As far we’re concerned, it’s No. 1 vs. No. 2.

Sporting News’ first installment of our 1-136 rankings for the 2025 college football season features No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State. The Longhorns are No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Preseason polls. The Buckeyes are No. 3 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. 

Those teams meet at 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 30 at Ohio Stadium. That is not the only top-10 matchup in Week 1. Clemson and LSU – ranked No. 7 and No. 9 in our rankings – meet at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame and Miami – ranked No. 5 and No. 12 in our rankings – play on Aug. 31 at Hard Rock Stadium. 

BENDER: Why preseason AP poll matters

DECOURCY: Abolishing preseason polls is a silly idea

Before we even get to that, we have the Farmageddon matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State – No. 19 and No. 20 in our rankings. Those teams meet in Week 0 at 12 p.m. ET at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. 

Notice this is a 1-136 ranking now. Missouri State and Delaware are in the FBS. Sporting News will update these rankings throughout the season. Here is a look at those rankings ahead of Week 0.

MORE: CFP projections | Bowl projections | Composite preseason Top 25

College football rankings 2025

Top 25 for Week 0

1. Texas (0-0) 

Let the Arch Manning era begin. The Longhorns have to replace four starters on the offensive line, but look for Tre Wisner and Ryan Wingo to have breakout seasons in that offense. Texas visits Ohio State – where the Longhorns won 25-22 on Sept. 10, 2005 – which kick-started their last national championship season. 

SN QB RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | Big 12 | ACC

2. Ohio State (0-0) 

Will it be Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback? Receiver Jeremiah Smith had 1,315 yards and 15 TDs last season – and he can launch a Heisman Trophy campaign against Texas in Week 1. The Longhorns limited Smith to one catch for three yards in the CFP semifinals last season. Carnell Tate (733 yards, 4 TDs) and Brandon Inniss (176 yards, TD) should have huge years opposite Smith.

MORE: Sporting News 2025 Preseason All-America team

3. Penn State (0-0) 

The Nittany Lions have their highest preseason ranking since 1997 – when they were No. 1 and eventually finished 9-3. It’s a huge year for James Franklin, and the return of three-year starter Drew Allar and 1,000-yard rushers Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen is key along with the addition of Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Penn State opens with Nevada.

MORE: Ranking 2025 CFB head coaches, from 1-136

4. Georgia (0-0) 

Congrats, Georgia. You might be the least-talked about returning SEC champion of the 21st century. Kirby Smart probably likes it that way. The Bulldogs have a friendlier schedule this year, and Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and USC transfer Zachariah Branch should help the receiver room. Nate Frazier averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season. Gunner Stockton has help. The Bulldogs open with Marshall. 

5. Notre Dame (0-0) 

Will it be C.J. Carr or Kenny Minchey? The Irish have a quarterback question heading into Marcus Freeman’s fourth season. Notre Dame returns a strong roster, led by Preseason All-American running back Jeremiyah Love. Miami is not an easy Sunday night opener. The Irish have lost their last six road games there, a streak that dates back to 1977. 

BENDER: It is not the Trojans’ fault the USC-ND series may be ending

6. Oregon 

Oregon coach Dan Lanning is 35-6 since taking over in 2022, the fourth-best record in the FBS behind Georgia (39-4) – where he coached with Kirby Smart – Ohio State (36-6) and Michigan (36-6) – teams the Ducks beat in the Big Ten regular season. Are we under-valuing Oregon in the Big Ten race? The Ducks face Montana State in the opener.

7. Clemson (0-0) 

The Tigers face a brutal test in Week 1. Yes, Dabo Swinney has the preseason ACC favorite, one led by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a defense that features TJ Parker and Peter Woods. Clemson is loaded, but it lost three games to SEC schools last season and LSU coach Brian Kelly is openly calling Memorial Stadium “Death Valley Junior.”

 8. Alabama (0-0)

Is this the cut-off point for true national championship contenders? Kalen DeBoer enters Year 2 with a tough opener against Florida State at a renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. The Crimson Tide were 2-3 on the road last season. It’s a statement game for DeBoer and first-year starter Ty Simpson, who won the job at quarterback in fall camp. 

MORE: Alabama belongs to Kalen DeBoer, which means more pressure in Year 2

9. LSU (0-0) 

Will the Tigers break a string of five consecutive losses in season-openers against Clemson? Brian Kelly is on the spot here. The Tigers are 4-8 against top-25 teams the last three seasons under Kelly, and that included a 1-3 record in 2024. 

10. Illinois (0-0) 

The Illini are in our top 10 under Bret Bielema heading into a Friday night opener against Western Illinois. Linebacker Gabe Jacas had 74 tackles and eight sacks last season. He leads the defense. Illinois’ entire offensive line also returns for quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Illini have never won 10 games in back to back seasons. This is their chance. 

