The rivalry between the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences intensifies as the preseason Associated Press Top 25 rankings are announced. Ohio State and Oregon take the top two spots, with defending national champion Indiana at sixth place. This positions the Big Ten as a major player, having won the previous three national titles.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC), however, showcases depth by having five of the top 10 teams and seven of the top 13. The SEC also boasts nine ranked teams, surpassing the Big Ten’s eight. Since 2024, the SEC has had seven teams appear in the College Football Playoff compared to four from the Big Ten. Despite these achievements, no SEC team received a first-place vote in the preseason poll. Ohio State secured 40, Oregon 14, and Indiana 8 of the 62 votes.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti expressed enthusiasm for the rivalry. “Our fans and the SEC fans enjoy this competition,” Petitti said. “It would enhance the experience if we had more encounters between the two conferences.” Greg Sankey, the SEC Commissioner, emphasized the league’s strength during the women’s SEC Media Day on October 16, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The season’s first major games occur on September 12, with No. 10 Oklahoma visiting No. 16 Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State facing No. 5 Texas. Last year, both home teams won these matches—Oklahoma securing a 24-13 victory and Ohio State a 14-7 triumph.
Last season, the Big Ten won four out of seven games against the SEC, including Indiana’s decisive 38-3 win over Alabama in a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. Still, the SEC ended the season with stronger ESPN SP+ rankings, while the SEC’s lack of a national championship appearance in three consecutive years is notable. Sankey assured everyone is working to reverse that trend, highlighting the depth of talent within the SEC.
Clemson’s Unexpected Position
Clemson finds itself unranked in the AP preseason poll for the first time since 2011. The Tigers narrowly missed the list, trailing No. 25 Missouri by only five points. Following a 7-6 season, Clemson struggled with its ground game and third-down conversions. With offensive coordinator Chad Morris returning and improvements expected on defense under Tom Allen, Clemson looks for a fresh start with an opening game against No. 11 LSU.
New Coaches and High Expectations
Four Top 25 teams enter the season with new head coaches. Pete Golding begins his first full season leading No. 9 Mississippi. Despite the challenges following Lane Kiffin’s departure, Golding retained key staff and top players. Mississippi aims for another strong season after reaching the CFP semifinals.
Lane Kiffin now coaches No. 11 LSU, seeking to improve a team that hasn’t made the CFP since winning it in 2019. Kiffin faces pressure to turn things around quickly, supported by a seven-year, $91 million contract.
No. 18 Penn State, which plays under Matt Campbell, anticipates challenges as Campbell brings experience from Iowa State. Their home opener against Wisconsin on September 26 may set the tone for the season. Meanwhile, Utah’s Morgan Scalley steps into his first full season as head coach. Former boss Kyle Whittingham faces expectations at Michigan.
Group of Six Teams Overlooked
No Group of Six teams made the preseason Top 25, despite two non-power conference teams entering the CFP in 2025. Boise State, transitioning to the new Pac-12, was the top vote-getter outside the Top 25 among Group of Six teams. Nine other teams received votes as well.
Additional Insights
Ohio State, starting the season at No. 1, has yet to finish a season at the top in the previous eight attempts. The Buckeyes maintain the longest active streak, ranked in the preseason poll for 38 consecutive years. Notre Dame, tied for the fifth-most appearances in a preseason top five, ranks fourth this year—their best since 2006.
This year, seven teams from the previous season’s final AP poll did not appear in the new preseason poll: Vanderbilt, Virginia, Tulane, James Madison, Navy, North Texas, and TCU.
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