first-place votes compared to Indiana’s 14 first-place selections.
The Hoosiers will be led by head coach Curt Cignetti, who will look to TCU transfer Josh Hoover as the successor to Fernando Mendoza.
Conference Breakdown: SEC Depth Matches Big Ten Power at the Top
When looking at the broader landscape, the SEC leads all conferences with nine ranked teams. Following Georgia and Texas, the SEC placed Texas A&M at No. 8, Oklahoma at No. 9, and Mississippi at No. 10. Alabama checks in at No. 11, marking the first time since 2008 that the Crimson Tide have opened outside the preseason top 10. LSU (No. 13), Tennessee (No. 18), and Missouri (No. 25) round out the conference’s contingent.
The Big Ten matches that depth with eight teams in the opening poll. Beyond Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana, the conference features USC at No. 14, Michigan at No. 16, Penn State at No. 17, Washington at No. 19, and Iowa at No. 22.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 places four programs in the rankings, led by defending conference champion Texas Tech at No. 12, BYU at No. 15, Utah at No. 21, and Houston at No. 24. The ACC fields three ranked teams: national runner-up Miami at No. 7, SMU at No. 20, and Clemson down at No. 23—marking the Tigers’ lowest preseason ranking since 2011.
Opening Week Slate Set as Rankings Face Early Tests
Preseason expectations will quickly meet reality when the 2026 college football season gets underway. Key nonconference matchups loom early, including an October 17 clash when Notre Dame travels to face BYU.
For Ohio State, the journey toward validating its No. 1 ranking begins on September 5
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