11. Florida (0-0) 

The Gators open against Long Island University – one of the friendlier matchups on a brutal schedule where the lowest-ranked team is USF at No. 76. DJ Lagway is recovering from a calf injury, but coach Billy Napier remains optimistic the quarterback will play against the Sharks. 

12. Miami, Fla. (0-0) 

Carson Beck makes his Miami debut against Notre Dame – which rekindles a classic 1980s rivalry. Beck was 24-3 as a starter at Georgia, and that included a 9-3 record against ranked teams the last two seasons. The matchup against Notre Dame is a tone-setter for coach Mario Cristobal. Will they take advantage?

MORE: Carson Beck discusses transfer from Georgia to Miami

13. South Carolina (0-0) 

The Gamecocks face Virginia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday. LaNorris Sellers is getting Heisman Trophy hype, but he can take over games? South Carolina was 4-2 in games where Sellers rushed for 50 yards or more, and that included a 36-33 loss to LSU. 

14. Arizona State (0-0) 

Arizona State is the preseason pick to win the Big 12, and quarterback Sam Leavitt should get off to a fast start against Northern Arizona in the opener. Receiver Jordyn Tyson – who returns from a season-ending collarbone injury – ranked fourth among returning FBS receivers with 91.8 receiving yards per game in 2024. 

15. Ole Miss (0-0) 

The Rebels have a 39-13 record the last four seasons under Lane Kiffin – a .750 winning percentage that ranks seventh among Power 4 programs. Ole Miss truly is the best program in the country that has yet to play in the CFP. The Rebels open against Georgia State in Week 1.

16. Michigan (0-0) 

Will it be five-star freshman Bryce Underwood under center in the opener against New Mexico? Michigan quarterbacks combined for 12 TDs and 13 interceptions last season. Look for a revamped backfield with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall to carry the Wolverines against the Lobos. That sets up a road trip to Oklahoma – the best game of Week 2. 

17. SMU (0-0) 

The Mustangs made the CFP in their first year in the ACC, and Rhett Lashlee returns a talented roster with quarterback Kevin Jennings. Safety Isaiah Nwokobia averaged 80.5 tackles with seven interceptions the last two seasons. Look for Nowkobia to make an impact in the opener against East Texas A&M.

18. Texas A&M (0-0) 

Mike Elko begins Year 2. It’s a tricky opener against UTSA knowing the Roadrunners have enjoyed five straight winning seasons under Jeff Traylor. The Aggies have one of the deepest backfields in the FBS with quarterback Marcell Reed and running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels. Those three combined to average 5.2 yards per carry in 2024. 

19. Iowa State (0-0) 

The Week 0 matchup against Kansas State in Dublin is the ultimate early tone-setter in the Big 12 race. The Cyclones won 11 games for the first time in school history under Matt Campbell in 2024. Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings in the series. 

20. Kansas State (0-0) 

This is Chris Klieman’s seventh season with the program. Avery Johnson enters his second year as the full-time starter, and Dylan Edwards is the lead back. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry in a time-share with DJ Giddens last season. 

21. Oklahoma (0-0) 

Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer ranked fifth in the nation in total offense with 330.4 yards per game last season. How will that skill set translate in a gotta-have-it year for the Sooners? Mateer denied any wrongdoing in reported gambling allegations that stem from his Venmo transactions in 2022. Oklahoma opens with Illinois State. 

22. Tennessee (0-0) 

The Vols’ ranking has fluctuated since quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred, and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar is on the spot in the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse at Mercedes Benz-Stadium in Atlanta. The Vols are 3-1 in non-conference regular-season games against Power 4 opponents under Josh Heupel, with the last loss coming to Pitt in 2021.

MORE: What lessons can we take from Nico Iamaleava saga?

23. Texas Tech (0-0) 

The Red Raiders have been one of the most-talked about teams in the offseason because of their increase in NIL initiatives within the program. Texas Tech is 16-11 in Big 12 play the last three seasons under Joey McGuire. There still is a lot to prove. The Red Raiders open with Arkansas Pine-Bluff.  

24. Louisville (0-0) 

We are excited about SN preseason All-American running back Isaac Brown, who rushed for 1,173 yards and 11 TDs on 7.1 yards per carry last season. The Cardinals open Jeff Brohm’s third season against Eastern Kentucky. 

25. Indiana (0-0) 

What will reigning SN Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti do for an encore after leading the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record and CFP appearance last season? Indiana opens against Old Dominion in Week 1. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza passed for 3,004 yards, 16 TDs and six interceptions with a 68.7% completion percentage at Cal last season. He is the key. 

College football 1-136 rankings: (1-25) 

A look at the top 25 teams in the FBS heading into Week 0:       

Rest of FBS (26-136) 

Here is a look at the rest of the FBS heading into Week 0: