Texas Longhorns Ranked No. 1 In Preseason Coaches Poll

AUSTIN, Texas (TXAN 24) — History has been made in Austin. For the first time ever, the Texas Longhorns are ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll, topping a field of college football giants heading into the 2025 season.

Out of 67 FBS head coaches who voted, 28 gave Texas the No. 1 spot, earning the Horns 1,606 points. Defending national champion Ohio State came in at No. 2 with 20 first-place votes and 1,565 points. Rounding out the top five are Penn State, Georgia, and Notre Dame.

The Longhorns’ rise comes off a 13–3 season and College Football Playoff appearance. Redshirt sophomore Arch Manning takes over full-time at quarterback, leading a loaded roster under Steve Sarkisian. Texas also signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country this year, adding to the momentum.

The hype will be put to the test immediately — Texas opens the season on August 30 at Ohio State in a true No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown. It will be the first time in Coaches Poll history that the top two teams face off in Week 1.

Other Texas programs also cracked the Top 25:

• SMU at No. 16

• Texas A&M tied at No. 21

• Texas Tech at No. 25

Texas enters 2025 not just with playoff expectations — but with a real shot to win it all.

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